How to make Greek Yogurt.

To follow up on my previous post.... yeah, I know it's been a while, but I've been busy working three jobs and I haven't had time to organize my thoughts into a written form in a few months. The five people who are going to read this, give me a break already, Gosh. OK, so I'm a little tense, but like I've said, I've been busy, but not too busy to keep making Greek yogurt. I'm telling you people it is EASY. So here is a how to.... It is going to take longer to write this post than the hands on time to make the yogurt.

Your tools.  8 Cups of Milk (makes 4 cups/32 oz of yogurt),  A couple table spoons of your favorite yogurt containing live cultures, a thermometer, a double boiler, or just two largish pots that fit inside one another, a towel, some tongs.

 While holding the smaller pot inside the bigger pot fill the bigger pot til water comes up half way of the smaller pot.  Make sure you are holding the smaller pot down.

Then take the pots to the cook top throw your utensils in the water and invert the smaller one over the big one and turn the heat on high.  Let the water come to a boil.  You are sterilizing everything so all that is growing is the good bacteria you want and none of the skanky ones.

While waiting on your water to boil,  take two table spoons, only two table spoons more is not better here, of your favorite yogurt and mix it with some milk in a bowl and leave it alone.

After your water is boiling for a minute carefully flip the smaller pot into the bigger one and pour your 8 cups of milk into the pot. 

You are going to get a facial from this.

Now heat the milk til it reaches a steamy 185 degrees.  Again, another step in killing all the bad bacteria.  It takes about 10 -15 min to reach this temp.  I usually do this as I'm making dinner, but you could easily put a little of the left over yogurt on your face to round out the facial you began with the steam bath.  I may try that next time...

Once you've sterilized your milk, its time to cool it down to a temp the probiotics will like.

There are two methods.

1. let it sit on your counter and

wait (it takes about an hour)

                                        Or

 2.  stick it in the sink full of

 cool water (about 10min). 

When you get to 100 degrees, it is time to add the yogurt milk combo that has been hanging out and let the party start.

Now, stick a lid on your pot and wrap it up in your towel.

 Turn on your oven light.  This will provide just enough heat to keep the probiotic party poppin.

Tuck your cozy cultures in the oven for 8-10 hours (i.e. over night).

In the morning you will have plain yogurt.  You can stick this straight in the fridge if you want and enjoy when cool.  We are making Greek yogurt, though.  Thick, wonderful creamy goodness.

.   

Anyways, on to the Greek part of Greek Yogurt....

You can forget all the above steps and just use your favorite store bought yogurt, if you would like.    

Your tools:  You need a large bowl, a colander,  and some paper towels or cheese cloth

Line the colander with the paper towels or cheese cloth and put the colander over the bowl.

Now, pour or spoon your yogurt into the lined colander.

Then cover, put in the refrigerator for a 6-8 hours (i.e while your at work) and then you have Geek Yogurt.

Here is the whey.  Lots of uses for this in things like bread making etc. but I'm not going to get into that. 

Spoon your yogurt into a container.   Sometimes, at this point, I will stir a little milk back into the yogurt if it got too thick in the straining process.  I hear Greek Yogurt will last in the fridge 3-4 weeks, but I always eat mine way faster than that.  Remember to save a couple of table spoons so you can make your next batch.

Now, sweeten with some honey or fruit preserves or use in place of sour cream.  Enjoy and never pay those ridiculous prices for Greek Yogurt ever again.