Plain and Not So Plain – Page 944 – Free Homeschool Books & Resources for Every Family

Every 2 weeks in our household we make 3 gallons of plain yogurt. Why would we do that? Simple…..

Homemade yogurt is healthier for you with no additives or preservatives or sugars
Its less expensive
No packaging waste
It tastes better

As a mom, knowing the little bit of time this actually takes me is no comparison to the health benefits and savings this has for my family.

Let’s begin……………

This recipe makes 4 quart jars of homemade yogurt—–which will last about a month unopened in your refrigerator.

Ingredients
1 gallon of milk ( I use whole or 2% depending upon what I have)
1 6 oz carton of plain name brand yogurt

Supplies
4 quart jars
large stockpot to heat the milk in
a candy thermometer

First sterilize your equipment. You can place your jars and lids in a stock pot and about 2 inches of water then boil for 10 minutes.

Next, you need to heat the milk to a temperature of 185 degrees. Use a heavy bottomed pot to avoid burning.

Once you have reached this temperature, Remove from heat.

Place your pan in a sink filled with cold water until the temperature has dropped to 120 degrees.

Then its time to add the starter.

In a small bowl, place the plain, store bought yogurt.

Add about 2 cups of cooled milk.

Whisk, then when thoroughly mixed, add it to large pot of milk.

Be sure to incorporate it well to spread the yogurt culture throughout the whole gallon.

Once mixed, its time to pour it into the jars.

I scoop it out with a measuring cup and fill up the jars.

Place a lid and band on and tighten securely.

Have a cooler filled with about an inch of hot water.

Temperature should be about 120 degrees. Place the jars into the cooler and close the lid.

Keep in a draft free area, and set your timer for 3 hours.

When time is done, place yogurt in refrigerator and let chill. The longer you wait, the thicker the outcome.

Your yogurt should look like this..

Our family likes strawberry sauce, which is real easy to make…..

In food processor or blender, add strawberries, cup of raw sugar, and some juice concentrate. Blend until smooth.

We also top it off with homemade grape nuts cereal.

We have also made this with powdered milk and had the same results.

large family food idea homemade hamburger buns and oven fries

amy / 11/15/2013

Homemade hamburger buns, I thought it was silly to make something that you can buy so cheaply at a bread store. Well I realized it was as cheap, plus I was able to make them more nutritionally made then store bought ones. And the fact that it is fun to say, “I made hamburger buns.”

This is a great, not hard at all, way to make homemade hamburger buns.

Homemade hamburger buns

1/2 c butter
1 tsp salt
2 pkg yeast
2 c hot water
1/2 c sugar
2 eggs, beaten
6 c flour

Place butter, salt, and then add water in your mixer bowl.

Add yeast. Beat together

Beat eggs and sugar, add to mixer bowl. Beat together

Add sugar and eggs to yeast mixture, mix

Work in flour. One cup at a time.

Knead in the rest of the flour until you have a smooth dough.

Let sit and rise until double in size. Punch down and let rise again.

Roll out 1/2 inch thickness. Do not stretch the dough. Cut with a biscuit cutter or we used a glass cup.

Let rise until double.

Bake a 375 for 15 minutes.

Serve with hamburgers. These are the hamburgers that I froze during our once a month food shopping series, food prep.

Cut up a plate of condiments to go with your burgers and you are ready to assemble.

We love to make oven fries to go with our homemade hamburgers.

Very simple to make.

Wash and cut up one potato for every person you are serving.

Lightly coat with olive oil and sprinkle All purpose seasoning over top. (Lawrys)

Bake at 400 degrees until done. About 30 minutes.

Flip then cook another 15-30 minutes. Depending upon the crispness you want. I recommend covering a cookie sheet with foil. This avoids having to scrub the pan clean after using it.

How to make homemade yogurt

Every 2 weeks in our household we make 3 gallons of plain yogurt. Why would we do that? Simple…..

Homemade yogurt is healthier for you with no additives or preservatives or sugars

Its less expensive

No packaging waste

It tastes better

large family food idea homemade hamburger buns and oven fries

Homemade hamburger buns, I thought it was silly to make something that you can buy so cheaply at a bread store. Well I realized it was as cheap, plus I was able to make them more nutritionally made then store bought ones. And the fact that it is fun to say, “I made hamburger buns.”

Homemade hamburger buns

We love to make oven fries to go with our homemade hamburgers.