Really, it’s super simple!  Let me explain why I need to make my own yogurt.  The store bought variety is generally fermented 8 hours, which for my condition, is not enough.  So, I started making my own.   It’s really handy to have around for dips, dressings, smoothies, or just as a snack with honey & fruit.  In order to ensure that all the lactose is completely “digested”, yogurt needs to cook for 24 hours, which makes it super simple.  This process makes it a true yogurt since virtually all the lactose has been digested by the bacterial culture, and further lactose digestion will not be required by intestinal cells.  Don’t be scared by the term “bacterial culture”!  Your intestines need good bacteria to help balance things out down there.  You’ve probably heard the word, “pro-biotic”, and that refers to these “good bacteria”. Around the world people eat yogurt daily, and for very good reason – It’s good for you!  Although Americans tend to flavor their yogurts, most cultures don’t.  Cucumbers, tomatoes, and yogurt is a common breakfast in Turkey for example.  FUN FACT – Turkish ovens have a “yogurt setting” on them so people can mix it up, stick it in the oven at night, and have it in the morning.  American ovens don’t go that low, so we are stuck making it by other means.

Benefits of eating yogurt

1: Yogurt May Help Prevent Osteoporosis –

”Adequate nutrition plays a major role in the prevention and treatment of osteoporosis, and the micronutrients of greatest importance are calcium and vitamin D,” says Jeri Nieves, PhD, MS, director of bone density testing at New York’s Helen Hayes Hospital. Yogurt contains calcium, which is shown to have an effect on people of all ages. ”The combination of calcium and vitamin D has a clear skeletal benefit, provided the dose of vitamin D is sufficiently high,” she adds.  Were you aware that the average American is highly Vitamin D deficient?  I didn’t know that until my doctor tested for it.

2: Yogurt With Active Cultures Helps the Gut –

Yogurt with active cultures may help certain gastrointestinal conditions, including:

• Lactose intolerance
• Constipation
• Diarrhea
• Colon cancer
• Inflammatory bowel disease
• H. pylori infection

The benefits are thought to be due to:

• Changes in the microflora of the gut
• The time food takes to go through the bowel
• Enhancement of the body’s immune system

3: Yogurt May Help You Feel Fuller

In studies where participants each had a varied 200 calorie snack, it was found that those who had the yogurt felt fuller longer. Those are just a few of the benefits.  So, let’s get to making yogurt, shall we? INSTRUCTIONS:

1.  Bring one quart of milk to the simmer stage and remove from the heat. You can stir often to prevent scorching, or just use a lower heat setting.
2.   Cover and cool until it’s reached room temperature or below.  (It’s important to let it cool sufficiently so you don’t kill the bacterial culture you are going to introduce it to.)  I generally test it by sticking my finger in and if it’s not hot, I go for it.  😉
3.   Remove about 1/2 cup of cooled milk, and add to it 1/4 cup of good quality commercial yogurt.  (For great yogurt, I use Greek Gods Greek Yogurt – plain) Make a paste with this in your yogurt maker (Discussion of those will follow)
4.   Mix the paste with the remainder of the cooled milk and stir thoroughly.
5.   Cover the yogurt maker with the lid and let it “cook” in the maker for at least 7 hours (as I said, mine cooks for at least 24 hours).
6.   After your selected time, put it right in the refrigerator.

That’s it!  Basically, you heat milk up, cool it off, and add a bit of commercial yogurt as starter.  Plug in your yogurt maker, and “Voila!!”, you’ve made your own yogurt.  It saves you on money as well!! There are a LOT of yogurt makers out there and for all different tastes.  For me, I like to make a quart at a time in one container, then I use it as I need it.  Here’s the one I use: It’s called, “Yo’gourmet.  and it’s been so long since I ordered it, I’m not sure the best place to get one, but as usual, I got it on the internet for a super price.  Because I like to always have a batch on hand, I bought two containers so as one got low, I could make a new batch.  For those of you who like the stats on everything, here’s the link:  http://www.amazon.com/Yogourmet-104-Electric-Yogurt-Maker/dp/B000N25AGO Yogurt has so many uses!  Not only can you make your OWN frozen yogurt, make salad dressings, cakes, pies, and all sorts of food items, there are other uses for it.  Here’s a few: 1. Use for a DIY facial Lactic acid is an alpha-hydroxy acid, using it on your face as yogurt is so mild that even highly sensitive skin can take it. Yogurt can even out skin tone, fade freckles over time, and do a wonderful job to tighten pores and cleanse skin. Clean your face, apply a thin layer of plain yogurt to face, throat, and chest, and leave on for 20 minutes. Rinse with lukewarm water. You can use this treatment every day. 2. Soothe canker sores Eat two servings of yogurt a day until the sores clear. 3. Soothe sunburn pain To soothe sunburn pain, spread yogurt on affected area and let sit for twenty minutes–then rinse clean with lukewarm warm water.