Yogurt Update

My first batch of yogurt was successful! It was less tart then store bought, but not as thick. Next time I plan to use powdered milk miked into regular milk or made thicker then normal. My husband and I have a hard time using a gallon of milk before it expires, now when its getting close to the expiration date I'll make a quart of yogurt.

Yogurt check

I just looked at the yogurt and its still milk. It says it takes anywhere from 4-11 hours and I bet mine will take the long amount. Our house is chilly! I can not stand the taste of yogurt (i intend to eat it in a smoothie, or in place of sour cream) even the store bought flavored kinds. When I was reading yogurt making recipes they often advised to add honey to the finished product. So i added honey (best honey ever, its from a local farm and I can taste a hint of blackberry in the honey), jam, and homemade granola to some of the yogurt I bought for starter. Its not bad! I still don't adore it but I can eat it with out cringing. Yogurt is so healthy that I'm going to find a way to get it inside of me, even if I detest it!

Homemade Yogurt

I've got my first ever batch of yogurt in the oven (incubating) right now. I hope it turns out! I know homemade yogurt can be tricky, so it may take me a few batches to get it right. Personally I HATE yogurt but its something I need to eat anyways. My hubby loves yogurt. Homemade is supposed to be less tart and its defiantly cheaper. I bought whole milk for the first few batches. Half a gallon of whole milk cost me $1.99. Half a gallon is 2 quarts (8 cups). So making a quart of yogurt will cost me a little more then .99 cents when the yogurt starter is added. A quart of plain yogurt was $1.99. I'm sure if I use powdered milk the cost will be even lower.

Heres the recipe I used

FYI

My egg mc muffin experiment did not turn out well. I couldn't get the can opener to slice up the bottom of the cat food can so i made a scrambled sort of an egg patty. Fresh it was not as tasty as the mcdonalds version. I froze an extra one to see if it would turn out yummy from the freezer. Dh reported a big 'no' on that one. Oh well, its something I have been wanting to try for awhile. i will stick to breakfast burritos they come out delicious after being frozen.

Cooking

ve been having Egg Mc Muffin cravings lately. They are not very expensive but its cheaper and easier (with one car) to simply make them at home. I'm just not sure how to cook the egg so it makes a patty. I'm thinking maybe a cat food can with the bottom and top removed and well cleaned. Should make the perfect size patty if i can do it properly.

Today when my parents came to pick up my grandma I was taking rolls out of the oven. My mom was quick to claim one so I'm thinking I might make those for thanksgiving. I'll make a loaf of bread, rolls and some kind of pie. I hate pumpkin. My grandma can taste lemon (not much else) so perhaps a lemon meringue? Or i could make a decadent chocolate pie. I love cooking. I wish my parents had been able to stay for dinner, i made far too much beef stew and now I need a way to use the left overs. Tomorrow I am making chicken soup (dh likes thick soup, so its already pretty thick) into a casserole by adding sour cream and rice. The next night honey wont be home for dinner, and the night after I'm making pizza. I've put it off for a few days and I'm afraid hes going to riot dh loves pizza! Maybe i could make the beef stew into some kind of beef pot pie? That could be yummy. I don't want to freeze the leftovers because they wont get eaten. In fact leftovers in the fridge probably wont be eaten in less made into something new.

Apple Pie

Apple pie sounded yummy to me today, so I decided to make one. I don't have any apples (over due for a grocery trip) but I have a can of apple pie filling. I've never tried canned filling before, I always make it myself. I looked over a crust recipe to make sure i had all the ingredients. I don't have shortening, so i substituted butter. Well half way through the recipe it said 'add an egg' egg? what egg? I'm out of eggs! I do have soy flour which can be substituted for an egg but when we tried it in a cookie recipe it tasted gross. Don't want to try that again. Its only one egg I'll just add more water. Then it says add a tbs of vinegar. Only I'm out of that too. Ok more water. Now i cant find a pie pan! Ok simply substitute a cake pan. The recipe I used is from Living On a Dime and it says it makes 3 crusts. Not when you use a cake pan! :) I finally get the whole bottom of the cake pan covered, then I check the filling can. Oh no. It says to use 2 cans! And I'm using a 3 crust cake pan. Great. Well I've com this far right? So I dumped the filling into the pie/cake, and covered the top with the last of my 3 crust recipe. lol. Its cooling down now, smells good but who knows with an egg less, vinegar less, 3 crust, 1 can filling, cake pan, pie?

Why not simply run to the store like a normal person? Because my dh has the car. We're a two car family but one has been broken (and sitting on base!) for 4 months. I cant get up at 4:45 am to take him to work because I frequently can't fall asleep till after midnight, no matter how early i go to bed. Why not simply stop making the pie? That wouldn't be any fun would it? Sometimes my little experiments come out just fine and how would you know if a recipe works or doesnt with a missing ingredient if you dont try? Besides it gives my husband something to laugh at and tease me about later. :)