Homemade Yogurt Recipe

Homemade yogurt.  Sounds fancy, tricky and impressive...until you've made it and you realize it's about the easiest thing to make.  And it's cheap...especially if you buy as much of it as I used to for my family of five yogurt lovers.  

Impress your family this weekend and whip up a batch of homemade yogurt parfaits!

Ingredients: 

• Half gallon (8 cups) whole milk
• 1 cup plain/unflavored yogurt

Directions:

1. Plug in your crock pot and set it on low. 
2. Heat milk on the stove until its bubbling or starts climbing up the side of the pot (up to 180 degrees if you have a thermometer - just watch it & stir gently) DO NOT BURN YOUR MILK.
3. Turn off the heat once its bubbling, then let the milk cool until you can stick your pinky in it and tolerate the heat (or until your thermometer reads about 110 degrees).
4. Combine 2 cups of the heated milk and your 1 cup of "starter" yogurt in a separate bowl.  Mix thoroughly.
5. Add yogurt/milk mix back to pot and stir thoroughly and gently.  Pour milk/yogurt from pot into crock pot. 
6. TURN OFF CROCK POT and UNPLUG IT.  Wrap crock pot in heavy towels and leave sit on your counter about 8 hours - don't disturb the yogurt.  After 8 hours, put the yogurt in the refrigerator overnight to stop the culturing.  In the morning, you'll have fresh, homemade yogurt to feed your family...and yourself!  Just mix in your favorite granola, fruits or sweeteners (honey and vanilla are our favorite) and you're all set!