Yogurt

I bought a yogurt machine last month, and I’ve been making yogurt as fast as my family will eat it. I’ve had mixed results, depending on what type of milk (2%, whole, very fresh, closer to expiration) and what type of starter went into each batch. I love the idea of a yogurt that contains nothing but milk and probiotics, but last night I tried Alton Brown’s yogurt recipe and it is the best yogurt I have ever tasted. I used whole milk and live cultures, but Alton’s recipe adds nonfat dry milk (which boosts the protein and calcium) and a touch of honey.

Wow.

This stuff is thick and creamy, with a slightly tart but mellow flavor. It’s delicious! I plan to partially drain it and make a big batch of garlicky tzatziki today. I might drain some of it more fully for a batch of yogurt cheese.

Do we have any yogurt enthusiasts here?

I am a big fan of strained yogurt, one of my favorites.

Currently this is my yogurt of choice:

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Costco is carrying this now in a 12 pack of Peach, Blueberry and Strawberry. Kristi and the kids go through a dozen cups a week.

excellent - heading there soon to get other stuff - I’ll look for it! Gracias Mi Amigo!

Count me as a fan of yogurt. I see that more and more manufacturers are jumping on the “Greek Yogurt” bandwagon.

Question Mel, you’re going to make tzatziki with HONEY yogurt? [scratch.gif]

Dannon non-fat plain for me. I don’t have the time to make yogurt and would rather make ice cream if I do have the time. flirtysmile

No, no… not honey yogurt. It’s yogurt made with a tiny bit of honey. I used less than a tbsp to almost 50 ounces of milk. I don’t know if the yogurt thickens, feeds the bacteria, or just smooths out the flavor, but it’s not sweet.

David, that’s my second choice. If i want plain, i go with that…if I want flavored I go with the Chobani

Before I started making my own, my brands of choice were Fage, Nancy’s, and Stonyfield Farms. Yogurt sits in the heater for 4-20 hours, but there’s a lot less active prep time than there is for decent homemade ice cream.

One thing about homemade yogurt is that it’s not particularly cost effective… especially in the experimental phase. I’ve probably dumped close to a gallon of milk this month. Now that I’ve got it tweaked, there should not be any more waste.

And a confession: I bought the yogurt machine for the puppy, not the family. How twisted is that?

Dogs eat yogurt?

Dog yogurt?!?!?!? Jeez, I don’t think even Victor would have thought of that one.

Yep! Breeder mixes a little yogurt in to the pup’s food.

Dog Yogurt vs. Man Chowder? (Couldn’t resist)

[rofl.gif]

Are you suggesting a taste test?

No…not unless any Riesling is involved.

I love this yogurt with berries and granola!

The Count’s homemade is the best yogurt I have had in some time. He inspired me to get a yogurt machine which still sits in a kitchen cabinet unused. I really need to fool around with it.

I have been getting back to eating yogurt daily in the last few months and the Greek style is definitely where it’s at for me. Sometimes I eat with fruit but plain is fine.

I have tried through all the types I can find–Fage, Chobani, Stonyfield Farms “Oikos” and Brown Cow. Chobani seems to be the best value but for taste I think Fage is the best and that is my brand of choice, though I will occasionally buy the others if there is a silly sale. What is weird is that the price can vary by as much as $1.00 per container for the larger size in the various supermarkets around me, Trader Joe’s is the cheapest.