Homemade Yogurt

½ gal milk (we use 1%)
1 cup non fat milk powder
6 tblspoons of plain yogurt (either store bought or from your last batch. This is important to have the probiotic cultures in your yogurt).
1 tsp vanilla (to taste)
3/4 cups of sugar (to taste. we use about 1/2 that.)

Cook milk in a large pot over medium heat, just until simmer. Don't boil - turn it off just before it starts to boil. You'll see lots of little bubbles begin to form on the side of the pot. Keep the pot on the burner, turn heat off. Let it cool to at least 120 degrees or room temperature.

Add milk powder and yogurt from a previous batch together in a seperate bowl. Pour milk through a sieve into powder and yogurt mixture. Pour into two 1-quart jars (I use a large bowl with a rubber lid). Fill another large pot with warm water, and place the jars/bowls into this warm water bath. Don't cover lids with water. Set pot on a heating pad set on medium heat, wrap with a towel and let sit for 24 hours. (I use an electric blanket - it works just as well as a heating pad).

You're done! Mix with vanilla and sugar and refrigerate!! We put a few strawberries and bananas in the food processer and use it as a topping for our yogurt!! So yum!!

For Greek Yogurt: Line a colander with cheesecloth, set over large bowl. Allow to set for 12 hours, and discard liquid. Voila!

*Shared by Melanie Carter 12/2009