I can HEAR you groaning from here Jeff about my title… Just knock it off.

I just don’t think he appreciates my humor. At any rate, we are going to take a cue from Jeff’s super delicious Spicy Yogurt Chicken and talk about the yogurt part of that dish. You DID notice he said I was MAKING my own yogurt right? Or were you just sucked in by the Frank’s Hot Sauce… AH HA! I know it. It is how he lured me…

When I first moved back to Chicago I was quite OVERWHELMED by the yogurt choices I had. Where I lived prior had yogurt sure, but wow not so many choices… Greek, Organic, Australian, Kosher, Amish, made by virgins under the waxing full moon… And I could also have any flavor I wanted. EVEN BACON!!!! Actually hon… you can stop jumping up and down in your cubicle. I am kidding… no bacon yogurt… anywhere.

I had to try them ALL. Soon my yogurt budget was bigger then my gas budget and I drive over 350 miles a weekend… And sigh yes I know what you are thinking reader o’ mine – is he worth it?…

Sooooooooooo… HOW do you MAKE yogurt you are asking!?!? Easy Peasy… First you get your brother to marry a wonderful girl who buys you EXACTLY what you want for Christmas… even tho it was back in August when you EXPRESSED an interest in a YOGURT maker and your BIRTHDAY came BEFORE Christmas but it is not like I was starving for months and months without yogurt to sustain my livelyhood…

So procure the maker… and then head out for the myriad of ingredients you need for one batch:

- Milk
- One plain Yogurt

Now haul all that craziness into your kitchen have a drink to prepare yourself for the madness that is about to ensue.

(Now these instructions are for my maker: I love it because what is not to love about eating your yogurt out of baby food jars? Hello?)

Bring 42 oz. of milk to a boil over low heat till it reaches 180°.

Let cool till lukewarm – or about 110°.

In a separate bowl, mix some of that milk with the plain yogurt. This is your starter. I use Stonyfield Okios Greek yogurt. 1) I like it lots on its own – not even as a starter and B) It makes a hella tasty home made yogurt! Once well blended, mix with the rest of the milk and then pour into the jars. Put the lid on and set the time. (I go 10 hours.) After the timer goes off, cover the jars with their lids and chill fro a minimum of three hours.NOTE: When you decide to make your very own yogurt. Take heed of the time. If you make it as say oh 6 pm – you will be draggin’ ass out of bed at 4 am to cover the jars and slap them into the refrigerator. I have made yogurt 5 times now. I still have not heeded my own advice. You can stop laughing Jeff…

As you can tell by the first photo – it makes a thick and creamy yogurt that most Greeks would be jealous of. I add granola, berry compote, agave, honey, jelly, etc etc to it and it is all freaky good. And Jeff is plotting on what is the next thing he can marinate in it.

Of course if you don’t have an abnormal addiction to yogurt like me this may be just a hassle and the dairy isle at your local grocer is where you belong. If that is the case let me temp you with a lil offer… Free yogurt! No I am not sending you some of my home made stuff silly – but I would like to set you up with some of my starter. From Stonyfield Farms. They have some sort of yogurt sensor or something and picked up on my unnatural yogurt dependence and sent me some coupons to try their Okios yogurt. So Good. I called the cops on them for trying to FEED my addiction because that HAS to be illegal but they just laughed and hung up. So I did the next best thing. I said HAY can I have some coupons for free yogurt and maybe throw in some cool reusable grocery bag in which to carry home said free yogurt or something – ya know, for a reader… thinking ha ha ha I am my only reader so I get even more free yogurt! THEY BIT!!!

So if you are reading this DON’T ENTER THIS – IT IS ALL MINE!... I mean enter now – leave a comment and let me know how you like your yogurt. With peanut butter or on a gyro or with honey or smeared all over some unsuspecting… um yea you get it. The winner (me) will be chosen (already) on Friday by random number generator.

~ Comments CLOSED – the winner is #8 – BETHIEofVA. So send me your info and I can forward it to the yogurt people!… ~