Making Yogurt - Lactose Free

I love the taste and quality of homemade yogurt but recently I took on a new experiment with yogurt. Making it Lactose Free. My youngest daughter is showing signs of being lactose and gluten intolerant, so I decided to try making a batch of lactose free yogurt. I bought a litre of Organic Lactose Free milk and Nutri-Max yogurt culture (starter) at the health food store. I already had a second hand yogurt "maker" that I purchased at Value Village for $3.99.

Making yogurt, even lactose free, is really simple and the taste is soooo much better.

Here's the basic recipe I use:

Heat 1 litre of milk to 82ºC and let cool to 48ºC. Mix in the yogurt culture and pour into yogurt containers. Place containters in yogurt maker and Incubate at 40-46ºC until milk has curdled (turned solid), about 4 hours.
Then place yogurt in refridgerator.

Sometimes I alter the recipe a bit to add sweetener and/or berries. This particular batch I made two containers of Blueberry yogurt and 4 containers of Vanilla Bean yogurt.

For Blueberry Variation:

Add fresh or frozen wild blueberries (I like using them as they are smaller) to the bottom of the yogurt container and pour yogurt overtop before incubating. I also find you need more sweetener with berries as they tend to be more tart.

For Vanilla Bean Variation: Scrape the seeds out of half a vanilla pod and add to milk while heating (I also like to add the vanilla bean and remove before adding the culture). Continue with steps for basic recipe.

I currently have a batch of Vanilla yogurt sweetened with Agave incubating, I will let you know how it turns out:)

I am a homemaker , First

I found this great quote on another blog and thought it would lead nicely to my first post here:

“When we traded homemaking for careers, we were implicitly promised economic independence and worldly influence. But a devil of a bargain it has turned out to be in terms of daily life. We gave up the aroma of warm bread rising, the measured pace of nurturing routines, the creative task of molding our families’ tastes and zest for life; we received in exchange the minivan and the Lunchable.” — Barbara Kingsolver (first read on Modern Retro Woman)


Just recently I made the profound discovery that I am happiest when I am a homemaker, first. After spending years searching for a fulfilling "career" I can finally just be me. I can take the time to be present in everyday tasks, enjoy things as they are, and learn how to live more simply. Now, don't be fooled, this is not as easy as it sounds. I have spent my entire life trying to avoid cleaning, laundry, and everyday tasks. I grew up with a single mom, who spent a lot of time working and hated to come home to do more work. This lead me to see 'homemaking' as a chore that was only done when it had to be. I still don't know how to iron properly, fold sheets so they don't wrinkle or keep my sink shiny, but I am learning.

I have known for some time that I enjoy making bread from scratch, the smell of laundry fresh off the clothes line, and all things crafty. Knitting has brought me many hours of simple pleasure, curled up under a cozy blanket, while sipping tea. I now find I want to learn more about how my grandparents lived and managed everyday tasks. I want to help my children (2 girls) to understand that even simple tasks can hold meaning and pleasure.

Who knew that by admitting out loud that I am a homemaker first, I would ultimately find the career I was looking for. Welcome to Itty Bitty City Farm!

Starting the process...

I am in the midst of transferring posts from my other blogs and making this my one and only. This process is taking me a little more time than I thought. While I work on what's what feel free to take a look at my other Blogs:

www.bake-happy.blogspot.com
www.boobalou.blogspot.com

Hopefully, all will be contained here within the next couple of weeks.

Cheers,

Trish