Saturday, August 17, 2013

Yoghurt making

Want to know how to make gorgeous thick, scrummy, yoghurt cheaply and without a machine?


I have been making yoghurt for around four years on and off. I had a batch going in New Mexico that lasted for over two years without ever having to buy a new starter culture.
I don't use a machine and I didn't used to use a thermometer but after having a failed batch in this country I checked other recipes on line to find the common method of making yoghurt.
 
Ingredients: 2pints of full-fat milk
                   4Tblspn live yoghurt
                             3Tblspn dried milk powder
 
 
So to make 2 pints of yoghurt: bring 2 pints of full fat milk with 3tablespoons of dried milk powder whisked in gently up to the boil. You just want to get it to the point where the bubbles are forming on the edge of the pan. Don't burn burn the milk on the bottom of the pan!. If you have a sugar or jam making thermometer it should read 82c/180f. Take off the heat and let the milk cool in a glass bowl or large jar. Cover the bowl to stop milk forming a skin. when the milk has cooled down to about 43c/105f. or where it feels warm to the skin but not hot stir in 4 tablespoons or 75g of yoghurt. This has to be a yoghurt that states it has live culture in it, or it won't work. I used Sainsbury's Greek style natural yoghurt. Re-cover your bowl or jar and place in a large pan with enough warm water to reach up the sides of your bowl. Grab a couple of towels and wrap the pan up to keep your yoghurt warm. The yoghurt should set within 8 hours depending on the temperature in your house. Some people put the yoghurt in a wide mouthed thermos to keep it at  warm temperature, might do this in the winter. Check every few hours to see if the water is still warm, mine stayed warm so  I didn't have to refill the pan.
This is the size pan I used but put it on the work surface with a towel under it and put another towel over the top.
This yoghurt has set really well and it has a pattern of bubbles on top!
Just showing off now.
What better way to serve yoghurt than with some stewed cherries that were picked fresh off the tree for free.
 
 
Don't forget to save some of the yoghurt to start a new batch. You can  freeze the yoghurt in an ice cube tray and save in a bag or container so you always have a starter culture when you need it.
 
Here are my calculations for the cost of making yoghurt.
Milk if bought from Asda 4pints for 1 pound = 50p for 2 pints
Sainsbury's Greek natural style yoghurt 200g pot for 55p so 75g needed  = 21p
Asda dried skimmed milk powder 340g for 1.88 so 20g needed = 11p
grand total of . . . 82p for 2 pints but next time it's cheaper as you will have the starter yoghurt so it will only cost 61p.
 
You don't have to use dried milk in a recipe, as I never have before but it did make it a bit thicker and smoother textured. I might try with just 2 Tbsps. next time to see how that works out.
I find it keep in the fridge for up to 10 days.
 
Note for American readers: An English pint is 20 fl.oz
 

 
 

Friday, August 9, 2013

Chester day trip

On Sunday I took a day trip to Chester. The coach picks up at the bottom of the street at 8:30am so not an uncivilized hour for someone like me. I have to confess to not being a morning person!
We arrived in Chester and dropped most of the passengers off at the famous zoo, there were only five of us for the city center.

This was the fist sight that greeted us, an original old bus complete with a conductress in historical costume. You could pay to go round on a tour of the city, would have been fun but costly.
This is Chester cathedral, the photo is a bit dark sorry!



 
Everywhere you turned historic buildings met the eye. There are an amazing amount of shops in Chester and most are housed in very old buildings.
We decided to go for a walk along the city wall. Quite a long walk as it goes completely around the city, but I would really recommend it as you get a great view of everything. It rained on and off most of the day but it was still really enjoyable

 
These are the remains of a Roman bath house, luckily there were steps down from the wall so we could get off and explore a bit more.



Have to take photos of plants I would like to grow.

Back on the wall

We crossed the back of the cathedral, love the formal gardens.



This scene just looked so 'English' with the old houses and the green with an old roller . I wonder if they use the green to play cricket on or maybe croquet

This is me being a bit of a voyeur I spotted this lovely little garden sandwiched between
 the wall on one side and the river on the other. I think it is quite a magical place, I have extreme garden envy.

The rain started coming down in buckets so we ended up wandering round the shops but just look at the interior of this shopping mall.

 
Better get on and do some craft work, I will share that with you next time.
Bye for now
Jane

Friday, August 2, 2013

Day tripping

Everyone seems to talking about 'staycations'  in other words staying at home and having your vacation there. Taking a trip out in the car can be expensive what with the price of petrol and then huge parking fees when you get there.  Also it's not much fun for the driver trying to get to some local beauty spot in the height of summer when there seems to be everybody and his dog on the road.
I have made the choice not to get another car so driving isn't an option, but there are some good alternatives so you can have a reasonably cheap day out without the stress. You can get train tickets at reduced rates if you book far enough in advance. I use a local coach company that offer reasonably priced day trips. The prices range from ten pounds upwards, it's a comfortable way to travel and often you can be picked up and dropped off close to your home.

On  Saturday I went to Durham at a cost of 14.00 pounds. Set off at 8:30 got there at 11:30 and left Durham at 5pm. I think it a was a journey of 150 miles and I had a lovely day out and got to see a different part of the country.


Durham is quite a compact city full of history. In the distance you can see both the cathedral and the castle on the hill.
 
 


 
Views of the cathedral. The interior was just incredible but photos weren't allowed!
 
 

 
Too bad the castle and grounds were closed for the day
 
 
 

 
The beauty is in the details
 
 
 
Lots of lovely streets to explore
 
 
 

 
Lively folk dancers entertaining the crowds
 
 
 



 
A short bus ride away are the botanical gardens where you can relax away from the busy streets.
 
 
We had a great day out at a reasonable price, and helped the enviroment too by keeping an extra car off the road . . . yes I know I said I didn't have one! We saved extra money by packing food and drinks for lunch.                                                                                                                            
 
This Sunday we will be going to Chester on another day trip.
Bye for now
Jane