Homemade Yogurt In the Crock Pot

I'm so excited to share this recipe with you! I searched for a recipe that you could make yogurt in your slow cooker but had a hard time finding one where you made it in the crock rather then incubating it in the jars in the crock. A big hooray to my friend, Traci M. who shared this!

So, without further ado, here's what you'll need:

8 cups of whole milk
1/2 cup plain yogurt with live cultures (or the freeze dried starter)
A thick bath towel
Whisk
Small glass or metal bowl
Containers to store your yogurt
And of course your slow cooker (4 quart or larger if doubling the recipe)

Directions:

• Pour the milk into your crock pot, cover and heat on low for 2 1/2 hours.
• Unplug your crock pot. Without removing the lid, let it sit for 3 hours.
• After 3 hours, remove 2 cups of the warm milk and put into your small bowl. Whisk in the 1/2 cup of yogurt or yogurt starter until well blended.
  
• Pour the mixture back into the crock pot and mix well.
• Put the lid back on your crock pot, and keeping it unplugged, wrap the heavy bath towel around the crock. Let incubate for 8 hours.
• After 8 hours, your yogurt will have thickened.
• Pour into glass jars or plastic bowls and chill.

Yea! You did it! Now for the fun part. Add your favorite mix-ins and enjoy!


Here's some of our favorites:
Honey and sunflower seeds
Fresh or frozen fruit
Granola and blueberries w/ toasted almonds

Remember my 'Little to Big Blueberry Parfait'?
You should try it and let me know what you think!

NOTE: Homemade yogurt isn't nearly as thick as store bought because it doesn't have added gelatin or any thickening agents.

Molasses Cookies and Eggnog Chai

The other day while at a coffee shop a friend told me how chai tea was described to her, 'Christmas in a cup'. I like it! This little pair is sure to make you think of Christmas!

For the chewy molasses cookies you'll need:
14 Tablespoon butter
1 1/2 cups raw sugar, divided
1/3 cup molasses
2 1/2 cups unbleached flour
1 1/2 teaspoons ground ginger
1 teaspoon cinnamon
3/4 teaspoon baking soda
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 large egg, lightly beaten

I like them 'spicy' so I add approximately 1/2 teaspoon allspice or pumpkin pie spice. :)

Preheat oven to 350*. Cover two baking sheets with foil and set aside. In a medium size saucepan, melt butter on medium heat. Remove from heat and stir in 1 cup of the sugar along with the molasses. Cool for 15 minutes.

Meanwhile, mix the flour, spices, baking soda, and salt in medium size bowl. Beat the egg into the butter mixture in the saucepan, then gradually add the flour mixture and stir until well combined and a soft dough is formed.

Pour the remaining sugar into a small bowl. Shape the dough into 1-inch balls, then roll each ball in the sugar. Place the balls on the foil covered baking sheet about 1 inch apart.

Bake 10-12 minutes. Do not overcook. As they cool they will become chewy. Makes 3-4 dozen.

Now, for my favorite holiday tea...truly 'Christmas in a cup' when paired with the above cookies.

You will need the following ingredients for each mug:
1 Chai tea bag (my fav is Tazo's organic chai)
6-8 ounces boiling water (depending on how strong you like it)
1 teaspoon turbinado or brown sugar
2-3 ounces eggnog

Yep! It's that easy. Get out your favorite mug, place the unwrapped tea bag inside, pour the boiling water over the tea bag. Let steep 4-5 minutes. Remove tea bag. Add the sugar and eggnog and stir. Delicious!

Merry CHRISTmas!!!!!

Homemade Laundry Soap

Grab your food processor (or cheese grater), a large glass or stainless steel bowl, a large metal spoon, a box of Arm and Hammer Washing Soda, a box of Borax, and 4 bars of Ivory soap or 2 large bars of Zote (which is hard to find thus the reason I use Ivory).

Grate the bars of soap and let dry out for a few hours. I then transfer the soap flakes back to the food processor with the blade and chop into small pieces. Mix the boxes of washing soda (note: NOT baking soda), Borax, and soap flakes together. Store in an airtight container.

Wasn't that easy?! You just made an ample supply of laundry soap for pennies per load!

You only need 1 Tablespoon per load, 2 Tablespoons for heavily soiled loads. Use 1/4-1/3 cup vinegar in your rinse cycle and not only are you saving money but you are keeping the toxins out of your home! Yea for you!

National Playdough Day

September 18th is National Playdough Day! It doesn't take long to whip up a batch of this fun stuff...and let me tell ya...the results are quite rewarding. Rewarding? Ummm...yes...I call hours of uninterrupted peace while the children entertain themselves with dough, cookie cutters and whatever utensils they dig out of the drawers is quite rewarding!



Grab the following ingredients and put in a 2 quart saucepan:

• 1 cup flour (not self-rising)
  
• 1/2 cup salt
  
• 1 cup water
  
• 1 tablespoon vegetable oil
  
• 1-1/2 teaspoons cream of tartar
• Food coloring (add last after you've mixed thoroughly)*

It will be lumpy but that is okay. Stir on medium-low heat until a ball forms. This doesn't take long. Turn onto your kitchen counter or a table and cool slightly. Let the kids knead and play until their heart's content. Each batch yields approximately 2 cups of dough. Make multiple batches of separate colors!

*Note: You can add a packet of dry koolaid drink mix in place of the food coloring for a smell good effect.


Try the following for an edible safe dough (the above is non-toxic, obviously but doesn't smell or taste quite as nice).

Peanut Butter Dough

• 1 cup creamy peanut butter
  
• 1/4 cup honey
  
• 1 cup instant nonfat dry milk*
  

Mix together until smooth. *For milk allergies, you may substitute flour for the instant nonfat dry milk.
**For peanut allergies use the first recipe only.

ENJOY!!!

Super Speedy Supper 8/28

This is an introduction into my new series of posts called 'Super Speedy Supers'. Since I am the queen of 'don't make a plan for dinner til hungry' I thought I'd share some of the fun, quick meals we have.

Above we have 'poor man's steak', a nice broccoli and lettuce salad with roasted red potatoes.

Here's what you need to feed 4:
1 lb ground beef, formed into 4 patties and seasoned with all purpose seasoning
2 lbs red potatoes, washed and cut in about 6 wedges each, patted dry
Salad fixings incld. romaine lettuce, broccoli, cherry tomatoes, golden raisins and sliced almonds
seasonings: all purpose, salt, and pepper
Your favorite salad dressing (Try my poppyseed dressing)

Preheat the oven to 450*
Fire up your heavy skillet and get those 'steaks' cooking.
In a large bowl toss the red potatoes with 2 TB olive oil and salt and pepper. Place in a single layer on a baking sheet and bake for 20 minutes (turning once) until tender and browned.
Flip those 'steaks' now. ;)
Meanwhile, wash and cut up your salad ingredients. Toss with dressing.

In no time the meat and potatoes will be done and wa-lah: A healthy super speedy supper!

August Sunrise

Matthew 5:16

Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.

(The beautiful view from my backyard this morning!)

Life Skills 101

I believe ALL children should help out around the house. They live there, they make messes, they should help with the housework. It teaches them responsibility and gives them a sense of accomplishment when completed.

Here's a neat list of age appropriate chores.

I personally do not think children should be compensated with money for their daily household chores but that's completely up to the individual family. I believe children should have the opportunity to do extra chores that result in a reward whether monetary, a special outing or treat of their liking.

I also believe children should be exposed to a variety of household tasks not based on their gender. Children can and should learn how to do a wide array of tasks. For example, boys should learn how to do laundry, mending and cooking while girls should be taught to change the oil or tire on the car, repair various household items and work in the yard. I know this is not as big of an issue as it was in the past but still feel it is worthy of mentioning.

What kind of things do you know how to do that you are grateful you learned? What do you wish you had learned? Does/did this have an effect on what you are training or trained your children in?