CBC Ottawa | Frugalista | Frugal homemade recipes worth trying

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Okay, so I'm late to the game when it comes to making popcorn at home, in the microwave, without the commercial microwave popcorn packages. But - better late than never. I'm excited to experiment with flavours and have already tried melted butter with a touch of garam masala on top of the popped kernels - delicious!

When it comes to homemade yogurt I'm a bit of a wimp. My Mom has taught me how to do it umpteen times but I just never take the leap. I think the time has come though. Could there be anything more satisfying than making yogurt from scratch? Don't answer that....let's just all give it a try!

MRS. SINGH'S HOMEMADE YOGURT RECIPE

4 cups 2% milk

1 teaspoon live yogurt/culture*

Glass measuring cup

Plastic recycled yogurt container -- or something else for your completed yogurt

*use the most natural plain yogurt you can find - my Mom always goes to Astro brand if she's stuck...look at the ingredient list...never use something with gum or flavour

Method:

Turn your oven to its lowest setting (100 degrees?). Pour milk into glass measuring cup and bring to a boil in the microwave. This should take about 10 minutes. It's important to bring the milk to a boil. Remove from the microwave and let the milk cool to a lukewarm temperature. Add the teaspoon of live culture and stir well. Pour milk into your "setting container". Put a lid on the container loosely. Wrap the container with a thick towel/cloth or use a teacosy. Place the wrapped container into the oven. DO NOT TOUCH IT AGAIN FOR SIX HOURS. After six hours has passed, remove the container, unwrap it carefully and put the container into the fridge. Let one night pass and your should wake up to thick, delicious, homemade yogurt that is prime for fruit and granola.

Hello Amrita,

First off, I love your feature - I look forward to it every week. I'd definitely listen to a half hour show with this kind of information... if that were ever to happen.

A quick comment on the yogurt making: you don't need electricity at all. I use an old (1980s I guess) yogurt maker (from my own mom :)) which is basically a styrofoam conatiner with a lid in the shape which accomodates the yogurt container - this keeps the yogurt at the right temperature for free (not that it's all that much anyways). This could just as easily be done in a cooler with a mason jar or two with warm water to maintain the temperature. No power needed.

Also, on the subject of recipes, I've been making my own bread for the last two years with no more than 10 minutes of real effort a week: 1. get 1.5 cup water, yeast, salt, 3cups flour 2. mix them together (in that order: water first) 3. let sit for 8 - 24 hours 4. dust with flour, folder over twice (don't kneed!) 5. preheat cast iron dutch oven at 475F 6. once preheated throw the dough in dutch oven 7. cook for 30 minutes, take off lid, cook for 15. Tada! Awesome round laugh of bread for the cost of the flour and 5 cents for the electricity. Look up 'dutch oven bread' in google - it's really nice stuff.

Thanks and keep 'em coming.

Best Regards, Eric N.

Way to go Mrs. Singh!!!

Inika A.

Good Morning Amrita,

I just listened to your frugalista segment on CBC's Ottawa Morning about yogurt.

One problem with making your own yogurt is the starter. It's usually just after you have eaten the last spoonful of yogurt that you realize that you are all out and have to go to the store to buy more. Since you can't buy just a teaspoonful of yogurt you get a 12 pack (cheaper that way) and before you know it, you are out of yogurt to use as a starter and it's time to go back to the store again.

We found a nifty product called Yogourmet made by a local company, Lyo-San in Lachute, Quebec. Basically it is dried yogurt yeast that you can store in the cupboard until you need it. It comes in envelopes that lets you use one or two liters of milk at a time. The yogurt it makes is excellent. No more running to the store for your yogurt starter. We get it in our local IGA in Gatineau. Hopefully you can find it in your local grocery store.

Dwight and Lucy

Just caught the last part of Amrita mother's description of how to make yogurt at home. One way to make it cheaper (and a lot less work) is to use non-instant skim milk powder.

You stir the milk powder into lukewarm water with a whisk to make sure it isn't lumpy, add a spoonful of fresh yogurt as starter and then keep it warm overnight. This eliminates the time to boil and then cool down.

Janet H.

Just heard your interview. I have had success using the oven with just the oven light on overnight.

Take care,

Len K.