Home Made Yogurt

Directions

1. 1
   In a large saucepan, combine the tap water and dry milk powder.
2. 2
   Stir well.
3. 3
   Let it sit, then stir again.
4. 4
   Heat the milk over medium low heat until it reaches 180F.
5. 5
   This kills off any competing bacteria so that the yogurt will respond better to the acidophilus cultures.
6. 6
   Remove from the stove and allow to cool to 115F.
7. 7
   If the milk is hotter than this, it will kill off the yogurt cultures.
8. 8
   Add the store bought plain yogurt to the warm milk.
9. 9
   Stire well.
10. 10
    Allow it to sit for a few minutes and stir a final time.
11. 11
    Pour the mixture into a very clean, quart sized container.
12. 12
    A quart canning jar or an old yogurt container works well.
13. 13
    Now you incubate the yogurt.
14. 14
    This method works well for me: Fill a large preheated thermos about half way with hot tap water.
15. 15
    Place the container with yogurt inside the thermos, being careful to not allow the water to get into the yogurt.
16. 16
    Set the lid on top of the thermos.
17. 17
    (Other people have put the yogurt in a barely warm oven, or put it under a heating blanket, or even let it incubate in a warm car!)
18. 18
    Check the yogurt after a few hours.
19. 19
    May take up to 8 hours.
20. 20
    When the yogurt is thick, it is done.
21. 21
    Refrigerate.