Slow Cooker-Crockpot Yoghurt

[Sim]

Its not a baking recipe but its a really good breakfast that will use up that yogurt pretty quick, it keeps me full until lunch

Protein Smoothie (Cyndi O'Meara) Makes 2 large glasses
1 tbs almonds
2 tbs oats
1 cup fresh orange juice
1/2 cup yogurt
2 bananas, chopped into chunks
1 blob honey
1 egg
1 tbs macadamia oil

Finely mill oats and almonds, then add the rest of the ingredients and process until smooth. Yum!
(I didn't add specific TM instructions, cos its pretty straight forward)

[Thermomixer]

Sounds very nutritious - thanks.  Have copied to Breakfasts.

[Chelsea (Thermie Groupie)]

Well my first batch is ready.  A bit thin, but I can see what's going to happen.  Will try and use it up in smoothies etc so we get to the good stuff quicker.  I'm really excited about the cost savings here!  2 litres of milk approx $2.20 = 2 litres of yoghurt.  And yoghurt is between $4-$5 for 900gm, or about 1 litre.  So approx 1/5th of the price .

Any yoghurt baking recipes?

It is exciting Cathy isn't it!  There are a couple of yummy yoghurt cake recipes in the forum cake section.  If you strain the yoghurt you will get a greek type yoghurt (using coffee filters or 4 layers of muslin in a sieve) and you could make naan bread with it. 

[cathy79]

I'm also thinking that if I strain my "starter" then I should get to the thicker batches quicker. 
This is so cool!  Or maybe I really need a life.  At least I'm among friends who get their jollies amongst the same things I do !

[Thermomixer]

Not necessarily - the straining helps drain off excess whey and thicken the resulting product, but not increase the potency of the culture.

[cathy79]

Update on my yoghurt

Just pulled it out of the fridge (so 12 hours from making it) and it seems to be much thicker!  Still a little on the runny side, but much better than this morning.

Question - can the excess whey be used for anything?  Does it have any use like the the butter milk from butter?  Aside from feeding Little Miss Moffett

[Chelsea (Thermie Groupie)]

Question - can the excess whey be used for anything?  Does it have any use like the the butter milk from butter?  Aside from feeding Little Miss Moffett

I think the whey is quite nutritious and you can add it to smoothies etc.

I am going to try making Labneh (soft cheese) to use up some of my runny yoghurt tomorrow (I am also keen to improve my starter).  People use Labneh in a variety of recipes - often replacing sour cream and cream cheese.  Here is the method I am using (reducing the quantity to 1/4):

Labneh (Lebanese Cream Cheese)

INGREDIENTS
3790 ml plain yoghurt
6 g salt, or to taste
60 ml olive oil

DIRECTIONS
Line a large colander with cheesecloth (or a large, clean hanky). Stir salt into the yogurt, and pour the yoghurt into the cheesecloth. Set the colander in the sink or bowl to catch the liquid that drains off. Leave to drain for 24 hours.
After draining for the 24 hours, transfer the resulting cheese to a bowl. Stir in the olive oil. Store in a covered container in the refrigerator. Usually lasts about a week in the fridge.


Another great recipe I found yesterday to use up runny yoghurt is Bron's icecream:
http://www.forumthermomix.com/index.php?topic=852.0 

[cathy79]

I'm making my second batch tonight.  My girls had "mummy yoghurt" today, with some homemade strawberry sauce/jam mixed in it.  Beautiful.  I'm excited about improving my yoghurt culture.  I guess at some point it will get too thick and will have to add some milk.  A while off yet.

[Thermomixer]

Thanks for the Labneh recipe 

[toniarthur]

I have never owned a crockpot or a yogurt thingy. Poor me But since I have had my TMX I have made lots from the EDC without a failure. I just cook it and dump it into my Thermoserver overnight and in the morning I have lovely creamy yogurt which I just put in a plastic container on the fridge and it lasts for weeks. When it is getting low I use that yogurt as a starter.

Easy peasy.


Gretchen

[Thermomixer]

Hi toniarthur - looks like you dropped out before finishing the post - welcome and hope you get back here soon.

[Chelsea (Thermie Groupie)]

I probably should update this thread actually.  I have been making Valerie's TMX yoghurt for a couple of weeks now and love it.  It is perfectly thick and delicious each time and makes a large amount.  My slow cooker has been relegated to the back of the cupboard once again. 

Link to Valerie's yoghurt: http://acanadianfoodie.spaces.live.com/blog/cns!55C0FC976512499!1506.entry

[Thermomixer]

WOW - Chelsea - 5 stars - congratulations -  usually JD check these things - miss you JD.

[cathy79]

Me too Chelsea, it worked beautifully first go, rather than trying to "improve" the culture.

[judydawn]

WOW - Chelsea - 5 stars - congratulations -  usually JD check these things - miss you JD.

Yes and I did see it yesterday or the day before I think and meant to get back to it and make a comment.  Not quite on the ball though and didn't get around to it.  Congratulations Chelsea - you snuck up on us.