Homemade Yogurt

After alot of thinking what's the worst that could happen LOL,I pulled out the my old small crockpot and gave it a whirl.How could something so simple and easy work?But it did! I made my first batch of homemade yogurt yesterday.It was delicious as breakfast this morning.And it's definately going to be cheaper than the store stuff.I can't wait to sit and think up all the different "gourmet" flavors I'm going to try! I got the original recipe from "A YEAR OF SLOWCOOKING" blog.Here's what I used:

1/2 gallon of skim milk
1/2 cup plain store bought yogurt (live active cultures)
frozen peaches
frozen raspberries
2 envelopes knox unflavored gelatin
**you will need a crock pot and a thick bath towel

Plug in crockpot and turn to LOW--add the milk--cover and let "cook" for 2 1/2 hours--
unplug crockpot after the 2 1/2 hours are up and let it sit UNPLUGGED on the counter for 3 hours--After 3 hours,scoop out 2 cups of the "milk" and set aside in bowl (sprinkle the envelopes of knox gelatin on top of the milk in the bowl-do not stir-let it sit and bloom for about 5-10 mins)--In the crockpot add the store bought yogurt--whisk to combine-after the 10 mins are up on the milk in the bowl add that to the crockpot and stir well to combine--Put the lid back on crockpot (still unplugged) andwrap a heavy bathtowel around it to insulate it--LET IT SIT FOR 8 HOURS--Once the 8 hours are up unwrap the towel and scoop out the yogurt into your containers of choice and chill in fridge-This is when I added the fruit and vanilla-I blended the fruit in a blender till it was like a puree and then I kinda stirred it into the yogurt and put it in the fridge--It will be a little thicker after it sits in the fridge-save 1/2 cup as a starter for your next batch of yogurt.

**I added 2 packets of equal the next morning because the fruit hadn't turned out as sweet as I liked-but I'm sure you can use honey or real sugar or your fave sugar substitute.

**another blogger friend I have said that she puts it into popcicle molds and freezes--she says the kids go wild over them-I'll have to try that for zach.