So it is Earth Day 2011. How will I be spending it? Well, since the high is 50 degrees, and its raining, and the ground is so saturated that our sump pump is running, I am pretty well confined to the indoors. And since today is also Good Friday, I am also stuck with my 2 school age children, and the baby. Sounds like the perfect time to clean out the laundry room. And make yogurt.
I started off on my home made yogurt making adventure about a year ago, after reading about a dozen blogs about how easy and cost effective it is. Now I will be adding one more blog.
Making home made yogurt really takes nothing more than milk, a little starter mix, a kitchen thermometer, a heating pad, and a lot of faith. And no matter how easy the other blogs try to make it seem, its way easier than that.
The basic procedure I follow is, heat 1/2 gallon of organic 2% milk slowly stiring occasionally, be careful not to boil, until it reaches 180 degrees, and let it sit at that temperature for 5 minutes. This sterilizes the milk. Then let it cool to 110-112 degrees.
While your milk is cooling, you need to sterilize the container you are going to be making your yogurt in. I use my pampered chef batter bowl
To sterilize, I boil water in a large soup pot and submerge my bowl for a few minutes.
When my bowl is cool, I add a little starter to it.
Starter is the gift that keeps on giving. I have heard that you can use store bought plain yogurt, but I have always used starter powder that you can get at the coop or at the health food store. Once you have plain home made yogurt, you can reserve some back to use as your starter next time. I usually save about a half a jelly jar full or so, keep it in the fridge and it will be ready for you the next time!
So, now your milk is cool, add it to the bowl containing your starter, and mix it up gently with a wisk.
Now your work is done. All you have to do is keep your yogurt at the right temperature and wait for it to ferment.
This is where people make it way more difficult than it needs to be. I have heard of doing it in the oven, in coolers, dumping out water, adding water, using special expensive yogurt making machines... I use a heating pad. Similar to this.
Just wrap it around your bowl, and then I wrap large bathroom towels around it for insulation. Don't forget to insert your kitchen thermometer before wrapping everything up, so you can monitor the temp.
Then you let it sit. At least 8 hours, keeping it around 110-112 degrees. The longer you let it sit the better. I usually let mine go over night. When the time is up, just unwrap everything, and put your bowl in the fridge. You are done. Nothing to it! Your end product won't be quite as thick as the store bought version, but what ever. Its way healthier. I usually eat mine with frozen berries and a bit of honey to sweeten it up.
So, lets analyze a little bit.
ingredients in yoplait yogurt: Site your source! :-)
Cultured Pasteurized Grade A Low Fat Milk, Sugar, Strawberries, Modified Corn Starch, High Fructose Corn Syrup, Nonfat Milk, Kosher Gelatin, Citric Acid, Tricalcium Phosphate, Natural Flavor, Pectin, Colored with Carmine, Vitamin A Acetate, Vitamin D3.
Yummy! If you know what Tricalcium phosphate is, please let me know. Acutally, don't. I don't care. I'm not eating it. Oh! and look! Sugar AND High Fructose Corn Syrup. Nice.
One Cup of Yoplait yogurt comes complete with a plastic container, foil lid, and goes for the whopping price of $.79
Ingredients in Stonyfield farms organic yogurt: Site your source! :-)
CULTURED PASTEURIZED ORGANIC LOW FAT MILK, NATURALLY MILLED ORGANIC SUGAR, ORGANIC BLUEBERRIES, PECTIN, NATURAL FLAVOR, ORGANIC ELDERBERRY JUICE FROM CONCENTRATE (FOR COLOR), VITAMIN D3. CONTAINS OUR EXCLUSIVE BLEND OF SIX LIVE ACTIVE CULTURES: S. THERMOPHILUS, L. BULGARICUS, L. ACIDOPHILUS, BIFIDUS, L. CASEI, AND L. RHAMNOSUS.
One cup of Stonyfield farm Organic yogurt, complete with plastic cup and foil lid is about $1.29
Cost of home made yogurt,
1/2 gallon organic milk = About $3.50
Starter: Free! It was waiting for me in my fridge! But, if you have to buy starter you can get it for about $11. for a whole bottle that will last you for forever, or at least a good long while.
Ingredients in homemade yogurt?
Milk. My starter powder contains nonfat milk solids, whey, and 3 kinds of the probiotic bacteria.
1/2 gallon is 64 ounces, and a typical cup of yogurt is about 6 ounces, so I will have about 10 servings of yogurt per batch, for a grand total of about $.35 a serving. And since I am not a math wiz, I will spell it out. That is about 1/2 the cost of conventional yogurt, about 1/4 the cost of organic. Talk about bang for your buck!
Friday, April 22, 2011
Saturday, April 16, 2011
Garden Plans
Gardening.
This time of year the dirt starts to call to me. I have this desire in my soul to get out in the yard and play in the garden. It is usually to frozen / muddy to do much of anything, but I go out there anyway, get messy, and dream of the summer time and the food that I am going to grow in my garden.
In my quest for more sustainability, I have commandeered my flower beds, and turned them into vegetable gardens. I am planing carrots, and onions where my morning glories and sweet peas grew last year. When my bulbs are finished blooming I will be planting peas, and watermelon I planted blueberry bushes in the landscaping in my front yard, and my garden... oh its gonna be a treat!
This year I will have strawberries, raspberries, and rhubarb. Can anyone say jelly? Yum! The rhubarb is already peeking up through the mud. I can barely stand it!
Sitting in my south window are rows and rows of seedlings, just getting ready to go. Beef steak tomatoes, cherry tomatoes, cucumbers, zucchini, summer squash, and acorn squash.
I have visions of rows and rows of home made garden fresh canned goods lining my laundry room walls next winter. If anyone knows how to can... let me know. I have a pressure canner on my wish list.
The winters are so long in this area of the country. I have to make the best out of the 3 1/2 months or so of nice weather we have!
This time of year the dirt starts to call to me. I have this desire in my soul to get out in the yard and play in the garden. It is usually to frozen / muddy to do much of anything, but I go out there anyway, get messy, and dream of the summer time and the food that I am going to grow in my garden.
In my quest for more sustainability, I have commandeered my flower beds, and turned them into vegetable gardens. I am planing carrots, and onions where my morning glories and sweet peas grew last year. When my bulbs are finished blooming I will be planting peas, and watermelon I planted blueberry bushes in the landscaping in my front yard, and my garden... oh its gonna be a treat!
This year I will have strawberries, raspberries, and rhubarb. Can anyone say jelly? Yum! The rhubarb is already peeking up through the mud. I can barely stand it!
Sitting in my south window are rows and rows of seedlings, just getting ready to go. Beef steak tomatoes, cherry tomatoes, cucumbers, zucchini, summer squash, and acorn squash.
I have visions of rows and rows of home made garden fresh canned goods lining my laundry room walls next winter. If anyone knows how to can... let me know. I have a pressure canner on my wish list.
The winters are so long in this area of the country. I have to make the best out of the 3 1/2 months or so of nice weather we have!
Thursday, April 14, 2011
Family Garden Coop
It is 35 and rainy out today, so of course I have gardening on my brain. Soon it will be time to plant. I am planning on Mothers Day, 25 days, but who's counting?
I have been rolling this idea for a Family Garden Coop around in my head for a few weeks now, trying to form a vision of how I would like it to go, and I came up with a brilliant idea! It stems partly from the rise in food costs, partly from my desire to avoid chemical additives in my families food, and partly from the book I read that prompted my Tech free week, Better Off
I am looking for 4 or 5 families, that live locally, who are willing to plant a garden and share their surplus harvest with the group, in a weekly produce exchange. You know, all those tomatoes and cucumbers that you have no idea what to do with, that just go bad because you can't eat them all. I would like to meet on Friday evenings this summer, to do a produce swap. If you bring some produce, you can take some different produce back home with you. Fridays are the day before the farmers market, so we can swap for free, and then buy what we still need the next day at the market. We can meet at different parks around town so the children can all play together.
In order for this to work, we would each have to plant a few extra one or two items with the intent of having a surplus. Something you are especially good at growing. I can keep a list of who would like to plant what.
In addition to a produce swap, I would like to offer up my kitchen for mass canning production. I think it would be great to all get together and put up our produce for winter. If you have a clue on how to do that, I would like to be mentored on how! Ideally I think it would be fun to do a Jelly making session, a vegetable canning session, and apple sauce/butter/pie filling session.
So, if you are interested in my experiment of FREE local organic foods, and increased sustainability, please let me know!
I have been rolling this idea for a Family Garden Coop around in my head for a few weeks now, trying to form a vision of how I would like it to go, and I came up with a brilliant idea! It stems partly from the rise in food costs, partly from my desire to avoid chemical additives in my families food, and partly from the book I read that prompted my Tech free week, Better Off
I am looking for 4 or 5 families, that live locally, who are willing to plant a garden and share their surplus harvest with the group, in a weekly produce exchange. You know, all those tomatoes and cucumbers that you have no idea what to do with, that just go bad because you can't eat them all. I would like to meet on Friday evenings this summer, to do a produce swap. If you bring some produce, you can take some different produce back home with you. Fridays are the day before the farmers market, so we can swap for free, and then buy what we still need the next day at the market. We can meet at different parks around town so the children can all play together.
In order for this to work, we would each have to plant a few extra one or two items with the intent of having a surplus. Something you are especially good at growing. I can keep a list of who would like to plant what.
In addition to a produce swap, I would like to offer up my kitchen for mass canning production. I think it would be great to all get together and put up our produce for winter. If you have a clue on how to do that, I would like to be mentored on how! Ideally I think it would be fun to do a Jelly making session, a vegetable canning session, and apple sauce/butter/pie filling session.
So, if you are interested in my experiment of FREE local organic foods, and increased sustainability, please let me know!
Sunday, April 10, 2011
My Tech free week 4-3
Day 7. I made it. I was very unsure about this whole thing just a week ago. It amazes me how far I have come.
I have found that I simply can't live without the internet. Its where I have my fun. Its where I go to learn, socialize, and I have some work on there too. On the other hand, it is a incredible distraction. I have also found that it can bring people together, but if you aren't careful, it will come between you and those you care about.
I have caught a lot of grief from friends and family this week. In my experience, if you are being made fun of, you are on the right track. They say that I have to live, I can't deprive myself of everything I enjoy. So, I thought on it for a while. (Lots of time for thinking this week)
Is vegging out in front of a TV really living? I feel like I have lived so much more this week. TV is such a distraction. Not to mention the fact that there is so much on there that I don't care to have my family exposed to. All the advertisers trying to turn my children into mindless consuming machines. There is also the subject matter. Even on prime time. Too much sex, and other adult themes I don't care to have to explain to my 8 year old. There is just to much ICK out there. I know they are going to be exposed to this crap at school and other kids houses, but that doesn't mean I have to invite it into my home.
If you are what you eat, then are you also what you feed your soul? I don't want to feed my soul garbage.
I have found that in this week of no TV or internet that I feel like I have lived more purposefully. I have been more in tune with my family. Less distracted. I have been less frustrated with my children, and more satisfied in my roll as a mother, and wife. I have moved closer to God, partly because I am more in tune with my thoughts and feelings, and partly because if my increased time for prayer.
So, now that the week is over, I find myself as scared to turn the tech back on as I was to leave it behind.
I am scared that if I let it back into my life, I will slowly become more and more lax until I am right back where I started. So, now the time for negotiations begins. I am not the only person living in this home. I also have to take my husbands feelings into account, and he is not as into this as I am.
While I am full on ready to get rid of the TV completely, he would like to watch it occasionally. The one in the bedroom is definitely going. The one in the basement will stay off, except for an occasional family movie night, maybe once per month or so.
Computer games are a thing of the past. no more farmville. No more cityville. Facebook will be limited. I will allow myself to check it in quite alone moments, but the computer will remain off until the kids are in bed. I need to always maintain my focus on my family.
There have been a few events in my life recently that remind me that life is just to short. I don't want to waste a single second of it. I want to live intentionally, enjoying every last second!
So, there it is. My Tech free week. as of today, 4-10, we are still TV free. We did have a family movie night last night, we watched Bill and Ted's Excellent Adventure. It was fun. The kids loved it. It was the first TV we had watched in 13 days, and it went right back off afterwards. I have been able to cut my internet use way down, and have gotten a lot more odd jobs done around the house. We are settling into a routine, and it seems to be working out nicely! I have to say, that giving up the TV is one of the best things we have done for our family! And it really wasn't as hard as I feared it would be.
I have found that I simply can't live without the internet. Its where I have my fun. Its where I go to learn, socialize, and I have some work on there too. On the other hand, it is a incredible distraction. I have also found that it can bring people together, but if you aren't careful, it will come between you and those you care about.
I have caught a lot of grief from friends and family this week. In my experience, if you are being made fun of, you are on the right track. They say that I have to live, I can't deprive myself of everything I enjoy. So, I thought on it for a while. (Lots of time for thinking this week)
Is vegging out in front of a TV really living? I feel like I have lived so much more this week. TV is such a distraction. Not to mention the fact that there is so much on there that I don't care to have my family exposed to. All the advertisers trying to turn my children into mindless consuming machines. There is also the subject matter. Even on prime time. Too much sex, and other adult themes I don't care to have to explain to my 8 year old. There is just to much ICK out there. I know they are going to be exposed to this crap at school and other kids houses, but that doesn't mean I have to invite it into my home.
If you are what you eat, then are you also what you feed your soul? I don't want to feed my soul garbage.
I have found that in this week of no TV or internet that I feel like I have lived more purposefully. I have been more in tune with my family. Less distracted. I have been less frustrated with my children, and more satisfied in my roll as a mother, and wife. I have moved closer to God, partly because I am more in tune with my thoughts and feelings, and partly because if my increased time for prayer.
So, now that the week is over, I find myself as scared to turn the tech back on as I was to leave it behind.
I am scared that if I let it back into my life, I will slowly become more and more lax until I am right back where I started. So, now the time for negotiations begins. I am not the only person living in this home. I also have to take my husbands feelings into account, and he is not as into this as I am.
While I am full on ready to get rid of the TV completely, he would like to watch it occasionally. The one in the bedroom is definitely going. The one in the basement will stay off, except for an occasional family movie night, maybe once per month or so.
Computer games are a thing of the past. no more farmville. No more cityville. Facebook will be limited. I will allow myself to check it in quite alone moments, but the computer will remain off until the kids are in bed. I need to always maintain my focus on my family.
There have been a few events in my life recently that remind me that life is just to short. I don't want to waste a single second of it. I want to live intentionally, enjoying every last second!
So, there it is. My Tech free week. as of today, 4-10, we are still TV free. We did have a family movie night last night, we watched Bill and Ted's Excellent Adventure. It was fun. The kids loved it. It was the first TV we had watched in 13 days, and it went right back off afterwards. I have been able to cut my internet use way down, and have gotten a lot more odd jobs done around the house. We are settling into a routine, and it seems to be working out nicely! I have to say, that giving up the TV is one of the best things we have done for our family! And it really wasn't as hard as I feared it would be.
Saturday, April 9, 2011
My Tech free week 4-2
This week of blog entries was written as a daily diary, the old fashioned way, in a spiral notebook, to be entered into the computer when my tech free week ends.
Day 6
Today is Saturday. Our first day stuck at home as a family. A normal Saturday would involve some sort of sports programing while my husband naps in the afternoon.
Lucky for us, the weather was beautiful. Shortly after breakfast was cleaned up, we all poured outside. We got the bikes out and cleaned out the garage. I took the opportunity to organize my garden stuff. That is about all I can do at this point since it will be to cold to plant for another 6 weeks at least.
It was fun to watch the kids play outside. We have been cooped up in the house since October. They were in absolute heaven! Riding bikes, skateboards, flying kites. The Boy even made his first ever bike ramp , and The Girl, not wanting to be outdone, promptly followed on her pink sparkly barbie bike.
At the end of the day we read books, did baths, and were so exhausted we didn't even think about the TV. This week has just blazed by!
Day 6
Today is Saturday. Our first day stuck at home as a family. A normal Saturday would involve some sort of sports programing while my husband naps in the afternoon.
Lucky for us, the weather was beautiful. Shortly after breakfast was cleaned up, we all poured outside. We got the bikes out and cleaned out the garage. I took the opportunity to organize my garden stuff. That is about all I can do at this point since it will be to cold to plant for another 6 weeks at least.
It was fun to watch the kids play outside. We have been cooped up in the house since October. They were in absolute heaven! Riding bikes, skateboards, flying kites. The Boy even made his first ever bike ramp , and The Girl, not wanting to be outdone, promptly followed on her pink sparkly barbie bike.
At the end of the day we read books, did baths, and were so exhausted we didn't even think about the TV. This week has just blazed by!
Friday, April 8, 2011
My Tech free week 4-1
This week of blog entries was written as a daily diary, the old fashioned way, in a spiral notebook, to be entered into the computer when my tech free week ends.
Day 5
Boredom has set in. I have managed to find time for some of those little odd jobs now that I am not wasting my life online. Today I cleaned the cupboards in the kitchen and set up a table in my living room so my seedlings can catch the south sun. We also ventured out into my mud bog / garden to work on cleaning that up a little and getting it ready to plant.
We started emptying out the compost bin, a lot of it is still frozen solid. We also pulled up past years corn stalks.
When we still had time left in the day, I managed to bake 2 loves of pumpkin bread, read to the kid's, prepared and cleaned up a meal, and played a few games as a family before bed. Its amazing the time I have found!
At day 5, I already pretty much know the outcome of this trail, but I will keep you in suspense for a few more days.
Day 5
Boredom has set in. I have managed to find time for some of those little odd jobs now that I am not wasting my life online. Today I cleaned the cupboards in the kitchen and set up a table in my living room so my seedlings can catch the south sun. We also ventured out into my mud bog / garden to work on cleaning that up a little and getting it ready to plant.
We started emptying out the compost bin, a lot of it is still frozen solid. We also pulled up past years corn stalks.
When we still had time left in the day, I managed to bake 2 loves of pumpkin bread, read to the kid's, prepared and cleaned up a meal, and played a few games as a family before bed. Its amazing the time I have found!
At day 5, I already pretty much know the outcome of this trail, but I will keep you in suspense for a few more days.
Thursday, April 7, 2011
My Tech free week 3-31
This week of blog entries was written as a daily diary, the old fashioned way, in a spiral notebook, to be entered into the computer when my tech free week ends.
Day 4
There isn't really much to say about today. We are settled into a new TV free routine. I quit reaching for the remote control first thing in the morning to catch the weather, and last thing before bed we have been talking instead of mindlessly watching Letterman. What a concept. Communication.
There was one really neat even this evening. The Baby took his first step! We were all goofing around at bath time, instead of watching TV when My daughter opened the door the little ones was balancing on, leaving his hands free, and since he has been walking on by, he continued to walk, taking 1 full step before falling. Since we were distraction free, all 4 of us saw it. What a special moment!
Day 4
There isn't really much to say about today. We are settled into a new TV free routine. I quit reaching for the remote control first thing in the morning to catch the weather, and last thing before bed we have been talking instead of mindlessly watching Letterman. What a concept. Communication.
There was one really neat even this evening. The Baby took his first step! We were all goofing around at bath time, instead of watching TV when My daughter opened the door the little ones was balancing on, leaving his hands free, and since he has been walking on by, he continued to walk, taking 1 full step before falling. Since we were distraction free, all 4 of us saw it. What a special moment!
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