Very Productive Day/Hamemade Yogurt in a Crockpot

Today was a very fun filled day.  I took my 2 1/2 yr old boy along with his puppy, Sachi for a nice 3ml slushy, muddy snow trekking.  He slept most of the way except the last mile.  He woke up and started screaming with delight as I pushed him in his Trex.  I too was screaming with the same pleasure as my heavy, muddy shoes hit the ground.
Needless to say my lower extremities were covered in dirt. None the less, it was still a lot of fun.

After our run, I did 3 loads of laundry, made a homemade dish soap that I got from One Good Thing By Jillee, I love her website/blog.  I ran out of dish soap and I came upon her site and decided to give her homemade dish soap a try.  I had all the ingredients at home and let me tell you I love it!!!!! and it smells so wonderful makes you want to do dishes all day.  Than while my soap was setting, I baked bread for the very first time without using bread maker (the one I had broke a year ago and never made bread since) .  Thanks to my wonderful, sweet friend Amy who shared her recipe.  Recipe called for 6 cups whole wheat flour and I only had 2 3/4 cups of it so I just used regular flour which I had a lot for the rest of what the recipe called for.  Bread turned out really good.  I was intimidated at first but I'm glad I gave it a try.  My friend Amy and her husband, Ben and their sweet little girl, Ellie Mae joined us for dinner and they all love my homemade bread.  For dinner I made meat balls in the crock pot.  Love my crock pot.  All I had to do a few minutes before serving dinner was cooked the pasta.  I served dinner with the homemade delicious bread.

So since last year I've been making my own homemade detergent liquid and powdered.  I like them both.  I have also been making my own fabric softener.  I now just made my very first dish soap.  I make my own moisturizer/lotion I share with my son.  We both love the smell.  My son always tells me whenever I apply it on him "yummy mommy, I like it a lot" the best compliment.  My next quest is to make homemade shampoo, conditioner, facial cleanser, facial mask, bar soap, candles, and much more.  They are so many things to learn from the internet that you don't have to rely on store bought stuffs you use daily and when you make them, it gives you a very satisfaction feeling.

pouring in the yogurt mixture in the warm milk

Here is my own homemade yogurt recipe I just made today:Homemade Yogurt In A Crock Pot

Crock pot
Thermometer 
Beach or bath towel (no you're not going to the beach.  ha! ha!)

2 c powdered dry milk (optional) this makes yogurt creamy and thicker
1/2  c sugar (optional) this is the 2nd time I made my yogurt and wanted to add sugar this time. I like my yogurt sweet. 
1 c plain good quality yogurt or a cup from your previous homemade yogurt made.  I stored a cup for this purpose when I first made my yogurt so I wouldn't need to buy.  So on my second time I only had to buy milk which was $2.54 for a gallon.  

In the crock pot add the milk, powdered dry milk and sugar.  Stir and turn your crock pot on high and cover with the lid.  Let milk mixture sit until temperature reaches 180-185 degree F.  It took about 3hrs and 15min for mine to reach 185.  Turn crock pot off and let mixture cool down to 115 deg. F.  Then in a small bowl combine 1/2c yogurt to a cup of warm milk mixture, stir until completely blend then pour to your warm milk mixture with the rest of your yogurt.  Now the fun part.... the waiting game:)  put the lid back on your crock pot and wrap with a towel to keep warm and insulated let it stand on your counter for 10-12 hrs or until the next day.  There you have it your own homemade delicious yogurt.  Make sure you put aside a cup of yogurt for your next yogurt  making.   I stored mine in mason jars and recycled yogurt containers.  Keep it refrigerated.  I put mines in the back of my fridge where it is the coldest.  It should be good for 10-14 days.  If you think you can't consume all within 14 days just put some in the freezer or share some with you friends or have yogurt party.  You can also use it as face mask by itself or add 1/2 of very ripe avocado and 2 Tbsp of honey to 1/4 c of your yogurt make a nice smooth texture using spoon or spatula. Apply on face and neck.  Enjoy your homemade  yogurt/avocado mask while you eat the rest of your avocado with your salad or sandwich. Leave mask on for 10-20 minutes rinse off really good and viola! you have a radiating face.  This is really good for dry skin like mines.:):):)

 My yogurt mixed with warm milk ready to pour int the milk mixture

This is how it looks w yogurt mix

Wrapped in beach towel.  Now wait for just 10-12 hrs or overnight.

Afternoon Delight

It sure was an afternoon delight.  I went for a 5 ml run with my 2 dogs, Storm and Sachi on a slushy snow while hubby and T followed us in the 4wheeler.  It was pretty slushy with the snow melting but a lot of fun never the less.  I felt like a little kid running in the mud/snow:)  While I was running I had this imaged in my head:  If I was to race with my 20s' and 30s' self, I would beat them both.  First the 20s' self would have her ass left behind.  She lack focus, discipline and she was more into weight lifting than running. She wanted to have a body like Corey Everson ha! ha! thank goodness for my mom when I told her that I wanted to have a body like Corey Everson, my mom's reply was 'you better not come home!' ha! ha!.... What do you think I did? of course I listened to my mom, blessed her heart that one.  I would have died of starvation otherwise. Ha! ha! My 30s' self, I would beat her at the last mile.  She has focus, discipline & drive.  But I'm 40 and some months old now and I am in better shape and has a lot more experienced. Ha! ha! So there you have it, I kicked both my 20s' & 30s' self ass!!!! ha! ha!  Getting older is not necessary mean that life is dissipating....it just begun. 

After our afternoon delight,  I made us a very delicious tuna sandwich than off we went outside to work.  Hubby cleaned up after our dogs' pile of crap, and tidy up the shed and rid of some stuffs.  I cleaned our girls' (chickens) barn.  It was not a very pleasant job at all.  One thing for sure our girls are very happy.  Takoda kept himself entertained playing outside, chasing chickens ha! ha!  It was the first time this year that our chickens got to enjoy themselves outside.  It sure was a wonderful sight watching them.  We can't wait when all the snow melt and they can all be foraging outside instead of being coop in their lovely home.  We get 3-5 eggs everyday now that it is warmer.  Takoda and I may have to start an egg stand on our drive way.  ha! ha!  

Well I've been learning a lot about homestead, sustainable living.  I will be making homemade mayonnaise, I'm already making my own yogurt.  I just learned how to make substitute heavy cream, cake flour, ricotta cheese, half & half, homemade deodorant, toothpaste, shampoo, conditioner, baby powder, lotion/moisturizer, and more.  I've also been making my own laundry detergent and softner for 2 yrs now.  I am loving it.  The less we spend the better and most importantly I know what I'm giving my family and it's all good.  No harmful chemicals.  When we have another child I think I will do cloth diaper, I grow up with cloth diaper.  I will make my own wipes too.  Life is good.

Good day you all!!!