34 thoughts on “Yummy Yoghurt”

  1. What you would need:

    Milk – you can make cheap, near-perfect yoghurt in bulk with milk powder. Currently the cheapest brand Everyday full cream is my preference. Milk is milk. When it becomes yoghurt, the brand doesn’t matter anymore.

    Yogurt starter

    How to do it:

    Add yogurt starter. Add the yogurt starter to the milk* and stir. You can purchase yogurt starter from health/organic shops or use existing yogurt (get the plain ones – those without any flavours and additives) from supermarkets. Be certain it has “active/live cultures” stated on the label. Use 2 tablespoons of the yogurt for 1 litre of milk. If you are using powdered yogurt starter, add the amount according to the instruction on the label.

    *If you purchase fresh milk, allow it to warm to near-room temperature before putting in the starter (about 1 hour; not too long, or else the milk may spoil).

    Allow the yogurt bacteria to incubate. Wait until the yogurt is thick, about the consistency of pudding. This takes about 12-16 hours. Do not stir or shake the yogurt during this period. If you like your yoghurt less sourish and super quick, you can even try 2 hours.

    The yogurt is ready to be eaten. A thin yellow liquid will form on the top. It is called whey and is perfectly edible. You can add in fruits and/or jam for better taste and nutrition. Explore with different combinations! Store any uneaten portion in the refrigerator.

  2. The health benefits are:

    Yoghurt is rich in potassium, calcium, protein and B vitamins, including B-12.

    Research shows yoghurt strengthens and stabilizes the immune system.

    The lactobacillus in yoghurt feeds the intestines, maximizes nutrients you can absorb into your body, insures the digestive system stays healthy, and stabilizes the immune system.

    “Yoghurt has strong medicinal properties, including the ability to stimulate the immune system and kill bad “bugs” or bacteria in the human gut. …research at the University of California at Davis showed that eating live-culture yoghurt was associated with higher-than-average levels of gamma interferon, a key component of the body’s immune system.”(1)

    Lactose in milk is converted by Yogurt’s bacteria into lactic acid which helps digest lactose or dairy products.

    The lactic acid of yoghurt is a perfect medium to maximize calcium absorption.

    Yoghurt is one of those foods that you can eat to enhance your HCL production thus improving your digestion, vitamin and mineral absorption, and your bodies general well being.

    Research shows women who eat 4 cups of yoghurt/week have less vaginal and bladder infections.

    Yoghurt can be used as an effective douche.

    (Don’t ask me how the last two items work. I copied it without reading the lurid details.)

  3. Recipe:

    Want to grow tall, dark and beautiful. Steven is the living proof of the efficacy of the following healthy breakfast or desert complement

    Yoghurt + goji (count up to max 15 units according to Steven; I put in a copious amount. Prefer to live on the wild side.)

    Add in combine nuts and/or fruits to taste as an option.

  5. Hi KT,

    I have been looking for this receipe for so long. When I am in India each time, I just love the yoghurt.

    Do you have a recommendation for the starter yoghurt? I mean brand name.

    Can you use dry powdered milk? Also which type and how much do you need to make 1 litre of yoghurt.

    Terence

  7. Terence

    Starter yoghurt is very easy and free.

    Just ask your indian neighbour. If it is a family, chance is that they make their own yoghurt. Just a spoonful will do.

    Then before you finish the batch leave some behind to start the next culture.

    I have always two batches in hand. When I finish the first, I eat the second and proceed to make the third.

    Just follow the dry milk powder instructions. If you make a bowl you get a bowl. My advice is to make sure that it is covered during the incubation to refrigeration stage. Also use a glass or metal container. Those with a plastic seal lid will be fine. But don’t use plastic container. Some say it gives a plasticky taste.

    To test qualtiy, strain the yoghurt for the yellow liquid (this is natural, edible and healthy; I take it together with my yoghurt all the time. Whey is the clear liquid that separates out from the yoghurt. It is slightly laxative and very good for the kidneys. It contains helpful bacteria which are good for the intestines. Whey is also high in minerals and a source of protein. For children it is helpful in developing the long bones of the body but stop when you are half way to Steven. hee hee. Use it in smoothies, to make soup, oatmeal, or in any place where you can add a nutritional liquid.). Check the solid residue which is called yoghurt cheese. It should be white. If it is not, the milk powder that you used may be suspect. This doesn’t depend on brand or price of milk powder. In fact, I have found that the cheapest milk powder (Everyday – full cream) in the market gives more consistent result than some of the more expensive brands.

    If you make your milk thicker, you will get thicker yoghurt. But don’t overdo this. Test to taste and consistency.

    Remember that what you have is an active culture. (that’s why it can be used to start infinite batches for you). So eat it fresh and don’t leave it too long. Refrigeration will slow its growth but will not stop it altogether.

  8. Here’s the best part.

    Starting from milk powder, you save a lot of money if you make your own yoghurt. Now you can have your natural, probiotic yoghurt daily at a fraction of the price.

    You save even more with flavoured yoghurt (just blend in cheap jam) or mixed yoghurt (just mix in dice or cut fruits) or yoghurt shake (blend in with syrup/fruit juice and ice)

    Try coffee with plenty thick yoghurt on top and chocolate chips. Like cuppacino. Its has a bit sour undertone. Impress your friends. Tell them it is the most expensive coffee in the world – civet coffee (ie cat shit beans).

  9. Hi KT

    Yes, before your post sound a sililoquy, yoghurt making should be easy and cheap.

    There are many kits sold on the market, but these require you to buy an expensive “starter” and an electrical yoghurt maker.

    Check with your “Indian” neighbour, or use a small jar of natural yoghurt from your supermarket as your starter.

    Yoghurt needs about 110 C to form and, so, you have some yoghurt makers which keep the mixture at this constant temperature.

    Otherwise, do as your neighbour: put the jar in the sun!

  11. Ken @ #9,10

    Now you tell us…….

    Too late. Chao Ta. Yoghurt turned to carbon.

    I have tried room temperature too for incubation and it works fine. Much more convenient. I think the cover is the key because the culture creates its own heat and our ambient temp is warm. Experiment and enjoy.

    Yah. I am begining to feel like Pava Roti on Swan Song. It’s sounding like a tenor solo on Yoghurt.

  12. After a laborious exercise of mixing milk powder with this & that, and heating the paste for a certain period at a given temperature, what you get is yoghurt. Eureka !

    Less eureka for me. Since young, I hv been converting yoghurt in my mouth using the same staple ingreduent and a free flow of saliva, at a higher temperature if I had a fever, and the yoghurt tastes as good as those carried in supermarts.

    An unexpected benefit comes with it. I get an extra coating of enamel. Problem is, my kiddo is less than enamoured with this enamel and so has refused to follow her dad to make oral yoghurt.

  13. yogurt is wonderful. the organic yogurt starter can last a long long time. juz a small amount can make a delicious fresh yogurt. recommend for those who don’t eat yogurt regularly as you can keep in the fridge and last for yrs.
    blending fresh bananas or mango with fresh yogurt taste simply wonderful. like KT said, jam can works wonder too.

    it aids digestion, helps rid the intestines of toxins and get rid of those ‘heatiness’.

    but an important word of advice here;
    ‘avoid eating yogurt after sunset. it is too ‘cooling’ and can weaken the body system.’ this is taught in the yogic lifestyle.

    happy yogurting!
    jeremy

  14. The objective of making your own Yoghurt, other than cheaper cost, is to get rid of the fat in milk, sugar and the artificial flavours. I am using a one litre electrical Yoghurt pot. Suggest use low fat milk powder. If you like your Yoghurt a bit sweet you can add raw honey.

    Cheers, Alice Seah

  15. Hmm, Alice, KT, I went down to Mustaffa this morning, and could not find the Yoghurt pot. Where did you get yours? And how much is it? Mati mati, must get one, and start my own yoghurt, with fruits blended into it.

    Terence

  16. “You get the yoghurt from Mustafa only if you ask for the 7ft singh first.”

    —-everything above is a joke——-

    Somebody remarked that you are innocent. I didn’t belive it then.

    In Raja’s story writing thread, I was teasing Alice about getting a 7 ft singh from Mustafa together with her TV.

    You won’t get a yoghurt starter from an Indian shop. Every self-respecting Indian family make their own yoghurt. It is a strong family tradition.

    Never mind. When we meet next week (with Chris/Edwin) I will bring a sample of my priceless maharaja seed stock for you to start your pedigree yoghurt lineage. Get your milk powder ready at home.

    You’ll have super yummy yoghurt for the next 9 generations.

  17. Oei KT, me Joy (Joyful, Joyous, enJoy, enJoyable, enJoying, Joy to the world, sing for Joy, tollyJoy) not Alice, unless there was an Alice wanting to get a TV too?

  18. Joy @ #17

    Thousand apologies.

    Yes. 7 ft tall, dark and handsome is of course all yours. How could I have made the mistake.

    How did Alice come in between?

    So did you get your man …huh… TV from M.

  19. Hi Wong kT,

    Why you so Maung Cha Cha ?

    Need a 7 ft.Autar Singh selling TV ?

    Walau TV must be GIGANTIC indeed.

    Joy is not = Alice.
    Too much of inline trading lately hah until blurr?

    Happy Yogurting,
    Steven
    Steven

  20. Hi Wong kT,

    Why you so Maung Cha Cha ?

    Need a 7 ft.Autar Singh selling TV ?

    Walau TV must be GIGANTIC indeed.

    Joy is not = Alice.
    Too much of inline trading lately hah until blurr?

    It was a mistake and deal with it.

    Happy Yogurting,
    Steven
    Steven

  21. hi terence & gang,
    if you are serious about getting a yogurt maker and yogurt culture powder, I can get you the shop name & address in landmark. used to be at rochore now moved there.
    very friendly, knowledgeable and reasonable people running the shop. of course it is my friend lah! so juz write to me and I can give you the address. tot maybe improper to list it here as dun want to be seen as promoting.

    cheers! jeremy
    jereme7@gmail.com

  22. Jeremy,

    You don’t need a yoghurt maker etc. Its just like breeding. Letting your dogs watch blue films is not likely to improve their pedigree issue.

    Similarly, if you have good starter culture you will have good issue. I don’t know about dry powder stuff. But it seems easier, cheaper and more assured to ask for a fresh active and proven culture.

    My starter stock requires a ratification of the Biological Weapons Non-Proliferation Treaty before I can issue it to Terence! That’s how potent it is.

    Hee-hee.

  23. Hi Jeremy,

    I have problems with temperature, amount of powder, how much time to set, and so I will resign to relying on the yoghurt maker. Can you give me the name and tel number? I will get one by Tuesday next week.

    Terence Seah

  25. Hi Joy,

    Lily wrote…….Better not hor. What KT meant was : “TALL AND HANDSOME IN THE DARK.”

    Beware “SHORT and UGLY in the BRIGHT.”Ha! Ha!

    Steven

  26. KT, I didn’t get the 7ft TV and didn’t get the 32″ man.

    I went to Courts Bt Timah mega car park sale on Wednesday. I liked the The Sharp and Sony LCD models. The images looked sharp (ah but then) when they played HD DVDs. The free to air channels didn’t look as good as my 10 year old Sony 21″ TV.

    So, I called the Sony repair man and he came on Thursday morning. Blimey !*#%, the TV decided to work again!

    We stood waiting and waiting for it to fail. The man looked at me, I looked at him (of course we sheepishly stole glances at the TV now and then, yeah, it was a distraction), I thanked him for visiting me, paid $21.40 for services rendered (what ah?) and thought $21.40 could have bought me a coupla of mooncakes…

    Ah, but then, that’s another story of afternoon delight…

  27. Lily @#24 & Joy @#26

    Dear Girls,

    We must have hope.

    And infinite patience. Your tall dream can come true.

    Close your eyes. Breathe deeply. Can you see it now?

    In a flash of lightning on a dark and stormy night.

    You. He.

    “Singhing in the Rain ….”

    Canto-style of course.

  28. Steven @#25

    Girls. Short is good too.

    Like Peter said. Turn your mistake into an opportunity.

    Its only a question of perspective to see the merits in every case. For example,

    Lift up your dwarf next time you dance and swing him around. All round exercise. Strengthen you arms, chest and back at the same time.

    Feel sorry for the girl with Steven. She risks breaking her teeth on his belt buckle at the next turn.

  31. Steven, you sticking your big Toe and small toe in this yoghurt tub?

    “le” is French for “the” for male objects. So, let me try to translate what you are saying :-

    The big male Toe is uhm-ming the small female toe in the can of tomatoes.

  32. Oei Steven, don’t run away for your tuition. I can understand some Cantonese when it is spoken, but when it is written as Cantonglish…hmmm

    Translate leh…

  33. Hi Joy,

    …..Le Nam Toe uhm toe in Canto.literally translated as
    ” you think of what” ?

    ..”Not The big male Toe is uhm-ming the small female toe in the can of tomatoes.” ????

    Steven

  34. hi KT,
    you may be right but these dry stuff may be more convenient for those who do not intend to make yogurt regularly as the shelf life is quite good.

    terence,
    usually the way I check my temperature is to dip my finger and if I can leave it in there for like 3 seconds, than that’s about right.
    I then add the culture and pour them into a ‘vacumn’ container and leave it for awhile before I keep it in the fridge. usually I may leave it overnight.

    here’s the addy:
    Nutrimax Organic
    02-30, Golden Landmark
    Edwin Low.

    hope this help. btw, suggest you buy one more thing to add into the ‘should-have’.
    Organic apple-cider vinegar. ask him to explain to you the benefits.

    stay well & be happy!
    jeremy

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