obsession: homemade yogurt

Friends, I made homemade yogurt this week. One word: obsessed. I can hear it calling my name from the fridge long before lunchtime. The smooth, creamy texture combined with the summer's bounty freezer jam equals perfection. The price tag for such deliciousness is enough to make me giddy. We used to spend $5-$10 on Greek yogurt each week. Definitely not frugal...but I loved the convenient, protein-packed goodie for lunch and the hubster has a morning ritual of Greek yogurt and coffee. This homemade discovery will save us on average $12-24 a month. Ahh the thrill of beating the system and saving money! Yes, the process is a bit messy, and you do need to time the steps right, but the payoff is so worth it!

Ingredients:
Half gallon milk (whichever type you prefer - whole milk makes the creamiest and thickest)
Starter yogurt with live and active cultures (I used Wegman's plain Greek yogurt).

1. Heat milk on stove to 180 degrees to sterilize it. Be sure to stir often so your milk doesn't burn.
2. Let milk cool to 110-105 degrees. This takes anywhere from a half an hour to almost an hour. Setting your yogurt in a cool place on a cooling rack can speed this step up.
3. Add starter yogurt about 4 tbsp. Note: every recipe I read had different amounts.
4. Cover yogurt with towel and put in a warm place that will keep the yogurt warm and at a consistent temperature. An oven with the light on, a well-insulated cooler with some hot water in containers, an oven turned to 150 and then turned off once it reached it temperature, etc.
5. Let yogurt incubate 7-12 hours or overnight. Yogurt that's left longer has a stronger tangy flavor.
6. If you wish, strain yogurt to get a more Greek-like texture. A piece of muslin or cheese cloth allows the whey to strain out quite well (a strainer will not work).
7. Reserve some yogurt for your next batch.
8. Flavor the remaining yogurt with honey and vanilla to taste.
9. Pour about 3/4 c. into mason jars and refrigerate. Makes about 7 servings.

This recipe is based upon the wise words of my dear SIL aka the yogurt master, the recipe in Make the Bread, Buy the Butter cookbook by Jennifer Reese, and these two recipes from Spicie Foodie and Kitchen Stewardship.

A few notes:
- Whole milk makes the creamiest yogurt, but I used 1% for ours and it still tasted great, just a little thinner
-Don't forget to reserve some yogurt (and hide it from hungry tummies in your fridge). Otherwise, you'll have to buy another starter yogurt...not the end of the world, but no use spending money when you don't have to.
- Freezer jam works great for "fruit on the bottom" style, but granola, fresh fruits, muesli, and cereal are all great mix ins. Experiment and try to recreate your favorite flavors at home.

Next week I'll be attempting to recreate pineapple Greek yogurt. I'm thinking pineapple and a little sweetener mashed together and maybe some shredded coconut and almonds on top. Hey, if it's going to be as cold as they say, I might as well make our fruit taste like we're living in the tropics!

<a href="http://www.bloglovin.com/blog/4636411/?claim=c78w3k48hq4">Follow my blog with Bloglovin</a>

frugal find: zinio magazine app

Favorite new frugal find: Zinio. Heard of it? It's a magazine app, but the best thing about it is I can make an account through my library's website and read magazines for FREE.  Only catch - you need a library card and pin number. Not to get on my soap box or anything, but if you don't have a library card-get moving! Free books. Free dvds. Free online tutoring. Free audiobooks and ebooks. Free storytimes. Free interactive children's books. Free games. And now magazines straight to your device from the comfort of your own abode. Country Living. Eating Well. Martha Stewart Living. Newsweek. National Geographic. Consumer Reports. Saveur. Good Housekeeping. ESPN (the hubster fav). Food Network Magazine. And the list continues! There are a few of my favorites missing, but I'm hoping the library will continue to add more magazines to their subscriptions as popularity for the app grows.

Here's the link and how it works:

1) Log in with library card and pin number. 

2) Set up an account.

3) Download app from app store (or you can choose to just read on your computer if you don't have an i-anything)

4) Choose which magazines you wish to read and they will be automatically added to your library.

5) Check back every so often for the newest issues.

Pull up a cozy reading chair, pour some hot tea, and get reading on this rainy Wednesday! (Shameless plug for reading and the library is now over :)

Frugal(ish) in 2013

A move, the holidays, family, food, friends, gift-making, more food...my defense for the long silence on this blog. Life just got in the way. Happy news though - I have resolved to be more frugal in 2013!  

My list of frugal projects and resolutions in 2013:

1. Make my own bread each week. Potential savings of $3 a week multiplied by 52 weeks = $156! I made my first loaf of batter bread yesterday. It looked beautiful until I cut into it and found a large air pocket whoops...it still tasted great. There aren't many smells that compare with homemade bread baking in the oven. It instantly turns our little condo into a cozy, happy abode. 

2. Reunite with my sewing skills. Little know fact: I took sewing lessons in elementary school. Our new place needs pillows and curtains plus there are thousands of pinterest sewing projects ready to be  conquered.

3. Eliminate food waste. No, it's not about being green. It's about the money that's thrown down the drain when food goes bad because it's forgotten in the fridge. Yesterday, I threw away an avocado and two sweet potatoes. Sad day. 

4. Make our own yogurt and mozzarella. Ambitious, but we spend SO much on cheese and Greek yogurt each month. If I can reduce our grocery bills with some old-fashioned elbow grease then I'll consider myself successful. 

I leave you with a delicious holiday treat, Chocolate Orange Truffles! Everyone loved these melt-in-your mouth decadent chocolates at our Christmas gatherings.

The hubster's response after eating one was, "You MADE this?!?" and my brothers quite literally swooned over them. You can find the basic recipe from allrecipes.com here. I did change the recipe by substituting orange juice for orange liqueur and rolling the outsides in chopped almonds to help them keep their shape, minimize any fingerprints, and add a little crunch. Make these for Valentine's Day or any day - you won't be disappointed!

the four letter word: free!

What human doesn't love that four letter word - free? In the true spirit of being frugal(ish), I am always on the look out for deals and even better...freebies! Target's sample spot has quickly become a favorite! The only problem is the samples go quickly, so you have to check back often or let the deal queen bloggers remind you when a sample is available.

Personally, I thoroughly enjoyed this sample for lunch...

Yes, I had cereal for lunch. Don't judge - it has 5g of protein! I actually had been wanting to try the brand, but the price for a bigger bag of granola was a bit steep for us. Not only was the cereal delicious, but they sent along a coupon too! I love me some coupons and I love that we can try out new brands and products for free! So for all you bargain hunters and freebie lovers, here's the link for Target's Sample Spot. Happy hunting!

quick apple butter coffee cake

Well, Sandy came and left her mark... Thankfully, we faired much better than our neighbors and the lights have finally come back on. I decided I needed a baking pick-me-up after watching hours of news coverage of the devastation in our area, at the shore, and in NYC. If I could I'd send the people affected by Sandy some homemade tomato soup, cheesy grilled cheese, and this scrumptious apple butter coffee cake - the ultimate comfort foods to warm the bellies and hearts of those in need. Our prayers are with all of those who have had their lives turned upside down by the storm.

This recipe was originally adapted from a raspberry coffee cake recipe my mom made growing up for breakfast munching, a simple brunch dish, or a yummy dessert. Our spotted-yet-still-yummy apples we picked needed to be used, mom had recently made some spicy homemade apple butter, and I was craving a fallish dessert....insert this tasty little number:

Isn't it pretty?! I'm a firm believer that good food tastes even better when it looks pretty. Love the drippy icing and crisscrossed golden crust! Other seasonal fruits or local delish jams can be substituted in for the filling. It will still taste wonderful! I promise.

This delicious coffee cake may not be made out of the cheapest ingredients possible, but we buy Bisquick for times when we're in a pinch or for when the hubster tries his hand at breakfast or pigs in a blanket. I also have the benefit of raiding my mom's canning stash for my culinary experiments at no cost. So friends buy the Bisquick when it's on sale with a coupon and use your favorite jam if you aren't an apple fan. Happy Baking!



Quick Apple Butter Coffee Cake

Ingredients:
Dough-
3 oz. cream cheese (I used the 1/3less fat cream cheese)
1/4 c. cold butter
2 c. bisquick
1/3 c. milk (we are a 2% family)

Filling-
1/2 c. apple butter
1 c. apples, peeled and chopped (for added flavor, toss in cinnamon sugar mixture)

Icing-
1 c. sifted powder sugar
1/4 tsp. vanilla
1 1/2 tbsp. milk


Directions:
Preheat oven to 425 degrees. Cut cream cheese and butter into Bisquick mix until crumbly then blend in milk. Turn dough onto lightly floured surface. Knead 8 to 10 times on wax paper. Roll dough into 12 by 18 inch rectangle. Turn dough onto greased baking sheet (or onto parchment lines sheet) and remove wax paper. Spread apple butter down the center of the rectangle of dough then sprinkle the apples on top of apple butter. Make 2 inch long and 1 inch wide slits on both long sides of the rectangle. Fold slits over the filling. Bake for 12-15 minutes or until the dough pastry is slightly golden. Do not over bake unless you want a dry pastry. Mix the ingredients for the icing together and drizzle over the coffee cake while still warm.

Enjoy!