My Attempts to Live Off-Grid.
So, ever since I got a bread-maker a year ago at Christmas, I've been making my own bread, which is really cool. I have a book that describes about 500 different types of bread and has recipes for at least 200. Making bread is so much cheaper than buying, and a five pound bag of bread flour yields about a half-dozen loaves. My favorite type to make is milk-enriched because it's softer and lasts longer. I just finished making a milk loaf tonight but I still might try my hand at pita because it looks very easy. The only trick I've found so far is to add about a third cup extra water to any bread recipe, this arid climate demands it. The ingredients for basic bread are surprisingly simple: bread flour, water, easy-rise yeast, sugar, salt, and occasionally milk. The bread-maker only takes about five minutes to set up, then in three hours you have fresh bread. The pita, of course, will take more hand work than a regular loaf does.
Anyhow, I'm particularly impressed with myself today because I've managed to make my own yogurt. I have a dairy service that delivers, once-weekly, half a gallon of milk to me for the same price as I would spend to get it at the supermarket. Sometimes I don't use it all before the next delivery date comes around, so I thought I'd learn how to make yogurt to keep it from going to waste. I used the recipe on-line at http://fiascofarm.com/dairy/yogurt.htm because they seemed to have the simplest system, suggested using any live-culture yogurt as a starter, didn't insist on expensive equipment, and listed several variations on how to incubate it. It was shockingly easy, and right now I have about 26oz of homemade yogurt cooling in my fridge. I'm so excited! Now all I have to do is remember to save a few tablespoons as starter for next time.
Wow, I had no idea I was so health-minded.
Anyhow, I'm particularly impressed with myself today because I've managed to make my own yogurt. I have a dairy service that delivers, once-weekly, half a gallon of milk to me for the same price as I would spend to get it at the supermarket. Sometimes I don't use it all before the next delivery date comes around, so I thought I'd learn how to make yogurt to keep it from going to waste. I used the recipe on-line at http://fiascofarm.com/dairy/yogurt.htm because they seemed to have the simplest system, suggested using any live-culture yogurt as a starter, didn't insist on expensive equipment, and listed several variations on how to incubate it. It was shockingly easy, and right now I have about 26oz of homemade yogurt cooling in my fridge. I'm so excited! Now all I have to do is remember to save a few tablespoons as starter for next time.
Wow, I had no idea I was so health-minded.