Homemade Yogurt- Try New Adventures Thursday

I have been wanting to do this for some time now but just couldn't find the time.  I am so happy that I finally took the jump and made my very own homemade yogurt.  It is so creamy and yummy.  I can't keep the boys out of it:)  Plus I don't have to worry about what is in it- like preservatives, artificial stuff and loads of sugar.  I know whats in it- I made it:)

I found a great tutorial and got to work:

I was lucky to find a half gallon of whole milk at Kroger marked down to 1.89 and used 1 Kroger brand vanilla yogurt cup.

First, I poured the half gallon of milk into the crockpot.

I cooked it on low for 2 and a half hours.  I then unplugged it and let it sit for 3 hours.

After letting it sit for 3 hours, I took out 2 cups of the warm milk and added my cup of vanilla yogurt and whisked it real good.

And added it back into the crockpot with the rest of the warm milk.

I put the top back on and wrapped a nice big warm towel around it and tucked it under real good and let it sit for 8 hours.  I think the sitting of the mixture was the hardest part:) 

I went on with my day and tried to patiently wait for the 8 long hours to pass so I could see my glorious creation.  Finally, 8 hours was up.  I unwrapped the towel with delight- you would have thought it was Christmas, I was so excited.  I opened the lip and scooped out the nice and creamy yogurt into a container to once again wait.  It was a little on the runny side. So, I put the yogurt into a container and put it in the fridge to thicken up.

We have yogurt- YEA!!!  I was surprised when the boys ate it plain.  I also use it to make smoothies- Mmmmm:) 

It was so easy to make.  Waiting was the hardest part.  And the votes are in- the boys give it 2 thumbs up.  No more buying yogurt at the store for us:)

Well, that is our new adventure for this beautiful rainy Thursday.  What new adventure did you do today?

This post is linked up to Alicia's Homemaking Try New Adventures Thursday

Homemade brownies- Try New Adventures Thursday

I must admit I have never made homemade brownies.  I have always run to the store and bought a box of brownie mix and made it.  This last time I ran to the store to buy brownie mix, I was floored by the amount it went up.  I wondered if I could make brownies that tasted great.  So, I set out for the perfect brownie recipe.  I found Laura from Heavenly Homemakers recipe and decided to give it a try- it looked incredibly easy.  I didn't have all the same ingredients, so I did substitute:

Chocolate Chip Brownies (without the chocolate chips)
1 stick butter, melted
1 C sugar
1/4 C Cocoa powder
1 egg
1 tsp vanilla
3/4 C Flour
1/2 C chocolate chips- which I left out (Laura makes her own chocolate chips- how cool is that)

Stir in melted butter, sugar & Cocoa.  Mix in eggs and vanilla.  Stir in flour.  Fold in chocolate chips.  Bake in 8X8 pan at 350 degrees for 20 minutes.

I doubled this recipe for a 9X13 pan and baked for 30 minutes.

Yummy Chocolate goodness before baking

The finished product- looks so good

I was so excited about how easy it was to make and how yummy it looked after baking.  It was hard to let it cool.  My whole house smelled of chocolatey goodness- Mmmmm:)  I had to taste test it to make sure if was safe to eat- at least thats my story:)  It was sooo good.  The boys could hardly wait until dessert time.  They gave it a huge thumbs up and in the recipe box this recipe goes to make often:)

This post is linked up to Alicia's Homemaking Try New Adventures Thursday

Frozen Hot Chocolate~ Try New Adventures Thursday

Today was such a long day.  I had to get up early and run some errands, then get back home to eat lunch and go to the elementary school and the high school to meet the boys teachers.  Then had to fix dinner when we got home.  Luckily, we had breakfast, so it was easy to prepare.  The boys kept asking me what they could have for dessert.  I was trying to come up with something easy and creative.  Then it hit me- a couple of months ago, Kevin had found a coupon for Dunkin Donuts for a free cup of frozen hot chocolate.  He thought it was so delicious.  I found it to be too sweet.

I looked through the cabinets and realized we had hot chocolate packets- YEA!!!  I pulled out:

My GE Single Serve blender, hot water, ice and hot chocolate packets.  Lets see if we can recreate the frozen hot chocolate.

I took 1 packet of hot chocolate mix and put it in the cup of the blender.  I then added ice cubes all the way to the top and filled the cup with hot water.  Put the blade on the cup and inserted in the blender.

I mixed it for a couple of seconds and took the top off and I was pleasantly surprised- it worked.  I had made frozen hot chocolate:

Sorry it is so dark.  With the flash on you couldn't see it clearly.  Now that the boys are all excited about this concoction, the next thing is the test taste.  They give it a ....

Thumbs up- they loved it:  Not too sweet- just right.  I was so pleased I was able to make this so easily.  So, that is my new adventure today:)

This post is linked to Alicia's Homemaking Try New Adventure Thursday