Why yogurt is good for you and here's a step-by-step guide to make your own yoghurt using the most basic kitchen equipment without any yoghurt maker

Make yogurt one of your body's best friends

A good natural yogurt not only great for overall health and wellness, it is packed with beneficial probiotics and is an excellent source of calcium, potassium, magnesium, zinc, and vitamins B2 and B12.   Well, we may be consuming yogurt very often, but not all of us are really aware of its benefits. Knowingly or unknowingly, yogurt affects our health in many ways. There are many lesser known ways in which we can use yogurt to take the most out of it. 

To motivate you to include yogurt in your daily diet, here are 10 proven health benefits:
1. Supports Healthy Digestion
2. Lowers the Risk of Type 2 Diabetes
3. Lowers the Risk of Colorectal Cancer
4. Increases Bone Density & May Help Prevent Osteoporosis
5. Supports Weight Loss and Increases Fat Loss
6. Boosts the Immune System
7. Reduces High Blood Pressure
8. Reduces Bad Cholesterol
9. Regulates Moods
10. May Help Treat Chronic Pain & Brain-Related Illnesses
Do click here for more indepth info of yogurt goodness.

I started making my own yogurt more than 15 years ago and my children started taking homemade yogurt since they were kids.  My youngest girl is a 'yogurt princess' since young.  She never gets tired of eating yogurt!!  At the rate they consume yogurt, I would have burnt a  big hole in my pocket if I would have bought it.  So, that's how I started making my own homemade yogurt 15 years ago!!!  It's pretty easy and I am sure most people know how to make yogurt.  There are numerous ways to make yogurt, and everyone seems to have their favorite method.    However, my method is the simplest as I only used the most basic kitchen tool without the need of any crockpot, yogurt maker, heating pad, etc.

This post is actually specially written for a special friend who had tried making yogurt before but, alas, unsuccessful.  So, here's a step-by-step guide for her and all those out there who have not been successful in homemade yogurt.

Culturing time is an important factor in making good yogurt. The amount of time the yogurt cultures depends on your taste and texture preference. In general, the longer yogurt cultures, the more tart and thick it will become.

Ingredients :

- 1 litre of pasteurized milk (I used Farm Fresh milk)

- 1 cup of store bought unflavored yogurt - for first timer (I used my previous batch of yogurt)

Tools :

- 2 or 3 sterilized glass containers (I poured boiling hot water over clean containers and set aside to dry)

- pot (I used vision pot)

Method :

1)  Pour milk into pot and boil over low fire.

2)  Keep stirring to prevent the milk from scorching at the bottom of the pot.

3)  See, the milk has started to heat up.

4)  Once small bubbles start to form, you can off the heat.

5)  Set it aside uncovered (or use a food cover) till the milk is just comfortably warm enough to the touch.  

6)  Then, add the unflavored yogurt (it can be from your previous batch or store bought) into the pot of warm milk. 

7)  Gently stir and mix well so that the yogurt dissolve well into the milk. 

8)  Pour the inoculated milk into the containers, cover and leave it at room temperature to be fermented. (Do reserve some of the homemade yogurt - about a cup, for your next batch of homemade yogurt).  It takes about 6-8 hours depending on the weather.  

9)  After about 6-8 hours (or  longer, if the weather is cool), the yogurt should be firm. See how the spoon sits steadily on top of the freshly made yogurt!  Sometimes you can see some slight yellowish, viscous liquid on the top of the yogurt. This is whey and it's edible!. Do not throw it away.

10)  Cover and keep in the refrigerator.  It stays good between 2 to 3 weeks.  (This pic was taken the following day and just out of the refrigerator).  However, we tend to finish these 3 bowls of yogurt within a week or sometimes, within 3 days!!!!!

All thumbs up to homemade yogurt!!!

See.... the yogurt is firm and it's homemade!!!

Homemade yogurt is creamy and delightfully yummy!!

Homemade yogurt is healthy and inexpensive too....

Have a healthy and happy week ahead.  Cheer!!

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Sorry to inform that for the time being, I have disabled comment box as I won't be able to return visit to my fellow bloggers who are kind enough to drop me a line or two. The comment box will be enabled when I am not so tied up with my work schedule. However, you may contact me by leaving your message or comment at SIMPLY BEAUTIFUL AND HEALTHY LIVING FACEBOOK. My sincere apologies for any inconvenience caused. Thanks for visiting my blog and have a nice day :) 

An impromptu add-ins enhances the flavor of this fluffy and cottony soft bread

This fluffy bread is the result of my impromptu add-ins.

Hi all, finally I am back to my blogging world and hope everyone is fine out there.  Today I am going to share with you an impromptu bread recipe which turned out to be very fluffy and cottony soft. 

While my bread machine was about to mix the necessary ingredients for a basic loaf bread dough, suddenly it came across my mind that I still had a sample sachet of instant coco mix drink in my pantry.  No one in my family seems to be interested in this drink. Why let it go to waste, right?  So, I just tore open the sachet and added it into the bread machine pan which was kneading the dough away.  Then, at the spur-of-the-moment, my mind told me to add some sunflower seeds too!  So, down it went into the kneading pan! Later, while shaping the bread, I told myself why not shape it into buns instead of a loaf!!  So, from loaf to buns.  After shaping the buns, I had this urge to top the bread with some sesame seeds!!! My mind was especially 'creative' on that day!!!  

Finally, this is the result of my impromptu bread : from basic white loaf to Chocolate Sesame Sunflower Seeds Buns!  Not bad eh...  

So, here's the proper recipe of the so-called impromptu Chocolate Sesame Sunflower Seeds Buns.

Ingredients (A) :
- 330 high protein flour
- 1.5 tbsp milk powder
-1/2 tsp salt
- 60g caster sugar
- 1 sachet of instant coco mixed drink of any brand

- some sunflower seeds 

Ingredient (B) :
- 1 egg (grade B)

Ingredients (C) : Mixed together
- 120ml water
- 10g instant yeast

Ingredient (D) :
- 40g butter

Glazing :
-1 egg (beaten)
Topping :
- some sesame seeds

Method :
1) Combine ingredients A together in a mixer except the sunflower seeds. Slightly blend it before adding ingredients B and C.

2) Beat approximately 5 minutes to form a dough.  Add in sunflower seeds.

3) Add butter and continue to beat until the dough is smooth. To check whether the dough is fully developed, stretch a small piece with your fingers to see if it can be stretched into thin layer without tearing it. If it does not stretch, continue beating again until it passes the stretch.

4) Remove dough and leave it in a big bowl, cover with a piece of damp cloth. Leave bowl in a warm place and proof dough for about 30-40 minutes till doubled in size.

1-4) I used bread machine to knead the dough. Just put the ingredients as per your machine instructions and let it proof. After the 1st proofing, take the dough out from the machine.

5) Divide the dough into 6 or 8 (your preference) equal portions . Shape them into small balls and let them rest for 5 minutes.

6) Flatten and roll each ball of dough into oblong shape. Repeat the same method with the rest of the dough.

7) Place them on a greased baking tray or lined with baking paper. Allow them to rise for another 1 hr or until doubled in size.

8) Once they are doubled in size, glaze with egg wash and sprinkle top with some sesame seeds.

9) Bake in a preheated oven at 180°C for 12-15 minutes (or until golden brown) depending on individual's oven. So, do adjust the temperature and timing accordingly.

10) Remove and cool on wire rack.

See how fluffy it is...........

Very rich in chocolate flavor too...

nutty and cottony soft as well....

This impromptu added ingredients recipe is a keeper

Hope you like this recipe and have a great week ahead !

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Sorry to inform that for the time being, I have disabled comment box as I won't be able to return visit to my fellow bloggers who are kind enough to drop me a line or two. The comment box will be enabled when I am not so tied up with my work schedule. However, you may contact me by leaving your message or comment at SIMPLY BEAUTIFUL AND HEALTHY LIVING FACEBOOK. My sincere apologies for any inconvenience caused. Thanks for visiting my blog and have a nice day :) 

Abundance of Blessings for Health, Love and Prosperity is my very special wish for you in this Monkey Year

As you enter the year of the Monkey, may it presents you new horizons, fresh opportunities and new hopes. Seize the opportunities and make the most of the Chinese New Year.

The New Year is telling us, do not cry for the old year, opportunities are looking at us, grab them and forget your fear.

Fun, joy, happiness, peace, good health, love, luck and prosperity will come to you with my special wish. 

Let us welcome the Monkey Year, give the happy adieu to the old, start the new beginning without fear and cherish the memories we hold! 

恭贺新禧，祝身体健康、事业发达。 

My best wishes from me to all my dear readers : Good health and Prosperity!!!

To receive new updates, do LIKE SIMPLY BEAUTIFUL AND HEALTHY LIVING FACEBOOK. 

Sorry to inform that for the time being, I have disabled comment box as I won't be able to return visit to my fellow bloggers who are kind enough to drop me a line or two. The comment box will be enabled when I am not so tied up with my work schedule. However, you may contact me by leaving your message or comment at SIMPLY BEAUTIFUL AND HEALTHY LIVING FACEBOOK. My sincere apologies for any inconvenience caused. Thanks for visiting my blog and have a nice day :)