Excalibur EXC10EL, Manual

Page: 33 / 56

Homemade yogurt is economical and easy when made in your dehydrator .
Residents of Middle Eastern countries have revered yogurt as a staple food for thousands of years, but it didn’t really become popular
in the United States until the late 1940s . Yogurt is low in calories and cholesterol and is reputed to slow the aging process .
Yogurt is extremely easy to make . All that is required is 4 cups milk, 1/2 cup powdered milk, and 2 tablespoons of plain yogurt . Use either
whole, low fat, or skimmed milk; it’s up to you . For authentic Middle Eastern yogurt, you would have to substitute goat’s or sheep’s milk
for cow’s milk . The yogurt, though, must be plain; there’s no substituting . This means that it is natural with no additives and has not been
pasteurized after becoming yogurt . Pasteurizing kills the culture, preventing the yogurt from being used to start new batches .
Making Your Yogurt
Add the powdered milk to the fresh milk and heat to boiling for a few seconds . The powdered milk gives the yogurt a creamier texture .
Allow the milk to cool to 120°F/49°C; then take 1/4 cup of the mixture and stir in the yogurt . When it is thick and sauce-like, pour it into
the remaining milk and mix well .
Spoon the yogurt into clean glass jars that have lids or into plastic yogurt cups . Place the containers on the bottom of the dehydrator,
set the temperature for 115°F/46°C, and heat for 3 hours . Using a higher temperature would destroy the yogurt culture . If the yogurt has
set, cool it . If not, continue to check the batch every 15 minutes until it does .
After the finished yogurt has cooled, add the fruit or flavoring before placing it in the refrigerator . If sweetening is desired, use powdered
sugar or honey to maintain the thick, smooth texture . For a variation, blend 1/2 cup of fruit with 1/4 cup water and make a sauce to pour
over the yogurt right before it is eaten .
Yogurt Leather
Prepare your “dehydrator-made’’ yogurt as previously described; then add jam, fruit, or fruit sauce and puree . You can also use
prestirred commercial yogurt if desired . Yogurt leather is dried exactly the same as fruit leather (see Chapter 4), but you can make an
interesting variation by dropping the puree on the trays in spoonfuls rather than pouring . The result is little bite-size “kisses” that can be
used as party candy .
Yogurt Facial
When making yogurt in your dehydrator, make an extra batch for a facial . The following facial yogurt recipe will help refine and clear
your complexion .
1. Wash, rinse, and pat dry the face .
2. Apply mixture of 1/4 cup yogurt and 1/2 juiced lemon .
3. Leave this mixture on the face while bathing or for at least 15 minutes .
4.
Rinse off with tepid water . You may also rub a cut cucumber over the face at this point .
YoGURT
FROZEN YOgURT
WHAT YOU NEED:
1 1/4 C. dried strawberries, raspberries, peaches,
bananas, or any other favorite fruit.
1 C. Milk
1 C. Homemade yogurt
2-4 T. honey (optional)
HOW TO PREPARE:
Blend dried fruit with milk in blender. Add yogurt and
honey. Pour into freezer container. Freeze until crystal
form around edges. Stir. Freeze until firm. 4 servings.
31