Homemade Yogurt: Easy To Make, Good To Eat

Making simple and nutritious yogurt is easy and lots of fun too. Here are 10 steps to make good yogurt for the family.


1. Gather All The Ingredients and Equipment

You can find most of the items in your kitchen

Ingredients

• Milk (whole, low-fat or fat-free) 1 litre or 1 quart
• Yogurt culture/starter (freeze-dried powder) 1 packet 5g
• Powdered milk 1 cup

Equipment

• Pot/pan -  large enough to hold the milk for heating
• Spoon/stirrer - stainless steel or plastic
• Container (plastic/glass/ceramic) to hold cooled milk for fermentation
• Small containers- 5 or 6 pcs for yogurt servings
• Thermometer (optional but useful if you are doing it for the first time)

For home-made yogurt that is fast and easy to make and delicious to eat, I use flavored milk and add some powdered milk for a thicker or firmer texture. Omit this last item if you prefer your yogurt smooth and delicate.


2. Add Milk To The Pan/Pot
   

First, dissolved powdered milk with some milk.

Pour rest of the milk into a pan or pot for cooking

Pour dissolved milk powder into milk and stir thoroughly

Add powered milk for a thicker consistency. The amount to add depends on your preference. You can also add your preferred flavoring at this stage.


3. Heat Milk Until It Start To Boil

Heat over medium fire. Stir constantly until milk starts to froth or boil. Do not over-cooked.

Most people recommends heating to 85°C  (185°F)  when milk starts to boil

Heat the milk over a medium fire. Keep stirring the milk as it heats up. You want to see the milk start to forth or form little bubbles as it reaches around 82°C  (180°F). Continue for a minute or two and then turn off the fire. It is not necessary for the milk to boil over. Do not over-cooked or burn the bottom as you do not want a "cooked" milk flavor.

Heating the milk to almost boiling point kills bacteria in the milk including undesirable ones which are killed if exposed to temperatures over 55°C  (130°F). Heating also denatures the milk proteins so that they set together nicely and not form lumpy curds.  

Just remember to heat the milk to about 85 to 90°C  (185-195°F).


4. Cool Heated Milk to 43-50°C  (110-122°F)

The milk is then cooled to about 43-50 °C (110-122 °F)

Pour the heated milk into a container and leave it to cool down for about 30 minutes, or you can use a water bath to quicken the cooling process. Your target temperature should be within 43-50 °C (110-122 °F). If you do not have a thermometer, place your hands around the container. It should feel warm without burning your fingers.

Remember, yogurt bacteria are killed if exposed to temperatures over 55°C (130°F), and they do not grow well below 37°C (98°F).

5. Inoculate Yogurt With Yogurt Stater

Dissolve yogurt stater powder(inset) with some cooled milk

Pour mixture back into the rest of the cooled milk

For my first batch of yogurt, I use 5g of freeze-dried yogurt starter powder or yogurt culture for 1 litre or 1 quart of milk. Dissolve the culture in a small bowl of cooled milk. Mix thoroughly and pour mixture back into the litre of cooled milk. Mix well to evenly distribute the yogurt culture in the litre of cooled milk.

Stir vigorously to completely mix the yogurt culture with the cooled milk

Once thoroughly mixed, you can use the same container to begin the fermentation process or you can distribute the inoculated milk to small clean containers or jars, filling to the neck.  Cover immediately with clean tops and tighten well.

If you do not have yogurt stater, you can also use a small cup of commercial yogurt from the supermarket but make sure they contain active lactic bacteria such as L.casei, B.longum, L.bulgaricus, S.thermophilus, L.acidophilus.

Put half a cup of yogurt in a small bowl of cooled milk, mix thoroughly and pour mixture back into the litre of cooled milk. Mix thoroughly.


6. Cover Up and Keep Warm Inoculated Yogurt

Put on the cover tightly to prevent contamination

Wrap the container with bath towels to keep it warm

It is very important to keep the container with the inoculated yogurt at the right temperature during the fermentation process which may take from 3 to 12 hours.

There are many ways to keep the inoculated yogurt warm. You can use a oven, hot-water bath, yogurt maker or heater-pads and the time required usually ranges from 3 to 7 hours. I use large bath towels to keep my inoculated yogurt warm.

7. Leave Inoculated Yogurt Undisturbed To Ferment

Since this is my first batch using yogurt starter, I have leave my inoculated yogurt to ferment or incubate undisturbed in a warm place for 12 to 15 hours to reach the desired firmness and the characteristic tangy flavor.

After wrapping my inoculated yogurt with the bath towels, I placed the container into the micro-wave oven which is quite warm with the door closed and I left it there overnight. You can put your inoculated yogurt any where in the kitchen as long as it is warm and undisturbed.

Wrapped-up container in a warm micro-wave oven

8. Turn Milk Into Yogurt

Home-made yogurt -  fresh and delicious

After about 12 hours of the fermentation process, my inoculated milk has turned into a firm texture. Stir vigorously to smoothen out any lumps. You can scoop the yogurt into smaller containers for single servings.


9. Chill Yogurt To Stop Fermentation Process

Put yogurt to the back of the fridge - it's the coldest here

Put the yogurt in the fridge to cool overnight. This thickens the yogurt  further and stop the fermentation process. You can store yogurt in the fridge for 10 to 14 days.

10. Enjoy Your Home-made Yogurt

Yogurt is a very versatile food - eat it by itself or add any flavorings that you like

Home-made yogurt is fresh and nutritious without any of the additives that come with commercial yogurt.

You can enjoy yogurt all by itself or you can add fresh fruits, nuts, granola, cookies, honey, vanill, jam, syrup, jellies. You can eat as snacks or desserts, and is use in many food recipes.

Watch the video here:

 

The White and Pink Blossoms of Tabebuia pentaphylla

Did you ever wonder what's the name of that tall magnificent tree growing along the roadsides or in the the park all covered with gorgeous pale pink (or white) flowers?

 Giant Tecoma tree at junction of Jalan USJ4/6c and 6e

Subang Jaya, Selangor (tree around 20 years old)

Well, it's called Tabebuia pentaphylla which is symnonymous with Tabebuia rosea, Tecoma rosea and Tabebuia punctatissima.

The Tabebuia is native to Central and South America and the local people there called it ipê rosa, apamate, matilisguate and maquilishuat. It is the national tree of El Salvador. This elegant tree is commonly known in English as Pink tabebuia, Pink tecoma, Pink poui, Pink trumpet and Rosy trumpet.

In Malaysia, it is popularly known as "Cherry Blossoms or Sakura" tree and "tissue-paper" tree.

 

                                                    The white and pink Tabebuia trees

It's a beautiful sight to watch because of its profuse flowering and when the flowers float down in a strong breeze, they cover the ground below like a dense soft pale pink (or white) carpet.

   Pink tabebuia, Pink tecoma, Pink poui, 

Pink trumpet or Rosy trumpet

The genus Tabebuia (pronounced as ta-bee-BEW-ee-uh) comes from the family Bignoniaceae (big-no-nih-AY-see-ee) which include the well-known blue trumpet flower Jacaranda which is represented by the species Jacaranda obtusifolia (Malay: Jambul Merak) in Malaysia

The dainty fern-like foliage and bluish flowers of Jacaranda obtusifolia

Tabebuia has more than 100 species, and in Malaysia, Tabebuia pentaphylla is most common and often planted along roadsides and in gardens, parks and recreation areas. The two colours most often seen are from the pink and white varieties.

White tabebuia flowers

The species name pentaphylla refers to the five leaves in each leaf-stalk, where “penta” means “five” and “phylla” means "leaf" in Latin.

The five leaves on a leaf-stalk (pentaphylla) 

                                          with the middle leaf much larger than the rest

Tabebuia requires a distinct dry season in order to burst into bloom. The trees are more suited in the northern, more seasonal parts of Malaysia and many local people there proudly called the pink Tabebuia flowers as the “Cherry Blossoms of Penang” which are very similar to the world famous cherry blossoms of Japan in its short and intense flowering season and pretty soft petals.

Tabebuia and Cherry blossoms - similar in many ways

Another popular local nickname for the Tabebuia tree is  “tissue-paper tree” referring to the flowers thin and almost translucent petals when viewed against the sun.

Thin and translucent petals very much like facial tissue-paper

Flowers are large, in various tones of pink to purple, (or white) and appear while the tree has none, or very few, leaves. The flowers are funnel shaped, light pink (or white) with a yellow throat and look like a trumpet.

 The Pink Tabebuia or Pink Trumpet

 The White Tabebuia with the distinct yellow throat

Pollination occurs probably by insects such as bees and flies, although the flowers are visited by many birds such as hummingbirds and orioles. 

 A busy bee visiting the White Tabebuia flowers

The long and slender fruit capsules can measure up to 35 cm (14 in) and appear several weeks after flowering from July to September.

 Long and slender fruit capsule at the end of a branch

A matured fruit pod breaks open to release the winged seeds

After the drying fruit dehisces, the anemochorous, hyaline-membrane-winged seeds are released.

 Membrane winged seeds for wind-assisted dispersion

Seeds germinate easily. The young seedlings grow fast and are easy to maintain.

 Long and slender fruit capsules hang at the end of branches

Like many beautiful ornamental trees, such as the famous rain-tree (Samanea saman or Albizia saman), the Tabebuia tree is generally believed to have been introduced to Malaysia from Central and South America through India by the British administration during the early 18th century. Since then, it has adapted itself to the hot and humid climate of Malaysia. 

A magnificent Tabebuia

It is an elegant tree with a tall, straight trunk which can reach heights of more than 30m but because of the uniformly wet climate of Malaysia, its growth is generally restricted to about 15 to 20m. Usually, at the height of about 3-4m from the ground, the trunk opens up into two or three erect branches supporting a wide and well-proportioned crown. As a modest size tree with seasonal profuse flowering and roots which are not especially destructive for roads and sidewalks, the Tabebuia is a popular choice for plantings along roadsides, drains, gardens, parks and recreation areas.

A White Tabebuia tree along the roadsides

The trunk resembles that of the oak wood and the bark can be gray to brown, in varying darkness and may be vertically fissured.

Resemblance to the oak wood

Healthcare In Malaysia - Why Hurt Your Wallet When You Can Get It Free

Healthcare in Malaysia is almost free, that is, if you opt for the government-run universal healthcare system. On the other hand, you will need a fat wallet or full medical insurance if you prefer the co-existing private healthcare system.

The public healthcare system is mainly under the responsibility of the government's Ministry of Health and is handle at the state level by the Department of Health (Jabatan Kesihatan Negeri) which, in turn, is implemented by the many Health Clinics operating at the district levels. For example, there are 6 clinics in the district of Petaling in the state of Selangor:


Klinik Kesihatan Seri Kembangan
Jln Besar Seri Kembangan
43300 Seri Kembangan
Petaling Selangor
Tel  : 03-89455929
Fax : 03-89451225

Klinik Kesihatan Medan Maju Jaya
Jln PJS 2C/5, Petaling Jaya
46000 Taman Dato Haron
Petaling Selangor
Tel  : 03-77819001
Fax : 03-77819105


Klinik Kesihatan Puchong
Batu 14, Petaling Jaya
47000 Puchong
Petaling Selangor
Tel  : 03-80611814


Klinik Kesihatan Seksyen 7
No 2, Persiaran Kayangan Seksyen 7
40000 Seksyen 7
Petaling Selangor
Tel  : 03-55186531
Fax : 03-55186532

Klinik Kesihatan Seksyen 19
Jalan Gelora 19/46, Seksyen 19
40300 Shah Alam
Petaling Selangor
Tel  : 03-55413570
Fax : 03-55413585

Klinik Kesihatan Kelana Jaya
Lot 38294 Jln SS 6/3A
47301 Kelana Jaya
Petaling Selangor
Tel : 03-78045001

Operating Hours

The clinics are opened from 8.00am to 5.00pm Mondays to Fridays. Three of the six clinics at Puchong, Section 7, and Shah Alam  have extended hours of operation from 5.00pm to 10.00pm. The clinic at Taman Medan will be added to this list soon.

Let's see how a local Health Clinic works. Since the clinic I usually go to is at Kelana Jaya, let's go to this place.

The Health Clinic at Kelana Jaya, locally known as Klinik Kesihatan Kelana Jaya, is situated at Jalan SS6/3a.

Just north of it is the Giant Hypermarket

Klinik Kesihatan Kelana Jaya

The facility here houses three clinics - Mother and Children Healthcare and Family Planning; and the Health Clinic on the ground floor. The Dental Clinic is on the upper floor.

Operating hours for out-patients

 Operating hours for Mother and Children Healthcare and Family Planning

Mid-day break

Please take note that the clinics are closed from 1.00pm to 2.00pm Mondays to Thursdays and from 12.15pm to 2.45pm on Fridays for the lunch break. All registration service counters are closed at 4.15pm.

Healthcare Services

The Kelana Jaya Health Clinic provides free services to mothers, kids, teenagers, citizens in their prime years, citizens in their "golden years", nutrition, medication, oral health, mental health and they can also help you quit smoking. Special attention is given to senior citizens.


If you are a first timer, please bring along your Identity Card and proceed straight to the main counter to begin the registration process. The counter is to your right as you enter the main entrance.

The Mother and Child Clinic is to your left.

Main counter at your right as you enter the main entrance

At the counter, you will be given a card to fill out your name, address and telephone number. Complete that and give the card back to the officer who will then give you a number. Your information will be processed by another officer seated next to the main counter. Once the data entry is completed, your number will be called. Approach the counter again and you will be given back your card together with your call number and you will be directed to the next counter which is usually "Counter C". "Counter B" is for follow-up appointments.

Counter "C" on your right at the end of the hall

Flow Chart for Services at Health Clinic

 

 Flow Chart for Services at Health Clinic

At "Counter C", put your card and number in the tray on the desk and wait for your number to be called. Here, the nurse will take your blood pressure and record it on the card. Once that is completed, take a seat in front of the doctors consultation rooms which are situated just opposite of "Counter C'.

Counter "C" where you have your blood pressure taken

 and recorded before you see a medical officer

 Waiting for your number to be announced directing you to the 

examination room where a medical officer will check on you

After consultation with the doctor, proceed next to Counter "A" or "Appointment Counter" to set up a date for your follow-up visit. This will be in the same waiting area outside the doctors' rooms.

 Counter "A"

Proceed next to the pharmacy near the main counter and hand over the doctor's prescription to the officer on duty. Get your number and wait for your turn to collect your medicine. Usually you will be given two months supply and told when to come back for the rest of the medicine.

Collecting your medicine at the pharmacy counter

 Appointment to collect your follow-up medicine

It usually take about one and half hours to complete this whole process. The morning crowd usually comes in very early and by about 10.00pm most of them would have gone home.

Parking your car just outside the clinic is illegal. There is a car park just across the road and each entry is RM3.00.

Private car park on the other side of the road from the clinic side entrance

For more information about health, you can go to MyHealth  which is the official portal of the Ministry of Health, Malaysia. It's a very good site full of tips and advices on health issues.

Official portal Kementerian Kesihatan Malaysia .