Yogurt cheese??

I've heard that you can make cheese from yogurt by straining it in cheese cloth.  Has anyone ever done this?  What sort of yogurt do you use?  And how do you serve the cheese once you have it?

It sounds interesting, I'd like to try it.

~Liza

It's not exactly cheese. You strain it through muslin (ie, hang it up in a muslin cloth and leave it for several hours or overnight) and all the whey comes out so you're left with the good creamy part of the yoghurt, so it's very thick.  Only do it with the best quality full fat yoghurt, preferably home made. 

Home made yogurt?  Now that's a step I never considered!!!  How does one make yogurt? 

I'm pretty good in the kitchen, but this yogurt stuff is all new to me. 

Thanks!!!

~Liza

You have to heat the milk up to a certain temperature, then add the culture (ie a bit of plain yogurt) then incubate it overnight. There are yogurt makers you can buy that do the incubating bit (like this one: http://www.ciao.co.uk/Salton_YM9_Yogurt_Maker__5653329) or you can just put in a container and wrap in blankets and leave it somewhere warm (but not too warm) like an airing cupboard but if the temperature isn't right it won't "set" properly.

Of course, you could just skip all of this and buy the already strained yoghurt.  In the UK there is a brand called Total Greek Yogurt that is strained full cream yogurt, you can probably buy a similar product in the US.

i believe you can even find yogurt starters too- check a health food store.

i have friends who make it from scratch... they are 80 and have been doing it for  50-40 years but they swear it is easy to do, easier with a starter.

i've heard about the machines too.

it's really good for you.

You can just use a pot of good quality full fat plain yogurt as a starter.  It is lovely when you make it yourself.  It's my ultimate comfort food.

What do you do with the cheese after you have made it?  Do you just eat it with crackers and stuff?  Or flavor it in any way?

~Liza

i think you can pretty much do whatever you want with it suiting your taste... add salt, flavor etc. Same with making yogurt, you can sweeten it anyway you like.

temperature is the most important thing to keep in mind when making it.

you can also make homemade cheese with milk. it is a little more involved process with starters but fun to do so I am told.

I think Lakeland sell yoghurt starters and yoghurt making kits.

I LOOOoooove Total Greek yoghurt, though, so just buy that instead of making it.

I've always wanted to try Total Greek yogurt. How would you describe the taste, texture etc?

These days I eat plain yogurt. It is an acquired taste especially if you are used to the sweetened stuff. I just found that the sweetened stuff is just too sweet. I like being able to add my own ingredients.

What do you do with the cheese after you have made it?  Do you just eat it with crackers and stuff?  Or flavor it in any way?

~Liza

Same way you would use any yogurt.

Don't buy the yogurt maker they have at Lakeland that's not real yogurt!  there's no heating involved it uses a powder or something  you won't be able to strain that stuff.

What do you do with the cheese after you have made it?  Do you just eat it with crackers and stuff?  Or flavor it in any way?

~Liza

It's good flavoured with black pepper and a little salt. Or with herbs.

This just all sounds so good!!!  There is a little grocery store I go to once in awhile, and I've seen Greek yogurt there I'm quite sure.  I'll have to try it out now!!!  YUM!!!!  I love the idea of the cracked black pepper and herbs.

~Liza

I've always wanted to try Total Greek yogurt. How would you describe the taste, texture etc?

These days I eat plain yogurt. It is an acquired taste especially if you are used to the sweetened stuff. I just found that the sweetened stuff is just too sweet. I like being able to add my own ingredients.

It doesnt have a taste... it's plain yoghurt.  The texture, though, is lovely... very thick and creamy.  I have it with honey drizzled over.

Mmmmmmmmmmmmn it's VERY rich &  creamy ... cause it's made with cream ... so the fat content is higher than most yoghurts - although they do a low fat version as well but not nearly as nice.