Homemade Yogurt

What better to follow homemade granola than homemade yogurt.  Yogurt is another one of those simple, non-time consuming, money saving foods.  There are a variety of different methods from an electric yogurt maker (pricey) to a crock pot to a wood stove. The method that I like involves a heating pad.

So here we go:

On the stove, heat up 1/2 gallon of milk (preferably whole, it makes it thicker) to 185 F. Make sure to stir every so often to prevent the milk from sticking to the bottom of the pan.
Once it reaches 185 F turn off the stove and cool it down to 110 F.
You have two options here:
1. cool it down in the sink with ice water ... or
2. just let it cool down on its own (that definitely takes longer)

Next you add 3 tablespoons of yogurt (preferably plain; french vanilla works fine too) and stir. Then place the lid on your pot and put on top of your heating pad. Place a kitchen towel under the pot and over it too.
Keep on Medium heat for 7 hours. That's it; then you have your yogurt.
It's a 1:1 ratio, so 1/2 gallon of milk=1/2 gallon of yogurt. Just a fraction of the cost.
Add maple syrup, brown sugar, jam, vanilla, or honey to give it your favorite flavor.
***Just remember to leave 3 tablespoons of yogurt for your next batch. This yogurt will last about 1-2 weeks.