Good things that are made with milk

[luzula]

I am almost well from my cold/flu/whatever it was. *relieved* The last few days I have really enjoyed hot chocolate made from:
- the unhomogenized milk with natural fat levels that we buy from a local dairy
- unsweetened cocoa powder
- housemate's homemade peppermint liqueur.

It is delicious. I also bought a Bulgarian heirloom yoghurt culture, and I can say that it is totally worth it compared to making yoghurt descended from store-bought yoghurt (which typically only contains two species of bacteria). It consistently sets really well and also the taste is richer and more complex. Of course, it also makes a difference what milk you use.

We still have apples left in the food cellar, which I eat every day with the yoghurt for my breakfast (yum!). The apples will soon be gone, though, which tells me that we should plant another apple tree, one with apples that keep through the winter.

Comments

[dolorosa_12]

That homemade yoghurt sounds delicious!

We still have apples from our one tree left — I picked and stored them in mid-August (which is early, this should really be happening in September), and I estimate that what's left will last until about mid-March. Next year, I want to turn some of them into vinegar, and preserved in other ways, but this requires a bit more forward planning.

[luzula]

Our apples would have lasted longer, except that I made many of them into apple sauce, not knowing how long they would keep as they were. But now I know that the ones from our old tree actually keep pretty well! We also have three younger trees, which don't yield as much.

[dolorosa_12]

Oooh, apple sauce is a great idea as well! Do you have a specific recipe?

[luzula]

Well, I basically just remove the seeds and stuff in the middle, and chop them into bits (I don't bother peeling them, it's too much work). Then I put the apples in a pan and add a little water so it won't burn and just cook until the apples are soft. It can help to use a potato masher at the end, depending on how much you like your apple sauce with pieces. Then add sugar to taste. Disinfect glass jars (by heating in the oven or putting them in boiling water) and put the sauce in them and let cool. And that's it! I like apple sauce made from tart apples, otherwise I think it's a bit boring. Of course you can add some lemon juice if you want, but otherwise my big discovery this year is to add the fruits of flowering quince! OMG, it's delicious. Flowering quince is almost too tart on its own, but the combination is great.

If you just want apple sauce for one meal (for example, if I'm making pancakes/crepes) and you have fresh apples, I prefer making it in the oven. I sprinkle the chopped apples with brown sugar, cinnamon and some butter, and toast until soft. This can also be a dessert on its own, with cream, custard, ice cream, or the like.

[dolorosa_12]

Thanks! That sounds simple enough, and delicious.