Frozen Yogurt Berries

I saw this idea on Pinterest and I couldn't resist trying it. Aside from how tasty this is, it's also adorable and very easy.

You need: fresh berries and yogurt....that's it.

Wash whatever berries you're using; I use blueberries and blackberries. Roll each berry in the yogurt so they are fully coated. Place on a lined baking sheet and put it in the freezer.

I bought a tub of honey flavoured Greek yogurt because I figured the yogurt I make would be too thin to really coat the berries properly.

Freeze for about an hour and then enjoy!

Guilt free snacking and so summery!

Homemade Yogurt

 I decided to try making my own yogurt cause... well cause I'm cheap...that's the truth. A tub of yogurt costs $3-$4. I use 8 cups of skim milk (yes the weird Canadian kind in a bag) and it makes 8 cups of yogurt...for about $2.70. And it is pretty easy.

I have a temperature control on my slow cooker which makes the process easier as well. First you heat up the milk to 180 degrees. This kills all the other bacteria in the milk so the yogurt bacteria can grow. Unplug the slow cooker and check the temperature after 1.5 hours and then every 10-30 minute until its between 110 and 120. This is the ideal temperature for the yogurt bacteria to grow. Anything over 120 will kill that bacteria as well.

Mix in 1/2 cup of yogurt for every 8 cups of milk you used and then wrap the bad boy up. 

It needs to be completely dark, warm and unmoved for at least 12 hours. I usually leave it 14-16. The longer it sits the tangier it gets....and I likes it tangy.

The first time I made yogurt I just bought a small pod of yogurt to use as a starter but since then I just use the last of the yogurt I made the week before. 

And there you have it! Yogurt. Cheap cheap delicious yogurt. Initially the yogurt will have a lot of liquid on it...you can either stir it back in to make a more drinkable consistency or (what I do) spoon it off so the yogurt is thicker.

If you strain it with cheese cloth for a couple of hours you can get it to the thickness of Greek yogurt, if you prefer.

Favorite money saving trick ever.

Yogurt and Mixed Berry Muffins

Another stinking hot day when I made these, thankfully I remembered to make them nice and early before it got unbearably hot to have the oven on. 

They are blueberry, raspberry and blackberry muffins, made with yogurt in the batter and topped with a brown sugar and cinnamon streusel.

I really enjoy the tang of plain yogurt so I wanted to find a recipe that used it inside the recipe, not just stuffed in the middle. Don't get me wrong, I really enjoy muffins with a yogurt surprise in the middle but I wanted to try something new.

I probably put too many berries in (is that possible?) because the muffins seem to be about 70-30 berry to muffin...but that's perfectly fine with me.

I also added a little bit of streusel to the top to give it a crunch. In my opinion this isn't necessary...the muffin is tangy and sweet and moist enough as it is...it doesn't need anything else.

Now Will has ZERO excuses to not eat breakfast! I always have an excuse but Daphne enjoyed the blueberries and cake part so we will be able to share one tomorrow for breaky!

--Siobhan xoxo

Stupid Easy Mixed Berry Puffed Pancake

Good Morning all!

I hope all your days are starting out magically! My day has been full of meal planning, baby cuddles and swiffering. Oh, the glamour! 

Typically when I do my meal planning I only plan for dinners. Will eats leftovers for lunch and we're lucky to have time to jam a banana in ourselves in the morning. 

I know I know, "breakfast is the most important meal of the day"...If you can arrange to come hold my baby every morning I'll be sure to eat a gourmet breakfast every day ;)

But when it comes to desserts I don't even bother.  I am not what I would describe as a dessert person, well I wasn't at all until I got pregnant and for some reason dessert still keeps arriving at my face. It's rude to turn it away, no?

So the other day I saw this really easy recipe on the What's Up Mom's YouTube channel for a puffed apple pancake. It seemed too easy, lol, so I had to try it.

I am not, I repeat NOT, a fan of hot/warm fruit desserts...but I thought if I switched the apples for mixed berries and cooled it before serving it might be downright edible. Apples would be good as well, I suppose, I just didn't have any on hand.

It's a pretty basic pancake recipe poured into a hot cast iron dish that already has sizzling melted butter and berries in it. The same kinda way you make a yorkshire pudding.

It comes out all puffed up and sizzling...

And slowly falls into this masterpiece.

Served with some yogurt mixed with honey and cinnamon and sprinkled with brown sugar.

Someone had seconds...shocker!

I'm sure you could make this with peaches, banana, mango, pineapples. I'm going to have to make this again. 

It would be great if you had company for breakfast as it makes a lot but is not very labour intensive. Or served warm with vanilla ice cream for dessert...if you're into that warm dessert thing. 

Tasty!

-- Siobhan xo