Monday Message

Build a new skill by trying to make your own yogurt. Scroll down for a list of different techniques!

"Peace is fragile, civilization itself is fragile. The economy is particularly vulnerable..."I do not know what the future holds. I do not wish to sound negative, but I wish to remind you of the warnings of scripture and the teachings of the prophets which we have had constantly before us. I cannot forget the great lesson of Pharaoh's dream of the fat and lean kine and of the full and withered stalks of corn. I cannot dismiss from my mind the grim warnings of the Lord as set forth in the 24th chapter of Matthew. I am familiar, as are you, with the declarations of modern revelation that the time will come when the earth will be cleansed and there will be indescribable distress, with weeping and mourning and lamentation. . . . Now, I do not wish to be an alarmist. I do not wish to be a prophet of doom. I am optimistic. I do not believe the time is here when an all-consuming calamity will overtake us. I earnestly pray that it may not. "As we have been continuously counseled for more than 60 years, let us have some food set aside that would sustain us for a time in case of need. But let us not panic nor go to extremes. Let us be prudent in every respect. And, above all, my brothers and sisters, let us move forward with faith in the Living God and His Beloved Son... (Gordon B. Hinckley,October Conference 2001.)

President Hinckley spoke this not so long ago. I remember him saying this in conference. I often think of the Pharaoh’s dream and how without the warning things would have been much worse. Imagine if they ignored the warning or if they thought they would someday get to it or thought no way could that be true... I hope we Listen to The Prophet’s voice and heed it.

My Yogurt

In a blender place three cups of water, 1 1/3 c. dry milk powder (mine is non instant)... and put 1 large tbsp of store bought yogurt, use plain or vanilla, I like vanilla Greek yogurt for the starter, it has to say "live culture" on the container. 

I blend and pour into my jars in my yogurt maker, put on lids and let it go for 24 hrs.

When served we put jam on and stir but you can do any topping you wish, nuts and honey granola, etc. 

You can add some powdered gelatin in the blender but you cannot use it for the starter. You could pour out a plain container and add gelatin to the rest in the blender, not a lot, a little gives you mild flavors. If you like more add more, it is what you like.

This is how I make it now that I have a yogurt maker again, but I will share how I did it in the past and how a few on the internet do it. But this is the easiest and fastest way. The yogurt maker is a gift from my husband, it was fifteen dollars. I think you can look around to see what you would like.

You can use your own for a starter but after two times or so it breaks down. If you have a favorite brand and it has plain or vanilla and has live cultures then use that, you will be pleasantly surprised.

http://frugalmeasures.blogspot.com/2013/03/yogurt.html - here is yogurt showing the milk I use and the three methods, step by step directions are in the following link. 

This is how I used to do it with a cooler: http://www.wikihow.com/Make-Yogurt-from-Powdered-Milk

This one is more fiddly but thought I would put it in so you could have it too http://www.creativesimplelife.com/homemade-yogurt-in-a-crock-pot/ 

 I, for years, did the cooler method. You can use milk but I use powdered milk for everything. So give yogurt a try, it saves money if you have yogurt a lot!


http://www.beckysbacktobasics.com/get_full_recipe.php?File=1269450236&search.x=29&search.y=17 - my favorite pizza dough. I searched for thirty years for the best crust, this is not only it but it is so handy and tastes better than eating out by a long shot!

https://motherhoodandotheradventures.wordpress.com/2014/06/25/peek-a-boo-sensory-board/  this is such a great idea for you young mothers! Start saving those wipe lids, too fun! I could see this in memory or even pick primary songs, too cute.

In the sewing room...

On skill building I know I have shared with you before my pattern system. In the picture it shows my binder of pattern envelopes, only the insides are put in the brown envelope with number that then is filed in a file cabinet (is where I have children's patterns) or the adult ones are filed in a wire drawer. I have a binder just like this one for children. I can easily see the back info and can locate my pattern easily. A good system to start when you first get started. I however did not find this system till a few years ago which was a job! Never too late though!

The other binder with polka dots is still in progress. I am learning the machines I have by going through and making swatches and writing info in a way easier to read than the dreaded manual, which is also in the binder. 

I wondered if this was just busy work but it has proven to be a great tool. Whether you want to do such a binder is up to you but I think learning all that your sewing machine can do is a great thing in stretching yourself.

I think both of these are great to consider as you begin to sew or further your skills on sewing.

 http://frugalmeasures.blogspot.com/2013/11/organizing-sewing-room.html - get yourself organized, find a place where you can leave your machines up. You are more likely to mend faster if you can just sit and sew rather than building a pile then dragging out a machine. I used to set it up in our bedroom in some corner and it would be up and ready.

http://www.sewdelicious.com.au/2012/09/different-types-of-seams.html - this is a good place to start learning your seams and make friends with that sewing machine.

Practice seams by making swatches or even bean bags.

These are a few things to make you think about being frugal this week and remember to keep working on your storage! Our grandmothers did this to help when times were sparse, we can do it too as budgets are tight. Learn many ways to stretch what you have and also find joy in it… be content with what you have, it helps you and your family remember things are just that. In a few years they won't even matter, they will be outdated and trash, so push forward and be happy.