Sourdough bread was my pet project during January and the first part of February, but that didn't stop me from experimenting with other taste treats, too. It was not unusual for me to cook dinner, do the dishes, and then make another sink full of dishes in the evening as I puttered around the kitchen trying something new. It's funny, but I used to close up shop in the kitchen immediately after dinner. If it didn't get done during the daytime hours, I was too tired to do it after 6. But this winter, I have found a natural rhythm of cooking and baking after dinner. I've had successes and two definite flops.
Inspired by the book Make the Bread, Buy the Butter
(affiliate link), I tried yogurt first. I was amazed at the ease of the entire process. I used whole milk which I heated on the stove. After adding yogurt cultures, I put it in the warm oven overnight and by morning, we had yogurt! My kids love yogurt and I was motivated to make my own because store-bought yogurt is laden with sugar.
My third batch of yogurt got a rebellious streak. It just did not want to set as thickly as we prefer. It was thicker than milk, but too runny for the youngest kids to eat with a spoon. I reached out desired consistency by straining it through a cheesecloth. That's more complicated than I would prefer on a regular basis, but it did provide a container of whey that I can now use for more baking!
We are still experimenting with how to flavor our yogurt. We've tried jam, but a few of the kids thought the yogurt was still too tart. We tried adding sugar (still far less than store-bought) and vanilla, but it made our yogurt watery. Owen and I have had the best luck. I enjoy the yogurt without any sweetener at all, but a handful of handmade granola adds a perfect punch. Owen, my pickiest eater, surprisingly loves the yogurt without much sweetener either, though he loves a sprinkling of mini-M&Ms as a special treat.
(affiliate link), I tried yogurt first. I was amazed at the ease of the entire process. I used whole milk which I heated on the stove. After adding yogurt cultures, I put it in the warm oven overnight and by morning, we had yogurt! My kids love yogurt and I was motivated to make my own because store-bought yogurt is laden with sugar.My third batch of yogurt got a rebellious streak. It just did not want to set as thickly as we prefer. It was thicker than milk, but too runny for the youngest kids to eat with a spoon. I reached out desired consistency by straining it through a cheesecloth. That's more complicated than I would prefer on a regular basis, but it did provide a container of whey that I can now use for more baking!
We are still experimenting with how to flavor our yogurt. We've tried jam, but a few of the kids thought the yogurt was still too tart. We tried adding sugar (still far less than store-bought) and vanilla, but it made our yogurt watery. Owen and I have had the best luck. I enjoy the yogurt without any sweetener at all, but a handful of handmade granola adds a perfect punch. Owen, my pickiest eater, surprisingly loves the yogurt without much sweetener either, though he loves a sprinkling of mini-M&Ms as a special treat.
Verdict: Win (with a few bugs to work out)
*****
I spotted another recipe in Make the Bread, Buy the Butter (affiliate link) for marshmallow fluff that I whipped up (literally) on a snow day while the kids were outside making snow angels. I whisked until my arm ached, but I eventually got about 2-3 cups of marshmallow.
(affiliate link) for marshmallow fluff that I whipped up (literally) on a snow day while the kids were outside making snow angels. I whisked until my arm ached, but I eventually got about 2-3 cups of marshmallow. 
Maddie enjoyed a peanut butter and marshmallow sandwich, but after the first day, the marshmallow was too stiff to spread. She says the flavor is still good, but her sandwiches are a little lumpy!
Verdict: Meh.
*****
For all twelve-and-a-half years of our married life, Brian and I have been looking for a way to enjoy steak that does not involve a grill or a restaurant bill. This was Brian's favorite of all our food experiments. I found this recipe for restaurant-style steak. I used sirloin, not filet mignon like the recipe suggests, but even with a cheaper cut of meat, I was still afraid I might ruin it. Not so. Our steaks turned out perfectly juicy, tender, and flavorful, and Brian declared them "awesome." We had dinner guests on Super Bowl Sunday and I used the same recipe for another success!
Verdict: Definite win!!
*****
One evening, we popped our own popcorn on the stove and the smell reminded one of the kids of the kettle corn we always buy when we're on vacation. The next time I popped corn, we tried this recipe for kettle corn. While it had the same crackly consistency as kettle corn, the flavor was bland. Plus the sugar browned too quickly and burned at the bottom. Definitely not a repeat recipe.
However, we decided to try the caramel corn recipe from Make the Bread, Buy the Butter (affiliate link), and thought it was wonderful. We tried eating it before it cooled and the caramel was too sticky, but when we were patient enough to let it cool, the flavor and texture was ideal.
(affiliate link), and thought it was wonderful. We tried eating it before it cooled and the caramel was too sticky, but when we were patient enough to let it cool, the flavor and texture was ideal. 
Verdict: Kettle corn-- flop! Caramel corn-- win!
*****
My most recent experiment was with this ketchup recipe. It had the look of store-bought ketchup and it smelled almost like store-bought ketchup, but it had a strong vinegar flavor. Two of our kids like ketchup, but they thought this ketchup was too tangy. Brian and I liked it, but it reminded us of a sauce instead of ketchup. My other criticism is that the recipe says it yields 12 servings. Instead, it filled a 30 ounce bottle!
Verdict: Flop
Great food experiments! I hate when they flop because not only has the money been "wasted" but if you were planning on having it for a meal/treat, you have to come up with something else in its place. Ah, well, I still like to experiment and like to see that I'm not the only one who gets less-than-stellar results. I'll have to check the steak recipe out!
ReplyDeleteI was most disappointed when my third batch of yogurt was too runny. I just could not imagine throwing that much milk in the trashcan! Thankfully after I strained it, the consistency was wonderful. While I was in the middle of stressing, though, Brian said, "Don't worry about it. It's okay to have a kitchen disaster. At least you tried."
DeleteI need to try that steak recipe. I'm sure Tim would gladly welcome that experiment. I'm still experimenting with ketchup too. It's one tricky condiment :)
ReplyDeleteI was able to surprise Brian with the steak. I brought it home from the grocery store on my regular shopping day and cooked it that night. It was a treat, for sure!
DeleteA surprise steak for dinner is definitely the way to a man's heart :)
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