Y is for Yogurt Cheese

Yogurt cheese is one of those things that if you haven't tried it, you should. People make yogurt cheese from plain yogurt 99% of the time.  I have found that you can also make it from any of the flavoured yogurts as well.  Try to choose a yogurt that doesn't have gelatin in it but if you can't it truly isn't the end of the world and I really haven't noticed much difference between the two. 

If you have never heard of yogurt cheese - you will laugh when you discover how easy it is to make.  Ridiculously easy, actually. This is truly my easiest recipe.

Yogurt Cheese

fresh yogurt
unbleached cotton - I use a clean tea towel.
that's it!

Drape the dampened tea towel over a colander and pour the yogurt into it. 

Draw up the corners and tie together, allowing it to hang for 24 hours.  I usually just suspend the colander over a deep bowl and set it into the fridge with a cover over it.

Four cups/one liter/one quart of yogurt should give you almost 2 cups of cheese.

How do you use it? 

The same way as cream cheese - ie on bagels or mix with herbs for a cracker spread or mix a dollup into your mashed potatoes. Delicious!

The whey or liquid that drain from it can be saved and used in making bread or in a soup for extra nutrition.

Enjoy!

X is for "Xtra" Special Christmas Potatoes

There is just no recipe that I have that starts with X - I was definitely stymied on this letter.  So I have cheated and created a fake word to cover up my problem - call it creative license!

Christmas potatoes are only made on Christmas day mainly because they are so incredibly high in calories and terribly decadent.  Your arteries will slam shut just reading this recipe!  They are absolutely delicious though.  I do make sure there are extras for the next day's leftover meal...

The picture is from firsttimecook.com as I didn't have one.

Xtra Special Christmas Potatoes

5 lbs of red potatoes
1 - 8 oz block of full fat cream cheese
4 large tbsp of butter

1/2 - 1 cup sour cream
1 tsp salt
water

Peel potatoes, cook until tender and mash.

Add cream cheese, sour cream and butter and continue to mash until nice and smooth but not sticky or gummy.

Serve with a dollup of butter and some chopped parsley to garnish the top.

No calories are absorbed as long as your feet touch the ground! lol

Enjoy!