Homemade Pasta

This is my next adventure in  making homemade since Ohio has been placed under a "shelter in place" order by the governor.

Oh my gosh!!  Homemade pasta is so easy.  Depending on the recipe, it only requires two or three ingredients (well, maybe 4), eggs, flour, salt and some recipes call for olive oil.    I used a recipe I found in The Classic Pasta Cookbook by Guilano Hazen.  He also has a class on Bluprint.com.

There are tons of videos on Youtube.com showing how to make pasta.  Go to Google and do a search on homemade pasta, you will find enough links to keep you occupied for days!

As always, homemade is always better than store bought!!

Stay home and learn something new PLUS have fun! But stay safe!

Homemade Yogurt in an Instant Pot

Instant Pots are the latest rage and, in my opinion, the best thing that has come on the market in a long time.  I use mine almost everyday.

Since Ohio Governor DeWine has issued a "Stay at Home" order, I am trying to make as much of my needs as possible.  I love yogurt and eat it several times a day.  So my Instant Pot has become a blessing! 

It is so easy to make yogurt in an Instant Pot, though it won't work if you have an Instant Pot Lux (sorry), you must have a "Yogurt" setting.

I use a half gallon of milk.  I have tried it with both whole and low fat.  And for my yogurt culture, I have used Chobani, Dannon and Stonefield yogurt, either plain or vanilla works.  Just make sure the ingredients say "active cultures."

Pour your milk into the Instant Pot container, secure the lid and press the yogurt button until it reads "boil."  It will beep after about 5 minutes and will display "yogt."  Remove the container (WARNING!! this will be hot!!).  I let this sit for about 15 to 30 minutes to cool the milk down to 110.  Add 2 T of yogurt culture, stir to completely incorporate, put the container back into your Instant Pot.  Press the Yogurt button on your Instant Pot twice so it says "normal" and let it do its thing for 8 hours.

I usually remove this and set the container in my refrigerator overnight - Viola!! you have yogurt.  You can strain this if you want a thicker, greek type yogurt!!

Corona Virus

Scary, isn't this?  So what I am doing about the Corona Virus?  Well, first of all, my Doctor has told me that I need to "self-quarantine."  I have asthma and some other lung issues, so here I sit.  Trust me I have enough to do in the house to keep me occupied for years!

The main thing I am doing is not watching the news.  For some reason, the news programs seem to concentrate on the negative and like to stir up fear.  Yes, it is very scary times, empty shelves in grocery stores, stores closing right and left, can't get your hair done.  I went to Tire Discounters last week to get the oil changed in my car.  Was told I could not wait for it.  No one is allowed in their waiting room. 

How to weather this storm?  Learn something new.  There are so many on-line classes you can take.  MyBluprint.com, has tons of craft and baking classes, Udemy  and Skillshare are other on-line websites with various classes.  Read a book, finally I have time to read books that I have been meaning to read.  Tackle that project that you have been meaning to do for a long time.  I am FINALLY painting my living room which I have been promising myself to do for the last 22 years.  It is actually happening. 

We will get through this.