We love a good taste test around here. We've sampled apples, olive oils, cheeses, and other random food items.
While my parents were here we decided to do a yogurt taste test. I'm back on dairy, since that didn't seem to help our baby Drummer. He just seems to be happiest in our arms.
We had everyone rank the yogurts between 1 and 5, 1 for the worst and 5 for the best, and then describe the taste. Some we couldn't even finish a tablespoon of it and others we wanted to commandeer the whole container. I'm sure those in the European countries have even better yogurts than we do, I wish I would have explored them when I was there during my college days, but I dwelt on the cheeses instead (coming home with an extra 15 lbs around my middle!)
What's your favorite yogurt? Have you tried to make your own (secretly I want to, but fear I'll never get it just right)?
man, it doesn't get much better than thick greek yogurt drizzled with honey. I lived in greece for 3 years, and i can assure you they know what they're doing (in the yogurt and honey department, at least.) also, due to my time there, I can give you another pronunciation - oikos is "eekos".
ReplyDeletemy favourite yogurts ever are home made yogurts, served with lemon curd ! yum ! I also love the spanish "cuajada" with honey.
ReplyDeleteI like Fage and Chobani for storebought versions. I've been buying giant containers of plain yogurt and adding my own pureed fruit lately. Sprinkle on some granola....yum.
ReplyDeletethere is an amaing brand called Liberte in that full-fat genre. They had a flavor, plum and walnut, that I LOVED, and now I can't find it anywhere... I'm wondering if people thought the nuts were weird and they discontinued. But the other flavors are great, too :-)
ReplyDeleteAlso--in England they had rhubarb yogurts, which were fantastic. mmmm, getting hungry just thinking of it.
Yum! We make our own and eat with honey or jam! I heat on stovetop and then incubate on a heating pad covered with a wool blanket. (Instructions via SouleMama) I make a half gallon at a time....I'm guessing you crew would go through more. :)
ReplyDeleteMy mom has been making our own yogurt for a few years now...we just make it vanilla and add jam for fruity sweetness:) She says pretty simple!
ReplyDeleteWe eat Stonyfield Organic plain whole milk yogurt...it's quite delicious in our opinion...and our baby girl scarfs it down quite well.
ReplyDeleteI'm currently playing with some homemade dairy products. I made homemade butter and buttermilk. And then some Creme Fraiche (sp?)and currently there is homemade cream cheese dripping whey in my kitchen. The homemade yogurt I haven't attempted yet, but it's on the to-do list. We can buy raw milk here in PA which is the only way to go if it's available.
I learned the techniques for making these things from two wonderful resources...Homestead Blessings The Art of Dairy Delights DVD by the West Ladies(HIGHLY recommend this whole series...these ladies are brilliant and lovely)...I learned how to make some DELICIOUS and super easy homemade butter/buttermilk from this DVD and they have a simple yogurt tutorial on it I want to try as well; and the other recipes came from the book Nourishing Traditions by Sally Fallon.
Goodness this comment is long...my apologies Katy...I just love this topic! What a fun idea to have taste testing as a family...will put that one on the back burner for when our little darling is big enough to share her opinion :).
In the midwest, there is a brand called Old Home. Their plain yogurt is unbeliveable. Liberte is fantastic, the lower fat versions with grain are really dood. The full-fat versions are downright indulgent.
ReplyDeleteI do make my own from time to time. Actually posted a recipe tutorial here: http://zaaberry.blogspot.com/2011/01/homemade-yogurt.html
ReplyDeleteIt's actually very easy.
But, when I'm feeling lazy I love chobani vanilla with fruit and walnuts mixed in.
My favorite yogurt, actually the only yogurt I eat at all, is the greek yogurt made by the "Greek Gods" brand. The package is a bronze color; it's the honey flavor, and I think the greek god featured on the front is Hermes. Anyway, this yogurt is sweet, creamy, delicious, and very easy to mix granola and fruit within! I've tried the "purple" one -- YUCK!! But, I swear that you cannot go wrong with the HONEY flavor! My kids eat it for dessert! Enjoy!
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ReplyDeleteI made our own for awhile and plan to get back to it soon. It is much better tasting and cheaper than store bought.
ReplyDeleteTrader Joe's makes their own brand of fat free Greek yogurt that we love...I'll get at least one of their biggest containers every week, and sometimes two if we're having a Greek night (in which an entire container is turned into homemade tzatziki). I love the versatility of their greek yogurt, since it can easily be used as a sour cream substitute in almost anything, can be savory or sweet (I love mine with honey and granola), and is full of protein.
ReplyDeleteI'm no foodie, but making yogurt is really easy. I've found than using Brown Cow as a starter (if you can get it) and adding a bit of cream make it as thick as store brand. Melting some high quality chocolate into it? Mmmmmm.
ReplyDeleteMade my own, in my crockpot. So easy, and very yummy.
ReplyDeleteBut Chobani is so good!
The yogurt my noodle caboodle is talking about it Zoi...I've only found it at Winco (Cali, OR, WA, ID, UT, NV), and it's by far and away my favorite "Greek style" yogurt. The honey flavor is absolutely fantastic - it's perfect for yogurt parfaits with yogurt, granola, and fruit. My favorite standard yogurt is Tillamook. They're an Oregon Coop that is famous for their cheese, but their yogurts, butters, sour cream, and ice creams are also stupendous!
ReplyDeleteI'm a fan of the Zoi brand as well. It's actually my favorite yogurt to use as a starter when making my own yogurt (which is super easy). I use my crockpot to make it, and there are tutorials all over the internet for this method. My yogurt has always turned out (word to the wise- don't try using skim or adding dry milk, as it ruins the flavor).
ReplyDeleteHave you ever tried to "wear" your baby? Slings are great. I only figured out how wonderful they are with my 5th and last baby. I wish I had known earlier. I made myself a couple (there are great tutorials online) and then when she got older I used different types of baby carriers, all handmade and cute and colorful! Goodluck!
ReplyDeleteLeisha
That sounds like delicious fun! I love yogurt and eat Chobani every morning (with a little wheat germ stirred in.) My family doesn't understand my obsession with yogurt. I tried to make my own but the results were so-so. Others have had great luck though! My yogurt indulgence is a brand called Siggi's. It's described as Icelandic Skyr yogurt (?) It's so thick and comes in interesting flavors like passionfruit (but it's pretty pricey.) Thanks for sharing your results!
ReplyDeleteNoosa. Hands down the best. Whole Foods carries and my local HyVee if you have one. I've tried them all with Fage being my previous go to yogurt until Noosa entered my life. I was never a fan of flavored yogurts, I always like to add my own fruit and such but Noosa is so good all on its own. Peach is my favorite. It's creamy and the flavor is so rich and NOT bitter as I find in so many. It is pricey at $2.39 a container but I'm addicted. :).
ReplyDeleteMy favorite is Brown Cow Maple -- so creamy and delicious, but also pricey. *sigh* My more affordable (and lower fat) yogurt addiction is Dannon Coffee yogurt.
ReplyDeleteFun to see someone else's family does taste tests. I grew up on a farm in Iowa and when we market gardened sweetcorn we grew many varieties and would have sample days. Mom would cook a few kinds in separate water and everything to keep it very even. And we would discuss all the little details like crunch, taste and texture! :)
ReplyDeleteAs far as yougart goes I like Chobani but would love to try making my own especially now that our little guy is starting solids.
I love Tillamook yogurt. its so creamy and delicious!
ReplyDeleteI'm really loving Fage or Chobani, lately. The 2% milk fat versions, not 0%. they are both yummy. Nothing beats the yogurts in Switzerland, though. I used to live there, and man all the dairy was unbelievable! I miss it.
ReplyDeleteI am very passionate about Fage. I have the nonfat most days of the week. It also makes an excellent substitute for sour cream. I put it on a baked potato for my husband and he couldn't tell the difference!!!
ReplyDelete-Amy
Crafting by Candlelight
Making homemade yogurt is easy, easy, easy if you have a good yogurt maker. I have used everything from whole milk to non-fat dry milk to make yogurt and have never had a fail. I use the Yogourmet yogurt maker, but I am sure any one will do the job.
ReplyDeleteGo for it! Homemade yogurt couldn't be easier and tastes worlds better! We do it every so often here and the kids love it.
ReplyDeletewe love Zoi yogurt in our house as well - especially on top of our pancakes with fresh berries! YUM to the MAX! i also love Brown Cow in the maple flavor (because of my east coast girlhood, i still love anything with real maple syrup!). i'd love to make my own yogurt someday, though.
ReplyDeleteI just bought and tried some Fage today! I hadn't tried Greek yogurt yet, and I loved it. I added some frozen raspberries and granola on top!
ReplyDeleteZoi is amazing!!! Honey is my favorite with blueberry a very close second. However on occasion I love just plain. Homemade yogurt is wonderful! Yum yum yum!
ReplyDeleteWe love yogurt! I make at least a gallon each week -- that is for two adults and two kids (3 and 17 months)! It is really easy to make your own yogurt...but everyone has their own technique and what works for them and their kitchen...so you might have a few flops before you figure out what works for you! So many yummy ways to sweeten/flavor it -- our favorite is elderberry syrup and molasses!
ReplyDeleteWe don't haven a yogurt maker and we make our own yogurt. It is very easy. We just use quart size jars.
ReplyDeleteI am living in France (although I am Dutch) and never tried US yogurts. I prefer the whole milk organic yogurts one can buy in organic stores. And I must say that the Dutch ones are better than the French ones, much better tasted and nice and creamy. And they come in liter packages, not those small one person cups.
ReplyDeleteSince a few months I make my own yogurt from organic fresh milk we buy directly from the farmer. I was afraid that it would be difficult, but it appeared to be very easy! I heat 1.5 liters of milk until it boils and let it cool down to about 45 °C (sorry, don't have the conversion at hand). Then I add about 4 tablespoons of good organic yogurt and 2 tablespoons of hydrated milk flakes. I stir well and poor the mixture in a big glass container with a lid (like mason jars), which I place in a picnic cooler in which I put a layer of hot water (about 50°C). After 8-12 hours my yogurt is ready!
Brown cow is my favorite brand, a little pricey but it does not have gelatin so it is great to use as a yogurt starter to make your own.
ReplyDeleteI've been wondering how being off dairy went for you and Drummer. Our fourth will be 3 months old next week and she has been suuuuuper fussy. I too went off dairy, wasn't sure if it was helping and ultimately decided that it wasn't. This week we took her to see a chiropractor and they did simple, gentle adjustment and it made an amazing difference. I hadn't worked with a chiropractor much before this, but I had read two studies which suggested it rather dramatically helped over 90% of fussy babies. I was a skeptic going in but am now a believer. She's like a different baby. I only wished we would have gone in sooner...
ReplyDeleteTilamook is our family favorite.
ReplyDeleteGreat to know! :) I've been looking for yogurts that aren't super full of sugar and wasn't sure if the pricier ones were worth their cost.
ReplyDeleteI love Trader Joe's Vanana ... It's like a vanilla banana. It's great with granola.
ReplyDeleteWe only eat homemade yoghurt. It is the best, cheap and super easy. We use this crockpot recipe: http://www.nourishingdays.com/2009/02/make-yogurt-in-your-crock-pot/
ReplyDeleteMy mom makes her own yogurt and I always really struggle to eat it when I visit her (not that it's not good, I just have a weird dairy thing that makes me really worried about expiration dates, textures, etc. apparently I found a bad bottle under the couch as a toddler and things have never been the same!) I honestly don't like the texture as much as purchased greek yogurt. (I like a tart yogurt)
ReplyDeleteMaking your own yoghurt is an easy and very rewarding thing. You don't have to do anything special, just boil a quart of milk, cool it down to approximately 107 deg. F, mix it with 2-3 spoons of store-bought yoghurt and keep the mixture warm for a couple of hours. I usually wrap the jar in something warm and leave it on a kitchen counter. After 5 hours you get wonderful jar of homemade yoghurt you can later use to start the next batch. Have fun! :)
ReplyDeleteMy favorite brand of Greek yogurt is Nostimos. I've only ever found it at Roche Bros. Grocery stores, if you have those around. Even my three year old can't get enough of the honey flavor.
ReplyDeleteWe're now sampling apples. It's been a lot of fun trying different kinds. We will have to branch out and try other things.
ReplyDeletefage with honey!
ReplyDeleteAs for store bought here in the US, I'm partial to Cabot's.
ReplyDeleteWhen I was living in Italy a long time ago I purchased yogurt the likes of which I've never had since. But then all the food I ate in Italy was delicious. We still have better water!
Honestly, you should make your own...it is scary seeming, but totally worth a try. (If you goof up all you are out is some milk!). I often have made it in a container set in a crockpot of water on low (it helps a lot to use one of those thermometers with a probe that can be left in the yogurt to keep an eye on its temperature). I have also heard good things about putting it in a warm oven or wrapped in a heating pad. Homemade is SO mild and delicious. I highly recommend it!
ReplyDeleteThat said, I don't make my own right now. We live in the MIddle East and the yogurt here is super thick, creamy, and delicious!
I eat Chobani after trying many, many greek yogurts. Some of them were too chalky..yuck! They actually have Chobani at Costco and it's a pretty good deal if you have one in your area. I think you get blueberry, strawberry, and peach.
ReplyDeleteYou guys have to try the Trader Joe's brand yogurt. So creamy and light. It comes in 2 flavors blueberry & vanilla and strawberry & banana. So yummy. We stock up when we get a chance to visit our nearest TJ'S (1 hour away).
ReplyDeleteHub makes homemade yo, but I will splurge on Brown Cow maple every long once in awhile. Yo! Mmmmmmm.
ReplyDeleteOh my GOODNESS we love yogurt over here! It might be a Canadian brand, but Krema Greek yogurt is just wonderful. I always liked Brown Cow when we lived in California. With the cream top, of course...extra fat makes it so much better...
ReplyDeleteI am so eager to make our own yogurt because the best yogurt I have ever had in my life was a strawberry yogurt my mom made when I was growing up on our farm. She had a yogurt maker and she doesn't know where it even got to (Shoot! Would have liked to inherit that now that she doesn't use it anymore!).
I was considering a yogurt maker, or a heating pad to make it from blogs like AngryChicken and SouleMama, but then I came across thos really intriguing post on Scandinavian room temperature yogurt:
http://nourishedkitchen.com/viili-piima-fil-mjolk/
I'm going to try it out very soon, and I shall report my findings!
Big hugs to you and the Dills.
Tamara
Like others have mentioned, we make our own yogurt and it is awesome. I use Fage as my culture and mine turns out with the same taste and texture. I make about 1.5 gallons of milk at a time, and it doesnt ever last more than a few days around our house, its that good!
ReplyDeleteMy favorite yogurt is Cabot Greek, and it is Not Sweet!
ReplyDeleteI only eat soy yogurt due to my very sensitive stomach. Although most of them are truly awful, the "whole soy" brand it appears you tried in lemon, is actually great in peach!
ReplyDeleteChobani non fat plain, with fresh berries and granola...so healthy and yet like eating dessert!
ReplyDeleteI have made my own yogurt and it isn't too hard if you have a good candy thermometer. But never as thick as the greek yogurt. Maybe if I strained it afterwards?
I have had romantic notions of learning to make my own yogurt for years now... In fact, last year it was one of my New Years resolutions--the only one I completely failed to accomplish! Sigh. Someday, I'll take the leap...
ReplyDeleteI'm loving Greek yogurt these days too--did you know that somehow (how?) it has a ton more protein than regular? Good for my pregnant body...
I love Chobani a lot, especially all the fruit. I've also made yogurt popsicles by sticking a spoon in a cup of yogurt. I tried it with Chobani, and I admit I could hardly finish that gigantic popsicle! It makes yogurt more fun for eating and if you use healthier yogurt, without corn syrup or preservatives, it beats every-day popsicles.
ReplyDeleteI eat chobani for breakfast every day and sometimes lunch too! I love all the protien, the relatively low calories and no fat!
ReplyDeleteha. I've accidentally made yogurt several times after leaving half-drunk glasses of milk out overnight. I want to try it for real though too.
ReplyDeleteWhat a fun idea!!! I am a HUGE Fage fan - I love the plain variety with just a little bit of honey drizzled in. And I completely agree with you, it may be a little pricier but it tastes so much better!!
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