White like snow and thank you note

I have more than 20 plus pictures just waiting to be blogged. But, whenever I see an event, I always look forward for fresh ideas. But, today I was so determined to pick one of my simplest recipe and blog it. I thought it would be a great idea to clean up my folder before the end of this year? I don’t think I can finish posting all this year. So while looking all my pictures, I found an apricot recipe, which fit the AFAM event started by Maheswari and Sri is the guest host of this month who picked Apricot. After making my microwave Apricot preserve, well 6 months back! I ended up making some Homemade yogurt/curd with apricot preserve and topped with nuts. It could be a boring post for some experienced blogger who know how to make a curd at home. But very helpful for those who want to start making the own yogurt/curd at home. You don’t need any particular brand of yogurt maker just little patience and attention needed!
  Little note about Apricot: a velvety orange bright color fruit is available in summer! The fruit contains beta-carotene, fiber and vitamin A. Dry apricots are available through out the year. The dry apricot is treated with sulfites component to preserve the bright color and for longer self-line, which could react some people who suffer from Astma. Unless the bright orange color (sulphire treated) go for unsulphured treated apricots which has a brown color. 





  How to make homemade curd/yogurt?



Ingredients:

Milk: 1 quart or 4 cup 
Dry active culture* or previous yogurt (plain): 2 tbsp at room temperature 
Non-fat dry milk powder: ¼ cup (optional) but recommended if u use fat free milk (the final result of yogurt is thicken). *Can be found in any health store or online. 

  Step 1: Sterilize the milk: even it is pasteurized, the milk contains bacteria Bring the milk to boil, until bubble appears. You can add the dry milk if you wish. 
  Step 2: Let it cool the milk: The milk should be warm enough if you dip your finger (not too hot or not too cold) Like for the yeast. Optimal temp (110 F) 
  Step 3: Now add the 2 tbsp of yogurt (plain) and mix slowly with spoon once. 
  Step 4: At this time if you want flavor you can do it. 
  Step 5: Cover with lid and keep in warm place. I would suggest in winter keep it in microwave, Put some tissue paper and block the door to prevent closing completely. The light will be on and the microwave will be closed. The yogurt will be set once it is thicken after (6 to 8 hours)

  Tips: where to get some curd? Enquire around your Indian friends; definitely someone will be making curd at home! You can always ask for starter. If you go to Indian restaurant: You can definitely ask them! They might share, who knows?
  What is the necessity or advantage of making at home? *If you want an organic yogurt, soy yogurt, free of preservative, sugar free or own flavoring, making at home is much cheaper! * Whenever I go India, my son miss this fruit yogurt but I try to make this one, you can substitute the preserve with fresh fruit and flavor the milk+ yogurt starter+ sugar+ vanilla essence. 
  What I did for the Apricot fruit yogurt? Layer the bottom with fruit preserve. Pour slowly the milk and yogurt starter mixture without disturbing the preserve, cover and let it set in warm place. Once set, top with more preserve and nuts of your choice. You have your own flavoring yogurt ready!



 For the panna cotta, is an Italian luxurious smooth dessert. Cream, milk and sugar are cooked together essence and gelatin is mixed to be set! The recipe is from Happy Cook, I didn’t marinate my fruit in balsamic vinegar. Check her recipe she really whips up some luxurious dessert and some comfort soul food. Many of her dishes remind some French flavor which I enjoy a lot. One of the blogger, I admire for her encouragement she gives to us. Thanks Happy Cook for all your support and recipes! Both recipes looks similar but very different in taste, as they have something common White in color, sending to FIC event started by Sunshinemom, White is chosen by Lubna at kitchen flavor. Hippee Santa Claus knocked my door! Ok, that would be too much I guess. I commented Namratha’s blog post twirl cookies after few days I received some cookies through parcel to taste it!




 Is she so chweet to think about be and send some delicious cookies for Christmas. Those cookies were really excellent and Hugs to You my Dear Nam. I have received few awards that i would to thank my bloggers who shared with me. 1. Mitr of Bay area honored me with this one. Thanks Gal!

2. Adlak passed this Best blogger friends award. Thank you!

3. Shreya has passed the butterfly award . Thanks for sharing.

Comments

Anonymous said…
oooooo ... love all of these!! Great pics! that yogurt with fruit at the bottom.. & the panna cotta is my all time fav.
Mythreyee said…
That's really as white as snow. Thanks for the tips. And, congrats on all the awards.
Uma said…
Wow, amazing recipes dear! I have so many in drafts too! Have to clear those off! So sweet of Namratha to send those lovely cookies! Congrats on your awards too!
AnuSriram said…
Thats a lovely mini round-up... Gr8 entries and congrats on the awards!
delhibelle said…
lovely post,the yoghurt with apricot is a must try, and namratha sending you those cookies is so sweet!
anudivya said…
What an amazing collection... I have been buying plain yogurt so far. Got to make some of my own one of these days.
Priya Suresh said…
Lovely n delicious entries...wow thats a lovely treat from Namratha na!!!congrats on ur awards...
CurryLeaf said…
Lovely cham -I love the fruity yoghurt.Also,thank you for the apricot preserves-I actually made my plum preserves based on that and even sent it to FIC:Red.Thanks for this as well :)
Gita Jaishankar said…
Wow, everything looks so yummy! I have never added milk powder when making yogurt, thanks for the idea :)
Laavanya said…
I also make yogurt at home and the taste is totally better than the store-bought ones. I had no idea that there are dry cultures available online.. always got it from friends. Nice post Cham.
Deepthi Shankar said…
great pics ... lovely recipe there cham .. I too have some posts that are waiting too see the light of the day, somehow I never post them
Sunshinemom said…
Your panna cotta looks lovely too, Cham! I saw HC's too:) Lucky girl, how nice to receive those twirl cookies:), and beautiful entries for the event!

Congrasts on the awards:)
Uj said…
Pics are amazing :) I had difficulty in setting curds for the forst time. But next time we went to Indian restaurants and got a pack. From then on I make it regularly.

Panna cotta looks awesome :)
yogurt is so easy to make at home isn't it? and it tastes much better than store bought ones :) nice collection of recipes cham.
Unknown said…
Wow Cham, that was an awesome display of goodies during this Holiday season :)
Unknown said…
I have never tried homemade curd, your recipe sounds very easy, so now I can use plain yoghurt (i have the greek style yoghurt) in place of active culture. Thats an awesome idea:)
no i am not making pongal everyday.. i will get bored if do so. :)
Vijitha said…
That was one awesome round of display! lovely pics cham! Panacotta is my all time fav girlie. Gr8 post.
Kayal said…
Congratz cham on your awards, those stawberries were awesome..
Unknown said…
my son loves flavoured yogurt, but never tried making at home..am going to make one now..
Pavani said…
ooh...love all the entries...congrats on ur awards yaar...
Finla said…
Thankyou for such swwet words.
I am happy to know that your loved the pannacotta.
That is one of my fave desserts.
I have never made youghurt at home as the weather is so cold here.Congrats to all the awards.
Yasmeen said…
Delicious!Found your fruit yogurt recipe just in time, bought some canned apricots yesterday.Panna cotta is one of those delectable dessert in my must try list.
Lucky you,those twirl cookies look scrumptious,I'll bookmark Namratha's recipe:)
Usha said…
Great pics, everything looks so good...while making yogurt, I place it in my conventional oven with the light on, this makes it a warm enough place even in winter....so sweet of your friend to send you the cookies immediately :-)
Purva Desai said…
I agree with you, there are soo many recipes pics lying in my folder yet to be published but due to events they are still waiting for their turn....
Loved all the goodies, and the pics are making them more tempting especially the panna cotta....
Dear you can sent the same recipes for christmas feast event as well...

and yes congrats for the awards...
Suganya said…
That was so nice. Looks good. Love the idea of Apricot fruit yogurt? Will try it soon. YUM!
Vanamala Hebbar said…
Lovely i like all the 3 ....wonderful pics
Beyond Curries said…
The same here too Cham, too many drafts. Earlier I also used to make yogurt at home but nowadays I buy it. Loved you pannacota picture, I have neither made it nor tasted it. Will check the recipe.
Vikis Kitchen said…
Lovely recipes dear. congrats on your awards.
Sum Raj said…
great and awesome pic cham...happy holidays to u...
Kalai said…
All of them look fantastic, Cham! Homemade yogurt is the best... Reminds me that I should get my lazy self to make some! Have a wonderful holiday and will see you when I get back from vacation, dear. :)
Kalai said…
Oh! congrats on all of the very well deserved awards! :)
Red Chillies said…
When in India I used to eat only home made yogurt. Now I am too lazy to make it.
Very nice recipes Cham.
Paru ... said…
Great pictures..Love all of them..

Happy hols cham..
Unknown said…
nice pic. and yummy fruit curd love the color
Srivalli said…
Cham that sure works out so well...good for you that you have so many tucked away...well no words for your dishes..they look so tempting!
Your Apricot preserve with yogurt looks very good.
And yes, there are some great people among bloggers out there.

I also have quite a few dishes/ posts which need to see the light of day. Hopefully I'll be able to do these in Jan.:D

Best wishes for the festive season and a Happy New Year.
Siri said…
Ooooh! those are some lovely pics Cham..Thanks for sending them my way.

and I love the new template of your blog. :))

Happy Holidays!

Hugs,
Siri
kamala said…
I too make yoghurt at home..nothing beat home made ones..Congrats on ur award Cham.Its 14 " inch yesterday here and schools were closed..So busy with kids at home..So sweet of Namratha to send u sweets
wonderful and amazing collection... that milk powder idea is new.... thnks . congrats on awards.
Raks said…
Lovely post cham and congrats on ur award!
Srikitchen said…
wow!stunning pics! every pic is inviting!
Andhra Flavors said…
Hey cham, amazing photos. and thankyou sharing nice tips.
notyet100 said…
what apost,,.everythin looks so festive,..i am droolin over
Namratha said…
Wow Cham, the fruit yoghurt looks inviting! I'm glad you liked the cookies and was even happier to read that your son loved them too :) It was my pleasure to send them your way!
Sharmi said…
Congrats on those well deserved awards! I learnt to make yogurt from my hubby:) but he himself does not know this.
Archy said…
i'm just drolling.. All are so nice, rally a white snow !! thanx for the tips.. congrats on ur awrad.. Happy Holidays !!
Hi cham loved and liked all your recipe from simple fruit yogurt et al.Wish you Merry Christmas and wonderful ushering into the new year 2009.
sra said…
Hi Cham, wish you a very happy new year!
Vaishali said…
Happy Holidays, dear Cham. This is white indeed, and looks really pretty.
Anonymous said…
The moment i landed on this page.my eyes almost popped out ..wht a lovely treat to eyes....Loved drooling on all of them.And Congrats on receiving those awards
Have Merry Christmas and Ring in the NEW YEAR with loads of fun,laughter and Food ofcourse
Cheers
Sanghi said…
U have a great blog. Do visit mine. happy holidays..!
vidhas said…
Wow!! Awesome Recipes.Fruit Yoghurt is delicious.
Rathna said…
Wow! what a detailed recipe Cham. Congratulations on all the awards. Wishing you a very happy New Year and hope you have a great year ahead.
bee said…
here’s wishing you and your family a wonderful 2009, dear cham.
Purva Desai said…
Wishing you Happy and Prosperous New Year....
Uma said…
A very happy new year 2009 to you and your family dear Cham!
Dibs said…
I think I am an experienced cook ...but honestly never attempted making curd the 6 months I have been away from India. I keep buying this delicious thick Greek Yoghurt everytime, and it does get expensive, considering its a staple at every meal for us! Thanks for inspiration. I am surely going to make curd at home, and try it with these preserves and topping too. Great post. Wish you a very Happy New Year!
Srivalli said…
Wish you and your family a Happy New Year Cham!
notyet100 said…
wish u nd ur family members a very hppy nd prosperous new yr,..;-),..enjoy,..
Vikis Kitchen said…
Amazing recipes dear . I am drooling over them:)
Laavanya said…
Hi.. just popped in to wish you a Happy New Year.
Usha said…
Hey Cham, just wanted to wish you and your family a very Happy New year !