A few recent articles on the web (both NYTimes and Slate) left me wondering - is it really that easy to make your own yogurt? Can I really save money by doing this? And maybe most of all, is it worth the effort?

So I embarked recently on my virginal yogurt-making adventure, and it was all I hoped for and more. By following the NY Times' recipe, I was able to make very nice whole milk yogurt in about 10 minutes out of my day. Total cost was just about half that of my regular, plain, whole milk yogurt that I buy for my baby. And the slightly different texture and taste were accepted readily by my sometimes picky child.

I discovered two pitfalls from the mom and baby perspective. First, as a mom, remember that milk boils over really quickly. Don't try to heat it up while doing any hardcore multitasking - it will almost certainly boil over and make your house smell like burnt stovetop residue for an hour or two. However, overheating the milk seems to have had zero effect on the finished product. Now, for the baby, I realize I should have tried the draining technique (referred to ask making it more like "Greek Yogurt" in the recipe) because my end product was a tad runny. Not in a bad or dysfunctional way, but in a way that thwarted my budding spoon user and created more of a mess than usual. Draining the yogurt, which might add 5 minutes, seems like it will make a sturdier, more baby spoon friendly, product.

The verdict is that I felt this was totally worth it. It is fast, easy, and saves money. I plan to make yogurt regularly from now on. Maybe you should give it a shot! - Leigh G.