photo by superfloss

I read somewhere (sorry, can’t remember where) that one of the biggest food trends in 2012 is making your own dairy products. You know, yogurt, cheese, cottage cheese, cream cheese, etc. Make-your-own-cheese kits are popping up in local grocery stores, and more than a few bloggers have posted yogurt cheese and whey tutorials.

What’s driving this interest? I don’t know. But I admit I’m one of the people that’s riding this wave to see where it goes! Before I ever even read the article about 2012 food trends, I had already decided for myself that this year that I would try my hand at making my own dairy products this year! I’ve actually already started on the process and am now an old hand at yogurt cheese (and whey!) but I have bigger mountains to climb.

In case you’re interested in being a dairymaid for a day (or even for the rest of your life), here are some tutorials that I plan to use to help me along the way.

Cream Cheese/Yogurt Cheese & Whey This is a great place to start for any dairy newbie. It’s SO easy! Don’t do it, though, if you need cream/yogurt cheese right this minute, cause it kind of takes all day. But the part where you actually have to be involved is approximately 30 seconds.

Crock Pot Yogurt I actually already make my own yogurt, and I do it the lazy way, with a machine. But a list of dairy tutorials would simply not be complete without one for yogurt. So here you have it: yogurt in your crock pot!

Brainless Homemade Yogurt Another method for homemade yogurt that’s just as easy (or even easier!).

Ricotta Cheese I don’t ever buy ricotta because it’s so expensive, but if I could make it myself, we’d eat it a lot more often.

Cultured Buttermilk, Kefir, and Sour Cream All three in one post! Awesome!

Mozzarella Absolutely my all-time favorite cheese ever. I would love to make this at home!

20-Minute Goat Cheese Another favorite that’s too expensive to buy (except at Costco where it’s pretty cheap).

Sunflower Milk Yogurt I’ve started experimenting with this, and have a ways to go. I guess that it’s technically not a dairy product, but at this point, it’s the closest thing my boys will get to yogurt! I used to make coconut milk yogurt, but since Baby Boy is allergic to coconut, that is no longer an option.

Creme Fraiche Basically cultured cream and seemingly very easy to make.

Butter These days, it’s probably the easiest dairy product to make because it no longer requires a churn. Just a KitchenAid!

Ghee Once you’ve made your butter, you can boil it down to ghee!

I’m also on the lookout for the following tutorials:

• Cottage Cheese
• Cultured Butter