For the last couple months, I have been trying to find a non-dairy alternative to yogurt. I just love my yogurt! I usually take some yogurt to work to eat for breakfast #2, and I was missing it so bad!
I first found Lexie’s post on making homemade almond milk yogurt. You start by making the almond milk by soaking the almonds and blending them. I don’t have a Vitamix, so I think this step was a lot more painful than it needed to be. I did make almond milk, but I think I didn’t get the same amount that someone would have using a high speed blender. So, the resulting yogurt was pretty watered down. I do like the yogurt – I have been continuing to make it – but it just isn’t the same.
I made this with a half gallon container of So Delicious coconut milk, and a container of plain coconut yogurt.
Dairy Free Yogurt in the Crockpot
Sources: A year of slowcooking, Funky Food, and And love it too
1/2 gallon coconut milk
2 tbsp agar agar powder
8 oz nondairy yogurt
Combine the milk and the agar agar in a 4 quart crock pot. Turn on low. Let cook for 2 1/2 hours.
After 2 1/2 hours, whisk the mixture, put the lid back on the crockpot, and UNPLUG the crockpot. Let it sit for 3 hours.
After 3 hours, take 1 cup of the milk/agar mixture, and whisk in 8 oz of the yogurt. Whisk well, and add back to the crockpot. Place the lid on the crockpot, and surround the crockpot with towels to insulate it.
Let sit overnight, or 8-10 hours. In the morning, remove from the crockpot, place in jars or containers, and place in the fridge to cool.
I still think my non-dairy yogurt is a work in progress. I find I have to add some sort of sweetener to it. (honey, agave or maple syrup) I can’t eat it plain, like I could eat regular yogurt. But usually when I eat yogurt, I add fruit and nuts to it anyways!
I did try this with a half gallon of vanilla unsweetened almond milk and my homemade almond yogurt, but it did not turn out. I am going to continue to work on it though!
30 Day Dumbbell Challenge!
I decided to join Halle’s 30 day dumbbell challenge!
Back in March, I joined an 8 week bootcamp. It was very intense, and while I did gain some muscle tone, I don’t think it was emotionally healthy for me. I fell into a depression towards the end of the bootcamp. It was tough for me to continue the workouts, and the negative thoughts filled my mind like – “I’m not good enough and I can’t do this”. I thought, at the time, it was just me making excuses on why I didn’t want to work out. But, I think I also pushed myself too hard and the workouts were just too intense for me. Ever since then, I have kind of fallen off the work out wagon a little — I still work out 3-4 times a week, but my strength training has been struggling.
That is why I was so excited about Halle’s program. It is FREE, and focuses on strength training! I think this is something I can handle, and I am excited to see what changes are in store me during these workouts!
Come and check it out — click here to view the program! You can join at any time, and just do one workout a day. And, did I mention it is free?? Who’s with me???
Happy Monday! Have a great day!
This is being shared with Mix it Up Monday and Allergy Free Wednesdays.
Ohh, I look forward to seeing how you tweak this in the future! I miss yogurt, but I feel like the non-dairy versions in the grocery store are just bland and expensive cups of sugar. Gotta check out that weightlifting challenge, sounds like it’s just my style…
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I would love to find a better nondairy yogurt. I don’t care for the soy yogurt at all. I haven’t tried the coconut milk yogurt yet. I wish it had some protein in it though.
The challenge looks great. I will definitely be trying out some of the exercises. I am a bit bored with my usual routine so this will help to change it up a little. Good luck!
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I try not to do soy, but I have never tried soy yogurt. The only nondairy yogurt I can find around here is the coconut, which I love! My yogurt is a little clumpy, so I need to work on making it smoother. Thanks for the encouragement!
When I was at my Aunt’s house this last weekend, she has a Vitamix – that thing is amazing! Not sure I could convince my husband the need for another kitchen appliance though!
Happy Monday Jane!
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Awesome! I’ve been saving for one for a while … but you know how that goes. Money always has a way of disappearing!!! Hopefully someday!
Just stopping by to say howdy Jane (catching up with your posts). The challenge looks fun and I wish you and all those participating well.
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Thanks Vanessa
Hope you have a good day!
You seem to be able to do anything with food – I didn’t even know there is such a thing as coconut yogurt.
I wish you good luck with the dumbbell challenge. I always get into trouble with exercise programs that are too challenging to me and then I’m mad when I give them up.
Did you change the theme of your site? I think it looks somehow different.
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You are so sweet!
I did change my site a while back, but a couple people have said it looks differently recently, so I’m not sure what I did .. I think you are right though .. I tried something too challenging for me, then I just got mad at myself for not being able to keep up. I have never been an athlete, so when I keep pushing myself harder and harder, I just get frustrated!
Coconut milk yogurt sounds delicious, Jane. I should join your fitness challenge, my arms could really use some toning up!
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I just did day 1 yesterday, and it just used equipment I used at home, and it was only 15-20 minutes, so not too much of a time commitment. I like it so far!
I have to admit that I don’t care for yogurt or cottage cheese! However, your crockpot recipe does look interesting. I’m just not sure if I would be willing to eat it, since I don’t even like regular dairy yogurt.
I just started drinking almond milk a few days ago. Since I have been drinking mostly water, I found that my stomach could no longer tolerate 2% fat milk. I’m really enjoying the almond milk for the calcium factor as well as the taste.
Thanks for the link for the strength training. Actually, I don’t have a problem with doing strength training. I prefer it over the cardio. However, I think my problem is that I don’t lift heavy enough weights (just 3 to 4 pounds). My triceps are forever flabby, but at least my arms are stronger, ha, ha!
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I am just the opposite of you — I will do cardio all day, but I just don’t like strength training! I guess I don’t feel I am burning anything or losing any weight. I love almond milk — I’ve been trying to make my own, but I love the Blue Diamond unsweetened vanilla so much! This morning, I used some of my homemade almond milk in my coffee, and when I heated it up, it curdled.
Curdled milk in coffee is no good! But, I am guessing you are right — if you don’t like regular yogurt or cottage cheese, you probably wouldn’t like the non dairy version! 
I am so sorry this recipe did not turn out the way you had hoped! I will say that bowl of nuts and yogurt looks delicious. While this recipe works well for me, I have had a number of people say they have trouble getting it to be as thick as they would like. I am definitely working on a fix there as well. Please let me know if/when you find something that works better for you, and thank you for stopping by And Love it, Too! xo
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Thanks Sunny! I really do love it, and it really is amazing how it works in the crockpot! Thanks for stopping by!
This looks really interesting recipe!!
I think I will have to give this one a try…
B/W ur fitness challenge just inspired me..
Thanks
I just think I still have to work on it, because it just tastes a little bland .. like it needs salt or sugar or something. But since I normally add fruit and nuts, it usually works for me!
I can’t have lactose and am so upset I had to give up yogurt! You just saved me. I am soooooooooooooooooo trying this!
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Cool! I love yogurt too and was upset to have to give it up. I found the coconut yogurt at Whole Foods, and I like it, but it is $3 for a 16 oz container, so that wasn’t going to be happening on a daily basis
I am sad to hear that you had a tough time with the boot camp at the end. I am going to try it one more time…I didn’t fully complete the last one. I am glad that I came across your blog in the process though. I love your recipes!!
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ahh thanks so much! It was so tough for me at the end, and I just got kind of discouraged .. I just need to find something that works for me! I figure if working out is something I dread, I am never going to do it, so I need to do what I enjoy! I also have some health issues that I am trying to get resolved, and I think that is sapping my energy a little bit. Doctors appt tomorrow!