Chobani Yogurt

I am not sure which is better, Chobani Yogurt (might I add, non-fat) or the Chobani success story.

Unless you have your head in the sand you must have heard of Chobani Yogurt.  They supplied the Olympic athletes and their ads ran during the 2012 Summer Games.  They caught my attention but I didn't buy any.  Shame on me.  A few months ago, I saw the founder of the company in a 60-Minutes interview that was both endearing and intriguing.  The interviewer tried it for the first time on the air.  OK, his reaction moved me to buy it.

Soon after, I was at Sam's and noticed they sold a 12 pack with 3 flavors, so I bought one.  I tried it out when I walked in the door and it was nothing less than outstanding.  I am a yogurt eater and now I am yogurt hooked.  Not just any yogurt but Chobani Yogurt.  I made my homemade granola and ate the entire box within a few weeks.  Then I bought another one!

You surely have noticed that now all yogurt makers are coming out with their new (and similar) packaging and their claim to be Greek Yogurt.  I bought Yoplait after scanning the Chobani flavors and seeing Key Lime thought I would get one.  I didn't even notice it wasn't Chobani.  But when I opened it just now, I thought, ok Chobani, you didn't fill this one up.

When I folded over the yogurt, (the proper mixing method), looking for the Key Lime, there wasn't any.  I thought, hmmm, then I tasted it and it was just like, well Yoplait, the one I have eaten for years.  A bit runny, not creamy or thick.  That made me check the outside of the package to find, it wasn't Chobani.

The portion Chobani gives is generous.  I wonder if they give you 6 oz of yogurt and add the filling after as a sort of lagniappe.  It is the creamiest and has the most delicious flavor.  When I noticed that the Yoplait portion was scant, it prompted me to check the portion size.  The Chobani states 6 oz and lo and behold, the Yo-Plait 5.3 oz.  But just to fake out the consumer, if but only once, it's in the same size cup as the Chobani. 

So all you yogurt eaters, if you haven't tried Chobani, you must!  Check out my fresh Granola Recipe, add crainsins and/or fresh fruit and you will have a huge non-fat breakfast that will keep you full until lunchtime!

Just for good measure, Chobani has a live culture to promote good digestive health, too!  Wow, addicting stuff.

Bread and Butter

I own many years of many food magazines.  I set out to find a French Bread recipe and began scanning the indexes.  I lucked out and found one in the 4th or 5th magazine I opened, Gourmet may 1985.  I made the recipe which has (2) 30 minute dough rises plus one more 30 minute rise after the dough is shaped. 

I think for next time, I will allow for longer rises at each step.  The dough didn't quite have the texture I was seeking though it was quite good.  What homemade bread has never been good?  Well, none that I have made.  If you get a dry and cold day this spring, I highly recommend having yeast on hand so you can make some bread from scratch.  It is very rewarding.

For the butter, I beat 1 Pint of Heavy Cream with A Pinch of Sugar and A Few Pinches of Salt.  At first, as pictured, it was light and fluffy and spread easily.  We ate it with the bread the first night.  In thinking back, I recall from making butter as a kid that at some point it separated and liquid was poured off. 

Today, I decided to continue whipping it until it got to that state.  In all, it took about 20 minutes of total whipping.  Today, just as I recall, a milky white thin liquid became evident in the bottom of the bowl.  I lined a strainer with cheese cloth and strained off the liquid.  I squeezed the remaining solid until what remained was very firm, pale yellow and looked like butter. 


Except for wanting to get better at french bread, all in all, both were very good!!