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Rinse and Repeat

I learned to make Skyr at home recently. After a few iterations, it has all the qualities of taste and texture of the real thing. The most satisfying part of the process is predictability. If I follow all the steps, the results are the same every time. Last thing before going to bed, I set the bowl inside the oven with the light turned on. The following morning, the Skyr is ready.

 I made yogurt for years much the same way so there is no great novelty here but it was fascinating to see how using a different starter yielded a very different taste. Since the success with Skyr, I have ventured into Kefir and want to try coconut and soy-milk versions next. In a world where so much feels out of control, unpredictable and random there is something deeply comforting about knowing that the Skyr or yogurt in my oven will taste exactly as expected in the morning. 

Overnight, nature does the same magic over and over without failure or surprises. It is one thing that can be counted on. If I ever learn to be a good baker, that could be said of the loaf of bread I make as well. Over the months of surviving the pandemic, I have come to a new appreciation for method, process and predictability in an area where I least enjoyed constraints - my kitchen. I have always thrived on making my recipes on the fly and improvising based on what I have and what I am in the mood to make with it. That desire has greatly waned this past year - I am loving the rinse and repeat process of yogurt making more than anything else these days. 

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