Misthi Mukh

I am sure this is an inner bong instinct in me..." Misthi Mukh  kore shuru koro"...(Initiate any work with a sweet in your mouth) and hence I am starting my blog with this Yoghurt recipe. And Ma ( mum) being my inspiration in all the experimentation I do in my kitchen...this is a hands down inherited recipe from her....Thank you Ma.I still remember umpteen number of times she has tried to persuade me to make my own Doi or more easily understood ghore pata doi..( bengali version of Yoghurt). Those childhood days after lunch, we were always given a bati of doi ( bowl of yoghurt) with sugar sprinkled. Of course as the yoghurt was sour. Then Ma starting mixing the sugar when boiling the milk..and it was her version of Mishthi Doi (Sweet Yoghurt). And when I started my own sansar ( my family and probably what I mean that I was the main one responsible to feed my hubby and son), Yoghurt was readily available in the supermarkets. And that too with so many choices..full fat, half fat, 99% fat free..etc..and not to mention the vivid flavours to choose from. Hence I refused to prepare the Homemade version. Even Ma used to give in when she visited as she also relished the flavours available in the supermarket aisles. Of course the full fat ones were always the most favourite...Now that I have all the time in my hands and I saw ma preparing the yoghurt very closely. I really sneaked into the kitchen and told myself.."C'mon let me try..Good use of so much extra milk I have in the fridge". And to motivate myself , I even bought this lovely piece of Handi( A round ceramic pot) which is perfect to set the yoghurt. And since then I am actually regularly preparing the yoghurt. I have stopped buying them from the shops. I have made different versions ..used Patali Gur(Jaggery from dates), used raw sugar and sometimes plain without sugar. This yoghurt, mind you does not remain as thick as it is when set initially. Once you do the first scoop of the yoghurt to serve, then there is some water retention in the handi. I know I have passed as my son R loved it at the first try.