Kid Tracks Column: Finally making it to the top, but about that bug spray ...

The kids and I have hiked Burnt Meadow Mountain in Brownfield more than a handful of times. There have been a variety of reasons why we haven't reached the summit -- stomach flu, a canine injury and a lack of interest have all been factors -- but recently we decided it was time to commit to getting to the top.

There are some wonderful vistas on this Brownfield mountain trail that don't require too much effort. When the girls were small, a short hike to a vista point for a picnic was just right. The area is particularly beautiful in the fall because the valley and surrounding mountains are a beautiful panorama of colors during that season.

A couple years ago I suggested to the girls we try to get to the summit. It's just under a 1,200-foot elevation gain, which is something we've accomplished on other mountains. But that first real try didn't work out because my husband came down with stomach flu. For obvious reasons, we had to head back to the trailhead early.

Last fall the girls and I tried to summit again. This time we took along a dog we were fostering. Unfortunately, the dog cut his foot going up the mountain. I was concerned about the bloody paw, so we headed back to the trailhead to ensure the injury didn't turn more serious.

So it was with some self-deprecating humor that we set out again to summit the mountain. When we passed our usual vista/picnic spot, we cheered that we were "finally" moving into new territory. And as is the case with this mountain, whenever we try to get to the top, we encounter some new challenges.

We had problems with the plentiful mosquitoes because I forgot the DEET bug spray. I clearly wasn't paying attention when packing and threw in an all-natural version. As much as I try to use chemical-free products, when in the backwoods I have found we need the strongest bug juice we can get.

The lack of adequate protection from the mosquitoes was very annoying and I kicked myself up -- and down -- the mountain that I didn't pack the right spray.

The last quarter-mile to the summit was steep and included open ledges. My kids really enjoyed the challenge of finding foot and handholds to make the ascent up the last couple hundred feet to the summit. We made a loud declaration once at the top that "we finally made it!" This might have been heard for miles.

But after looking around we decided the summit was anticlimactic. Yes, it had a beautiful view, but there are also nice vistas of the surrounding area at lower elevations that didn't require as much effort. As I have said in previous columns about this mountain (and others), hiking doesn't always need to be about getting to the top. Sometimes it's about finding a nice spot for a relaxing picnic.

Within minutes of hitting the summit, my 16-year-old developed a bloody nose. It was a full geyser and she was a bloody mess by the time her sister and I dug out napkins and tissues from our packs. She handled the situation like a trooper and later commented she didn't have much choice since we were at the top of a mountain.

"I think we should call this 'bloody' mountain for Shadow's paw (the foster dog), my nose and all the mosquitoes!"

The bloody nose was quickly controlled, and truth be told, my daughter found the mosquitoes more problematic than the nose. We reapplied the all-natural bug spray at least a half-dozen times on the trail, but it just didn't do the job. The mosquitoes were so thick in some areas that a lot of our pictures turned out blurry due to so many bugs flying in front of the lens.

Our experiences on this mountain have turned into our family folklore. It happens that some places were just made for quirky storytelling. And sometimes stopping to enjoy the sights (and people you're with) without any goals in mind are all that really matters on a family hiking adventure, anyway. It's nice to be reminded of that, particularly as the kids get older. But a lesson I hope not to relearn: Don't ever forget the "good" bug spray.

BURNT MEADOW MOUNTAIN

WHERE: Brownfield
LENGTH: 1.2 miles to northern peak
ELEVATION GAIN: 1,194 feet (peak is at 1,575 feet)
BATHROOM: None
TERRAIN: Packed dirt with some open ledges
DIFFICULTY: Intermediate
TRAILHEAD: The trailhead is unmarked and easy to miss. The trailhead is on Route 160, about three miles from the junction of routes 113 and 5 in Brownfield. GPS Coordinates: 43.9177, -70.8830
14-YEAR-OLD: It was a pretty hike and climbing on the rocks to the very top was fun. It was interesting to climb up open face rocks and it was really pretty when you got to look out from the rocks. When we went into the woodsy part of the trail there were bugs everywhere and they were biting us a lot.
16-YEAR-OLD: This hike was a harder one for me but it was OK. The view was very nice. The jagged rocks just before the summit were really fun to climb on. This is the first hike ever that I actually saw a snake on the trail. It was cool. I would hike this mountain again but I don't need to get to the top next time.

Burnt Meadow Mountain

Originally published in the Maine Sunday Telegram Aug. 12, 2012

Kid Tracks Column: Trails in Turner a terrific scenic trek

The kids and I were planning a trip to visit friends north of Lewiston and wanted to find a hiking trail in that area. That's how I ran across a listing for Androscoggin Riverlands State Park. It's only been an official state park since 2009, but the kids and I wished we had found it sooner. Well-marked trails, beautiful river vistas and some nice picnic table amenities had us giving the park a thumbs-up.

According to Maine.gov, Androscoggin Riverlands includes 2,675 acres, with 12 miles of multiuse trails and 10 miles of hiking trails along the river. The Old River Road Trail is the main trail through the park and it's multiuse. I assumed it would be busy with ATVs. The hiking trails off the main trail offered a great alternative for foot traffic to avoid the motorized folks, and we thought those trails were prettier, too.

We took the trail marked Old Farmstead Trail near the trailhead. I had a trail map from the state's website and I tried to match the sign to the map. It's a minor thing, but while the Homestead Trail is listed on the map, there's no notation for the Old Farmstead Trail. The trail itself was well-marked with trail blazes, and it was clear it headed toward the river, so the name confusion wasn't an issue.
We found a pleasant surprise about a mile into the trail -- a nicely maintained outhouse and picnic area. It's a little thing, but there just aren't many places that have an outhouse that far into the trail system.

We found another surprise upon opening the door to the outhouse. A bird's nest sat on a metal bar next to the toilet. It was brimming (the nest, not the toilet) with new chicks. I have seen bird nests in the eaves of an outhouse, but not at hip level and right next to a toilet. We took care not to disturb the little ones, which was a bit tricky when using the facilities.

A few yards away from the outhouse were some picnic tables. The trail map indicated this was an "overlook" and it was a lovely shaded spot with a wonderful river view.
 
We continued along the Old Farmstead Trail for another mile before deciding to loop back to the trailhead via the Fox Run Trail. On the map there was a notation that this trail was a little more challenging. Or at least that's how I interpreted the "... please allow ample time to hike or bike this section." Up to that point the trail system had been easy, so I was optimistic it wasn't all that hard.
This trail was narrower, overgrown and hilly, but overall it required only a bit more effort than the other trails.

In order to make our way back to the trailhead we had to find a sharp right turn to loop back to the Old River Road Trail from Fox Run. We missed the turn the first time because we were too busy admiring the footbridge. That's how trail intersections go sometimes. I've missed many of them in favor of admiring a special feature rather than paying attention to the markers. We didn't walk far before I realized our mistake and backtracked to make the correction, which was obvious had we been looking for it at the bridge.

The Fox Run Trail had a lot of signs of wildlife, from droppings and prints to singing birds and plenty of fast moving frogs. And although more challenging than the other trails, this one was the kids' favorite. Our trek through the park only took us on a fraction of the trails, about 5 miles according to my GPS.

The kids and I left the park feeling like another visit would be in our near future. We wanted to hike the Ledges and Ridge trails, which offer a bit of an elevation gain, to see the river from a higher vantage point. The map also indicated more "outlook" spots with picnic tables in the middle of the park. On our next visit we'll be sure to budget more time to hike further into the trail system.

Initially we weren't sure what to expect from Riverlands because of the ATV activity at the trailhead. But what we found was a wonderful hiking trail system with plenty of natural beauty not far from Lewiston.

ANDROSCOGGIN RIVERLANDS STATE PARK
WHERE: Turner
LENGTH: 10 miles of hiking trails (6.6 miles shared with mountain bikes)
ELEVATION GAIN: Minimal for most trails
BATHROOM: Outhouse at trailhead, another about 1 mile into trail system
TERRAIN: Packed gravel or dirt
DIFFICULTY: Easy to moderate, depending on what trail you choose
TRAILHEAD: From Lewiston take Route 4 north to Route 117. Then take Center Bridge Road to the park entrance.
14-YEAR-OLD'S REVIEW: "It was an easy hike and had nice scenery. It was kind of weird that a bird would have a nest next to the toilet in the bathroom but it was pretty cool to see the baby chicks. The water was really nice to look at while eating lunch."
16-YEAR-OLD'S REVIEW: "I liked the easy trails. Walking along the river was really pretty and there were a lot of spots to sit down on picnic tables to eat lunch and that was really nice. We saw a lot of birds there. It was just a really nice, easy hike."

Androscoggin Riverlands State Park

 Originally published in the Maine Sunday Telegram July 8, 2012

Kid Tracks Column: Eyebrow and Old Speck trails both reward, challenge hikers

The Eyebrow at Grafton Notch State Park is a trail on Old Speck Mountain that offers a lot of variety for hikers -- from the cable handrails to the iron rungs and metal ladder to aid hikers across a small open rock face. Although it's a steep climb, it's only 1.2 miles long and rewards hikers with a nice view of the notch.

My family first tackled the Eyebrow five years ago in hopes of getting a new perspective of Grafton Notch State Park. We had previously hiked to Table Rock, an outcropping on the Bald Pate Mountain side of the notch, and wanted a view from the Old Speck Mountain side.
The girls were young, 9 and 11 years old at the time, and it was a tough climb for them. It was also their first foray into crossing an open rock face. They were hesitant about this, so we took a snack break on the trail to talk before we hiked across it.

After the uneventful crossing, the girls felt like they'd graduated into the hiking big leagues. My then 9-year-old referred to Appalachian Trail thru-hikers (the AT crosses through Grafton Notch) as "professional hikers," so she was pleased to have traversed some challenging terrain (although I should note the Eyebrow Trail is not on the AT, but does intersect with it).

Now at 14 and 16 years old, the girls have a different perspective of the Eyebrow's 1,200-foot elevation gain because they've hiked steeper mountain trails. This climb is short mileage-wise for the elevation gain, so it's not easy. But I had to laugh at my now 16-year-old's reaction when we arrived at the open rock face this time.

"That's what we were so worried about last time? It's not even that steep."

And she's right. The open rock really isn't all that scary to a more experienced hiker. But I'd caution parents to talk to their young hikers ahead of time to explain the terrain and their child's comfort level in crossing it.

The Eyebrow Trail intersects with the Old Speck Trail (part of the AT), and we took that trail to loop back down to the trailhead for a total of 2.4 miles hiked. We enjoyed the Old Speck Trail because it features some pretty waterfalls, and it's an easy descent.

My family has yet to hike all the way to the summit of Old Speck. The top of the Eyebrow offers nice views, so we feel like we've accomplished our goal -- to see the notch from a different perspective. We can see the Table Rock outcropping from the Eyebrow, and that's what I really enjoy about Grafton Notch State Park. It offers multiple observation points to give kids an opportunity to view a vista point they've hiked to previously.

I think it's quite an accomplishment to hike the mountain trails at Grafton Notch when you're a kid. And it's a nice confidence boost for the whole family, no matter which side of the hiking experience (child or parent) you're on.

TRAIL REVIEW

WHAT: The Eyebrow and Old Speck trails
WHERE: Old Speck Mountain at Grafton Notch State Park
LENGTH: Loop of about 2.4 miles
ELEVATION GAIN: About 1,200 feet
BATHROOM: Outhouse at trailhead
TERRAIN: Dirt with an open rock-face crossing that has iron rungs and a small ladder; there is also a cable handrail in one particularly steep area as well.
DIFFICULTY: Moderate to advanced (depending on your fitness level). Parents of kids under 12 should use caution due to open rock face.
TRAILHEAD: On Route 26 just north of Newry. For those with a GPS, the trailhead is located at: 44.59; -70.9471
14-YEAR-OLD'S REVIEW: "The Eyebrow Trail was a steep, challenging hike but the views were really pretty. The iron steps to cross the cliff face were a little scary but OK. The cable handrail was helpful when we were going up the very steep trail. This trail was different than most I've hiked, and that made it interesting."
16-YEAR-OLD'S REVIEW: "I thought the steep hills were fun because you had a handrail to help you. The cables helped so I didn't feel like I was going to fall down. When we got to the top the view was nice. The waterfalls on the way down were really nice, too."

The Eyebrow at Grafton Notch

Originally published in the Maine Sunday Telegram June 10, 2012

Kid Tracks Column: A view worth the effort

After a couple of easy elevation climbs this spring, my family decided to tackle a mountain we've considered hiking for a couple of years -- Caribou Mountain in the Caribou-Speckled Mountain Wilderness of the White Mountains National Forest.

My daughters and I take an exercise class together, as well as walk and hike regularly, so we felt like we were finally ready to tackle this 2,850-foot mountain with its 2,000-foot elevation gain from trailhead to summit. But as I posted on my Twitter account after this hike, it really tested my family's fitness level. The key to making it doable included pacing ourselves, along with several water and snack breaks. It also confirmed we need to keep up with our weekly Zumba classes because it gave us the cardio endurance we needed to make it up this big (to us) mountain.

I concurred with both my kids that this climb was absolutely worth the sweat. We were amply rewarded with an amazing panorama of surrounding peaks. My 14-year-old also was pleased to have found yet another geological marker at the summit. She's all about locating those markers this year and I have found it to be a great motivator for my teens on our mountain treks.

We chose to hike up the mountain via the Mud Brook Trail and loop back down the Caribou Trail. It turned out to be a 7-mile trek round-trip. We read in the AMC Mountain Guide that the connection between these two trails was not well marked. Because we were warned, we kept a keen eye out for trail blazes on the rocky summit and had no major problem finding the connection.

But there was an aspect of this hike that the girls and I found particularly challenging -- the rocky terrain. There were large rocks and roots embedded in the trail for most of the climb up, as well as down. There were also a surprisingly high number of water crossings, which were shallow streams of varying widths. Basically we did a lot of rock jumping over waterways and on the actual trail. I know it doesn't sound like a big deal to have to watch your footing. But after 7 miles of careful stepping to avoid twisting an ankle, we really came to appreciate the even terrain walking around our neighborhood the next day.

Despite the rocks, this was a trail that offered a great sense of accomplishment for my family. It's not a casual or easy mountain hike, so I'd recommend you make sure your kids (and you) are ready for the elevation gain. I think my kids, at 14 and 16 years old now, were at the right age and general fitness level to hike this mountain to ensure we would all enjoy the experience. If you want to visit Evan's Notch with your family but aren't sure they can handle this mountain, the 1,300-foot elevation gain of Blueberry Mountain might be a better place to start. The views on the various mountain peaks in Evan's Notch are all wonderful. Well, those we've climbed so far. We have plans to take on a few more mountains around the notch later this year because we love the views so much. But you can be sure we'll be making a point to step up our weekly exercise program to stay in shape before tackling these taller peaks.

TRAIL REVIEW

WHAT: Caribou Mountain
WHERE: Batchelders Grant
LENGTH: Seven miles by looping from Mud Brook Trail to Caribou Trail
ELEVATION GAIN: About 2,000 feet
BATHROOM: Outhouse at trailhead
TERRAIN: Dirt with a lot of roots and rocks, and narrow waterway crossings
TRAILHEAD: From Fryeburg take Route 113 to the Evan’s Notch area on the Maine side of the White Mountains National Forest. The trailhead is 6.0 miles north of the Cold River Campground. For those with a GPS, the trailhead is located at: 44.3359, -70.9753
14-YEAR-OLD’S REVIEW: “This was a nice hike with a pretty view at the summit. It was a big mountain so it was a bit of a challenge for me to get to the top. I also liked finding the (geological) marker at the summit.”
16-YEAR-OLD’S REVIEW: “This hike was not too hard if you are in pretty good shape. The view at the top was really pretty. It was worth it to get to the top to see all the mountains that are around this one.”

Caribou Mountain




 
Originally published in the Maine Sunday Telegram May 13, 2012

Kid Tracks Column: Sabattus makes it easy to climb mountain

Sabattus Mountain in Lovell is a gem of a place that offers an easy, family-friendly hiking adventure with spectacular views.

Choosing a hike is always an interesting process at our house. The peanut gallery, now 14 and 16 years old, has to approve of the adventure to ensure we all have a good time. The criteria in choosing this particular hike included my daughter's perception of the family's fitness level. Both girls feel they are "really out of shape to climb a big mountain."

This is how we all usually feel about early spring hikes. We need a few easy warm-up climbs before we tackle the higher elevation gains.

Sabattus Mountain has an elevation gain of about 500 feet, and we all agreed that sounded very doable.

The driving directions sounded straight-forward, and that can be a determining factor in choosing a trail. There is nothing more frustrating than vague directions to an out-of-the-way trailhead with kids in the car. I prefer to avoid comments like, "Are we there yet?" or "Mom, you're lost aren't you?"
I've heard plenty of both through the years.

I used the 10th edition AMC Maine Mountain Guide when researching this mountain. This updated guide was edited by fellow Maine Sunday Telegram outdoor columnist Carey Kish (it's out in bookstores this month). The trail was described as having nice cliff views of the western mountains and the Presidential Range. And thanks to a clear spring day, that's just what we found.

The trail is marked with yellow blazes and the climb is steady but not particularly steep. There were a few spots when one of us stopped to take a break under the guise of taking a picture or listening for the birds. Of course we weren't out of breath (well, maybe a little), but my daughter's assessment of our stamina for mountain climbing this year was accurate. This mountain choice was just right for us.
As we neared the top, which is less than a mile from the trailhead, we found a couple nice lookout points. The kids were particularly enamored with a large deposit of white quartzite that sparkled in the sunlight.

But it was the summit view that we found most impressive, particularly because you usually have to work a lot harder for an expansive, unobstructed view from an open rock face. And the park benches to take in the scenery were an unexpected bonus.

While exploring the summit, my 14-year-old discovered a geological marker pounded into the rock ledge near the northwest edge of the cliff. Despite the battered appearance of the gold disk, it was an exciting discovery. We are geocachers, finding hidden boxes with our hand-held GPS unit, and have considered participating in the benchmark hunting aspect of the game to find geological markers. After this discovery, the kids want to go on the hunt for another one.

Round-trip, this hike was an easy 1.5 miles. It really was a wonderful place to get back to our family mountain climbing adventures this spring.

A HIKE YOU’LL LIKE
TRAIL: Sabattus Mountain
WHERE: Lovell
LENGTH: 1.5 miles, looping trail
ELEVATION GAIN: about 500 feet
BATHROOM: No
TERRAIN: Dirt with a lot of roots
TRAILHEAD: From Center Lovell on Route 5 north, take Sabattus Road (on right past Center Lovell General Store). After 1.5 miles, bear right at fork onto the dirt road of Sabattus Trail Road. Trailhead is well marked on right. For those with a GPS, the trail head is located at: N 44.1883, W 70.853.
14-YEAR-OLD’S REVIEW: “What I liked about the trail is that it was easy and there wasn’t too much climbing. The scenery was nice and they had benches to sit on at the top of the mountain. It was really pretty at the top.”
16-YEAR-OLD’S REVIEW: “The trail was really nice and the scenery was really pretty when we got on top of the mountain. And it was nice they had benches for us to sit on and eat our lunch.”

Choosing a hike is always an interesting process at our house. The peanut gallery, now 14 and 16 years old, has to approve of the adventure to ensure we all have a good time. The criteria in choosing this particular hike included my daughter's perception of the family's fitness level. Both girls feel they are "really out of shape to climb a big mountain."

Originally published in the Maine Sunday Telegram April 8, 2012.

Kid Tracks Column: Surprising items find place in first-aid kit

My family's first-aid kit has seen plenty of action over the years. The tweezers have regularly removed ticks and the baby wipes have saved us from poison ivy outbreaks. The plastic card has earned a permanent place in our kit since we discovered its leech removal abilities, and we always carry small bottles of meat tenderizer and Benadryl after our run-in with yellow jackets.

Our first-aid kit includes a couple of items we use all the time, which helps ensure that I use the kit regularly and know when it's time to replenish certain supplies.

As the weather warms and your family gears up to hit the trails, it's a good time to take a few minutes to organize your first-aid kit.

Here's an inventory of the Almeida family's kit (which we consider a constant work-in-progress) to get you started.

Band-Aids: We used to stock a variety of character and tattoo Band-Aids when the girls were younger because a minuscule scratch on a finger threatened to prevent us from moving another step. We still stock a variety of sizes and styles because even as teens, only the perfect one will do.

Hydrogen peroxide: A small bottle of this is a must as my girls refuse any contact with the "nasty" alcohol square.

Anti-itch cream: In the summer someone always has a mosquito bite. And although scratching a bite isn't a big deal, it can become an all-consuming irritant (especially if the bite is hard to reach while wearing a backpack).

Baby wipes: A multi-purpose item that has been helpful after the misguided steps we've taken into a poison ivy patch. By wiping our skin to remove the resins, we've been able to avoid an outbreak. Although soap and water are best, the key is to get the resins off quickly.

Meat tenderizer: A paste of water and tenderizer helps reduce the swelling of bee stings. This was a tip we learned from a pharmacist, and after our run-in with yellow jackets everyone in my family can attest to the fact that this odd-sounding remedy really does work.

Gum: This always helps calm down my girls when they get anxious or hurt.

Tweezers: We use these primarily for tick removal but also for the occasional splinter.

Moleskin: This stuff works a thousand times better than Band-Aids for blisters on your feet so it gets lots of use on our longer hikes (we pack a small pair of scissors as well).

Plastic card: I discovered the benefit of an expired plastic credit card while trying to remove leeches from my daughter. The firm, but flexible, scraping of an old plastic card does the job well and it works on newly attached ticks as well.

Eyeglass mini screwdriver: If you have a child with glasses then you know that if they're going to have a problem with their glasses, it's going to be somewhere really inconvenient. This little item came in handy fixing our flashlight once on the trail too.

Baby powder: This is great for sweating feet as well as the all-consuming irritant of chafed thighs and for sand removal between toes.

Sunblock and insect repellent: I keep these items in the first-aid kit because I use them frequently and this ensures I'm familiar with my kit's inventory.

OTHER ITEMS we carry include: antibiotic cream, Ace bandage, medical tape, ibuprofen/acetaminophen, feminine hygiene pads, nail clippers, emergency heater blanket, whistle, sewing kit, waterproof matches, safety pins, hair elastics, hand sanitizer and a flashlight.

I'd like to say our kit is light and easy to carry, but it's not. The girls have a smaller first-aid kit for our shorter adventures when we're not far from our car (and our larger kit).

But I think it's important to be prepared for an emergency (the real ones as well as the ones contrived by the little people in your life) when you're spending time outdoors. Oh, and trust me that the gum and preferred Band-Aid requests should be accommodated. That's a small price to pay for solid insurance for a fun family adventure.

Originally published in the Maine Sunday Telegram March 11, 2012.

Make-your-own yogurt not just for the cultured elite

I thought making my own yogurt was beyond my busy lifestyle and cooking abilities when a farming friend suggested I give it a whirl. I'm a busy full-time working mom with two active kids, and I initially thought that if yogurt making were easy, everyone would be doing it.

There were a couple of aspects of the recipe that intimidated me:
1. It requires a candy thermometer.
2. The six to eight hours of "incubation" for the yogurt to set.

But I found these things were easily managed. Plus, knowing exactly what was in my yogurt -- as well as the cost-savings -- made homemade yogurt worth the effort.

I get my milk from a friend who raises Jersey dairy cows. My recipe reflects my own family's taste for a thick and creamy, but less-sweet, yogurt.

HOMEMADE VANILLA YOGURT
1 gallon of milk
¾ cup of sugar
¾ cup of dry milk
1 tablespoon of Madagascar vanilla bean powder (found at a natural food store)
½ cup plus 1 tablespoon of plain active-culture yogurt
Candy thermometer
Mason jars with lids

Heat the milk in a large pot on medium high heat. Do not set the heat on high, as it could scald the bottom of the pan. Attach your candy thermometer to the side of the pot to monitor the milk's temperature. Stir occasionally. Remove from heat when the temperature reaches 180 degrees. Depending on your stovetop, this can take 20 to 30 minutes. When the temperature climbs to 150 degrees, keep a close eye on the milk, as the jump to 180 degrees happens quickly. It is important not to allow the milk to boil.

Once at 180 degrees, submerge the bottom of your pot in a pan with cold water and ice cubes to cool the milk quickly. Add sugar, dry milk and vanilla bean powder and stir well. The mixture needs to cool until it is 110 degrees, so keep the thermometer in the pan to monitor.

At 110 degrees, add the plain yogurt.

Mix the yogurt starter well before pouring into your mason jars. Place jars in a pot of warm water so that the water is just below the top of the jar. Then put the pot in the oven.

Set your oven at 110 degrees to incubate. This process can take 6 to 8 hours, depending on your taste preference. I prefer removing mine at the 6-hour mark to put in my refrigerator.
Recipe makes about 5 quarts of yogurt.

TIPS
• Yogurt cultures like bacteria, so avoid using commercial milk labeled "ultra-pasteurized." Local dairies typically offer less-processed (called flash pasteurized) milk, or you can connect with a local farmer to buy raw milk.

• Be sure to use only plain active-culture yogurt for your starter, and choose a quality yogurt. Using a vanilla or added-sugar yogurt will not work correctly.

• The dry milk I use makes my recipe into a thick, creamy yogurt that my kids like because it's similar to a commercial-brand consistency. You can use less for a thinner result. Another common thickener for yogurt is unflavored gelatin, but I prefer dry milk for the additional protein it offers.

• There are two ways to affect the sweetness of your yogurt. One is how much sugar you add, and the other is how long you incubate. Experiment with both to find a combination that suits your family's tastes.

• I use a combination of quart, pint and half-pint sized mason jars. This requires that I use a couple of different pots in the oven while incubating in the water bath, but the variation offers convenience for my family's lunch boxes.

• Fruit should not be added to homemade yogurt until after it is incubated and ready to eat.

• I use powdered vanilla bean because it is cheaper than an actual vanilla bean, and my family doesn't care for the faint alcohol taste of liquid pure vanilla extract.

• To make Greek-style yogurt, use a strainer lined with muslin and fill with yogurt. Put the strainer into a bowl and set in the refrigerator for about two hours. Scoop out the drained yogurt and add to single-serving containers. This method works for homemade or commercially processed yogurt. And if you have a dog, the drained liquid is a great healthy treat for your canine friend.

• To make frozen yogurt, add two cups of drained Greek-style yogurt along with one cup of milk, one cup of frozen fruit and two tablespoons of jam into a blender. Blend until smooth and pour into single serving containers (smaller containers freeze more quickly and minimize crystallization). Then place containers in the freezer overnight. My daughter packs one of these in her lunch box and by the time the lunch hour arrives, her container is a slush consistency, which she likes.

STEP-BY-STEP INSTRUCTIONS
You can see this recipe step-by-step, with pictures, as Wendy teaches Shannon Bryan how to make yogurt for her Pans on Fire blog.

Originally published in the Portland Press Herald's Food & Dining March 7, 2012