1. Make cheese
You can't transform yogurt into cheddar, but you can give it a cheesy texture. "One of my favourite things to do with plain yogurt is to hang it in cheesecloth overnight so the water drains out," says John Robertson, the executive chef at The Big Carrot in Toronto. "In the morning, it has a goat-cheese consistency." Use yogurt cheese anywhere you'd use sour cream, such as atop soup, in salads or mixed with fresh herbs to create a savoury dip or spread.

2. Marinate meat
"Yogurt's cultures and slight acidity help tenderize meat, making it great as a marinade," says Robertson. Yogurt-based marinades can bring out the best in a variety of meat and poultry, such as chicken, pork and beef. Combine plain yogurt with your favourite herbs and spices, pour it over raw meat and let it sit in the fridge for up to a day.

3. Dress up salads
Barbecue season calls for creamy salads laden with calories and fat -- too rich for hot summer days. "Yogurt's a great substitute for mayonnaise when you're making dressings," says Robertson. "There's no precise substitution rule; how much mayo you cut depends on the recipe and your palate."

Try a creamy cucumber salad. To make it, peel and thinly slice cucumbers, then dress them with plain yogurt, a splash of fresh lemon juice, finely chopped onion and fresh dill and salt and pepper.

4. Soothe a sunburn or rash
Smooth a tablespoonful of organic plain yogurt on the affected area. "It's a soothing treatment for sensitive inflamed skin, including sunburns and rashes. Yogurt also rehydrates your skin because it contains fat and water," says Kristen Ma, the author of Beauty: Pure + Simple and a co-owner of the Toronto-based spa Pure + Simple. Yogurt gently removes dead skin cells, too-it contains alpha hydroxy acids-leaving your skin smooth and glowing. Try it on a dry scalp!

Photography, iStockphoto.com.