| T O P I C R E V I E W |
| CherryPie |
Posted - Jun 13 2008 : 08:08:46 AM
One of my resolutions for this year is to learn to make cheese. I want to start with something that doesn't require fancy equipment, so I thought a soft cheese would likely fit the bill. Unfortunately, I really don't like cottage cheese; I'm more of a fan of mozzarella, ricotta, chevre, etc. Does anyone have any recipes or tips on making cheese at home?
Thanks!
Kimberly Ann
Why Reinvent the broom?
http://nostalgichomemaking.blogspot.com |
| 15 L A T E S T R E P L I E S (Newest First) |
| Woodswoman |
Posted - Jun 21 2008 : 4:43:28 PM
I have also been to the the Cheese Queen website (http://www.cheesemaking.com/). I have made my own mozzarella, ricotta, and a spreadable yogurt cheese.
It's really fun!
Jennifer
Farmgirl Sister #104
"Nature brings to every time and season some beauties of its own".
-Charles Dickens |
| oldfashioned girl |
Posted - Jun 20 2008 : 7:57:14 PM
This has to be the coolest website ever. It is so fun because I never know who I will meet or what I will find. I had looked into making my own cheese before, but I never got very far especially when you get sidetracked with 3 kids. I make a lot of my own food and would definitely add cheese to the list. Anymore I am constantly checking labels on everything to see what is in it. I was surprised to find out that some saltines have high fructose corn syrup, luckily I have a recipe for homemade ones. So I will be off on another adventure of cheese-making!!! Oh how fun!!!
I have a book you all might be interested in. It is The Pantry Gourmet by Jane Doerfer. It is over 250 recipes for everything from cheeses to mustards. It has a lot of good recipes in it.
Monica |
| fiddlegirl89 |
Posted - Jun 16 2008 : 06:46:23 AM
I make mostly mozzarella right now, and also some ricotta (made from the whey left over from the mozzarella)and they are both easy. I have a bunch of different cultures on the way now, so I should be able to make any kind I want after that! I've also ordered the cheese press so I can make hard cheeses. BTW, our family has an add in the back of the latest Mother Earth News.
http://www.custerfamilyfarm.com |
| CherryPie |
Posted - Jun 13 2008 : 8:53:17 PM
Thanks, everyone! I'll let you know how it goes. :-)
Kimberly Ann
Why Reinvent the broom?
http://nostalgichomemaking.blogspot.com |
| windypines |
Posted - Jun 13 2008 : 10:21:04 AM
I make lots of cheese. Get yourself a good cheese making book, and have fun. I personally like Rikki Carolls book (probely really misspelled her name) None of it is hard to do, but a few good pieces of equipment help alot.
Michele |
| willowtreecreek |
Posted - Jun 13 2008 : 10:15:04 AM
this months issue of Mother Earth News has a great article on making cheese. There is a recipe for mozzella. You should check It out.
Farmgirl Sister #17
Blog
www.willowtreecreek.wordpress.com
Felt and Fabric Crafts
www.willowartist.etsy.com
www.willowtreecreek.com
|
| Sarahpauline |
Posted - Jun 13 2008 : 10:13:11 AM
One super simple cheese that is very common the world over which is much like ricotta is made a lot the same as cottage cheese. You just take a gallon of milk, I use whole milk personally and heat it in a pan (do not scorch or boil it) add a little vinegar and let it sit until it begins to curdle. Add a little more if it doesnt. Then when it curdles up you can stir it up and you will see that you get a yellowish clear liquid and fine curds. Pour this into a collander lined with cheese cloth or a clean, lint free dish cloth and let it drain well. I like to form mine into a block and put a weight on it, this way it gets like a block I can cut and use in cooking. It doesnt melt, but it will fry and brown and it is popular in mexican or indian cooking. If, instead of forming it into a block, you stir in some cream you will get a creamy ricotta like cheese which is great with herbs blended in served on toast or sandwhiches, or used with sweet things like jam. I like to add a little salt if it will be a savory cheese since it has little flavor of its own. I hope Ive helped, this is about as complex a cheesemaker as I have become. I look forward to learning more as you delve further into it.
:)
Not all those who wander are lost... |
| Mumof3 |
Posted - Jun 13 2008 : 09:07:21 AM
I make a soft farmer cheese that is really yummy. You can eat it plain or add herbs to it. (Tarragin is especially delicious!) I did post about it on my blog here:http://madrekarin.blogspot.com/2008/05/what-i-made-for-lunch-today.html
I think you will really enjoy making cheese. Hmmmm, now I need to go get a gallon of milk and make some myself. 
Karin
Farmgirl Sister
# 18 :)
Wherever you go, there you are.
www.madrekarin.blogspot.com
www.madrekarin.etsy.com |
| Jody Harmon |
Posted - Jun 13 2008 : 08:44:10 AM
Oh, one thing I forgot to mention was that I covered the cheese (which is wrapped in cheese cloth) with a small plate and set some heavy filled jars on top of it. This helped to squeeze the whey out of the cheese and make a more dense product. Some people hang the bag of cheese in there fridge but I didn't have the equipment of the desire to make a cheese hammock. The "press" method worked just fine.
Jody
Monroe's Mom |
| Jody Harmon |
Posted - Jun 13 2008 : 08:41:24 AM
Hi Kimberly,
I make my own yogurt and from that make some soft, cream or ricotta like cheese. You could even do it with premade plain
yogurt. I just dump a quart of yogurt in a colander lined with
a couple layers of cheese cloth. I set the colander in a bowl and let it drip for a few days...the longer you let it drain the more dense the cheese will become. The consistency of the last batch I made was like a very fine ricotta...I used it in a baked pasta shells recipe and it was great!
Good luck in your cheese making adventures!
Jody
Monroe's Mom |
| CherryPie |
Posted - Jun 13 2008 : 08:39:33 AM
Thanks, Meg! I thought I'd give the queso blanco a try. I've read it can also be substituted for ricotta in lasagna. I'll post on how it goes.
Kimberly Ann
Why Reinvent the broom?
http://nostalgichomemaking.blogspot.com |
| Prairie Princess |
Posted - Jun 13 2008 : 08:36:44 AM
Hmm, I'd never thought to add cheese making to my list of things I want to learn, but I think I'm going to add it. Sounds like fun!
~Jodi
"Women are like teabags...you never know how strong they are until they get into hot water." Eleanor Roosevelt |
| sweetproserpina |
Posted - Jun 13 2008 : 08:31:37 AM
http://www.cheesemaking.com/" target="_blank">Yay! br / More cheese-makers! I ve just started making cheese (I took a neat class at the college last nov.) and have got some cultures tucked away in the freezer for when inspiration strikes.I ordered mine from The Cheese Queen. [ur]http://www.cheesemaking.com/
Here are a few links to cheeses that don't require cultures.
Easy mild hard cheese- http://www.tammysrecipes.com/node/2356 (I've made this and its' pretty good!)
Mozza - http://www.instructables.com/id/Great-Mozzarella-Cheese/
Queso Blanco- http://www.geocities.com/heartland/cottage/1288/quick/queso.htm
"Isn't it splendid to think of all the things there are to find out about? It just makes me feel glad to be alive--it's such an interesting world."
http://theprimroseway.blogspot.com/ |
| CherryPie |
Posted - Jun 13 2008 : 08:21:56 AM
Thanks, Frannie!
Kimberly Ann
Why Reinvent the broom?
http://nostalgichomemaking.blogspot.com |
| frannie |
Posted - Jun 13 2008 : 08:15:58 AM
on my list of things i have always wanted to do, unfortunately it hasnt gotten off the list, maybe one day.
i do think i have some books here with some ideas about the question you asked though and i will post a reply later today if they have some good suggestions.
love
frannie in texas
(http://farmfolks-frannie.blogspot.com/)
(http://abunnystale.blogspot.com/) |
