new skills - cheese
This is a quick post. It has been insane - J has been working a lot....
So, I learned a new skill this weekend. I learned how to make cheese! Okay, it wasn't hard cheese (like cheddar). It was fresh mozzarella. I could not believe how easy it was to do. It tasted great as well! This is something I have been wanting to do, but afraid to do. I took the leap and it wasn't too bad.
The cheese was used on homemade pizza. Madison commented that the pizza was entirely homemade (crust, sauce, and cheese). I suppose if I could grow wheat and had a cow it would be truly home grown, but I was pretty impressed with this new skill.
Cheese making below. I forgot to take a picture of the ball of cheese.
The ingredients (whole milk, citric acid, rennet)
Citirc acid was added to the milk. Rennet added once the temp reached 90.
Citirc acid was added to the milk. Rennet added once the temp reached 90.
Let the milk sit for about 3 minutes (see the curd separated from the whey)
Cutting the cheese into blocks - to take out of pot. Taking this picture while cutting was also a new skill.
After the mozzarella was separated from the whey and drained, it was cheese! :)
10 comments:
wonderful! I have been wanting to try my hand at it as well.
That's great! Honestly, good for you!
Repeat the above 2 sentences several times more!
How big was the ball of cheese?
Comparable cost to store bought?
Comparable taste or better?
1 gallon of milk = about 1 lb ( I didn't weigh it). Enough fresh mozzarella for 2 pizzas.
The taste was great. Same as fresh mozzarella. I like soft moist mozz. So, I didn't work it very much (knead like bread).
Phelan, cheesemaking.com + http://www.leeners.com/mozzarella.html both have good instructions.
Oh my goodness! That looks really good!
That is so awesome. :) I'm in awe.
That looks like so much fun. I tried my hand at a vinegar cheese this summer, and it didn't come out right at all.
What did you do with the whey? I've heard it can be saved for ricotta.
Congrats! on your success. Always fun to learn and do something new isn't it?
Monica
It wasn't too difficult - which shocked me. I really encourage you all to try something new. It doesn't have to be cheese. It is invigorating to know that I have this new skill :)
Hmmm...my comment from yesterday didn't appear. I was wondering how you dealt with the heat? I tried this about a year ago and scalded my hands during the kneading part. It never got stringy like the instructions say it will (and I stuck if back in the 'wave a couple times but then was afraid of just cooking it and quit). I wasn't impressed at all with the amount of work and the cost certainly wasn't less than buying it (gallon of milk is about the same price as a pound of cheese 'round here). ???
After I read your blog, I ran out to cyberspace and bought a cheesemaking kit. It's something I've been wanting to do for a long time, and you inspired me to just take the bull by the horns and ride it! Thanks! I can hardly wait to start making cheese ... I love cheese :).
What fun! This would be a fun thing to do sometime and have the kids watch. One of our favorite dinners is homemade pizza...
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