Say Cheese!

We've been talking about making cheese for months now. This summer we bought Home Cheese Making by Ricki Carroll (the queen of cheese-making). Then, with the harvest season well and truly over, Jeremy bought a couple supplies from the New England Cheesemaking Supply Company. We decided to start simple, with 30-minute mozzarella.

This called for milk, citric acid, and rennet. It also called for lipase powder, but we didn't use that this first time around. Lipase just makes the cheese taste a bit stronger. You can also add salt, but we didn't do that either. We went with the bare minimum to make cheese.


(No, we did not put wine in the cheese!)

Jeremy put the milk in a big pot and stirred in the citric acid:



When the milk got to 90 degrees, he added the rennet and then things started happening!





Jeremy spooned out the cheese curds into a bowl:



After pouring off excess whey, the next step was to microwave the cheese a couple times for short bits, then lightly knead it like bread to distribute the heat:




The instructions said when the cheese "stretches like taffy", it's done:



Looks like taffy to me!



Our two balls of mozzarella, done in just about 30 minutes:



Jeremy did all the work because it involved a lot of handling hot cheese, and I'm a wimp when it comes to hot things.

What's a girl and guy to do with all this cheese? We gave some to the family right away - they thought it was very cool. We made BLTs for dinner (with fresh tomatoes that have been ripening on the vine in our basement and homemade bread) and we added hunks of fresh, warm mozzarella. So I guess they were BLTCs.
A day later we made pizza and sprinkled mozzarella over the top. I think we used the rest in an omelet the next morning.

30-minute mozzarella doesn't keep quite as long as its brother that takes longer to make. We'll be making cheese again soon. Jeremy is excited to make chevre and anything moldy, and I'm excited about cheddar. Boy it would be nice if we had a cow or goat...

More clues...

If you're still trying to guess, here is another clue and the necessary soundtrack (and an updated one for you youngsters)

Guess

This rather scary looking item has been sitting in our dining room for a couple days. Any guesses as to what it might be?

Two hints: it is not my birthday cake and it is not a giant burnt marshmallow.

Root Cellar Creation: Part 7

Jeremy said, “The cellar is mostly done. Let us now bring in crates and boxes of root vegetables. And let us bring in more shelving and also store all of our canned items. And we shall also provide a shelf for the family’s food.” And Aimee said, “It’s about time!” And it was so.


(onion crate under construction)

And Jeremy and Aimee said unto the fruits and vegetables, “Be happy fruits and veggies! Don’t even think about withering or rotting or spoiling or multiplying (potatoes!) - or it’s out to the compost bin for you!”




(southeast corner with family's apples, potatoes, and other goodies)



(northeast corner with our canned goods and apples)



(lots of canned food!)



(bins and boxes with carrots, turnips, potatoes, onions, flour, etc)



(some of our cool old wooden crates)

One or two evenings and mornings passed, and it was the seventh step done. Aimee and Jeremy looked around the cellar with pride and satisfaction and saw that it was good.

The lights were turned off and the door was closed, leaving the cellar pitch black - except the bit of light that filtered down through the damper.



And then, instead of resting, Jeremy said, “Now, let us build a chicken coop!”

Root Cellar Creation: Part 6

Jeremy said, “Before we finish putting up all the plywood, let us construct shelves that hang from the ceiling where we will store vegetables.” And Aimee said, “I like shelves.” And so it was.





And then Jeremy said, “Now let us remove the window from the cellar and replace it with some ducting and a damper so that we can control how much cold air gets in the cellar.” And Aimee said, “That sounds cool.” And so it was.





Many evenings and mornings passed, and it was the sixth step done.

Root Cellar Creation: Part 5

Jeremy said, “Let us go to Scherer Lumber and get 11 sheets of Forestry Council Certified plywood.” And Aimee said, “How on earth are we going to fit that in our compact car?”
Jeremy said, “I will borrow our neighbor’s car, the Dirty Black Dog art car.” And Aimee said, “Whatever you say.”

That interesting trip done and the plywood safely home, Aimee said, “How will you cut these pieces of plywood?” And Jeremy said, “I will borrow a saw.” And so he did borrow a radial saw from a different neighbor.



The plywood was measured and cut and attached to the walls and ceiling. Cut-outs were made around pipes, lights, outlets, and other random things.






Many, many, many evenings and mornings passed, and it was the fifth step done. Aimee and Jeremy looked and saw that they were finally making progress and it was awesome!

Root Cellar Creation: Part 4

Jeremy said, “Let us run over to Natural Built Home and purchase some UltraTouch Natural Cotton Insulation for the walls.” And Aimee said, “Awesome!”

The insulation was purchased and much fun was had in applying it to the walls. (Much less fun was had applying it to the ceiling…)






Many evenings and mornings passed, and it was the fourth step done. Aimee and Jeremy looked, and saw that it was good.