Welcome

Monday, September 10, 2012

Cheese?


A while ago (years) a friend of mine gave me a book about cheese.  I read it.  I put it aside for when I had time to really look at it, and then I promptly forgot about it.  This weekend while cleaning out a closet for Goodwill, I came upon the book again.  It is called, Home Cheese Making. 

Here it is, with a link in case you want to check it out.  

Home Cheese Making 


I have decided that I now have absolutely no time to spare for myself, so it seems like the perfect time to try out cheese making.  (Can you hear the sarcasm?)  Even though I don’t have any time to myself, I find that I haven’t tried to learn something new in a while now and I am itching for something to try.  I usually find something new to learn at least once a year.  For instance in the last decade or so I have learned to quilt, cross-stitch, crochet, knit (this one not very well), I have learned glass bead making, cake decorating, yoga, vegetable gardening, fruit orchard gardening, pond plants and fish care, wine making, and many, many more.  Why not cheese? 

There was one cheese recipe that almost halted me right in my tracks, where it said I needed to slowly increase the heat to a pot of cheese in the making every five minutes for 2-3 hours.  Every five minutes?  For two to three hours?  WHAT!  Do these people not have lives other than cheese?  Well the towel was almost tossed before I had even gotten started.  Then I took a deep breath and continued to read. 

I have decided to give it a whirl this weekend when I try Fromage Blanc, AKA white cheese.  This is a beginner cheese.  No five-minute checks. Just cook, set, drain, and done.  Well that’s about it anyway.  I’m sure I will find a way (whey?) to screw it up.  At least once.  It can’t be that easy, can it?

So, are there any cheese makers out there?  Have any tips?


Posted by at

14 comments:

  1. CarrieBooSeptember 10, 2012 at 10:15 AM

    Wow. I love cheese but I don't think I'd have the patience. But if I did, I would want to try making jalapeno havarti. Mmmm. I wonder how hard that one is.

    You are ambitious. No tips to offer from me, I'm afraid. Take photos! I want to see this. :)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Courtney ReneSeptember 11, 2012 at 6:40 AM

      I will take photos whether it turns out or not. Should be fun at least.

      Delete
  2. Ruth SchiffmannSeptember 10, 2012 at 2:14 PM

    Wow, you have tried a lot of different things. Good for you! I know nothing about cheese making. Do let us know how it turns out.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Courtney ReneSeptember 11, 2012 at 6:42 AM

      I like to learn new stuff. Besides I figure you never know when you are going to need it.

      Delete
  3. ladaisiSeptember 12, 2012 at 12:40 AM

    My only tip: Don't use goat milk from your own goats, that you filtered yourself. Turns out gross. Even the dog wouldn't eat it.

    (Bad experiences from my childhood 101)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Courtney ReneSeptember 12, 2012 at 7:41 AM

      Well that's kinda funny as there is a whole chapter about getting your own cow and goat for better cheese making. Not that I was considering that (I have enough animals right now) but this is good to know in case I got excited in the future.

      Thanks!

      Delete
  4. ladaisiSeptember 12, 2012 at 12:45 AM

    PS How did you get blogspot to do this cool 'comment reply' thing you've got going here? I can't figure out how to do it on mine!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Courtney ReneSeptember 12, 2012 at 7:45 AM

      I accidentally switched over to the NEW blogspot interface which caused me all sorts of issues. So with the knowledge of my friend Carrie, she helped me get back to the old interface where I not only got ride of the word verification crap, I also played in the settings a bit. When I came back to the new interface (I had to) this little reply button was there.

      Your comments go through a seperate "Box" type thing. Maybe it has something to do with your setting for the comments in general?

      HEY CARRIE! ANY IDEAS ON THIS?

      ctny

      Delete
  5. CarrieBooSeptember 12, 2012 at 9:07 AM

    You mean replying directly to a comment? I actually have no idea! Mine just seemed to update with that automatically at some point, as well. Maybe even removing the verification crap itself made it happen...? Will have to look into that.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. CarrieBooSeptember 12, 2012 at 9:13 AM

      Found this workaround:
      http://www.spiceupyourblog.com/2010/03/reply-button-option-blogger-comments.html

      If I'm thinking of the correct thing and you can work it out. Seems pretty straightforward.

      Delete
    2. Courtney ReneSeptember 12, 2012 at 10:05 AM

      Wow Carrie! I didn't expect you to spend quite so much effort on this. Thank you so much! There you have it peeps. Need a reply button? Here is your solution.

      Delete
    3. ladaisiSeptember 12, 2012 at 10:56 AM

      WOW! You are both awesome! Carrie will you be my guru internet friend also?

      Delete
  6. Allyn StotzSeptember 13, 2012 at 10:26 AM

    Yes, here's my tip. Get keys and purse, get in car, go to store, BUY CHEESE ALREADY MADE!! LOL

    I'm like you though and I do like to try new things. Goodluck and let us know how it turns out!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Courtney ReneSeptember 14, 2012 at 6:37 AM

      LOL! That's no fun! The only worry I have is this: Is my house going to smell like sour milk while its...cheesing? I guess we will find out. Ha!

      ctny

      Delete

Subscribe to: Post Comments (Atom)