Cheese

[Mr. P]

Have any of you made cheese at home? If so, how long did it take? How did it turn out? Was it worth it?

[KarlMarx]

My Dad makes cheese all of the time. It's a hard cheese, too. He has about 3 or 4 "forms", as he calls them, in his frig. The problem is that I like it, but my cholesterol doesn't!

My Dad is 80 years old, and has been making cheese, prosciutto, and wine for his entire adult life.

I am going to miss him when he's gone. I probably should learn to make them, but then, I'm not supposed to eat any cheese, or prosciutto (commonly called "Italian ham") because of my cholesterol. I can't drink much because of some of the medications I take....

I should start a garden (he has one of those too, and fruit trees)... the thing is... my parents have so many vegetables and fruits to give me, what would be the use?

Perhaps when my Dad dies, I will start a garden (a small one). After all, I like a fresh salad.

[Kathianne]

I never thought of making cheese at home, but found some interesting links while searching:

http://biology.clc.uc.edu/fankhauser...SE_5gal_00.htm

Considering the cost of parmesan looks interesting to me:

How to make cheese at home.

This recipe for a basic hard cheese works for any kind of milk. Iprimarily use my own fresh goats' milk, but have made it quite successfullywith cow's milk purchased from the grocery as well as raw cow's milk froma local farmer. I always use rennet tablets becauseof their dependability and availability from many supermarkets . I usually make 5 gallons of milk into cheese at a time in a 5 gallon Volrath stainless steel pot. Its thick aluminum bottom pad prevents scorching. Five gallons of milk produces a 5-6 pound wheel of cheese .
I suggest you try several other simplier cheese related projects beforeyou try making a hard cheese. I have written a page on Beginning Cheese Making for this purpose. It might also be wise to master the process for one gallon of milk before making cheese from 5 gallons.

The following images will show the critical steps in practically any cheese making endeavor.

INGREDIENTS:
TO TURN FIVE GALLONS OF MILK INTO SIX POUNDS OF CHEESE

...

Many recipes:

http://www.gourmetsleuth.com/Recipes...cipes-304.aspx

and for visuals:

http://www.google.com/search?q=makin...ed=0CDQQqwQwAw

[Mr. P]

My Dad makes cheese all of the time. It's a hard cheese, too. He has about 3 or 4 "forms", as he calls them, in his frig. The problem is that I like it, but my cholesterol doesn't!

My Dad is 80 years old, and has been making cheese, prosciutto, and wine for his entire adult life.

I am going to miss him when he's gone. I probably should learn to make them, but then, I'm not supposed to eat any cheese, or prosciutto (commonly called "Italian ham") because of my cholesterol. I can't drink much because of some of the medications I take....

I should start a garden (he has one of those too, and fruit trees)... the thing is... my parents have so many vegetables and fruits to give me, what would be the use?

Perhaps when my Dad dies, I will start a garden (a small one). After all, I like a fresh salad.

I'd love to spend a few hrs with your Dad, Karl.

I never thought of making cheese at home, but found some interesting links while searching:

http://biology.clc.uc.edu/fankhauser...SE_5gal_00.htm

Considering the cost of parmesan looks interesting to me:



Many recipes:

http://www.gourmetsleuth.com/Recipes...cipes-304.aspx

and for visuals:

http://www.google.com/search?q=makin...ed=0CDQQqwQwAw

Great stuff K, Thanks!!

[Sweetchuck]

The only cheese I'm good at making is furmunda.

[SassyLady]

My grandma used to make cheese ... we also had fresh butter growing up and I'm a butter addict to this day! They lost the farm and none of us learned how to make cheese, churn butter or can fruits and veggies. I'm thinking people need to start doing those things again ... get away from the "instant" food culture we have now.

Good luck with your cheesing!

[Mr. P]

My grandma used to make cheese ... we also had fresh butter growing up and I'm a butter addict to this day! They lost the farm and none of us learned how to make cheese, churn butter or can fruits and veggies. I'm thinking people need to start doing those things again ... get away from the "instant" food culture we have now.

Good luck with your cheesing!

Here's an easy one for butter that'll keep the gran kids busy.....
It pretty damn good too.
http://www.associatedcontent.com/art...with_kids.html
Plastic containers work too.

[Kathianne]

Here's an easy one for butter that'll keep the gran kids busy.....
It pretty damn good too.
http://www.associatedcontent.com/art...with_kids.html
Plastic containers work too.

I did this with my kids years ago on a rainy day! Thanks for that memory!

[SassyLady]

Here's an easy one for butter that'll keep the gran kids busy.....
It pretty damn good too.
http://www.associatedcontent.com/art...with_kids.html
Plastic containers work too.

My granddaughter says she wants to do this ... but was concerned about "washing the butter" ....I must say I'm a little confused about this part also.

[Mr. P]

My granddaughter says she wants to do this ... but was concerned about "washing the butter" ....I must say I'm a little confused about this part also.

I don't recall washing it when we used to do it and it was fine.
That step puzzles me too. Maybe cool water rinse just serves to firm it up a bit?

[SassyLady]

I don't recall washing it when we used to do it and it was fine.
That step puzzles me too. Maybe cool water rinse just serves to firm it up a bit?

That's what I was thinking....putting some cold water in the jar after pouring out the buttermilk part ... and it sounds like it helps firm it up.

After we make the butter we want to add some honey and ground walnuts or pecans ... granddaughter's idea .... and then it will be ready to spread on the bisquits at breakfast!

[CSM]

That's what I was thinking....putting some cold water in the jar after pouring out the buttermilk part ... and it sounds like it helps firm it up.

After we make the butter we want to add some honey and ground walnuts or pecans ... granddaughter's idea .... and then it will be ready to spread on the bisquits at breakfast!

Sang, I want breakfast at your house!

[SassyLady]

Sang, I want breakfast at your house!

Come on over CSM, we'll set a place for you .... today we had turkey bacon, fresh shredded hash browns, poached eggs, peanut butter, orange marmalade and apricot preserves with the bisquits! Hmmmmm.....and my scale is starting to groan!!! Oh, and you have dozens of specialty coffees or tea you can choose from .... or orange/mango juice.

If you are nice we might even have some gravy!

[Mr. P]

Come on over CSM, we'll set a place for you .... today we had turkey bacon, fresh shredded hash browns, poached eggs, peanut butter, orange marmalade and apricot preserves with the bisquits! Hmmmmm.....and my scale is starting to groan!!! Oh, and you have dozens of specialty coffees or tea you can choose from .... or orange/mango juice.

If you are nice we might even have some gravy!

A ham, onion and cheese omelet please.

[SassyLady]

A ham, onion and cheese omelet please.

How many eggs? Gotta get those chickens motivated. You bring the homemade cheese Mr. P!