About a month ago I got to hang out with this lovely lady at PW’s lodge.  She taught us how to make cheese and she changed my life forever. Since then I have made the trek several times up to Swan’s Bros. Dairy in Claremore to pick up a gallon of delicious raw milk for some cheese making.

Rebecca thank you for changing my life and teaching me the way….or the whey.  He he he he

Cheeeeeeeese! It is one of the sweet nectar of life.

Making homemade cheese is very rewarding.  The entire process from beginning to end is so fascinating.  The whole time I was making cheese I kept calling OB over so he could see every step of the cheese making process.

Would you like to follow me and make some cheese?

In a large pot sprinkle citric acid, pour 1/4 cup of water over the citric acid and stir.

Let’s talk about milk.  The best milk for the cheese making is raw milk.  The curd comes hold together the best and you get a smoother textured cheese.  However if you live in one of those states where raw milk is illegal you can use homogenized milk. It will require a little more work but it will come together.  What you cannot use is ultra high temperature (UHT) milk, it will not form a solid curd.

Pour the milk into the citric acid mixture, stir. The citric acid is what makes the milk begin to curd.  Heat pot over medium-low heat.

Another vital ingredient for cheese making is vegetable rennet.   The rennet has enzymes in it that cause the milk to separate into curds and whey.   I found my rennet at a local home brewing supply store.

Mix 1/4 tsp of rennet with 1 cup of water.

Heat the milk to 90F.

Once the milk reaches 90F remove from heat and pour in the rennet mixture.  Gently stir the milk for 30 seconds, using an up and down motion.

Cover and let sit for 5 minutes.

When you come back the curds should have set. It will resemble the texture of a custard.

Using a long knife that reaches all the way to the bottom of the pot cut the curd into a 1 inch checkerboard pattern.

Give the curds a gentle stir and they will loosen up and look like swimming marshmallows.  Return pot over medium heat and stir gently until the temperature of the whey reaches 105F, remove from heat.

Using a slotted spoon fish our curds.

Transfer curds to a colander lined with cheese cloth and set over a bowl.

Transfer curds to a microwave safe bowl.

Microwave curds on high for 1 minute.  Holding the curd back drain off whey, sprinkle with a pinch of salt, press the curd together with your hands and drain the whey the comes off.

Heat in microwave another 30 seconds, drain, sprinkle with salt and knead curd together.   It will become soft and stretchy.

Repeat heating in the microwave for 30 seconds until the curds become silky smooth and stretchy, form into a ball.

Drop into ice water bath and let it rest and cool.

TA-DA you have made mozzarella queso!!

Stretchy gooey mozzarella cheese!  I cannot express how life changing it is to make your own cheese.

Think about it, fresh homemade mozzarella cheese in just 30 minutes.  How would you live with yourself if you denied yourself such awesomeness?

Eat your spoils immediately or kept refrigerated for a week. To refrigerate, place the mozzarella in a small air tight container. Mix a teaspoon of salt with a cup of cool whey and pour this over the mozzarella. Cover and refrigerate.  But let’s me honest, it is doubtful storage will be necessary.

Read more about that weekend!

Amy – She Wears Many Hats

Georgia – Georgia Pellegrini

Robyn – Add a Pinch

Bridget – Bake at 350

Wendy – Wenderly

Sandy – The Reluctant Entertainer

Ree – The Pioneer Woman