Cheese Making...A Successful First Attempt

While scanning through a gardening book of all places, Darrell came across a recipe for cheese that was very simple. That planted a seed:) He began looking for other simple recipes and found one online for "Queso Blanco." (White cheese). Milk was on sale for $1.58 a gallon and so the other night he decided to try the recipe. The ingredients are simple...1 gallon of milk, 1/4c. of vinegar, and salt. This first picture is of the milk curdling after the vinegar has been added. He is stirring as the mixture heats up.

After cooking, he strained it through some cheese cloth and pressed out the excess liquid. This resulted in the next picture, a coarse, dry cheese. After in this form he mixed in the salt using his hands to work it into the cheese. Then for the first taste...it was good! It tasted very close to Montery Jack and was really very tasty.

Darrell then used a measuring device of ours to form into cute little cylinders. To the one on the left he added some red pepper flakes for a little variety. After forming he placed in ziplock bags and boiled. This helps to keep the cheese good for several weeks. The total weight was 1.2 pounds of cheese. That was only 1.58, plus whatever 1/4 c. of vinegar costs, for a pound+ of cheese. What an awesome price! It doesn't melt, but it is a tasty snack to eat.

After this success, Darrell went to the store to purchase 3 more gallons of milk:) So stay tuned...he will be trying more recipes in the next week.