Making Mozzarella

I bought this kit quite awhile ago from Urban Cheesecraft just to get started.  I am sure it will be less expensive to buy the individual ingredients in the future, but I am happy to be finally attempting.

The kit came with citric acid, rennet, cheese salt, butter muslin, thermometer, and instructions for ricotta and mozzarella.

We started out by dissolving 1/4 rennet tablet into 1 cup of cool water. 

Then dissolved 1 1/2 teaspoons of citric acid into 1 cup water.

I poured one gallon of raw milk (jersey cows) into a large pot and then you are supposed to add the citric acid solution (we missed reading this part!) and heat to 90 degrees, stirring occasionally.

Then at 90 degrees, we slowly and gently stirred in the rennet solution for 30 seconds.  The milk was heated to 110 degrees.

As Abby and I were watching the thermometer reach 109 degrees and nothing was happening, I started to worry.  Then all of a sudden, within seconds really, the curds started forming.  This is so neat to watch!
We started to wonder before it turned if we had done something wrong and then magic!
Does anyone know the history of cheesemaking?  Who first started using rennet?  I am going to have to do some research - I am finding the whole process pretty amazing.

We then removed the curds from the whey bath (that is what the water has now become) and heated the whey to 185 degrees.  Then we took the pot of the stove and after forming two balls with the curd, we put them in the whey to heat to 135 degrees (when the thermometer is placed in the center of the curd ball).

Next, Abby and Isaac stretched and shaped the cheese after adding 1/2 teaspoon to each ball.

The two vintage pyrex storage containers I bought for $4.00 at a local thrift  store make great containers for the finished cheese.

It did come out a little rubbery.  Is this because we didn't add the citric acid when we were supposed to?
I would love to hear your experiences and tips with cheesemaking.

Warm wishes,
Tonya

Noticing

someone with a good sense of humor

Abby using some of our hand dyed yarn

sweet morning girls and how big the littlest is getting

the old with the new

What are you noticing today?

(Don't forget to leave a comment to enter the giveaway in the post below.)

Sweet Delivery and a Giveaway

We received this beautiful package in the mail the other day.

From a sweet blog reader whose family business is making gourmet fudge.

Oh what a treat this was.  Our family enjoyed it so much.  My favorite was caffe latte. 

To pass on the giving, I am offering a children's toy sampler from our family's business.

a birchmobile, wool grasping ball, and birch ribbon runner

To enter, just leave a comment below.  The drawing will be held on Sunday evening at 7:00 pm.


The winner is Rain.
Just email me at naturalearthfarm@netzero.net
so I can get your package off to you.
Thanks everyone!

Warm wishes, Tonya

Yarn Along - Hand Knit Doll

Joining in with Ginny again this week.  I am having fun knitting this sweet doll.  The free pattern can be found here.  She also has patterns to knit clothing to fit!

I am really enjoying Jane Eyre, a nice before sleep book.

What handwork projects are you working on?  Any good books?

Warm wishes, Tonya

4!

With a family of nine, we do get to enjoy cake and ice cream fairly often.

Abraham isn't a big fan of the camera.

His only handmade gift this year is a wand.   He showed me that it works well to keep balloons in the air.

It is fun to watch the other children get excited with the decorating, baking, and gift giving, even when it isn't their special day.

Good Neighbors

Our homesteading friends and neighbors have decided to sell their homestead to move a little bit south of here to be closer to their family and live a bit easier as they progress in years.

Their beautiful property is for sale.  If that link doesn't go directly to the listing, it is $129,000 and in Lowell, Vermont.  You should be able to find it.

We would love some more wonderful neighbors:)  Anyone interested in a simple home on 22 acres, completely off grid with solar, a beautiful workshop, chicken coop, barn and one other out building should take a look.

Did I mention cookstove and established garden beds?

We sure are going to miss them.

Noticing....

finished mittens for little hands and birch hearts found and cut from dear husband

that someone had the brilliant idea of putting one of the thrifted doilies on top of the branch slice on our kitchen table - the only one that says he did it is Abraham... hmmm an almost four year with great taste in design

Abby is making great progress on a 1000 piece puzzle

these words on one of our son's bedroom walls