INGREDIENTS

INSTRUCTIONS

Brine (directions follow)
Rennet, tablets or liquid, is found in pharmacies and health-food
stores.
Before you begin, sterilize all tools and containers by pouring
boiling water over them or immersing them in boiling water. During
the cheesemaking process, have boiling water on hand to pour over
tools -- spoons and thermometer in particular, each time you return
them to the milk mixture. This prevents certain bacteria from
affecting the cheese's flavor.
To make the curd, pour cream and nonfat milk into a 3-4 gallon pan;
stir with a metal spoon to mix. Place pan on lowest heat until milk
is 90 degrees, stirring occasionally and checking temperature often;
if liquid is cold, this may take up to 1 hour. But be patient, since
higher cooking temperatures are harder to control.
As the milk heats, combine the rennet and cool water in a small bowl.
Let the mixture stand until completely dissolved, about 15 minutes,
you may need to crush the tablet with the back of a spoon. (Or mix
liquid rennet with water in a bowl.)
When the milk reaches 90 deg., add buttermilk and stir thoroughly
with a spoon. Ladle out any butter lumps.
Slowly pour rennet mixture in a spiraling pattern over milk, stirring.
Continue to stir for 3 to 5 minutes, using an up-down circular motion
to distribute the rennet evenly.
Keep the milk at 90 degrees until it forms a clot firm enough to hold
its shape in a spoon, 30 to 45 minutes; check temperature about every
5 minutes, removing mixture from heat intermittently, if needed. As
you check the temperature, insert the thermometer gently to avoid
breaking clot more than necessary.
Next, to create crosshatch pattern and to release clear-colored whey,
cut through solid clot to pan bottom with a long knife.
First cut clot across, then at right angles for 1/2-inch squares.
Then cut diagonally, holding knife at a 45 degree angle; turn pan at
right angle and repeat. Let curds stand on low heat at 90 degrees for
15 minutes longer (remove pan occasionally, if necessary, to keep
temperature from fluctuating), then stir with a slotted spoon for 30
seconds.
From this point on, you need clean but not sterilized equipment.
Quickly line a large colander with at least 2 layers of cheese-cloth,
edges overlapping rim; set in a sink with an open drain. Ladle curds
into colander. Let stand until curds stop dripping, about 1 hour.
To protect cheese's flavor, place colander in a large pan; cover
airtight with plastic wrap. Chill until curd is ready to shape (see
below), 1 to 4 days. Each day, replace cheesecloth and discard whey.
Testing the curd. To determine when curd is ready to shape, cut off a
small 1/4-inch slice and cover with hot water (170 degrees to 180
degrees). If after 15 to 30 seconds the slice begins to soften and
melt and, when held by 1 end, the piece stretches from its own
weight, it's ready. If the slice doesn't stretch but tears, chill
remaining curd, testing daily, up to 4 days. If curd still won't
melt, milk got too hot or sufficient acidity did not develop, slice
and cover with hot water (170 to 180 degrees), stirring. Drain, rinse
with cold water, drain again. Season with salt; eat like cottage
cheese.
File ftp://ftp.idiscover.co.uk/pub/food/mealmaster/recipes/mmkah001.zip

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