INGREDIENTS

INSTRUCTIONS

STARTER CULTURE
FOR THE CHEESE
NECESSARY EQUIPMENT
(24 hours before cheesemaking:)
Make the culture.  -- In a 3- to 4-cup jar with a lid, both just rinsed
with boiling water, combine 2 cups whole milk and 1/2 cup buttermilk, both
freshly opened.  Cover:  hold at 70-75 degrees F for
24    hours.
(The day of cheesemaking:)
Pour the whole milk for the cheese into an enameled or stainless steel pan
(not under any circumstances cast iron).  Set the pan on a rack, or on top
of jar lids, inside the larger pan, making sure there's at least an inch of
space between the inner and outer pans. Warm the milk slowly to 86 degrees
F.  Add 1/4 cup of the starter.
Maintain the temperature at 86 degrees F for 1 1/2 hours.
Prepare the rennet:  If you're using rennet tablets, crush the recommended
number of tablets in 1 cup of cold water, and add to the milk. If you're
using liquid rennet, mix it in 1/4 cup of water (or the amount directed)
and add to the milk.  In each case, use the amount of rennet recommended
for 4 quarts of milk.  (I know, you'd think it would be six, but that's
what the directions say.)
Add the rennet to the milk.  Stir carefully for 1 minute:  then maintain
temperature of 86 degrees for another hour, leaving the pans undisturbed as
the curd sets.
At the end of this additional hour, use the long-bladed knife to cut the
curd, straight down from the top to the bottom of the pan, then the same
again but crosswise:  then the same again, diagonally.
Begin increasing the temperature of the curd, taking 30 minutes to bring
the temperature up to 98-100 degrees F.  As curds firm, "circulate" them
with spoon every 5-10 minutes.  DO NOT STIR -- just push gently. When
ready, a curd dropped 12 inches holds its shape and doesn't spatter.
When curds are properly firmed, line a colander with 3-4 layers washed
cheesecloth and set the colander in the sink.  Pour the curds and whey (the
pale, separated-out liquid) into the colander.  Let drain briefly, then
rinse curd gently with a stream of tepid water.
Mix salt to taste into the curd (add salt, work it in, check the taste, add
more if neccessary).  1 1/2 to 1 3/4 tsp. salt seems to be plenty for this
kind of cheese.  Note that the flavor will be *very* bland if no salt is
added.
Pull up the corners of the cheesecloth to make a bag:  twist to make a
tight ball, and squeeze to force out additional liquid.  Tie the top of the
bag shut with the string.  Set the ball, with the loose fabric spread out
on the bottom, in a wide pan.  Set another flat dish on top of the cheese,
with your brick of weight in it.  Let stand overnight in the refrigerator
to press and extract liquid.
After being pressed for 24 hours, the cheese is ready to eat.  It can also
be stored longer (though most of the time it seems to get eaten
immediately...).  To store, dry it unwrapped in the refrigerator: after
8-10 days it will develop a dry rind of a darkish cream color. Or you can
wax it -- in this case, as soon as you unwrap the cheese, wipe it with
acidulated water (1 cup water, 1 tablespoon vinegar) and pat dry: then
chill cheese, and dip into melted paraffin wax until
1/8    inch thick shell builds up.
Posted to CHILE-HEADS DIGEST V4 #151 by Peter Morwood & Diane Duane
<owlsprng@iol.ie> on Oct 07, 1997

A Message from our Provider:

“Rainbows – a gift from God”