Mozarella Cheese

In my quest to learn new things, I have become obsessed with making things myself instead of buying it at the store.  One of the things I wanted to try was to make cheese.  I bought a cheese making kit to make my first time a bit easier!

This kit made it very easy!  It had everything I needed to make mozzarella cheese.  To begin, I bought some fresh cows milk.  You can use pasteurized milk, but not ultra-pasteurized milk.  However, I wanted to see what it was like, making cheese, straight from the source!

The cheese making kit contained the following ingredients:  citric acid, salt, and rennet tablets.  I dissolved 1 1/2 teaspoons citric acid in 1 cup water.  In 1/4 cup water, dissolve 1/4 rennet tablet.

In a non-aluminum, non-cast iron pot, add the citric acid water and 1 gallon of milk.  Stir and heat to 90 degrees.  Remove the pot from the burner and add in the rennet water.  Stir for 20 seconds and then put a lid on the pot and let that set for 10 minutes.

The curd will be separating from the whey.  The curd will resemble custard.

After that has set, take a long knife and cut into the curd.  Make long slits in the curd.  Put it back on the stove and cook to 105 degrees.  Slowly stir as your curds heat back up.

Take off the burner and stir for another 2-5 minutes.  Drain the whey from the curd - save the whey!  This can be used for a variety of things!  Do some research before discarding the whey.  It can be used for shakes, pet food, baking bread, making cakes, making ricotta cheese, etc.

In another sauce pan, heat water to 185 degrees.  Put the curds in a strainer and dip into the hot water.

This will allow you to stretch the cheese.  Dip it in the hot water a few times and then put some rubber gloves on.  Take the cheese and stretch the cheese.  It should pull like taffy.  If it doesn't put it back in the hot water.


Add 1 teaspoon of salt and work it into the cheese.  Form the cheese into a log, braid, ball - whatever shape you want.

Put the cheese in cool water for 5 minutes and then in ice water for 15 minutes.

Caution!  1 gallon of cheese does not make a lot of mozzarella!  It makes 2 small logs................Some people may think it isn't worth it, but I got a lot of satisfaction from making this product all by myself!   I don't like to think about all of the chemicals that are put into the things that I buy at the store.  If I can keep food in an organic state,  the healthier my family will be!

Mangia!

Lasagna

This recipe is listed on Pamela's Heavenly Treat

One of my favorite pasta dishes is LASAGNA!  It has a tangy, chewy, goodness that can't be surpassed.  I love plating the lasagna and watching the cheese stretch over to the plate.  That is yummy goodness!

This recipe comes from my mom.  Mom is a great cook and I am so blessed to have her in my life.  She is a strong woman and has raised her girls to be strong and able to withstand anything.  With my father's passing, my mom handled herself with dignity and grace.  I can only hope to be that strong in life.

Mom, Me, Tonette, Karrie and Julia

Isn't she beautiful?

Here are the ingredients for the lasagna:

Marinara Sauce

Cottage Cheese - Large Container

Ricotta Cheese - 2 large containers

Parmesan Cheese - 2 cups

4 eggs

Salt

Pepper

Parsley - 3 tablespoons

Ground Beef /Ground Sausage - 1 pound each

Lasagna Noodles
Mozzarella Cheese - shredded

Start with a basic tomato sauce.  Here is a link to my meat sauce recipe.  Use that but omit the meat.

http://rediscovermom.blogspot.com/2012/07/meat-sauce.html

Next, brown your meat.  I like to use a combination of ground beef and ground Italian sausage.  When the meat is brown, drain the fat.

In the meantime, assemble the cheese mixture.  Mix together in large bowl:  Cottage cheese, ricotta cheese, Parmesan cheese, eggs, salt, pepper, and parsley. 

OK - time for you to make a decision.  Do you want to take the easy way out?  If you want to take the easy way out, you can buy no boil noodles.  These are great and taste just fine.  If you want thicker noodles which taste better, then start up a large pot of water and boil the noodles to al dente.  Of course if you are REALLY wanting to do it right, go ahead and make your own pasta dough!

http://rediscovermom.blogspot.com/2012/08/homemade-ravioli.html

Once all of your ingredients are prepared, it is a matter of setting up an assembly line.  Start by putting a little sauce in the bottom of your pan and put a layer of noodles on that.

Then, layer your meat, cheese mixture, and shredded mozzarella.

Then put another layer of noodles on top of that.  Ladle some more sauce and start the process over again.  When you near the top of the pan, put a final layer of noodles and ladle some more sauce on the top.

Cover the lasagna with foil and bake at 350 degrees for 45 minutes.  After 45 minutes, remove the foil and put shredded cheese on the top.  Put it back in the oven until the cheese melts.

Mangia!  This recipe is featured on Totally Tasty Tuesdays!