Learn To Make Cheese

The more you take an interest in cheesemaking, the more you benefit from interacting with people who share your interests.  The Slow Food movement is a great place to start. We recently became aware of this Slow Food-related committee dedicated to American raw milk cheesemakers’ needs and goals.  Their aim is to improve the quality of American raw milk cheeses and the creating links between cheesemakers.

“The members of the Presidium operate on the belief that by respecting the diversity in their soil, pastures and woodlands, their herds and flocks, and the raw milk from their animals, they can produce cheeses that are as nutritious, safe, and wholesome to consume as they are flavorful. The Presidium Protocol developed in 2007 requires cheesemakers to meet stringent requirements. Presidium cheeses are all made with raw milk from humanely treated animals living on environmentally friendly farms. Each cheese has been evaluated for its overall quality to ensure that the cheese is delicious. To encourage new Presidium producers and to increase the quality of raw milk cheese production the Protocol commits each cheesemaker who becomes part of the Presidium to work actively towards meeting all of the criteria listed in this document within six years of joining.

A group of tasters, comprising Slow Food and cheesemaking experts, select the best raw milk farmstead cheeses each year from among participating producers. These cheeses will become the ambassadors of the project, representing the Presidium in different events and serving as an example of high quality for American producers. The Presidium has organized educational exchanges for cheesemakers, as well as tastings and promotional events.”

US Presidia : American Raw Milk Cheeses : Slow Food USA.

If you thought cheesemaking with older children would be too difficult, think again.  If they’re old enough to boil water, then you’ll enjoy this simple cheese making activity.  The fresh cheese result is great on salads or crackers.

Here’s the could-not-be-simpler recipe.  The detailed instructions are after the jump.

• One quart Milk, preferably whole milk, but 2% works as well.
• 3-5 tablespoons of lemon juice, lime juice, or vinegar (I prefer vinegar, but each will give you a slightly different result in both flavor and texture.  Not a lot, but slightly.) You may use more if you deem necessary in the process.
• Optional: A pinch of chopped sage, dill weed or basil to flavor your cheese.
• Optional: A teaspoon of salt.

How to Make Cheese with Kids: A Cheesy Experience | Notecook.

This fabulous article at The Art of Darkness features a list of things that people tend to think are harder than they really are.   And of course, cheesemaking made the list:

“Craft: Making Cheese
Why You Should Bother: You can make fantastic-tasting cheese cheaper than you can buy it, you can experiment with interesting herb and spice flavorings, and you know exactly what ingredients go into it. Although many cheeses require a coagulant such as rennet, there are many you can make with nothing more than milk and lemon juice. Start with easy fresh cheeses like queso fresco or mozzarella before working your way up to more complex recipes.
Getting Started: Gourmet Sleuth has a number of recipes, and the book Home Cheese Making covers a range of styles and does a good job of explaining the techniques and equipment required.”

There are tons of resources on our site and throughout the Web for how to do this.  Starting with a simple cheese recipe is the best way to learn the principles and build confidence in your cheesemaking.  Whether you are concerned about the expense of store-bought cheese, prefer the flavor of fresh artisanal cheese, or you just find yourself with a lot of high quality milk on your hands, we say go for it.

Other activities you should try include pickling and preserving, brewing beer and sausage making, which will go beautifully with your fresh homemade cheese.

The Art of Darkness » Blog Archive » Things That You Think Are Harder Than They Actually Are.

Great news for New Zealand cheesemakers!  Soon, they will no longer be required to pasteurize the milk used for cheese.  As you probably know, the heating of milk to high temperatures during pasteurization destroys enzymes that contribute to the complex flavors of cheese.

Cheesemakers are still unsure what the costs of compliance will be, but it is a great step for artisanal cheesemakers.  They’ll be able to produce cheeses that are not only safe, but incredibly flavorful and world-reknowned.

“Cheeses made with raw milk are currently limited to a small range of imported products. The change means local producers will be able to make such cheese for domestic and export sales. Raw milk products have to meet food safety standards and aren’t suitable for at-risk people such as pregnant women, young children and the elderly, Wilkinson said.

“This is about levelling the playing field and recognising we have some incredibly passionate cheesemakers in New Zealand who could produce raw milk cheeses to rival the best in Europe,” said Minister for Food Safety Kate Wilkinson, in a statement.”

Scoop: NZ cheese makers can use raw milk, await costs.

We were fascinated by this brief article on Basque cheesemaking traditions.  While you may be familiar with Idiazabal cheese, did you know it’s the name of the Basque town where the cheese originated?   Made with unpasteurized sheep’s milk, idiazabal cheese is pressed and aged and is available both smoked or unsmoked.

“After several centuries of evolution and with the help of modern technology to ensure proper hygiene, Basque sheepherders continue to make excellent cheeses, the quality of which has now transcended the valleys of its birthplace.

Idiazabal, the seat of a long Goierri valley stretching from Alava and Navarra to Gipuzkoa, lends its generic name to a DO product (denominación de origin mark of authenticity and control).

The milk that goes into Idiazabal DO cheeses comes from Basque sheep, although not always from Gipuzkoan. Today milk from Bizkaia, Alava and Navarra is also used to make Idiazabal cheese. Only “Latxa” sheep’s milk can be used in the Idiazabal DO, making creamy cheeses with hints of hazelnut, walnut and the unique flavor of the milk itself.”

Cheese making: Idiazabal and Ordizia – EiTB Ingles News.