Home made farmers cheese
 

1 gallon whole milk (from the store is fine)
1/3 cup white vinegar
salt to taste, usually about 1/2 teaspoon
thermometer capable of registering 200 degrees
cheesecloth or clean new pantyhose
a large strainer

Put the milk in a non-reactive pan (stainless steel or enamelware that's not chipped) and bring to 195-200 degrees over medium heat. Stir constantly so that milk doesn't scorch. When it reaches temperature, remove from heat. Stir in the vinegar, stir so it's mixed completely, then set aside for 10 minutes to curdle.
After 10 minutes, pour milk and curds into a large strainer lined with a couple layers of cheesecloth, or if you don't have cheesecloth a NEW knee high pantyhose will work. Catch the whey in a pan in the sink. Let it drain for one hour, then form your soft cheese into a ball, salt it to taste, and store in refrigerator.

If your whey is still not clear and yellow, then you can recurdle it. Put it back into the pan, bring it back up to temperature, stirring often. Add another 1/8 cup of vinegar, and recurdle as before. I actually made another cup of cheese redoing my whey last time. It will not taste like vinegar.

This is good used in lasagna, or you can mix herbs with it and use it as a spread.

Re: Home made farmers cheese
 

Thanks Sandy
simple and clear ;)
:woohoonaner:

Re: Home made farmers cheese
 

About how much cheese do you produce from a gallon of milk?

Re: Home made farmers cheese
 

it makes a little over a pound and a lot of whey. My cat's been drinking the whey, but if you're a bodybuilder or fitness person, you could make some kind of a shake with the whey and it would be good for you. I don't know how it's been going there, but here occasionally stores have been putting milk on sale--Aldi's here is $1.79 per gallon, and that's cheaper than ricotta! Plus it was kind of fun to make. Didn't take too long, except for the draining time and I went out to water in the greenhouse and then it was drained.

Re: Home made farmers cheese
 

It sure would be nice to have milk that cheap. It's about $3 a gallon here and our family goes through about 5 gallons a week.

Re: Home made farmers cheese
 

i've made butter and mozzarella before this sounds tasty!

Re: Home made farmers cheese
 

I made butter on my Grandfather's Farm.. I bet it would be good w/ ground pecans too :^)