The Fruits of Our Labor….

The Making of Cottage Cheese

Really, it’s easy!   Here’s what you will need:

1 gallon milk (avoid ultra pasteurized if you can, sometimes the results aren’t so great)

1 packet direct set mesophilic starter (available here)

a thermometer

a curd knife (a knife long enough to reach the bottom of your pot will work in a pinch)

and a stainless steel pot.

Before we start I should note that I use raw milk from our cow and have not tried this recipe with pasteurized milk…I have no reason to believe it won’t work however.

Heat your milk to 72 degrees then add the starter packet.  

Mix well then put the lid on your pot and let it sit at 72 degrees for 16-24 hours.  

My house gets a bit cold at night so I wrap a couple of towels around the pot (away from the stove of course) and that seems to keep it at the right temperature pretty well.

Once the curd is set (it will be a rather soft albeit solid mass, if you put your thermometer it will stand up for a few seconds then begin to fall) it is time to cut it.

To cut the curds simply put your knife in the curd (while it is in the pot)  all the way to the bottom and slice across in rows about 1/4 inch wide.   Remove your knife and the cut rows again in the opposite direction so you end up with long cubes.

Let the cut curd set for about 15 minutes or so.

(I apologize for my crooked curd!)

Once the curd has set begin to heat the curd slowly until it reaches 110 degrees.  Leave it at 110 degrees for about 10 minutes, stirring occasionally.   Slowly heat it to 112 degrees and keep it at this temperature until the curds are firm.  *

Once the curds are firm drain them in a colander with small holes.  Taste them to see if they taste too sour, if they do rinse them in cold water.   Add salt to taste.

That’s it!  Your cottage cheese can keep covered in the refrigerator for 1 week.

A Day in the Life of a Barn Cat…

Hey mom!  Come look at this!

Get that cat off Rock before he claws him and makes him buck!

Did you put that cat on Rock??

NO!   He just jumped on while we were saddling up!

Today’s goal

Today has been strangely productive!   Dye pots are simmering (this time it is Romney and BFL) and I got a bit of spinning done AND met my goal to spin for 1 hour this week!

I still am hoping to get this stash listed on Ravelry.  This is the box that sits in my office/craft room waiting for my attention….the one I intend to get to first….

We’ll see!

Sneak Peek…..

How about  is a sneak peak of the latest dye job?

Just enough to make you want to see the finished product I hope!  It’s been a while since I have done yarn; I admit mostly it’s because I just hate tying off the skeins!

The latest update is being posted to the store right now.  Here are some of the things you will find:

I am still…..

stashing yarn!  

and I am just starting on the fiber…

We are having a blast over on Ravelry!   Come on over and join us!  Hurry, our first contest ends at 8 am tomorrow morning…

Join us for the 2010 Stash Down Challenge

Every year I think I am going to organize my stash of yarn and fiber and every year….I start out and then fizzle!  I have WIPS (both spinning and knitting) that are over 2 years old and I am running out of room!

What to stash down with me?   All you need to do is join The Counting Sheep Farm group on Ravelry.  One you join you will be eligible to earn points for discounts at the Farm Store and will be able to enter the random contests.  We officially start Monday January 4th, so get ready to stash down!!