the tao of cheese

Feb. 15, 2009

A wise cheese maker recently said to me, never name your cheese until it’s done. Last week I found out why and I let her advice ease my mind.

Fresh raw milk

It was supposed to be mozzarella but for some reason the curds never did what they were “supposed” to. I thought I was a pro at making this easy cheese by now but whether it was the temp of the water/rennet or the different brand of milk I used, this batch refused to be mozzarella. I’m proud of myself for not letting this bother me. It’s a Taoist approach to cheese making and I have to say, it rather suits me! The cheese was still delicious but it ended up like a really thick, tasty cream cheese, almost a goat cheese consistency so I treated it as such. I made pizza and just scooped some flat spoonfuls onto the crust, they melted deliciously and the pizza was creamy and good!

the come hither look

I also shaped some of this thick cheese into a small wheel and rolled it in freshly chopped parsley, chives and cracked peppercorns. I served this with crackers, it tasted fresh and delicious. I had so much cheese that I dropped spoonfuls into a jar along with some crushed garlic chunks, pepper flakes and covered it all in good quality extra virgin olive oil. I let it sit in the fridge for a day. The next evening, I took it to a potluck and we spread the delicious oily concoction onto toasted rustic baguette rounds- delicious again!! I didn’t end up with Mozzarella but I did end up with a cream cheese for pizza, an herbed appetizer cheese as well as potluck oily cheese balls. Not glamorous names but I wish you could’ve tasted them! So, my cheese tip of the week, go with the flow and enjoy the cheese that comes with it!

About these ads