Home made Powdered Milk Cheese...oh my!

Yes you read the title correctly....you can make cheese at home...and out of powdered milk!

Now I've never made cheese before but I read the directions and figured if I could read it I could do it.  The instructions were super simple and I had some idea of what it should look like so off I went to the store to pick up a few items.

My items in hand I jumped in with both feet not realizing that there was more to this than meets the eye.  I read and reread the directions. I measured and scooped. My cheese cloth ready at hand to take my "would be" cheese. 
And when I went to rinse my curds and whey they rinsed right through my cheese cloth and down the sink :-(
I was disappointed to say the least!  What had gone wrong?  I followed the directions to a T. 

So off I went to my cooking with powdered milk guru Jan at Healthy Harvest.  I shared my cheese woes with her and she discovered my issue.  The powered mill you purchase at the grocery store is non-fat instant milk.  YOU CAN NOT MAKE CHEESE OUT OF INSTANT POWDERED MILK.  The correction was made and I purchased whole powered milk.  I would triumph over cheese yet!

The stage was set again!  Clean kitchen, pots, utensils.  My ingredient having been repurchase with good new whole powdered milk.  I was undaunted I could do this....and it would be eatable!

Did you know cheese doesn't smell that great when your cooking it?  My kids were very suspicious of this odd looking and smelling pot on my stove.  But I continued hopeful. 
The stage was set and my cheese cloth was ready......dun dun dunnnnn
I slowly poured the curds and whey in again and began to gently rinse expecting that at any moment my cheese cloth would be empty again.  But what happened has been a delight.
(I'll leave out the rest of the steps but it all went great :-))

Not only did my curds hold but the whey was totally different!  Yippee the first hurtle was done my cheese had made it through the cooking process!!!  I lovingly wrapped it in the cheese cloth and put it in my fridge to be tried by the judges a little later.

I hate to say this but we were all a little hesitant to try it.  But I got the GF crackers out and dug in first.  It was good!  So the rest of the crew did the same.  It was really good!  If you ask the kids they all compare it to something else but J thought it tasted like cheese in a can.  Not really a complement, but he loved it and ask if I could make more...lol.  The boys even used it for grilled cheese sandwiches and really liked it.  I ended up taking it away so they wouldn't eat the whole thing at once.

The whey ended up being great as well.  I used it in my homemade Gluten free bread and it made it light and moist.  Everything got used and made things taste better. 

So in the end it was great.  We like homemade cheese and it's many uses.  And I like that I know exactly what is in our food.

So yet again if you don't succeed at first try, try again.  After all we learn as we go. 

:-)

Back in the saddle again....

Well I didn't plan well.....really that's all I can say.

When I started sharing all that I'd been learning I didn't realize that Lent was around the corner :-)  See for Lent I try and avoid the computer.  It's a time where I use my time in many other ways.  Playing extra with my kids and husband, reading, learning, studying the Bible, pursuing new interest. 

It's been a wonderful 40 days.  I discovered a new hobby! The joy of embroidery.  I applied to Massage Therapy school at the University of Western States, we decided to enroll Zaya in private school next year, Jason and I enjoyed a much needed get away at Cannon Beach Conference Center for a great marriage retreat on the Song of Salomon, we've spent special time with extended family and so much more.  It's been a full and fulfilling Lent season.

I've already begun numerous post so they will be coming often of the things I've been learning before and during Lent.

I hope you all had a blessed Easter season.