Archive for November, 2011

Homemade Cranberry Sauce

Posted on November 17, 2011, under Condiment, Food.

This cranberry sauce is simple to make, with a taste that far exceeds any store bought variety.  Once you’ve tasted this.. you’ll never buy it again!

 

Homemade Cranberry Sauce

12 ounces cranberries

1 c. sugar

1 c. orange juice

Measure the sugar and orange juice into a saucepan.

 

Over medium heat, stir mixture unitl the sugar is dissolved.

 

Once the sugar has dissolved, add the cranberries and stir.

 

Bring the mixture to a good steady boil. After about 8-10 minutes, the cranberries will 'pop'.. Continue stirring.

 

Once the cranberries have popped, take a potato masher and mash down the berries several times. Continue boiling for a total of 18 minutes (I set the timer from the first sign of the mixure boiling).

Continue to stir the whole time. Once the 18 minutes is completed, remove pan from heat and set aside to cool. Once cool, place the sauce into the desired storage container and store in the refridge.

This sauce can accompany more than turkey.. it can be spread over a biscuit or used as a french toast spread, etc, etc. Enjoy :-)

 

 

 

Homemade Mozzerella

Posted on November 8, 2011, under Food, Food Preservation, Goats, Homemade Cheese.

My family loves homemade mozzerella!  We eat it on homemade pizza, cassaroles, marinated or just plain ol’ by itself.  I am very thankful to have my small herd of dairy goats.. as I have a constant fresh supply of milk for things like making cheese :-)

Homemade Mozzerella from Raw Goat Milk

1 gallon fresh raw goat milk

1 1/2 tsp citric acid (this is what makes the cheese ‘stretchy’)

1/4 c. cold water

1/2 tsp. liquid rennet

cheese salt

Pour milk into thick bottomed sauce pan. Place your dairy thermometer into milk.

Turn the stove top burner onto a medium heat. Sprinkle the citric acid over the top of the milk. Stir the citric acid into the milk.

While milk is heating, measure the rennet and water... add rennet to the cold water (Very important! Never add rennet directly into milk, as it won't work.. I know from experience :-/ )

Heat milk to 86 degrees. Mix in water/rennet combo thoroughly. Once you have mixed it, discontinue mixing.

In pretty short order, you will see the curds seperating from the whey. I leave them alone (no stirring). Once your temperature reaches 105 degrees, remove pan from heat.

 

Scoop out curds into a microwave safe dish. I use a 8 cup pyrex glass measuring bowl. Continue to scoop until ALL curds are in the bowl.

Use the spoon (I use a large slotted spoon) that you scooped the curds, to hold them back and drain the excess whey back into the pan.

Microwave the curds for about 45 seconds. The time all depends on the microwave (how hot it heats items).

After the first microwaving, the cheese should start 'stretching' allowing it to be kneaded. As I knead the cheese, I continuously drain the whey back into the pan.

I microwave mine a total of 2-3 times each batch of cheese. I knead the cheese until no more whey comes out.

Sprinkle the hot, stretched (kneaded) cheese with cheese salt. I have never measured.. just sprinkle to taste. Knead the salt into the cheese - the cheese might need to be slightly reheated.

Place the cheese into desired mold (on in a bowl). The mold pictured has holes, so I lined it with plastic wrap. Cool in refridge and use within several days or freeze. Mozzerella freezes beautifully! I notice when the cheese is not used within several days of being refridged, the flavor heads south.

I started making marinated mozzerella this past summer. I cube the cheese, pour olive oil over the top and mix in fresh basil and salt to taste. YUMMMM!