| For 2-1/2 years after moving to Morocco, I was | | | | 3. After it comes to a full rolling-boil, let it boil gently for |
| cottage cheese deprived. I didn't know what it was | | | | about two minutes |
| called locally, I didn't live around any other Americans, | | | | 4. Dump in the 2 tablespoons of vinegar while you are |
| and there was no "super marche" in my little village. | | | | stirring. |
| Since I didn't know Arabic and all the locals laughed at | | | | 5. Continue to stir. You will see that the curds begin to |
| my French, I didn't go out much and I let my husband | | | | form immediately and in about a minute, if not less, the |
| do most of the shopping. | | | | liquid will be the color and transparency of pale |
| But I missed cottage cheese! (and Ball Park All Beef | | | | lemonade. If you just look at the curds, you'll know |
| Hot Dogs and French's Mustard) and one day I ran | | | | when they are holding together and look right. It usually |
| across some recipes for cottage cheese and paneer | | | | takes less than a minute. |
| online. They didn't sound at all difficult so I thought I'd | | | | 6. Move the pot off of the fire and let it set for five |
| give one of them a try. | | | | minutes. |
| I was amazed at the results! First, I couldn't believe | | | | 7. Strain the liquid off. I set a strainer over a large bowl |
| how simple it was - if you followed the directions | | | | and line it with cheese cloth. As soon as it's all strained, |
| carefully - and secondly I loved the taste! That first | | | | I empty the bowl and let the cottage cheese sit there |
| batch was gone before it even had a chance to cool | | | | and finish dripping.This is when I add the salt and stir |
| off. | | | | the cottage cheese with a fork. This breaks it up nicely |
| Before I go into details about how to make this lovely | | | | and helps it to finish draining. |
| dish, I want to say something about the milk you | | | | I do not squeeze or press on the cottage cheese. I |
| choose. You can buy the cartons of milk at the super | | | | just mix it around with the fork until it's as "dry" as I |
| market and they will work just fine. Pasteurized, | | | | want it, and then let it cool. |
| homogenized, vitamins added, and I don't remember | | | | Make sure you taste it to adjust the salt to your liking. |
| what all else. And from cows who are given antibiotics | | | | You might have to restrain yourself from eating the |
| and hormones so they will produce more milk. It will | | | | whole batch. |
| work just fine and your cottage cheese will be great. | | | | Put it in a bowl with a lid and, when it's cool, store it in |
| But remember, "you are what you eat" and so is the | | | | the refrigerator. If you want to "cream" it a little, this is |
| cow who gives her milk. All those hormones and | | | | when you would stir in some cream. |
| antibiotics pass through into the milk and aren't good | | | | I have my husband bring me four liters of milk every |
| for YOU. | | | | other day because it doesn't last long in our household. |
| You might want to think about buying organic milk from | | | | Sometimes I'll use a liter to make some homemade |
| cows who aren't given antibiotics and hormones. And | | | | yogurt, but that's another article. |
| if you can find it, milk that isn't homogenized, although | | | | If you want to try something different, you can |
| that's not a big priority unless you want to skim some | | | | squeeze the cheese cloth to get as much moisture |
| of the cream off of the top to mix back into your | | | | out of the cottage cheese as you can and then form |
| cottage cheese. (Creamed cottage cheese) I've never | | | | it onto a block and press it with a couple of books. |
| found that necessary. Yes, I use full-fat milk, but I have | | | | When I do this, I leave it in the cheese cloth, put it in a |
| seen recipes where they use 2% or even skim milk. I | | | | plastic bag, then put the books on top. Leave it for an |
| just have no experience with them | | | | hour or two. The results will be a firm cheese that |
| I use raw milk practically straight from the cow. Late | | | | resembles feta cheese and can be crumbled onto a |
| every afternoon, the farmer comes into town and sells | | | | salad or even used to make lasagna. |
| of the latest batch of milk. When it's gone, he goes | | | | Here are some of the ways I enjoy it: |
| back to the farm. Sometimes we miss him, or he's | | | | - Put into half of an avocado and sprinkled with |
| already sold out. At times like this, my husband will buy | | | | Louisiana Hot Sauce! |
| a carton of milk and I will use that. | | | | - Mixed with half of a cut up tomato and topped with |
| I know you can't buy raw milk in the United States, so | | | | pepper and onion salt. |
| use whatever you're comfortable with and be assured | | | | - In an omelette. |
| that your cottage cheese will be just fine. | | | | - And my all-time favorite way to eat cottage cheese |
| Here's how I make mine: | | | | is something I grew up eating and a lot of people say, |
| HOMEMADE COTTAGE CHEESE | | | | "yuk", but what do they know? - a cottage cheese |
| Ingredients: | | | | sandwich with a little mayonnaise on fresh-baked Italian |
| | | | bread. YUM!There's a story behind this. My sister and I |
| 1. 2 quarts (I use liters and it's about the same) of | | | | shared the fun of both being pregnant at the same |
| whole milk | | | | time and we lived in the same little town in Northern |
| 2. 2 tablespoons of vinegar - any kind will do - just plain | | | | California. Every Monday, we would drive to Modesto |
| vinegar works fine | | | | to the "stock yards" where they had a huge Farmer's |
| 3. 2 -3 pinches of salt. I use a real fine sea salt | | | | Market. We would buy these incredible loaves of |
| because that's all I've found here. It's not iodized and | | | | fresh-baked Italian bread and head back to my farm |
| sometimes it gets hard as a brick, but it | | | | and make a huge cottage cheese sandwich and eat |
| works.Directions: | | | | until we could barely move. They were so delicious. I |
| | | | wish we had known how to make our own cottage |
| 1. Pour the milk into a scrupulously clean pot. Use one | | | | cheese back then! |
| big enough so it's just about half full. | | | | Check out my line dancing instructions blog below and |
| 2. SLOWLY, bring the milk to a boil, stirring frequently, | | | | find a fun way to exercise and stay healthy - and |
| and make sure you don't scorch the bottom. | | | | enjoy your cottage cheese! |
