Goat cheese...

I can buy fresh goat's milk very near our house. I am thinking of getting some to be able to make "goat cheese".

It is only heated to 77F (you can go up to 86F but no more) and then an acidifyer culture is added. Couple of tablespoons of cultured buttermilk would do the trick. Along with it, you would need to add 2-3 drops of rennet. If you have no access to it, you can find something called 'junket tablets' in your grocery store, usually by ice cream and baking supplies. This is a weak type of rennet and would be enough to start the enzymatic activity. Cover the pot and wait between 8-12 hours until the curd pulls away from the sides of the pot as a single lump and is covered with about 1/4" whey.

Then I also found this cookie recipe in the newspaper.

GOAT CHEESE COOKIES
1 cup fresh goat cheese, softened
1 cup sugar
1 cup flour
3 egg whites
Sea salt and fresh ground pepper

Preheat oven to 350*

In a bowl combine goat cheese and sugar, cream together.
Add flour and egg whites, mix.
Spread on a parchment lines baking sheet.
Season with salt and pepper.
Bake until golden brown, 10 - 12 minutes.
Cut into individual serving sizes.

Be Safe...

Bowling ball bugs...

are these not the cutest things...

guess who just got 16 FREE bowling balls.

any other ideas?

Seasons of our life...

if you are between 50- and beyond

you are in the WINTER of your life..

Not the end at all, actually a NEW beginning...

My favorite season...

Ahh you have more wrinkles to your smile,
* unfortunately this is too true...

you take longer to get up and going in the morning..
* isn't that what Aleve is for?

I think you LAUGH more in this season, at least I do...

I cherish every single moment, every little miracle

that happens to come across my path.

I count blessings each and every day.

* because, working where I do, I know how quickly your life can change.

This is the time of your life when you realize

GOD has a great sense of humor and he has blessed

you with it...
* that and grandchildren and the knowledge that I raised two wonderful adults.

Using our milk...

Devonshire Cream also known as Clotted Cream

Make the real thing by putting heavy whipping cream in a double boiler until it is reduced by half, remove it from heat and let it stand for 2 hours then refrigerate it for at least 12 hours. Stir the "crust" down into the cream--the BEST!

Alternate Recipe..
5 ounces cream cheese, softened
1 cup heavy cream, whipped
1 tablespoon heavy cream, reserved
1/2 cup confectioner's sugar, sifted

Beat softened cream cheese, sugar, and one tablespoon reserved cream with a hand mixer until smooth. With a spatula, gently fold in the whipped cream. Do not over mix. It will be a bit lumpy. This is so easy for the children to do! Enjoy!

Here's another recipe...

Place water in small saucepan. Sprinkle gelatin over water. Let stand until gelatin softens, about 10 minutes. Stir mixture over low heat until gelatin dissolves. Let stand just until cool but not set, about 10 minutes.

Place sour cream in medium bowl. Stir in gelatin mixture. Beat cream, sugar and vanilla in medium bowl until soft peaks form; fold into sour cream mixture in 2 additions. Cover; chill at least 1 hour. (Can be made 1 day ahead. Keep chilled.)

Ingredients:

• 1/2 cup cold water
• 1 teaspoon unflavored gelatin

• 1 cup chilled sour cream

• 1 cup chilled whipping cream
• 1/4 cup sugar
• 2 teaspoons vanilla extract

Makes 3 cups.

Read More http://www.epicurious.com/recipes/food/views/Devonshire-Cream-15350#ixzz13ZE5l34K

Another Recipe:

4 ounces mascarpone

1 cup (240 ml) heavy whipping cream

1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract

1 or 2 tablespoons granulated white sugar

Zest of lemon or lime (optional)

Place all the ingredients in a large bowl and beat until the mixture holds its shape and looks like softly whipped cream. Use right away or cover and refrigerate the cream until serving time.

Makes about 1 1/2 cups.

Read more: http://www.joyofbaking.com/DevonshireCream.html

cheese making...

SOURCES...

1. www.glengarrycheesemaking.on.ca
2. www.cheesemaking.com
3. www.dairyconnection.com
4. www.hoeggergoats.com
5. www.leeners.com
6. www.moonwiseherbs.com
7. http://fiascofarm.com
8. www.cheese.com
9. www.ilovecheese.com
10. www.slowfood.com
11. www.dairyheritage.com

Check out the above website for information...

GIVEAWAY...

Go to Room Remix...the blog today and sign up for a $60.00 Tupperware Giveaway.
Gotta love Tupperware! Sponsored by Melea.

Another update...

another piece completed...

we will need to get some more sand to raise the ground level...

18 bags to go...
and this morning I found a you tube video on making stained glass stepping stones!
I see these is our future... or mosaic, that would be pretty to.

WHAT DO YOU DO?

Yesterday I went to the store and they had some bananas bagged up for clearance...
6 pounds of bananas to be exact for just $1.00...
What would you do with that many bananas?

It turned out to be 13 bananas... I decided to dry six of them...
and Kenneth will be making banana bread with nuts this weekend.
I have homemade butter too AWESOME!

Good meal...

preheat the oven to 350*. Grease 9X9 dish with butter. whisk together 3 ingredients, add half the cheese, ham and the tator tots. Pour into dish and top with remaining cheese. Bake for 25 - 30 minutes. Should set up and be golden brown.