I wanted to get one more cheese into the Boofer cave network taking advantage of what I hoped would be some of the last summer milk. I bought four gallons of good whole raw Jersey milk. Then I was faced with a conundrum ("A confusing and difficult problem or question."). What cheese would I make with this milk? I had originally thought a cloth-bound Cheddar would be an interesting effort. Then I thought of the two Cheddars already aging in the cave network and decided against that idea. Maybe later.
I then considered a Trappist cheese...maybe something stinky and oozy
. Yeah, but that would mean a young cheese that would possibly have a shorter shelf life than I wanted to make right now. And I was still ripening my
Reblochon #4 so I already had a young cheese that would be ready soon. Boy, what a situation!
I was scouring online trying to get an idea or direction to go. I saw a reference to a cheese that was developed and then washed with a walnut liqueur. I combed through cheeses I had made that were pleasing. I thought a semi-soft to semi-hard cheese with a fairly dry rind enhanced with a pleasing liqueur wash might be nice to try. For the base cheese, I considered an Esrom or Tomme style. I was looking at Tuaca liqueur or Frangelico liqueur as a wash. Frangelico is a hazelnut-flavored liqueur. That might be very nice. This is mid-September, so it could be ready for the holidays. I think I've solved my predicament.
4 gallons whole raw Jersey milk
6 cubes Aroma B MC, melted
1/16 tsp PLA
1/32 tsp dry calf rennet
1/32 tsp PLA in 3% brine for wash
I followed the
Esrom program, saved a gallon of whey for brine, washed one third of the curds with 130F water, and pressed first with 2.6psi and two flips under whey, and then with 5psi in pot without whey and naked(without the Plyban
). Brined when pH was 5.54 (a little sweeter) for 12 hours. Now out to air dry before heading into the cave network. Weeping a bit, as normal.
My floc was 33 minutes which surprised me. I had used less rennet expecting the raw milk to help me out. It didn't. I used a 3.5x multiplier.
Yes, I know, I probably should have kept the Plyban in place for the final pressing...then I wouldn't have those nubbins. Eh, they'll go away in time.
-Boofer-