Author Topic: Blue Brie and ?'s  (Read 1400 times)

janij

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Blue Brie and ?'s
« on: July 28, 2014, 01:40:28 AM »
Hi all!  After reading tal_d1's My first Gorgonzola – Success thread I decided to try and make a blue cheese but use a brie make.  I have made Stilton and I think it was a Castle Blue.  I wasn't happy with the texture of either and when I saw the picture tal_d1 posted I thought I would try something different.  He didn't include his make instructions and going off this one sentence, "I made the cheese based on my Brie recipe." I stepped off into an abyss.  I started the cheese on 7/8/14 so it is almost 3 weeks old.  I am going to list my make instructions and some pictures.  And then ask a couple of questions in the hopes someone can help me.  I do not have a pH meter.  it is on my wish list.

I used
Approx 3 gallons raw Jersey milk I am calf sharing so it was maybe a little light on cream
1/4 t M starter
1/16 t PR mold
1/4 t rennet double strength

Heated milk to 90.  At about 85 I added culture and mold.  Once it hit 90 I stirred well and added rennet.  Let sit 1 hr 30 min.  I forgot to maintain the temp so it dropped below 90 during this time to about 86.  I checked at the 1 hr 30 min mark and let sit another 15 min.  Cut cubes into 1" pieces.  Let sit 10 min heal.  Stirred the curd for 10 min.  Let curd settle for 10 min.  Drained whey to curd level.  I had a bunch of very very small pieces on the top.  No idea on  that one.  From here I ladled the curd into 4 4" round molds.  I lined the molds with cheese cloth, which I will not do next time.  Flipped molds after 2 hrs.  Let sit another 2 hrs and flipped again.  At this point it was 8 pm and I let sit overnight.  The next morning I flipped one more time and let sit 2 hrs.  Unmolded cheeses and salted at 1 t per cheese.  Put the cheeses in a covered container on a rack and put in cave at 50-55 deg.  After 9 days I pierced the cheeses about 7-10 each.

I have a few concerns.  I am worried that there is too much moisture in the box.  There is constant condensation on the box lid.  The cheese seems to be soft to the touch on the outside.  Also there is this white fuzzy mold growing on it.  I have been flipping once a day but we left town for 5 day and it was left unattended.  Ideas?  Should I worry about the white fuzz?  I keep wiping it off.  I was thinking of trying one at 30 days as the other blues I made were a little strong after 6 weeks and more.

I am including pictures.

Curds going into mold.


Cheeses after about 5 days



White fuzz


Cheese mow after fuzz is wiped off


janij

  • Guest
Re: Blue Brie and ?'s
« Reply #1 on: August 12, 2014, 07:27:46 PM »
So the cheese is alittle over a month old.  I could not take it any more and cut one open today with lunch.  It did not have as much veining in it as I was hoping.  Maybe I should have pierced it a second time.  But I was very happy with the taste and texture.  i think it is a keeper!!






hoeklijn

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Re: Blue Brie and ?'s
« Reply #2 on: August 15, 2014, 05:59:28 AM »
Reminds me of Cambozola which is a mix between Camembert and Gorgonzola. There are recipes of that on the forum as well. Can be very tasty indeed!

Offline Boofer

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Re: Blue Brie and ?'s
« Reply #3 on: August 15, 2014, 01:50:34 PM »
Reminds me of Cambozola which is a mix between Camembert and Gorgonzola. There are recipes of that on the forum as well. Can be very tasty indeed!
Hey, Herman, what have you been up to lately? Anything good? :)

-Boofer-
Let's ferment something!
Bread, beer, wine, cheese...it's all good.

hoeklijn

  • Guest
Re: Blue Brie and ?'s
« Reply #4 on: August 18, 2014, 05:59:27 AM »
Hi Boofer, not much cheesemaking for me ate the moment. Been very busy with my Dutch forum and we have at the moment nearly 130 Dutch members, located all over Europe and even on a goatfarm in the Filipines.
In Oktober we will get a new dormer on the roof which is quite a project and I'm busy preparing that and I'm consuming the last remaining cheeses in my cave because all the stuff must be moved.
After that I'm going to pick up cheese making again....