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CHEESE TYPE BOARDS (for Cheese Lovers and Cheese Makers) => RENNET COAGULATED - Semi-Hard "Sweet" Washed Curd => Topic started by: Shadeydaze on February 20, 2012, 05:54:17 AM

Title: My first cheeses
Post by: Shadeydaze on February 20, 2012, 05:54:17 AM
OK firstly Thank you.... thank you..... thank you..... this forum inspired me !!!!!!

I have enjoyed myself so much since I signed up with the forum....I had a good read again and then thought I have to just go for it...it always seemed like some dark art!!!  :o

So I followed Deejaydebi's recipe to make a cheddar (thank you it is really easy to follow)...so now I just have to wait......
(https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-GuCMqHtYaNs/TzeU_I1iWoI/AAAAAAAABdg/jSRKne0qANQ/s640/DSC02240.JPG)
Let it dry for 3 days and then waxed it
(https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-NHykItCj0D8/TzyrGGA1pZI/AAAAAAAABkI/eScg5HDD0YE/s128/DSC02277.JPG)

and then another one!
....and 2 Gouda's (this is the first one)
(https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-4vaSJDFde1M/TziyOJ2oXrI/AAAAAAAABhw/6g8NhYJ3PH4/s128/DSC02259.JPG)

and 2 lots of Ricotta which have come out quite well too.

I haven't got into the technicalities.... I couldn't tell you what the humidity is....but I have 4 cheeses that look like cheese (time will tell if they taste like cheese  ::)......and a big bowl of Ricotta so I am a happy camper at the moment.

Thank you  :)
Title: Re: My first cheeses
Post by: JeffHamm on February 20, 2012, 06:14:59 AM
Hi,

Well done!  Those look like really nice wheels.  I'm especially impressed as they are first tries, and cheddars can be tricky to get sealed.  What brand of milk are you using, or do you have access to raw milk?  You'll find lots of good advice and tips here. 

- Jeff
Title: Re: My first cheeses
Post by: Tobiasrer on February 20, 2012, 07:08:22 AM
They look amazing! Great job
Title: Re: My first cheeses
Post by: Gürkan Yeniçeri on February 20, 2012, 10:33:04 PM
Awesome, awesome and awesome. Good job Shadey.

It is dark art only when you start making blues  ;D
Title: Re: My first cheeses
Post by: Shadeydaze on February 22, 2012, 11:51:03 PM
Thank you for the comments :D

Hi,
Well done!  Those look like really nice wheels.  I'm especially impressed as they are first tries, and cheddars can be tricky to get sealed.  What brand of milk are you using, or do you have access to raw milk?   - Jeff
Thank Jeff....I have access to raw milk which is great (although we have now pretty much decided we are going to get a house cow in the near future)..We're pretty much decided that we are going to keep going with making our own cheese so want to get self sufficient with it as much as possible....when you stop and look at how expensive cheese is here in NZ (as you will know) it's a bit of a no brainer really (well it is if you are into this kind of lifestyle)

As for the seal ...are you talking about the wax? If so I can tell you learnt my lesson there..waxed the sides first... then had the devils own job trying to wax the top and bottom as they turned into slippery little suckers!! Note to self there is a reason that cheese is dipped on the top and bottom first ;D

Awesome, awesome and awesome. Good job Shadey.

It is dark art only when you start making blues  ;D

LOL...I was only talking to a friend of mine who makes cheese (she makes lovely tasting cheddar style cheeses) about blue the other day and said I was thinking about giving it a go - the air went blue (excuse the pun) and she then said I could take her culture because she was done with trying!!!....now question (I know this may not be in the right section) ......could the culture be dodgy and that's why it's not working?...in which case if I am going to have a go do I get my own culture do you think?
Title: Re: My first cheeses
Post by: Cheese Head on February 23, 2012, 01:10:30 AM
Shadeydaze, looks great! Many people have a tough time waxing, me I find oiling easiest then vacuum bagging, for cheeses that you want to seal.
Title: Re: My first cheeses
Post by: DeejayDebi on February 23, 2012, 03:09:24 AM
Great job Shadydaze. You've made some very nice cheeses and right up front. Looks like you are a natural and I am honored you tried one of my recipes as your first cheese. Maybe I brought you some luck I have always found making cheese easy albeit a time consuming hobby.

A cheese for the newbie on a roll!
Title: Re: My first cheeses
Post by: JeffHamm on February 23, 2012, 04:39:14 AM
Hi Shadeydaze,

Great that you've got access to raw milk, that should result in much nicer cheeses.  I should have said knit rather than seal for the cheddars, they can be tough to get to knit properly and there are often lots of openings for mould to grow in.  You look to have got a very nice knit though.  As for waxing, I brush it on with a hair basting brush (don't use a plastic one, they melt).  You can pick them up for 3 for $2.00 at various $2 shops. 

- Jeff
Title: Re: My first cheeses
Post by: Shadeydaze on February 23, 2012, 08:59:03 PM
Shadeydaze, looks great! Many people have a tough time waxing, me I find oiling easiest then vacuum bagging, for cheeses that you want to seal.
Thank you John...it was OK the first time I waxed it this way but the cheese gods obviously thought I needed to be taught early on (and I am a good listener!!)  :D
As an alternative though the oiling and vacuum bagging is something that sounds great....what oil do you use - olive? (I have some lovely first press oil I would happily donate to some cheese)...if you oil and bag this way is it then treated the same as after waxing?

Great job Shadydaze. You've made some very nice cheeses and right up front. Looks like you are a natural and I am honored you tried one of my recipes as your first cheese. Maybe I brought you some luck I have always found making cheese easy albeit a time consuming hobby.
A cheese for the newbie on a roll!

Debi - thank you for the recipe !- It was easy to read and it worked (can't say better than that can you!?)....so for the first time of making cheese it gave me the confidence to go on and try again. My colleagues at work are all now laughing at me because I have become a little cheese obsessed .....I think you have unleashed my inner cheese monster ...Thank you  ;D

Hi Shadeydaze,
Great that you've got access to raw milk, that should result in much nicer cheeses. 
- Jeff
They came out looking like wheels of butter...they are soooo yellow...time will tell whether they taste good... I will be patient...I will be patient LOL!

This weekend we are possibly going to pick up a Jersey cross heifer calf...it makes it a longer term project as with the sheep but it's a start...all plans have to start somewhere eh?

I just realised the cheeses are thumbs up...DOH I thought it was for how many cheeses you had made.....how thick am I !!?   ::)

I can't believe how excited this has got me...poor hubby is now planning another cheese press so I can do multiple cheeses...bless him.
Title: Re: My first cheeses
Post by: Corina on February 24, 2012, 07:44:29 AM
Waw, how nice, they look perfect to me , a beginer >:D
It makes me get some more courage...
Can you please put on the link with the ceddar? I read so many interesting things here I am confused, saved a lot of interesting links to read....this forum is like an enciclpeadia but with nice people.

Title: Re: My first cheeses
Post by: Shadeydaze on February 24, 2012, 07:36:04 PM
There you go Corina...hope it works for you  :D

http://www.deejayssmokepit.net/TradditionalCheddar.htm (http://www.deejayssmokepit.net/TradditionalCheddar.htm)
Title: Re: My first cheeses
Post by: Boofer on February 25, 2012, 12:58:40 AM
......could the culture be dodgy and that's why it's not working?...in which case if I am going to have a go do I get my own culture do you think?
Since no one ventured in here, I would say you might be better off selecting your own blue to culture off of. Hers might be rank. And if you go to the trouble and expense of making a cheese, you want to have some assurance that you have started with good ingredients. Better safe...than sorry.

Nice cheeses, by the way, Shadey .

As for waxing, I brush it on with a hair basting brush (don't use a plastic one, they melt).
Please pardon my ignorance, Jeff. For some reason I got a mental image of something to baste turkeys with, but it wasn't a brush.  ::)  What is it?

-Boofer-
Title: Re: My first cheeses
Post by: JeffHamm on February 25, 2012, 02:01:56 AM

Quote
Please pardon my ignorance, Jeff. For some reason I got a mental image of something to baste turkeys with, but it wasn't a brush.  ::)  What is it?

-Boofer-

Ummm?  A turkey baster!

- Jeff
Title: Re: My first cheeses
Post by: Shadeydaze on February 29, 2012, 06:40:34 AM
......could the culture be dodgy and that's why it's not working?...in which case if I am going to have a go do I get my own culture do you think?
Since no one ventured in here, I would say you might be better off selecting your own blue to culture off of. Hers might be rank. And if you go to the trouble and expense of making a cheese, you want to have some assurance that you have started with good ingredients. Better safe...than sorry.

Nice cheeses, by the way, Shadey .
-Boofer-
Thanks for that Boofer...I was pretty much thinking that...so new culture it is for me  :)

Things have moved on with my longer term plans to have my own supply of raw milk.....
Meet Lily.....
(https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-BBdz0krYJdU/T0iB8G-Cg4I/AAAAAAAABps/XaGR2j2WySo/s640/DSC02308.JPG)

She has a little way to go but in a couple of years she is going to be our house cow...as for now she is very small and very cute.
Title: Re: My first cheeses
Post by: Cloversmilker on February 29, 2012, 03:34:18 PM
Congrats on Lily!  In a couple of years she'll give you milk for wonderful cheese. 
Title: Re: My first cheeses
Post by: DeejayDebi on March 01, 2012, 02:45:12 AM
Oh she's beautiful! Gotta love that face and those big brown eyes! Can't help myself another cheese for the beautiful baby!
Title: Re: My first cheeses
Post by: Corina on March 01, 2012, 05:06:30 AM
Oh, how nice she is!
So nice you can grow your own cow, so much cheese to make!
Title: Re: My first cheeses
Post by: anarch on March 01, 2012, 06:39:54 PM
Lily is gorgeous!  Love her. 

Title: Re: My first cheeses
Post by: Shadeydaze on March 06, 2012, 03:53:56 AM
LOL!!...she is a bit gorgeous (but then I know I'm biased)......she is coming on really nicely - that is alternate speak for she doesn't leap a mile in the air everytime we go near her ::)...she is a little treasure so hopefully she is going to have a very long, happy and productive life here.

Of course now that means I have something else to research as well as cheese  :o
Title: Re: My first cheeses
Post by: Cloversmilker on March 06, 2012, 04:16:41 AM
It won't be too long before she'll be waiting to be milked...

Here's my Clover.  She came to me as a wee lame calf about 3 years ago. 
Title: Re: My first cheeses
Post by: Shadeydaze on March 11, 2012, 05:32:55 AM
Oh my ...she is beautiful...she is just like a bigger version of Lily who is still very wee  :D
Title: Re: My first cheeses
Post by: DeejayDebi on March 11, 2012, 08:45:08 PM
Cows can be such beautiful animals I wonder why we decided to eat them?  ???
Title: Re: My first cheeses
Post by: Shadeydaze on April 03, 2012, 10:22:05 AM
So I have eaten the Gouda...and it tasted....like a young Gouda !!! ^-^
The second one I made I lost however..but I think I know what went wrong

I mucked up when I was washing the curds so they weren't cooked as much and then so the results were much softer...then I pressed them in the same way as I would have done had I not mucked up so the cheese was softer....end result it seemed to dry OK but them half way through the 25 days it collapsed and BLURGH!  :o

The cheddar...well now that's a different thing altogether..it's looking good and I was going to cut it in May...note I was going to but.....I already have  ::)...it tastes like a young cheddar ...YAY!!
I am going to make some more in the next couple of days - this time I am going to try and let it dry for a day less as I think it's a little dry in texture maybe

They are in wax...does this stop them drying out as they mature or do I need to up the humidity....bearing in mind I am not using the technicalities of some of the cheesemakers here...my cheese cave is a chilly bin with an ice cream cartons to provide the chill and humidity (VERY basic!!!)
Title: Re: My first cheeses
Post by: JeffHamm on April 03, 2012, 05:16:59 PM
Hi Shadeydaze,

Congrates on the successful gouda and cheddar!  Well done.  As for your aging, if they are waxed all you need worry about is the temperature.  The wax acts as a moisture barrier so the humidity doesn't matter.

Have a look on trademe, etc, for a wine fridge.  They work well as a cave as they can have their temperatures set to around 10 C, which is good for agining.  Double check on the temperature range though, just to make sure it will set to be in that 10-12 C range.  Then you just manage the humidity with ripening boxes. 

Anyway, a cheese to you for your successes!

- Jeff
Title: Re: My first cheeses
Post by: Shadeydaze on April 06, 2012, 12:13:55 AM
Cheers Jeff will have a look for one...at the moment it's ice cream containers being changed every day    ::)
Title: Re: My first cheeses
Post by: Shadeydaze on April 07, 2012, 06:08:10 AM
Well blow me down Jeff had a look on Trademe and there was one for sale in Greymouth...so guess who's going to drive over to Greymouth and pick up a cheese cave ...I mean wine fridge...nah I mean cheese cave!!! ^-^.............................






My husband    ;D     LOL!!!!
Title: Re: My first cheeses
Post by: JeffHamm on April 07, 2012, 06:18:33 AM
Well done!  Pick up some plastic ripening boxes, and you should be all set.  I did the ice in a chilly  bin type cave for awhile.  Worked well, but it required maintenance daily, and as the seasons changed the amount of ice required would  change too.  But worst, it only held about 4 cheeses!  Congratulations on the new addition to the family!

- Jeff
Title: Re: My first cheeses
Post by: Shadeydaze on April 08, 2012, 08:11:54 AM
Thanks so much for the idea...yes it has been getting tiresome swapping ice blocks every day...I'm looking forward to switching it on and then being able to see my cheeses through the glass  ;D

I never had any idea how addictive this was going to be ....mind you I have chooks and know how addictive that can be (started with 8 and now I don't know how many but somewhere around 200!!!)...so I should have known really LOL! ::)
Title: Re: My first cheeses
Post by: Shadeydaze on August 26, 2012, 05:33:00 AM
Well just thought I would give you an update on the cheeses as it's 6 months (I can't believe it's been that long!!!) since I made the cheddar type cheeses and I saved one as I wanted to mature it a bit longer just to see.

The first cheese we opened a while back was very crumbly ( a bit too crumbly to be honest) but the second we put into the wine fridge (sorry cheese cave  ;)...thanks for the idea with that Jeff) and yesterday we cut it open.

OMG it was delicious!!! I am sooooo pleased!!!
(https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-WqWALYcuW3U/UDm06YnsnvI/AAAAAAAACo0/9pQb2ztVRaY/s640/DSC02768.JPG)
I've kept one half to eat the other I have put into quarters and re waxed it (I took the wax off completely and re-waxed it ..is that right?)...and I'll leave it for a bit longer.
Title: Re: My first cheeses
Post by: JeffHamm on August 26, 2012, 06:59:14 AM
That's great!  Cheddars really do require time to come into their own, but when they do they are so good.  Check out my 3rd Wensleydale make.  That has turned out exceptionally good at 4.5 months and continued to improve since; I've been savouring this one out, but it's hard not to just devour it.  Just a small chunk left as it is.  I've got a cheddar that I'm not opening until it's at least a year old, and I've got some others that are aging out as well.  Looking forward to them.

- Jeff