I've got Ricki Carroll's book. What would anyone else recommend for a second reference book for a beginner?
Welcome to the forum Lloyd. If its recipes you're after, there are any number in books and on the web (including this forum). Rikki is a great start.
If you want to broaden your thinking, I would suggest David Asher "The Art of Natural Cheesemaking"
If its about understanding what you're doing, at a deeper level, then Gianaclis Caldwell, Mastering Artisan Cheesemaking"
I'll second Mastering Artisan Cheesemaking. It's the first recommendation I give to folks who are interested in learning about cheesemaking.
I also really enjoyed American Farmstead Cheese by Paul Kindstedt, though it might not be a good second place to go. If you really get into cheesemaking and want to start thinking about making cheese professionally, it provides some very good information.
This forum, of course, might be the best resource available. Here you can get multiple perspectives from people who have been making cheese for years, and can interact with them when you have specific questions that you can't find answers for elsewhere.
The 2 books mentioned would be at the top of my list also.....
My recommendation is to pick a cheese that ripens in less than 2 months and make it over and over for at least 2 times per month for the next 6 months this way every third cheese or so you can taste your successes and failures .
You can throw in a new cheese every so often but having a go to cheese that you can make with out reading the recipe clears the mind to start noticing what is actually going on with the curds
also write down every thing you do on a make sheet
Hi Lloyd..welcome to the cheese forums!
Some cheese books I flip through in addition to the above are:
'The Cheesemaker's Manual' by Margaret Peters (Morris) http://www.glengarrycheesemaking.on.ca/accessories/miscellaneous/dvds-and-books/the-cheesemakers-manual-by-m.-morris.html (http://www.glengarrycheesemaking.on.ca/accessories/miscellaneous/dvds-and-books/the-cheesemakers-manual-by-m.-morris.html)
'Artisan Cheese Making At Home' by Mary Karlin http://www.artisancheesemakingathome.com/marysbookswebsites.html (http://www.artisancheesemakingathome.com/marysbookswebsites.html)
'200 Easy Homemade Cheese Recipes' 2nd edition by Debra Amrein-Boyes https://www.amazon.ca/200-Easy-Homemade-Cheese-Recipes/dp/0778804658 (https://www.amazon.ca/200-Easy-Homemade-Cheese-Recipes/dp/0778804658)
Now careful! Buying cheese books ...similar to cooking books ...is a slippery slope! Before you know it ... You'll have stacks of 'em in no time..lol
Good luck and have fun :)
Many thanks, I'll take a look at those.