Garlic Confit

Garlic Confit is a special secret. It's the secret that makes everything better. Everything. And it's one of the easiest secrets to make ever. Use as is or blend into a spread.

Just do as the recipe says and then add to soups, a stir fry, a spread for sandwiches, etc. Go nuts! It's good on anything. Enjoy!

Garlic Confit

Yield: 1 small jar
Ingredients

• 6 bulbs garlic
• olive oil

Cooking Directions

1. Peel garlic. Place cloves in a saucepan.
2. Use enough olive oil to cover cloves just slightly.
3. Heat on medium to boiling.
4. Reduce to simmer. Let simmer for about 40 minutes.
5. Let cool before blending or storing.

Homemade Cheddar Cheese

OK, I can't wait any longer. I just have to share this. After two months of aging, I had to try this cheddar. The result was a delicious mild cheddar that I know is only going to improve with age. It went really well with some ham and popovers. Yum!

This cheddar recipe is no more difficult than the gouda recipe. There is only a little more time involved, and the aging is typically longer. However, fresh cheese is awesome, and there will likely be enough for you to age it as long as you like.

Have fun, and let me know if you have any questions. Enjoy!

Homemade Cheddar Cheese

Yield: 1 pound of cheddar
Ingredients

• 1 gallon whole milk
• 2 ice cubes buttermilk
• 1/2 tablet rennet
• 1/4 teaspoon calcium chloride
• 1 tablespoon non-iodized salt

Cooking Directions

1. Mix the rennet in 1/4 cup / 50 ml of water. Mix the calcium chloride in 1/4 cup / 50 ml of water.
2. Using a double boiler or in a pot, warm the milk and liquid calcium chloride to 90F / 32C.
3. Add mesophilic starter culture and mix thoroughly with a whisk, the culture must be uniform throughout the milk.
4. Allow the milk to ripen for 45 minutes to 1 hour.
5. Slowly pour the diluted rennet into the milk, stirring constantly with a whisk. Stir for 1 minute.
6. Allow the milk to set for 30 minutes to 1 hour until a firm curd is set and a clean break can be obtained when the curd is cut.
7. With a long knife or whisk, cut the curds into 1/4 inch cubes.
8. Allow the curds to sit for 5-15 minutes to firm up.
9. Slowly raise the temperature of the milk to 100-102F / 39C. It should take as long as 45 minutes to reach this temperature. During this time, gently stir the curds every few minutes so they don't mat together.
10. Keep the curds at 100-102F / 39C for another 45 minutes. During this time, gently stir the curds every few minutes so they don't mat together. They are done when it holds together in your hand if squeezed.
11. Drain the whey by pouring through a colander. Do this quickly and do not allow the curds to mat, turning with your hands to allow drainage. Save 1/3 of the whey in the pot.
12. Suspend the colander with the curds over the double boiler or pot. Stir the curds to separate any particles that have matted.
13. Heat the curds at 100-102F / 39C for 45 minutes to 1 hour, flipping every 10-15 minutes.
14. Cut the slab into chunks and into strips. Add the tablespoon of salt and mix thoroughly with hands in 3 stages, waiting 1 minute between each.
15. Carefully place the curds into your cheesecloth lined mold. Cover with cheesecloth.
16. Press the cheese at about 20 lbs / 9 kg for 45 minutes.
17. Remove the cheese from the press and flip it.
18. Press the cheese at about 40 lbs /18 kg for 3 hours.
19. Remove the cheese from the press and flip it.
20. Press the cheese at about 50 lbs / 23 kg for 24 hours.
21. Remove the cheese from the press. Place the cheese on a cheese board or bamboo mat and dry at room temperature for 1-5 days, until the cheese is dry to the touch.
22. Wax the cheese and age it in your refrigerator for 3-24 months. The longer the cheese is aged the sharper the flavor it will develop. Be sure to flip the cheese every few days.

Homemade Gouda Cheese

Homemade cheese is simple and fairly easy. With the right equipment (which can be bought on the cheap or made at home) and the right ingredients (which can be found online or at various home brew or similar stores), you'll have some delicious cheese in no time.

The types of cheese there are in the world run the gamut. There really is no end to the kind you can make. You might only be limited by your ability to get specific cultures to flavor your cheese. However, this Gouda cheese requires nothing more than regular cultured buttermilk.

The directions are long, but they are detailed. Please do not hesitate to ask me anything. Oh, and it is delicious raw and aged! Enjoy!

Homemade Gouda Cheese

Yield: 1 pound of gouda
Ingredients

• 1 gallon whole milk
• 2 ice cubes buttermilk
• 1/2 tablet rennet
• 1/4 teaspoon calcium chloride
• saturated brine

Cooking Directions

1. Mix the rennet in 1/4 cup of water. Mix the calcium chloride in 1/4 cup of water.
2. Warm the milk to 85-90F/29-32C in vat of your choice, i.e. double boiler or pot.
3. Add Starter Culture and Calcium Chloride and mix thoroughly with a whisk to make uniform throughout the milk.
4. Cover and let the culture ripen at same temperature for 15-45 minutes.
5. Trickle in diluted rennet stirring constantly for 1 minute to evenly distribute, then stop swirl with ladle to enable better curd set.
6. Cover and let the milk stand at your target temperature for 45+ minutes until a clean break is achieved.
7. Cut the curds into 0.2-0.5 inch cubes.
8. Allow the curds to sit and heal undisturbed for 5-10 minutes.
9. Stir gently, intermittently for 15-25 minutes to ensure the curds don't mat together.
10. Let the curds rest for 5 minutes to settle to bottom.
11. Remove and discard 1/3 volume of whey from top of vat. Add same volume of hot water to reach target 95-102°F / 37-39°C. Normally, 130°F / 55°C water will work.
12. Stir gently intermittently for 15-30 minutes, breaking any large lumps of curd.
13. Let the curds rest for 5 minutes to settle to bottom.
14. Pour the curds into a large strainer or colander and let drain for 5 minutes. If possible, place the strainer inside another pot or cover the curds in order to maintain the curd's temperature. The curds will press better if slightly warm.
15. Place the curds into cheesecloth lined mold, pack curds down into mold by hand (try to minimize breakage of the curd pack). Place a thin 1 lb. weight on top of the follower and press for 15 minutes.
16. Remove the cheese from the mold and cheesecloth, flip, replace in cheesecloth and mold and press again at ~2 pounds per US gallon or 0.5 kg per liter of milk used for 15 minutes.
17. Remove the cheese from the mold and cheesecloth, flip, replace in cheesecloth and mold and press again at ~5 pounds per 1 US gallon / 1 kg per 1 liter of milk for about 1 hour.
18. Remove the cheese from the mold and cheesecloth, flip, replace in cheesecloth and mold and press again at ~12 pounds per 1 US gallon / 1.5 kg per 1 liter of milk for final ~8-16 hours (i.e. overnight).
19. Remove the cheese from the press and cheesecloth.
20. Prepare a saturated brine for the cheese by combining ½ gallon water with 1 lb. cheese salt and bringing to a boil. Stir until salt is dissolved and remove from heat. Add 1 cup whey.
21. Stir in ½ teaspoon of calcium chloride solution and 1 teaspoon of white vinegar. This will keep the rind from becoming gummy and bring the pH of the brine close to the pH of the cheese. Let the brine cool to room temperature before using. The temperature of the brine should be the same as the cheese.
22. Place in saturated brine solution for 3-4 hours per pound or 0.5 kg of pressed curds. Sprinkle some salt on top, and be certain to turn the cheese a few times to ensure even rind development.
23. Note, after brining the cheese will have lost ~5% weight and the outer surface will have become firmer and almost tough.
24. Place the cheese on a drying mat. After 1-5 days the cheese should be dry to touch and then it can be waxed. Or it can continue to be aged with a natural rind.
25. If natural rind, if unwanted molds appear on rind, clean with a low 2-3% brine and cloth or disposable paper towel. After cheese hardens, a brush can be used with brine.
26. Turn cheese and replace mat if moist initially every 2 days then every week and eventually every month if age that long.
27. Consume after 2 weeks to several years. Flavor changes with age.

Butternut Squash Soup

Butternut Squash Soup

Total time: 1.5 hours
Yield: 2 servings
Ingredients

• 1 medium butternut squash, about 1 lb
• canola oil spray
• 1 medium onion, chopped
• optional: 1 tablespoon ginger, freshly grated
• 1 teaspoon curry powder
• 1 granny smith apple, chopped
• 2 tablespoons canola oil
• 2 cups vegetable broth
• 1 cup water, as needed
• salt and pepper, to taste

Cooking Directions

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Cut squash in half lengthwise and scoop out the seeds. Arrange the halves cut side down in roasting pan that has been sprayed with oil spray. Bake squash for 40-45 minutes or until very tender.
2. Set aside to cool. When squash is completely cool, scoop the flesh from the skin.
3. While the squash is baking, cook the onion and the ginger in the oil in a saucepan over moderately low heat for 5 minutes or until the onion is softened. Then add the curry powder and apple, and cook for 2 more minutes.
4. Add the broth and simmer the mixture for 10 minutes, covered.
5. Add the squash pulp to the sauce pan. (Note: scoop 1/2 cup mixture out and use to garnish soup.) Transfer the mixture to a blender or food processor, in batches, and puree until smooth. If needed, add enough water to achieve the desired consistency, then add salt and pepper to taste. Return the soup to the saucepan and cook over medium heat until it is hot.

Barley Mushroom Soup

Barley Mushroom Soup

Total time: 45 minutes
Yield: 8 cups
Ingredients

• 1 cup pearled barley, rinsed well
• 1 cup celery, sliced
• 3 cups white mushrooms, sliced
• 1 cup white onion, sliced
• 1 cup leeks, sliced
• 1/4 cup carrot, sliced
• 4 cups vegetable stock
• 1/4 cup olive oil
• optional: 1/4 cup soy sauce
• pinch salt
• pinch pepper
• pinch thyme

Cooking Directions

1. Bring barley to a gentle boil in stock; cook until soft.
2. Heat olive oil in saute pan. Caramelize onions in oil by cooking slowly on medium heat.
3. Add leeks, mushrooms, celery, sea salt, black pepper, and thyme. Cook until veggies are softened and mushrooms are slightly reduced. Add barley and stock.
4. Season with salt and pepper. Add soy sauce and garnish with carrot.