Mozzarella Magic

For the past month or two I have had access to raw milk from a local farm, at $1.50 per litre.  I have been busy skimming cream, etc etc.  And, I have had a few disasters, but today I am going to share with you a complete SUCCESS!

I used this receipe here: http://www.motherearthliving.com/cooking-methods/homemade-mozzarella-recipe-zmrz12aszdeb.aspx

Here is my finished product, looking wonderful.

To make these shiny balls of yummyness, I used 7.5litres of milk as per the recipe above.  I followed all steps to the letter, and I am so pleased with the results.  Guess who is having pizza for dinner tonight?

I will share below some photos showing some of the steps.  You need to be at home for the afternoon (or morning).  The steps themselves are not difficult, but there is a lot of "sitting" time, and waiting around between steps.  These photos go backwards from the end to the beginning.

You need the pink gloves to protect your hands from the high heat at the "stretching" and "kneading" stages

Stretching the cheese till it is shiny and melted

The curds draining

Cutting the curds

A delight!

This has got to be the cutest jug ever! dont you just love the "Kina" shaped bottom? the silver detailing? the beautiful cranberry colour?

Just occasionally Trademe is a wonderful place!

Potato Glut - help and advice please!

The glut has started

These are Jersey Bennes, which are not good keepers.  In fact they are already starting to go a bit rubbery and a couple had shoots on them.  I really need to either make them into something for the freezer/canner/dehydrator, or find a way to store them well.  

All suggestions for receipes, soups, and frozen things would be very welcome as I am stumped!

Winning "Best Dressed" !

We spent today at the Waipara Springs Festival....music by The Eastern and others, great food, wines to taste and drink, Masterclasses in wine and more.  It was a great day in the sun, and we have had a ball.

I was so amazed to be selected to take part in the "Best Dressed" competition.  I was given a number and at about 3pm went up with the other 9 competitors to be judged.

The female entrants in "Best Dressed" - there's me in the hat!

In the end I won! the prize a $100 voucher for dining at the restaurant there.

Definitely a highlight of this year. 

The School Lunches dilemma strikes again

School lunches are so tricky. I don't know about yours, but my kids want wrapped "fruit bars" (baked muesli slices), yoghurts and small packets of chips etc.  I want them to have healthy, homemade things, and its not very often that our tastes meet in the middle.

Today I made this, http://instagram.com/p/j2VSVRgdKK/
a muesli slice.  No raisins or dried fruits (because young miss won't eat them), no nasty hard bits like nuts or pumpkin seeds (cos you master won't eat them).  No condensed milk, because I think they dont need the sweet stuff.  Hopefully we will all be happy.

I am going to wrap them, and I might even print a wrapper to paste on outside to make them look authentic! (I'm willing to try anything to get the kids to eat them).

BAKED BARS

50g butter
Half cup sugar
Quarter cup honey
put the above into a pan, and heat gently to dissolve the sugar.  Set aside to cool a bit.

3 Weetbix, or similar
Quarter cup Rice Bubbles
Quarter cup choc chips or bits
Half cup rolled oats/porridge oats
Half cup Self Raising Flour

Pour the wet ingredients onto the dry ingredients and mix well.  Press into a sandwich slice tin, bake 170C for about 20 mins till golden.

Let cool completely before cutting into slices or squares.