It was just a matter of time before I tried to make my own cheese on this blog. There are few things more satisfying to me than making something from scratch with my own two hands. I guess that’s why I was also drawn to activities like knitting, sewing, painting, carpentry – and, of course, cooking – from an early age. Even if my end result isn’t 100% professional quality (and it rarely is), homemade has that “something special” that always trumps store-bought in my mind.
Domenica Marchetti‘s story about her experiences making fresh mozzarella with her 12-year old daughter on the Washington Post‘s All We Can Eat blog sparked my interest in giving it a try. I ordered the cheesemaking kit she recommended, and I’ve had so much fun with it that I’ve decided to order another to give away to one lucky reader – be sure to read (or just scroll) all the way to the end of this post to enter. [THE CONTEST IS NOW CLOSED]
It turns out you need few special ingredients – citric acid and rennet – to make mozzarella, and this is where the kit comes in. It includes both ingredients, as well as a handy thermometer (there’s a bit of temperature-taking involved in the cheesemaking process), cheese salt and a cheesecloth (you use this for ricotta, which you can also make with this kit). They give you enough for, like, 30 batches of cheese.
While the kit supplies you with the necessary special ingredients you’re on your own for the household staples, namely water and milk. Oddly enough, find the “right” water and the “right” milk is actually the hardest part of the whole process!
The water needs to be free of chlorine. I had no idea how to determine this so I just went with my regular tap water in my first batch…and didn’t yield any curds. After learning from Mr. Google that you can remove chlorine from water by leaving it out in the open for 24 hours, I gave it a second try and got curds – hooray!
The rest of the cheesemaking process went smoothly, I sampled my finished homemade cheese (yum!) and proceeded to store it in a container of water like you get at the store…without reading and heeding the kit’s advice to store it in plastic wrap. By the next day it had largely disintegrated.
Pouting ensued…
My third attempt at cheesemaking was looking like the charm. I had my de-chlorinated water, made my cheese, loved how it came out, stored it properly. I’d mastered fresh mozzarella…go me! I was all proud of myself and excited to share my photos on Panini Happy. Then I went back to Domenica’s original post and I couldn’t help but notice that her curds looked a whole lot different than mine. Not tiny little clumplets, but big, soft, shiny clumps.
That sinking feeling in my stomach got even worse as I looked at her stretched curds looked – all long and soft. More taffy, less play-doh.
I think the issue might be with the other “regular” ingredient, the milk. There’s much guidance on the kit’s website about choosing milk and the importance of not using the ultra-pasteurized kind. I used Alta Dena, which appears on their “good milk” list but I think next time I’ll spring for some of the pricey local creamery milk and see if I have a different result.
I decided to share my photos anyway…as evidence that, like I said before, DIY projects don’t always come out perfectly. There’s often a good deal of trial and error (and trial…trial…error…error…error) before you’re a pro.
This whole learning process has been such a fun experience – and I still have 27 more tries left on this kit! I was thrilled with my end result. It looked and tasted like fresh mozzarella cheese. It was creamy, a little bit salty and melted beautifully on my Peach Caprese Panini. I was proud enough to photograph it on my special marble cheese board. 
And now for the giveaway…
I’m sharing the cheesemaking fun! I’ll send one Panini Happy reader a 30 Minute Mozzarella & Ricotta Cheesemaking Kit like the one I used (even the box is fun!).
TWO ways to enter the Cheesemaking Kit Giveaway: [THE CONTEST IS NOW CLOSED]
- Leave a comment on this post – What is your favorite dish that uses fresh mozzarella? If you’ve got a link to recipe, feel free to include it!
- Leave a comment on the “It’s GIVEAWAY Time!” post on the Panini Happy Facebook page (there’s another question to answer over there)
You can answer once in each place for a total of two entries. The giveaway closes on Monday, July 19, 2010 at 12:00 PM PDT. Each entry will be assigned a number and one winner, selected at random via random.org, will be announced on Tuesday, July 20, 2010. Due to shipping costs, this giveaway is open to readers with U.S. only.
* This is not a sponsored giveaway. It is funded 100% by yours truly.
>Ready to buy a panini press? Check out my Panini Press Buying Guide for the features to look for.
>Want more panini recipes? See my Recipe Index for a list of all recipes on Panini Happy.
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{ 87 comments… read them below or add one }
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To me, nothing is better than mozzerella sliced with tomatoes and basil fresh from the garden. Tastes like summer!!
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Mmmmmmm…. simple panini with fresh mozza and pesto (or olive tapenape)! Mmmmmm….
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Having never enjoyed fresh mozzarella, I cannot say what my favorite dish would be but I am intrigued by the thought!
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I love stuffing the fresh mozzarella inside of a burger patty before I cook it. The cheese gets melty and gooey and delicious.
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Whoa this is too awesome of a giveaway! My favorite mozzarella recipe is a simple caprese salad…it really lets the cheese shine through.
Joanne´s last blog post ..Vegan Golden Vanilla Cupcakes with Avocado Buttercream Frosting
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In this heat, it has to be caprese salad!
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My favorite is definitely homemade pizza!!!!! That kit is AWESOME!
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Mozzarella, fresh tomato and basil with either a little olive oi. or balsamic vinegar and fresh ground black pepper!! yummy!!!
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My favorite dish that uses fresh mozzarella would have to be pizza. Mmmm, makes me hungry just thinking about it!
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Caprese Salad! My fav
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It’s so difficult to choose a favorite…home made pizza or calzones…
I panini with garden fresh tomatoes and basil…
or just as an antipasto …
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you inspired me. I bought rennet and lemon juice. It did not come out looking as pretty as yours. Next time, I am going to try smoking it in my smoker. My favorite recipe with mozzarella is with sliced squid (3 lb block, but fresh is incomparable though tedious to clean & skin, and messy, just like other pleasures, onion, smallish chunks of mozzarella, chopped celery, whole garlic, sprigs of rosemary, buckets of fresh parsley, finely diced whole lemon–skin, pith and bones, but flick out seeds. let seep in vinaigrette of 1 part lemon juice, 2 parts vinager & olive oil doesn’t need to be virgin or extra virgin or even virtuous, or another oil like canola, all to cover & let meld for a week (I have never been able to wait that long.) Some, not as pure as myself add basil, just because it is holy. S & P. alot as it is served cold. It will last for 9 or 10 months in frig if you keep adding oil to make sure it is covered, but I assure it will never last that long. Be forewarned people will throw themselves at you, offer their dowries, commit hari-kari for you after serving them this spritly, summery salad, tasting of the sea. Urge them not to –mo
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Favorite dish? I usually just cut it into chunks and eat it by itself!!
Though topping bruschetta with it is a not so close second.
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diy is always so much better than buying something off the shelf
u go girl!
dani´s last blog post ..77 Lemon Poppy Seed Cake
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my fave mozza recipe would have to be a good ol`mozza burger topped with ooeey gooeey melted mozza cheese
dani´s last blog post ..77 Lemon Poppy Seed Cake
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I’m a pizaholic, but since you’re asking during the summer, I have to say Caprese Salad.
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sadly, this gal has never tasted fresh mozzarella. wow–i’m ashamed to admit that!
grace´s last blog post ..halitosis bad- giveaway good
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My perfect mozzarella dish is just mozzarella and extra virgin olive oil with some salt and black pepper. I serve it in little cubes with toth sticks.
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I’ve been wanting to try this forever!!!!!
favorite dish with fresh mozzerella…. real homemade chicken parm!!!!
thanks for the post/inspiration & the give away…
good luck everyone!
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Caprese salad! Yum!
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I recently made a grilled pizza using fresh mozzarella cheese, fresh spinach from the garden, a few sliced grape tomatoes along with sauce and spices. It was the best pizza that came off my grill so far.
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I love to make pizza with fresh mozzerella and sausage. Thanks for the chance.
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I would have to say that my favorite way to use fresh mozzarella cheese would be in an inside-out burger. Of course, I have to add bacon, too
tahtimbo´s last blog post ..How to Make Soft Pretzels
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hands down, my favorite would be a pizza margherita. actually, its not just my favorite for fresh mozz, it’s my favorite food!
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That kit is so cute! My favorite way is just eat the cheese alone – maybe with some baguette slices and salt and pepper. I have have made fresh mozzarella before and had good luck using a combination of 1 gallon skim milk mixed with 1 pint heavy or whipping cream. It simulates non-homogenized milk which is difficult or impossible to find nowadays.
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Just found your site. Very cool!
We are on a gnocchi kick at my house currently. Would probably mix a little sun-dried tomato tapenade with it, add some Kalamatas, cubed mozzarella and fresh basil and call it a day!
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on crusty bread with tomatoes, basil and a little marinara baked until hot and gooey. Yum!
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nothing like a homemade pizza crust with freshly sliced tomatoes, homemade mozzarella, and basil! Num num num!
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Has to be insalata caprese! Although I did have a really fabulous tomato couscous with fresh mozzarella a few years ago.
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Love homemade pizza but now this will make it even better!
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Caprese salad is my #1 , but I’ve been wanting to try the Rosemary Mozzarella Skewers from the Pioneer Woman.
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What could be better than warm tomato straight from the garden, fresh picked basil and mozarella on top of crisp grilled baguette slices drizzled with a bit of olive oil and sprinkled with oregano??? Sublime!
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I would love to try this! We really like homemade rigatoni with melted mozzarella! YUM!
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I love Lasagna with good mozzarella. The cheese you made looks divine!
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I bought this kit for my grandmother one year for Christmas and I don’t think she ever used it. I keep meaning to “steal” it back
Perhaps if I win this one though I wont have to!
Erin´s last blog post ..Four Maine Food Blogs
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I would love to try making my own mozzarella!
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I have always wanted to make my own cheese. Too bad I missed you giveaway!
Rebecca´s last blog post ..Camping in Colorado- Tips for Newbie Campers
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