McKinney Mommas: New England Cheesemaking Supply Co. Review & GIVEAWAY - ends 4/20 Google+

Friday, April 6, 2012

New England Cheesemaking Supply Co. Review & GIVEAWAY - ends 4/20

It's "Whey" Wednesday...err Friday here at McKinney Mommas!

Okay, so I'm a few days late with my "W" cheese post for our first Wednesday of "National Grilled Cheese Month" at McKinney Mommas, but that's okay because I actually didn't have any personal experience with Whey until today.  I promise you, I'm NOT trying to rhyme here.

So, this morning I set out to make my own homemade cheese for the first time EVER.  With the help of an awesome Mozzarella and Ricotta cheese-making kit from The New England Cheese Making Company.

 



To be honest, I was slightly nervous about the whole process as I have a 14 month old hanging out with me in the kitchen that I have to "include" in the process.  I wasn't sure if having to take a few breaks in the process (ie. diaper change, fill up the sippy cup, wipe the runny nose, wash my hands AFTER wiping the runny nose...you get the idea) would ruin the batch of cheese completely. Keep reading to find out..............


Now, I LOVE cheese, but never thought I'd have the skills to make my own.  This 30-minute Mozzarella & Ricotta Kit has incredibly straight-forward directions and contains practically everything you need to make your own homemade CHEESE!

The kit includes:
  • Dairy Thermometer
  • Citric Acid
  • Cheesecloth
  • Rennet Tablets  
  • Cheese Salt
  • and a lovely recipe booklet that has great suggestions on what ELSE you can make with your fancy homemade cheese (prosciutto & cheese calzones, easy lasagna, and more)
What YOU need to have on hand:
  • (1) Gallon of Milk
  • Chlorine-free water
  • 1 gallon stainless steel pot (or any other non-cast iron or aluminum pot)
  • Colander (strainer)
  • Slotted spoon
  • Long knife
  • A deep desire for an exciting CHEESY adventure 

..........ladies and gentlemen start your engines..........

Get the milk & citric acid up to temp, add rennet mixture - easy peazy
If you're on the right path, this is what it looks like after sitting for 5 minutes and sliding a knife through.
Back on the heat - oooh, it's starting to look like cottage cheese, I think we're doing okay!

Removing the curds from the WHEY! Time for a hot water bath (not me...the cheese curds)
Pulling it like taffy - "hey this is fun"
Ladies and Gentlemen, we have CHEESE! Seriously, this worked the first time??!!!!
...and a little string cheese for the kiddo!


My chest is swelling just a tad with a sense of pride and accomplishment. I seriously made some delicious cheese on my first attempt - and with a little peanut in tow. The best part about this, is that none of this has to be over - this kit includes the ingredients for 29 more batches of cheese!!!

Just think, you can go buy one little log of mozzarella at the store for $6.00-7.00 bucks - or you can make 30 batches of your own for $24.95!

You can let your creativity take over, and shape the cheese into logs, a ball, braids, or even  bocconcini (those little balls that you toss with fresh herbs and olive oil).  I can see making some pretty fancy appetizer plates with your own HOMEMADE mozz cheese balls!

So, if it's a culinary challenge you're after (although I have to say, this was pretty easy to accomplish), or a fun activity to do with your kids, or even a way to get some bragging rights at your next mom's function, I'd seriously recommend heading over to The New England Cheesemaking Supply Company and picking up a kit for yourself.


and...........while you're at it......

Wait......there's more..........ENTER TO WIN your very own Cheesemaking Kit BELOW

   
~ GIVEAWAY ~

 (1) Ricki's Mozarella & Ricotta Kit from New England Cheesemaking Supply Company!
  • Click READ MORE > > > to complete Rafflecopter Entry Form
  • Giveaway open until 4/20/12 at 12:01 ET

*Disclosure: I was given a cheesemaking kit to facilitate this review. However, all opinions are 100% my own and were not influenced in any way by the complimentary product.


a Rafflecopter giveaway

61 comments :

  1. awww I dont see the entry form, or a clickable link.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hi lynaeve - thanks for your comment. Looks like the link was broken. All is fixed now. Good Luck!

      Delete
  2. I'm interested in the Deluxe Goat Cheese Set (K6, B11)
    Item #: G7
    klconn7 (at) yahoo (dot) com

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  3. I would choose the
    Ricki's Basic Cheese Making Kit

    tannawings at gmail dot com

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  4. I'm interested in the Deluxe Goat Cheese Set.

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  5. THe fresh french goat cheese kit looks great too!

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  6. I would pick the Mozzarella and Ricotta Kit. dwelchert@yahoo.com

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  7. mozz and ricotta kit
    jessicawedwards@gmail.com

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  8. i would like to try the homemade dairy kit.
    gloria4869@yahoo.com
    gloria4869

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  9. I think I'd like to try the Gourmet Home Dairy Kit because I love to eat all kinds of dairy products and it would be fun (and better for me) to make them myself! alicia.ebaugh at gmail dot com

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  10. 30 minute mozzarella and ricotta kit or the marscapone kit

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  11. Starter Special with Dvd, book, and Mozzarella kit

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  12. I'd like the Ricki's Basic Cheese Making Kit!

    Thanks,
    selinda_mccumbers at yahoo.com

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  13. I would like the deluxe basic cheese making set.

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  14. Would love to try the Mascarpone Kit!! grammypenny@frontier.com

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  15. I think I'd love to try the one you did - you make it look so easy! Otherwise probably the basic cheese making kit. Thanks for hosting!

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  16. I would choose the mozzarella and ricotta kit.

    rhoneygtn at yahoo dot com

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  17. Id love the Mascarpone kit.
    Thanks for the chance.
    mogrill12@gmail.com

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  18. I would like to try the mozzarella and ricotta kit.

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  19. I would like to win the Cheese Making Necessities

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  20. Definitely the Mozzarella and Ricotta Kit!

    Brandy Nelson

    girlforgotten81 at aol dot com

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  21. The Gourmet Home Dairy Kit looks fun, too!

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  22. I really want the mozzarella and ricotta kit, but if I were to pick another, it would be the Deluxe Basic Cheese Making Kit
    Danielle S
    royalegacy at gmail

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  23. The mascarpone kit - so I can make desserts just like Giada DeLaurentis.....
    tmyoung at rochester dot rr dot com

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  24. I would LOVE to try the
    Complete Home Cheese Making Set (jamiecasolariatyahoodotcom)

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  25. Mozzarella Kits by the Dozen
    marci-lyn@hotmail.com

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  26. I'd love the Ricki's Basic Cheese Making Kit - EIGHT different kinds of cheese! Yum!

    sksweeps (at) earthlink (dot) net

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  27. I would go with the basic cheese making kit. I am an extreme novice in the kitchen.

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  28. I would get the Delux Basic Cheese Making Kit

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  29. I want Deluxe Basic Cheese Making Set (K1, RW1 & BR12). I like to go whole hog when I start something

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  30. P.s. I love the no-comment-verification thing :)

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  31. Edward P.

    The 30 Minute Mozzarella & Ricotta Kit looks good.

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  32. MMM!!! cheesey goodness!! I love that mascarpone kit, as well as all of the mozzarella and ricotta kits! How can anyone choose just one, cheese is the best ever! thanks for this great giveaway!
    -Cassie
    butterykittens@yahoo.com
    http://www.dailydirtydiaper.blogspot.com

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  33. I want to try the Basic Cheese Making kit.
    bebemiqui82(at)yahoo(dot)com

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  34. I would like the Mozzarella and Ricotta Kit.

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  35. I'd also love to give their Gourmet Home Dairy Kit a try! I think making my own cream cheese would be so much fun! But I'm big on Mozzarella, and find it hard to find good quality products in stores. I'd love to make my own at home!

    coriwestphal at msn dot com

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  36. I would love the Ricki's Basic Cheese Making Kit!

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  37. I'd like that deluxe cheese making kit, though i'd probably be a mess in the kitchen with it..it would be fun trying!

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  38. I would like the Deluxe Basic Cheese Making Set (K1, RW1 & BR12.

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  39. I'd like to try the complete home cheese making kit. I've always wanted to make cheese, I hear it's easy!

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  40. i like the yummy one... Mozzarella and Ricotta Kit

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  41. Mozzarella and Ricotta Deluxe Set (K2, L3 & E15)

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  42. The Ricki's Cheese Making Duo sounds intriguing. Thanks!

    angiedkelly@gmail.com

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  43. Oh, my! It would be hard to choose between the Ricotta/Mozzarella Kit or the Deluxe Basic Cheese Making Kit; probably the mozz, because I could make mozz sticks for the kids to snack on :)

    Thanks for the chance to win!

    knittingandsundries(at)gmail(dot)com

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  44. This looks like a lot of fun. I think I could tackle a kit like this and involve my 3 and 5-year-old for part of it. :)

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  45. I'd like the Complete Home Cheese Making Set

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  46. I would like to win the basic cheesmaking kit. Good for a beginner!

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  47. I'd like to try the Mascarpone Kit.
    Jennifer Rote
    wildnmild4u at yahoo dot com

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  48. YUM! Mozzarella and ricotta making kit!

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  49. i'd choose the Complete Home Cheese Making Set (B1, K1 & K2)

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  50. I would get the Mozzarella and Ricotta Kit

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  51. I'm not sure the complete home cheesemaking looks great though.

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  52. I want to try the
    Ricki's Basic Cheese Making Kit

    cbstrat (at) gmail (dot) com

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  53. I would like the Complete Home Cheese Making Set. My husband makes his own ricotta at home sometimes (it is divine in homemade cannolis) but he hasn't tried making any other cheeses yet.

    the imagine tree at aol dot com

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  54. I would choose the Basic Cheese Making Kit

    vmkids3 at msn dot com

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  55. I would like the deluxe basic set.
    shawnac68@hotmail.com

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  56. I would choose the Deluxe Goat Cheese kit.

    ReplyDelete
  57. want to try the
    Ricki's Basic Cheese Making Kit

    ReplyDelete

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