The
Joy of Cheesemaking (Skyhorse Publishing, 2011), by Jody M. Farnham and Marc
Druart, offers easy-to-understand instructions for how to make cheese.
Beautifully illustrated with gorgeous photographs, this comprehensive guide
includes a basic overview of cheese manufacturing and aging, from the raw
ingredients to the final product. The clear guidance and convenient glossary
allow the reader to learn all about cheese, from creating to choosing it, as
well as pairing it with the right wines. The following excerpt comes from
chapter 2, “Milk Composition and Seasonality.”
You can purchase this book at the GRIT store: The Joy of Cheesemaking.
More from The Joy of
Cheesemaking:
To ward off the winter
blues, try making this savory, rich potato dish with your favorite local Blue
cheese. Ours is from the family farm of Bonnieview in the heart of Vermont’s lush Green Mountains.
The layered look of a tower of cheesy goodness can be achieved by cutting the
cooled potatoes with a baker’s biscuit cutter. Serves 8-10
Mossend Blue Cheese Scalloped Potatoes Recipe
3 lbs Yukon Gold potatoes,
peeled and thinly sliced
1 1/2 C heavy cream
1 C whole milk
3 T flour
6 oz crumbled Blue cheese
(Mossend Blue)
2 tsp kosher salt
1 T ground black pepper
4-5 sprigs of fresh thyme
Preheat oven to 350°F.
Butter bottom of a 12×16
baking dish (brownie or lasagna size).
Combine cream, milk, flour,
salt, and pepper in a large bowl, mixing well. Add potato slices and mix well.
Let soak for 12-15 minutes.
Layer the potato slices in
the baking pan, placing crumbled Blue cheese between layers. Pour cream mixture
over potatoes; push down so potatoes are all covered with sauce. Cover with
aluminum foil,
Place in oven and bake,
approx. 1 hour or until the potatoes are tender when pierced with a knife.
Uncover pan and
approximately cook about 15 minutes longer until potatoes are allow to brown.
Cool for at least 1 hour
before cutting into squares. Optional cut; use a round biscuit cutter for a
mini potato tower (as seen in the Image Gallery).
Reheat just before serving.
Recommended wine pairing
You will likely be serving
this dish with the red meat of your choice, so a Cabernet Sauvignon would be a
delightful choice.
Cabs range from
medium-bodied to full-bodied and are characterized by their high tannin
content, which serves to provide structure and will stand up well to this rich
potato dish. Try a McManis Family Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon 2005.
Cider decider
Hard apple cider has
balanced flavors and substantial complexity. A perfect trifecta of sweetness,
acidity, and tannin characteristics, needed to balance the fats in this cheesy
dish.
The drink is full-bodied, so
it isn’t overpowered by the cream and Blue cheese. Try Woodchuck Draft Cider (Middlebury, Vermont),
Farnum Hill Ciders (New Hampshire), or Wyder’s Cider (Northern California).
This excerpt has been
reprinted with permission from The Joy of
Cheesemaking: The Ultimate Guide to Understanding, Making, and Eating Fine
Cheese, published by Skyhorse Publishing,
2011. Buy this book from our store: The Joy of Cheesemaking.
