For The Love of Cheese

I’ve decided that 2013 will be a year of learning. Taking as many classes as I can, reading as much as possible, doing as much as possible, 2013 is a year that will be dedicated to taking advantage of the life that I have.  (And learning French.  If I write it down, it will happen!)

So far, I’m on a pretty good roll. Despite a somewhat dubious beginning to this year (ahem, being knocked out by a horrific sinus infection for nearly two weeks!) things are starting to pick up a bit. I’ve taken a tango class, had a fantastic day of Inaugurating President Obama, and I’m also getting into the ancient and delicious art of cheesemaking.

Oh yes, Vagabonds. Oh, yes. We are taking The Vagabond Table to new and adventurous and dizzying heights this year! Are you excited yet??

I think I’ve talked about my love of cheese before. Anyone who knows me knows how much I love cheese. How much I love mac and cheese, cheese and crackers, cheese on toast, cheese and apples, cheese in pie crusts…basically if I can put cheese into something, I will. And now, with this fantastic cheesemaking kit that my equally fantastic sister gave me for Christmas…I can make mozzarella. Fresh, delicious, mozzarella whenever I feel like it, and it is so easy. 

I wish I had a recipe to give you, but instead I have a kit that I can’t recommend enough, which I hope will suffice for now. 

 

(If you’d like to make cheese (or butter!) Visit the Roaring Brook Dairy website and delve into this with me.  I promise you won’t be disappointed.)

Armed with a pound of mozzarella, I gave half  to my friend Caitlin and we promptly made a pizza and ate the whole thing.  I later made a delicious tomato, mozzarella, and basil salad with some surprisingly ripe tomatoes from the grocer. 

 

Two days after that, I stuffed all of those same ingredients in a crusty loaf of bread and had a great sandwich.  There are just so many things to do with fresh mozzarella! I can’t even comprehend all of my options right now, but trust that they are delicious.

 

Here's to 2013, Vagabonds!  Forgive the absence…I’ve been traveling, my computer died, and I now have no internet at home.  But never fear. Whoever let a few setbacks throw them off their game? Pssssh.  Challenge: Accepted!