Cottage Cheese

Recipe By: Dr. David Fankhauser, for Redco Foods
Start to Finish: 18 hours


Ingredients:

1/4 rennet tablet
1/2 cup water
1 gallon skim milk
1/4 cup buttermilk
1 teaspoon salt
1/3 cup cream

Directions: 

1. Dissolve rennet tablet in water by crushing.
2. Set aside.
3. In a large saucepan, heat skim milk to 70º F.
4. Stir in buttermilk and rennet tablet solution, mixing well.
5. Cover with towel and let stand at room temperature 12 to 18 hours until firm curd forms. (To test for a firm curd, remove a milk sample at a point near the edge of the saucepan with a spoon. The curd is ready to cut when the coagulated milk sample holds its shape and the edges are sharply defined.)
6. Cut curd into 1/2-inch long pieces using a long knife.
7. Heat curd slowly over hot water until temperature reaches 110ºF.
8. Hold curd at that temperature for 20 to 30 minutes, stirring at 5-minute intervals to heat curd uniformly.
9. Pour mixture onto the fine cheesecloth in a colander and drain off whey.
10. After whey has drained 2 to 3 minutes, lift curd in cheesecloth and immerse in pan of cold water for 1 to 2 minutes, stirring and pressing with a spoon.
11. Then immerse in ice water for 1 to 2 minutes.
12. Drain the curd until it is free from whey and place in a large bowl.
13. Add salt and cream and mix thoroughly.
14. Chill.