Say Cheese!

I went to my first cheese making class Friday - mozzarella.  This takes care of one of my top ten for summer list items!  I will have to say right off the bat that there will be no pictures....sorry.  I took my camera but decided to just be in the moment and enjoy without worrying about taking pictures to capture every move.  

The class was taught by Debbie who just happens to be the wife of one of the engineers I work with.   She actually did a cheese internship in Italy.   Can you imagine how fun that would be?   I remember when she went and thought it was odd and wondered what she would do with the experience once she returned -well now I know.  The class was small about 12 people and we were divided into groups of two.   Debbie did a short introduction about herself and then had us go around the room and tell our names and why we were there.   It was mostly women with two men.   My partner was Jenny and she  was super nice but a tad interesting.   She didn't have a microwave and didn't seem to be married as her roommate had just moved out - and he had taken the coffee grounder.   She did however have a huge dog that she had gotten the DNA testing back on but had not had time to open it.   This I don't understand - how could you go to all the trouble to send in the testing and then not look when it came back - people are funny for me.  Since Jenny didn't have a microwave we did a different method on the finishing part of the cheese than the rest of the class.  The rest of the class used the microwave once the curd had formed.   We heated our whey back to 175 degrees and used it instead to "cook" the whey.   It made the cheese a different consistency then the others - not good or bad just different.   I think that this method would get easier the more you did it as well.  The microwave approach was more straight forward and you were able to do all the curd at once so you didn't have to handle it as much. 

Overall it's amazing to me how simple and easy it is to make mozzarella.   Definitely a good party trick and hope to do it for my next dinner party.  It is a task for two however - doing it by yourself might be a little challenging.  Debbie also sent us home with citric acid and rennet tablet so all you need is the milk and your off and running.

Debbie has a website found here that list her class schedule.  I would totally recommend taking one of her classes.  They are fun to go to with friends or totally doable to do by yourself and meet new people.  She also does parties so you could do a cheese making birthday party - would be kinda fun!  The classes are taught in the Mississippi area of Portland at Mr. Green Beans and they have other fun classes as well which are probably worth checking out.  Side note - there is a frozen yogurt shop next door and  couple of cute restaurants so it would be fun to go to a class and then dinner after.

Rise Up!

So another thing on my top ten for summer was to make homemade bread.   Check this one off as done!   Granted this was not exactly what I thought I would be doing when I wrote that one but it will work.  I found it on 101 Cookbook Blog (which I love).

The recipe....also found here

One of the many things I love about the iPad is being able to view recipes in on it.

 The Ingredients -

goodness I must pay more attention to my "background" when I take pictures.   However love it that all ingredients are local (well besides the Red Star)

 Ready to rise

 Damp cloth

 Finished product

This was so easy its silly.  I might actually make a loaf of this every week.   It's what I like to call a hearty bread.  G said he would like his slice a little thinner next time which was funny for me.  But it is perfect in the morning warmed or toasted with a little piece of cheddar.  G took his with butter and jam but I like a little protein in the am.   All in all count this one down as a success!   This inspires me to explore the world of bread making -wish me luck.

Dilly Do!

One thing that I do every other summer is make dill pickles.   This is the on year.   Being that summer is late so are the vegetables (usually I would make these mid July - not the end of July).  Also, on my top ten summer list is canning something.  So in case I don't have the time to make tomatoe jam this definetly counts!

The cucumbers

 The dill

The jars

 The other ingrediants

 My "helper"

 The process

The finished product

The Recipe

Cut the blossom end off of the cucumbers (I trim both ends) Pack cukes in jars with dill weed, dill seed, and garlic.  You can also add grape leaves and picling spice but I don't.

Pour over this HOT liquid

1 cup vinegar

3 cups water

1/4 cup pckle salt

Be sure everything is hot!  Your jar, your rings and your lids.  However don't let you lids boil as this can affect the seal. 

You don't need a water bath on these if your liquid is hot and your jars and rings are hot.  Everything should seal just fine - listen for the magical PING.

I do this in batches.  I double the liquid and do about 4 quarts or 6 pints at a time. 

You will notice there is no exacts for the garlic or dill weed or seed because it's personal choice.  I put in a good amount of all three but its totally up to you how much you do.

This is Ada Irene (my grandma's) recipe and I think she was actually with me in the kitchen this year helping me along and laughing at me but then again I feel her with me a lot these days when I'm doing these kinds of things.

Also, you can't eat these babies right away.  I say it's always best to wait until Thanksgiving but truth be told we probably won't get to these until next spring.  However the pints.....those are for presents so if you have me to dinner at your house or you mention that you might want to try some I might be so inclined to give you a jar.



The Island

Last summer we went to Whidbey Island.  Not sure why but it seemed close enough that you could drive there and I could be by the water and try something new.   We had a wonderful time and have always wanted to go back.....and so we did.  However, this time instead of staying in an Inn we stayed in a little cottage and took the furry one.   Let's just say that we can't wait to go back again next year.   And we hope to go to the same place but stay for a week instead of 3 nights.   I guess that means we had a good time.......

The Cottage........
......was wonderful!

The View
The sunrises were amazing!   And when it was clear you could see all the way across the Saratoga Passage to the Cascades.  

The Food, The Drink, & Langley
We ate at some wonderful places!  
Homemade chicken noodle soup and salad at Pickles and the bread was wonderful as well.  Will be a new go-to on the island for us.

Tasting room in Langley for Ott & Murphy

 

 No vacation is complete without my Skinny Girl

Prima bistro is probably one of my favorite restaurants.   Had some amazing clams and G had the smores dessert which we had last year as well.

  

 This is the wonderful apple sausage corn chowder from The Braeburn in Langley.  I had a caprese sandwich to go with and it was all wonderful.

The Deck......

.....was perfect for reading, relaxing, and playing cards. 

The Beach.....

.....was serene.   I collected some fun rocks and beautiful shells to take back as a little slice of the island.  Also, found a walking stick that I had to take home.   Also accomplished one of my top ten!  I know it says ocean and technically this is the sound but I think it all counts.

The Ferry......

.....is part of the adventure.   Just a quick 20 minute ride across the sound.   It was so windy on the way over you couldn't go outside without your sunglasses getting blown off but on the way back it was more peaceful.

The Golf.....

.....you didn't really think we would go on vacation without some form of golf being mentioned did you?

This is what the refer to as pasture golf.  This place was too funny for words.  We didn't play because the day we drove out there the weather was less than ideal but I think the pictures are worth thousands of words.

Island Greeens

The Wildlife.....

.....drove the furry one insane.   She learned a new word on this trip "bunny".  

And last but not least.....if you are looking for a vacation home word on the streets is this one is going for a good deal.   Was right next door to us so you know it has a great view.  Just needs a little TLC.....