Raw Milk and Cheese!

I wanted to pass along some info about Applehurst Farm in Epping, NH which sells raw milk, cheese, and yogurt. Info from Craigslist:

Raw Milk for sale (also cheddar cheese and yogurt)
Epping, NH
38 Nottingham Sq. Rd. (4 mins from downtown Epping)

679- 5023
Phyllis Harvey

And Granola Mom has a review of visiting their farm. I can't wait to visit myself and enjoy some local cheese!

Enjoy!

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English Muffin Bread

I don't know the real name for this bread, but I think the name I gave it suits it just fine! It's from Ricki Carroll's Home Cheese Making book. This bread is a great way to utilize some of the whey leftover from making your own cheese. It's tasty as a table bread and it freezes quite well. The way this recipe reads yields four loaves, but I think it could more than easily be halved. It's quite a hefty dough to mix with 12 total cups of flour so halving it may be an easier way to go. Ok without further ado, here's the recipe!

English Muffin Bread

2 T sugar
1 1/3 c warm water
4 packages or 4T active dry yeast
Cornmeal for sprinkling
12 cups sifted all-purpose flour
1/2 T baking soda
4 c whey or milk
4 T salt

Preheat the oven to 400 degrees.

1. Dissolve the sugar into the water
2. Pour the yeast into a large bowl. Add the sugar water and let sit 10 minutes.
3. Meanwhile, grease four loaf pans and dust with cornmeal.
4. In another large bowl combine 6 cups of flour and baking soda.
5. In medium sized saucepan, combine the whey and salt and warm until just lukewarm.
6. Pour the whey into the yeast mixture and stir to combine.
7. Pour the whey/yeast mixture into the dry ingredients and stir.
8. Add the remaining flour and combine (This will take a few minutes as it makes a very stiff dry batter. Keep stirring until all the flour is absorbed.)
9. Spread the batter into the prepared loaf pans and press flat. Sprinkle the tops with cornmeal. 10. Let rise in a warm space until center is 1 1/2 inches above the rim of the pan.
11. Bake for 30 minutes

It's a fairly easy bread to make though a bit heavy on the dishes (I hate the cleanup bit). But being able to freeze the loaves for later use is a big plus. You can take out a loaf the night before and it's ready for breakfast the next morning. Enjoy!

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Whey Cool Giveaway!

Welcome to the May Day Giveaways brought to you by the New England Bloggers.

I am excited to be giving away a 30 Minute Mozzerella and Ricotta Cheese Kit. All you need to provide is the 30 minutes of effort and a gallon of milk! You also get a bunch of whey left over after the cheese is made. You can make bread, pizza dough or soup with the whey.

Here are a few pictures of my first time making mozzarella. I made the final product into Bocconcini (little mouthfuls). I tossed the little mozzarella balls in olive oil, parsley, and garlic. Delicious!

Here's how the giveaway works:

1. Giveaway will close May 1st at 12 pm EST. Winner will be announced May 2nd.
2. This giveaway is only open to residents of the United States who are 18 years of age or older.
3. You get one entry for simply commenting on this post.
4. You'll get a second entry if you subscribe to my FREE newsletter and make another comment stating that you subscribed. If you already subscribe, leave a comment telling me you're already a subscriber.
5. And to sweeten the deal, you'll get a one last entry for blogging about this contest on your blog. Use this button on your blog post if you like. Leave me a comment with the link to your post regarding my giveaway.
Be sure to check out the other participating blogs for more great giveaways!

Art from the Heart - Catherine in ME
Basia-Spirit Space - Barbara in MA
The Book Kitten - Kitten in CT
Fabric 'N Fiber Fanatic - Sara in NH
Life, as it is... - Tara in MA
Loving Mom 2 Boys - Liz in RI
My Secret Garden - Sue in MA
Penny's Art Room - Penny in ME
Penny-Wise People - Colleen in NH
Raise Your Hand If... - Carol in MA
Seriously, No Seriously - Michelle
Thoughts from an Evil Overlord - Elizabeth in MA

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Raw milk, farmer's cheese and fresh yogurt, OH MY!

One of my first missions was to find some local raw milk. I've done a bunch of reading about allergies and I really felt this was the best option for our daughter. I will go into this more later, but I wanted to share my trip to Brookford Farm in Rollinsford, NH.

At the farm they have organic eggs, pasteurized yogurt, farmer's cheese, raw milk, cream and they even have a selection of grass-finished meat!

The farm store works off the honor system and when you first stop by you'll need to put down a deposit for the lovely glass bottles they supply. For instance, the raw milk is $4 per half gallon. The deposit on the bottle is $2.50 per half gallon bottle. So prepare to go in with at least $6.50 on your first visit! Every time after that, so long as you return your clean glass bottle, you can pick up another half gallon of this lovely milk. I know you really can't tell from the picture, but in the milk jar, from the top of the "LL" on Ball, to the lid, that's all cream!

My kids love it so far, and my daughter hasn't stopped asking for it! It hasn't been long enough to report back on any behavior or health changes, but I and the kids find it tasty. Dear husband on the other hand is still adjusting! Isn't that how all men are? Slow to adjust!

Well that's all for tonight, there will definitely be more to come..... Have a nice day!

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