Annatto is a natural dye which is collected from the pulp of the seeds of the achiote tree. The color is orange-red. It is used sometimes in cheese making to achieve an orange color. Throughout the year, the availability of green grasses for grazing fluctuates. Because of this, with some cheeses, a mark of quality […]
Archives: FAQs
Here are our most commonly asked questions and answers.
What is rennet?
Rennet is an enzyme that is used in cheese making to curdle milk. This reaction causes the proteins and water to break apart forming curds and whey. Rennet is traditionally derived from the stomach linings of ruminant animals such as cows, goats and lambs; but, there are various forms of vegetarian rennet.
Can I eat cheese if I am lactose intolerant?
We’ll you should first consult with your doctor to fully understand the severity of your inability to ingest cheese. If, in fact, you have a lactose allergy, you’ll want to avoid cheese and all dairy products completely. Allergic reactions can be serious and/or deadly. For those of you that have true lactose intolerance, there are […]
What is wine decanting?
Most people have seen wine poured from glass vessels, but probably never knew what it was called. Decanting is pouring wine from one bottle into a separate container. We generally do this because a decanter, or a glass container designed for decanting, does a better job at exposing the wine to oxygen. If you drink […]
How do you open a wine bottle with a broken cork?
Ugh, I hate when that happens. It’s really frustrating when you think you’re about to pull out that cork, only to strip out the center of a deteriorating cork. Luckily, there are a few methods that you can use to get at that wine. You can try: Screw method: If you found that you just […]
How do you make ricotta from whey?
Excellent question! Ricotta is a cheese that is traditionally made with whey. The following Ricotta cheese recipe instructs that you boil the whey to around 200 degrees fahrenheit and let it cool overnight, it will have broken down even more yielding Ricotta cheese. You will need the following: Leftover wheyThermometerCheesecloth or coffee filterLarge bowlStrainer My […]
Can cheese be frozen?
You can certainly freeze cheese, but it is important to remember that when you do so, the molecular structure of the cheese will change. Because of this, many people are strongly against freezing cheese as a means of storage. If you do not have a problem with sacrificing some taste, then by all means go […]
How should I store leftover cheese?
This is a really great question. It’s not as complicated as you might think, some things to consider: Never store cheese tightly wrapped in plastic. Remember that the cheese is a living thing, and this method of storage stops the cheese from breathing. The best method is to wrap the cheese in parchment or wax […]