Goat Cheese Fresh from an Epic Procrastinator...

I am the ultimate procrastinator. Just ask my mother and my husbands unmatched sock pile. I spent most of my early twenties scorning myself for this trait and trying to work against my natural grain. Motherhood and a dose of some serious love taught me to just relax and enjoy myself. I have finally embraced that I'm really good at starting things but not so awesome at that finishing part. However, I have figured out that when the moment finally does strike, to just go for it!

I have been itching to make some homemade goat cheese for months. I had been researching some ways to curdle the milk without chemicals by using some lemon juice or vinegar for a while now. I had sourced the goats milk during a Maine winter which was probably the hardest part, yet I hadn't found the time...

Today I put Dahlia down for a nap, and saw the quart of goats milk in the fridge...judging me for my endless procrastination. I gathered the few ingredients and went to town... until the goats came home...

Ingredients

A. One quart of Goats Milk ( I used ultra-pasteurized as its easier to find this time of year but obviously I would have enjoyed some fresh local goats milk more)

B. Juice of two lemons (I used two and a half for the curdle process)

C. Salt and other fresh herbs and seasonings ( Dill and cracked pepper for this round)

Supplies

A. Colander with three layers of Cheese Cloth set over a deep mixing bowl

B. Thermometer (I used a candy thermometer but an instant would probably be best)

Instructions

1. Prepare your colander and juice your lemons; set aside

2. Heat the Goats Milk to 180 degrees and remove from heat

3. Stir in the lemon juice and let stand for 30 seconds (add more lemon juice if necessary to separate, it will look like there is a thin oil in the milk)

4. Pour the milk over the colander lined with cheese cloth

5. Drain for two minutes and then tie four corners around a wooden spoon

6. Hang to drip dry for about an hour or two; you are looking for the consistency of cottage cheese. I hung mine and waited until it looked and felt like a creamy goat cheese; about and hour and forty five minutes.



7. Place the cheese in bowl and spice it up!



Here are some Cheese making Resources via the World Wide Wonderful Web

Martha Goat Cheese

Vinegar Curdled Goat Cheese

Etsy...you are a special kind of girl...

Etsy.com needs no introduction, especially if you are reading this Blog. However, here is a great article link from Readers Digest on Etsy Creator, Rob Kalin. It really illustrates just how ready the interweb was for an artists marketplace.
Readers Digest Article on Etsy Creator

I think that a persons Etsy shop preferences say a lot about them and I have compiled a few of mine.... so without further adieu...


RubyLemons
I am a sucker for Milk Glass, I cannot tell a lie. It is at times consuming. I love the shiny hobnail details and the 'Grandma like' sensibility of it all. This store is the spot for vintage glassware lovers like myself. Vintage aqua Pyrex? I needn't say more.

MonsterTime
It's no secret, I don't do the whole cat thing. People whom I know and love do, it's cool. There is a few reasons why I might have a cat; This Etsy site is one of them. The bright, eye catching, organic cat-nip filled toys are irresistible. I kind of wish I could buy one for Dahlia, but I'm not sure if shes into the nip, she better not be yet anyways. She's also not a cat.

koalachickens
Garden or terrarium adornment, Plant 'Vessels', bird figurines...the list of what you will find inside this shop goes on. In fact, I received a little Herb garden for a Birthday with an item from KoalaChickens keeping my thyme company. Word on the street is that this shop is introducing all new items for Spring...awesome.

Purplebean Bindery
Fascinating and well made books are in abundance here! I stop by this shop periodically to check out the colors, fine paper, and unique bindings. I have dabbled in book binding myself but never like this. It's awe inspiring to say the least.

SuspectShoppe
Whimsical prints that often involve elephants. This shop is a must for the modern nursery or the casual and creative workroom. These prints have a collaged fairytale type theme and I can't get enough; the elephants don't hurt the appeal for me either.

laurrose
Romantic and saucy jewelry is in abundance in this all time Etsy Fav of mine. I plot my mothers day, Birthday, Christmas, and Anniversary gifts here. Jadeite, Quartz, Adventurine, OH MY!

Yvette Inufio Photography
I stumbled upon this shop on a whim. I was pouring over a favorite Blog House Of Turquoise
and I saw these striking photos and immediately went to the Etsy Shop. The photos all have different personalities, some are a bit too pink for me but as I have stated before...I don't Judge.



Share your Favorite Etsy Shops in Comments!!

"One" is the Happiest Number...

On a Saturday in February we welcomed Dahlia's first birthday with some family and friends. It was a whirl of pinkness, shiny cupcake printed gift bags, hearts, hats, and a birthday crown.

I made the cake from scratch and it was a heavy vanilla pound cake of sorts. Amazingness. I have included the cake's concoction plan at the bottom. It is a must have at your next soiree.

The presents were plentiful and the love was palpable. She made her rounds to all of her guests in her pink monkey birthday crown from a favorite Etsy Store of mine.
http://www.etsy.com/shop/drfeltgood
My mother found this crown and knew that Dahlia had to have it. It is a fantastic Etsy store that really can give you a fresh take on the "old girl scout craft material" AKA... Felt. I have another Etsy store that uses felt in new and awesome ways but I will save that for my Etsy Fav's post.




Amidst the plethora of gifts I had tucked in a hat that I had been working on for her. A friend of mine is a fiber artist (whatever that really means I'm not entirely sure) and had given me a small sample of her wares. I was quite pleased with the wild and fuzzy stripe of hand dyed and hand spun texture. It contrasted the polished fingerling weight yarn that the remainder of the beanie was comprised of nicely.

Here's the link to this super simple toddler sized hat... link is half way down the page, click next to pattern...I used this pattern for the detailed fit instructions but obviously did not choose a self striping yarn.
http://www.twistedknitter.prettyposies.com/2008/11/selfstriping_hat.html

Dahlia-Ahlia's-Magic Cake Concoction

(Quick!! Put that Betty Crocker Crap Down!)

Ingredients

• 2 cups sugar the white and yummy kind
  
• 4 eggs Fresh room temp.
  
• 2-1/2 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 cup milk( Not skim...how dare you!)
  
• 3/4 cup vegetable oil
• 2-1/4 teaspoons baking powder
• 1 teaspoon vanilla
  

Cooking Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (180 degrees C). Line two 9-inch (23-cm) round cake pans or one 9x13-inch (23 x 33 cm) rectangular baking pan with parchment paper. Grease the paper and the sides of the pan well.
2. In a large mixing bowl, with an electric mixer, beat sugar and eggs together until slightly thickened, about 1 minute. Add flour, milk, oil, baking powder, and vanilla and beat for another minute, just until the batter is smooth and creamy. Don't overbeat. Pour batter into the prepared baking pan(s).
3. Bake in preheated oven for 30 to 40 minutes or until the tops are golden and a toothpick poked into the center of the layer comes out clean. (A single rectangular pan will take longer to bake than two round ones.) Loosen the sides of the cake from the pan with a thin knife, then turn out onto a rack and peel off the paper. Let cool completely before covering with frosting, if desired.

Servings: Two 9-inch (23-cm) round layers, or one 9- x 13-inch (23 x 33 cm) rectangular cake.

I doubled this recipe and had enough to make the double layered cake and 12 cupcakes. Choose your own favorite icing. I would recommend going with anything except a light whipped cream icing as it doesn't have enough body to stand up to the dense cake.