Urban Cheesecraft

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Submit Your DIY Cheese Videos!

Posted on May 1, 2013 by urbancheesecraft in CHEESY ADVENTURES, Uncategorized

It’s spring and that always means new projects and new energy for me. It also means lots of farm fresh milk!

Wheatsville Co-op in Austin Texas made this video of themselves making our creamy goat cheese with some of their local milk- it’s adorable and instructional.
goat kit with cheese
When they shared it with me, it gave me an idea! Instead of adding more how-to videos to my ever-mounting list of projects, why don’t I just share the videos YOU make with my kits?!

So, I challenge you little cheesemakers. Make a good instructional video using any one of my cheese kits and send it in to me (contact page). If I post it, you will get a $20 credit in my Etsy shop. Don’t get your feelings hurt if I don’t post it. I just want to make sure that you are actually teaching people what they need to know, since I will ultimately be helping them with questions!

I will post the instructional videos in a special section of tutorials on my site, but I love troubleshooting videos, bloopers, outtakes, dirty faced kids and baby goats so send any and all video links and even photos for a different section. This is not a contest and there is no deadline. It will be ongoing until I think we’re covered.

I’d suggest posting your video on YouTube, Vimeo or similar. Then I can just link to it after you put it out into the world. Ok, go be a cheesemaker, teacher and a filmmaker! I can’t wait to see what you come up with, happy spring! Claudia

ps. if you don’t know where to find fresh milk, enter your state and city into www.realmilk.com and see if you have some nearby.

We’re back and ready for business! DIY Bread Cheese anyone?

Posted on January 10, 2013 by urbancheesecraft in CHEESY ADVENTURES, Uncategorized

Hi there, just a quick note to officially open back up after the nice, long, luxurious and restful winter break we took! I hope you had some fun and cozy times too.

Now that routines are getting back to normal, my thoughts turn to comforting, every day meals and of course, cheese. I was inspired when I saw an image somewhere of Bread Cheese, also known as Juustoleipä- ever heard of it? You can get the basics here plus some lovely images since I haven’t offered many!

Give it a go if it’s stocked near you but if it isn’t, I think you could use our Paneer recipe, add salt to taste and press the drained and almost cool cheese into a buttered cast iron skillet. Broil it until it browns a bit on the top. Allow to cool slightly, slice up and serve. Serve how you ask? Well, you could come up with some normal ways like with fruit and a warm potato leek soup or topped with pesto and alongside an arugula, pear salad…but if the cold weather is making you nutty, you could try dipping it in coffee as is traditionally done with Bread Cheese- this blogger puts all manner of weird and delicious looking things in coffee!

Have fun!

To Recap- So when your Paneer is still pliable but not runny at all, press the cool curds into the buttered cast iron skillet. If possible, allow to cool further in the fridge and firm up like you would Paneer normally. You can broil it as mentioned, or just toast it on the stove top and serve it upside down to show the crispy side. It will not melt, just get a crispy crust while remaining soft on the inside. I think the maple syrup or jam idea sounds amazing. Yum.

So while your paneer is still pliable, press in into the buttered cast iron skillet. You can broil it as mentioned, or just toast it on the stove top and serve it upside down to show the crispy side. It will not melt, just get a crispy crust while remaining soft on the inside. Yum.

On Winter Break and a Simple Holiday Recipe

Posted on December 19, 2012 by urbancheesecraft in CHEESY ADVENTURES, Uncategorized

We got our holiday orders out and now it’s time to catch up with every day life , our own holidays (oh yeah, WE have to get gifts for others too! Yikes!) and just enjoying winter. We got a brief dusting of snow but it was enough to remind me, solstice is here on Friday. I hope you enjoy a toasty fire and good company on that day and many more this winter!

If you get gift money for the holidays and want to get a cheese kit, come on by, we will open all shops back up on December 23 but we will not start shipping until January 9, 2013. Happy New Year, see you in 2013 with new cheese adventures to share!

A wholesome and comforting recipe to help you enjoy your fresh cheeses- this is great as an appetizer, dessert or brunch item.

Solstice Cheese Bake

Store it like cream cheese with or without herbs.

Oh the exciting things we can do with this fresh cheese!

Solstice Cheese Bake

You can use Ricotta/Farmers’ Cheese/Queso Fresco for this.

2 cups fresh cheese (unsalted or just a pinch of salt)
1/2 cup honey or preserves of your choice (pear or apricot are good)
1/4 cup toasted slivered almonds, chopped walnuts or pecans

1. Mix half of the honey or preserves into your cheese and mix til smooth and creamy. You can get fancy and add anise seeds, orange zest etc. for more complex flavor.

2. Put the mix into a ramekin or other dish that you can bake. Broil the cheese just until you see a little hint of color on top.

3. Drizzle the rest of the honey or preserves on top of the warm cheese, sprinkle with the nuts and serve. If you do not use preserves, you can also sprinkle with dried cranberries, currants or even dark chocolate shavings for more festive flair!

You can spoon this cheesy goodness onto waffles or pancakes or serve with shortbread or other simple cookies or fruit. I wish I had a photo of the finished product for you but it never lasts! Happy Winter.

Sorry, No More Holiday Orders- Back in a Few Days!

Posted on December 17, 2012 by urbancheesecraft in CHEESY ADVENTURES

Hi! Just a quick note to let you know that I have had to pause all sales in order to fill orders and ship to all of you wonderful customers promptly. I am not able to accept any more orders for the holidays. The shop will go live again on Dec. 23rd but I will start shipping those orders on January 9, 2013. Use that gift cash ! I will begin to respond to messages on January 2, 2013.

HUGE thanks for your support all year, I hope you have some cheesy good times very soon, Claudia

cheesemaking party

SALE PAUSE- December 16- December 22

SHOP KEEPER’S BREAK- December 22-JANUARY 2

MUST HAVE A KIT BEFORE JANUARY? TRY YOUR LOCAL WILLIAMS-SONOMA STORE FOR KITS I CREATED FOR THEM:

http://www.williams-sonoma.com/search/results.html?N=4294964793&words=cheese+kit

Paneer is the New Grilled Cheese

Posted on August 22, 2012 by urbancheesecraft in CHEESY ADVENTURES, Uncategorized

Why not try Paneer for you next grilling adventure? It won’t melt as you might assume, that’s why you can find it in curries and other hot dishes, it just soaks up flavor and gets soft. On the grill, a whole other delicious thing happens…

Check out Ivy Manning’s piece in the Oregonian’s Foodday section for more info. and a yummy recipe for grilled Paneer and Veggie Kebabs.

Of course, you and I know you can make your own Paneer from scritchity scratch, so get our recipe now and have these kebabs for dinner- if you want to inspire someone else, you can always get them a kit as a gift, enjoy!

My Creative Customers Are Way Ahead Of Me!

Posted on August 9, 2012 by urbancheesecraft in CHEESY ADVENTURES, Uncategorized

With our first week of 80-90 degree weather (102 one day!) in Portland, Oregon., I was just getting used to the idea of it being summer and today, an awesome customer reminded me that autumn is not far. She used one of our goat cheese kits to re-create an artisanal cranberry cinnnamon goat cheese that her family enjoyed but had trouble finding.

That’s just one of the reasons why making your own cheese is so cool! You can create any flavor combo you crave or come up with and you can find inspiration all around…what interesting combinations have you come up with? As always, have fun playing with your food, Claudia

Don’t these flavors and photos make you look forward to fall?! YUM Check out Melissa’s Blog WhimsiCali.

Here she is, adding that seasonal goodness to her homemade goat cheese! Preeeety. This is her photo btw.

Etsy made a short documentary about my cheese kits!

Posted on July 19, 2011 by urbancheesecraft in CHEESY ADVENTURES, Press, Uncategorized

Hi everyone. I’m so happy to tell you that my business was chosen for an Etsy film. Not sure how well-known these films are but they are really inspiring and artistic. All are posted on the same Vimeo channel. The Etsy team clearly has a love for making good films and telling stories. This is not just a commercial- it really conveys my interest and beginnings in cheesemaking as well as the larger part it plays in my life. I’m very proud to be a part of this film project.

Eric and Dan followed me for a couple of days; we went to the Montavilla Farmer’s Market, one of my classes and my friends’ Linda and Mike’s goat milk farm (Terra Farma) where I got the pleasure of bottle feeding a baby goat!

Hope you enjoy the film. Claudia

DIY Cheese Kits on Daily Grommet- inventions, innovative products, good gifts…

Posted on April 13, 2011 by urbancheesecraft in CHEESY ADVENTURES, Press, Uncategorized

Update- the VIDEO reviewing my kits is out. Watch me be nervous and blink way too much! This is what happens when you make things after work, late at night! Ha. They did a good job and even made cheese though!

I’m excited to share some great news: Friday 4/15, beginning at noon (EST), 9am for us west coast folks, and running throughout the weekend, Daily Grommet (http://www.dailygrommet.com) will feature our DIY Cheese Kits! Daily Grommet is a new company with a mission to find unique products and share their stories through video, blog, and an active community discussion.

I hope you’ll take a moment to stop by DailyGrommet.com when our kits are being featured. It would be wonderful to hear your thoughts, reflections, and feedback and to add them to the conversation – it’s really easy to leave a comment in the “Talk about this Grommet” section. And if you want to make sure you don’t miss our feature, just sign up for the daily email from Daily Grommet.

After our time on the Daily Grommet homepage, you can still find our DIY Cheese Kits under “Recent Grommets” or within the shopping categories. Feel free to comment there – Daily Grommet customers often search through this area of past Grommets looking for great gift ideas and special treats for themselves!

Thanks so much for your support and we hope to see you at Daily Grommet! (I’ll be there commenting as well.) Claudia

New Home Dairy book and we’re in it!

Posted on April 4, 2011 by urbancheesecraft in CHEESY ADVENTURES, Press, Uncategorized

It’s a new book on making cheese and Urban Cheesecraft is profiled in it! The photos are beautiful, the recipes useful and the tips great even for me, consumer of every cheese book out there. Get it folks!

Powell’s Books

Amazon

Barnes and Noble

Do you HEART cheese? Or at least cheesy post titles?

Posted on February 7, 2011 by urbancheesecraft in CHEESY ADVENTURES, Uncategorized

February, the month of love…chocolates, roses, champagne- who doesn’t like those things? But imagine if someone made you herbed chevre or some creamy ricotta in the shape of a heart? Now that’s a unique treat! I think what you need for your sweetheart (to be?) is a cheese kit and/or some heart shaped cheese!

Don’t have a heart-shaped cheese mold? Use a heart-shaped cookie cutter or muffin tin! Simply follow one of my recipes, drain most of the whey out in a colander and press your salted cheese into the heart and coat with herbs after you pop it out. LOVELY.

Find the kits around Portland, OR at New Season’s, Whole Foods (Washington too), Urban Farm Store, Mirador, Alberta Co-op, the Powell’s gift section and more! Request the heart mold and they should be able to get it from me (though maybe not fast enough for the holiday).

I can also mail a kit AND heart mold straight to you or your beloved (family members count). Order by Wednesday night and you’ll have it right on Valentine’s Day (we send by 2-3 day Priority Mail so we can only promise so much, after that, the U.S. Post Office is to blame ).

Have a love-filled month!

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