Black Pepper Buttermilk Fresh Cheese Recipes

BUTTERMILK FRESH CHEESE

Steps:

• Cut out three pieces of cheesecloth into 12-inch squares. Line a colander or medium strainer with all three layers of cheesecloth. Set colander in sink.
• Combine milk, buttermilk, and salt in a large heavy-bottomed saucepan, and heat over medium-high heat until mixture has separated into white curds and translucent whey, about 8 minutes. If using lowfat buttermilk, separation occurs at about 180 degrees and the curds will clump together readily. If using whole buttermilk, separation occurs closer to the boiling point, about 212 degrees, and the curds are finer-grained. When using whole buttermilk, let curds and whey stand off heat for about 3 minutes after separation, so the curds cling together and facilitate the straining step.)
• Ladle the contents of the saucepan into the prepared colander. Let the whey drain, 1 to 2 minutes. Lift the four corners of the cheesecloth and gather them together. Gently twist the gathered cloth over the cheese and press out any excess whey.
• Cheese can be unwrapped immediately and served warm, or let stand until cooled to room temperature, about 10 minutes more. To serve a firmer cheese, transfer cheese, in its cloth, to a small flat-bottomed dish or pie plate; refrigerate until cool, about 10 minutes. Unwrap cheese and gently invert onto plate; discard cloth. Tent cheese with plastic wrap and keep refrigerated up to 2 days. Remove from refrigerator and let stand for 10 minutes at room temperature before serving.

BLACK PEPPER-BASIL FARMER'S CHEESE BRUSCHETTA WITH TOMATO

Steps:

• Place cheese, basil, and lemon zest in a food processor and process until smooth. Add 1 teaspoon salt and 1/2 teaspoon pepper and pulse 2 times to incorporate.
• Heat grill to high. Brush bread with olive oil, season with salt and pepper, and rub with garlic cloves. Grill bread on each side for 1 minute or until slightly charred. Spread each slice with some of the farmer's cheese mixture and top with tomato and more cracked black pepper.

BLACK PEPPER GRAVY

Steps:

• Pour milk into a microwave-safe container and heat in a microwave oven until warm, about 2 minutes.
• Melt margarine in a saucepan over medium heat. Whisk in flour and continue cooking until the mixture bubbles, about 5 minutes. Pour milk into the saucepan slowly while whisking. Cook and whisk until the mixture begins to thicken, about 3 minutes. Add salt and pepper. Continue whisking until the gravy comes to a boil, about 3 minutes more. Remove from heat.

BLACK PEPPER BUTTERMILK FRESH CHEESE

Steps:

• Cut out three pieces of cheesecloth into 12-inch squares. Line a colander or medium strainer with all three layers of cheesecloth. Set colander in sink.
• Combine milk, buttermilk, salt, and pepper in a large heavy-bottomed saucepan, and heat over medium-high heat until mixture has separated into white curds and translucent whey, about 8 minutes. If using lowfat buttermilk, separation occurs at about 180 degrees and the curds will clump together readily. If using whole buttermilk, separation occurs closer to the boiling point, about 212 degrees, and the curds are finer-grained. When using whole buttermilk, let curds and whey stand off heat for about 3 minutes after separation, so the curds cling together and facilitate the straining step.
• Ladle the contents of the saucepan into the prepared colander. Let the whey drain, 1 to 2 minutes. Lift the four corners of the cheesecloth and gather them together. Gently twist the gathered cloth over the cheese and press out any excess whey.
• Cheese can be unwrapped immediately and served warm, or let stand until cooled to room temperature, about 10 minutes more. To serve a firmer cheese, transfer cheese, in its cloth, to a small flat bottomed dish or pie plate; refrigerate until cool, about 10 minutes. Unwrap cheese and gently invert onto plate; discard cloth. Tent cheese with plastic wrap and keep refrigerated up to 2 days. Remove from refrigerator and let stand for 10 minutes at room temperature before serving.

GRUYèRE AND BLACK PEPPER SCONES

Steps:

• Set a rack in the center of the oven and heat the oven to 400 degrees. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
• In a large bowl, add the flour, sugar, baking powder, black pepper and salt, and stir to combine. Add the butter to the bowl and toss to coat the cubes in the flour.
• Use your fingers to smash each cube of butter into a flat sheet, tossing to coat in flour and break up the butter a bit as you go. You will have some flat pea-size pieces of butter, and some will be worked into the flour completely. Add the cheese, walnuts and chives, and toss to combine.
• Make a well in the center of the butter and flour mixture, and add the buttermilk. Very gently stir until just combined and shaggy, but don't overmix. If the mixture seems very dry, add another tablespoon or two of buttermilk. If the mixture seems very wet, add a tablespoon or two of flour.
• Turn the dough out onto a lightly floured surface and pat into a 1/2-inch-thick rectangle. Fold the rectangle in half, then shape it into an 8-inch circle. Cut the dough into 8 equal triangular wedges, and carefully transfer them to the baking sheet; they will be fragile. Brush the tops of the scones with the dregs of buttermilk left in the measuring cup (add a little more if necessary), then sprinkle the scones with flaky salt and more pepper.
• Bake the scones until golden brown, 19 to 23 minutes. These are best the day they are made, but will last a day or two on the counter in an airtight container. Alternatively, let them cool completely, then transfer to an airtight container and freeze for up to a month. In either instance, warm before serving.

HOME MADE FARMER'S CHEESE

Steps:

• Pour the milk into a large pot, and stir in a pinch of salt. Bring to a boil over medium heat, stirring occasionally to prevent the milk from scorching on the bottom of the pot.
• When the milk begins to boil (small bubbles will first appear at the edges), turn off the heat. Stir lemon juice into the milk, and the milk will curdle. You may need to wait 5 or 10 minutes.
• Line a sieve or colander with a cheesecloth, and pour the milk through the cloth to catch the curds. What is left in the cheesecloth is the Farmer's Cheese. The liquid is the whey. Some people keep the whey and drink it, but I throw it away. Gather the cloth around the cheese, and squeeze out as much of the whey as you can. Wrap in plastic, or place in an airtight container. Store in the refrigerator.

BUTTERMILK - BLACK PEPPER DIP

Steps:

• For the dressing: Combine all ingredients in a medium sized bowl and whisk well. Taste, and adjust salt and pepper accordingly.

BUTTERMILK PEPPER DRESSING

Steps:

• Mix ingredients until well blended; refrigerate.