Homemade Cottage Cheese Crock Pot Recipes

HOMEMADE COTTAGE CHEESE

Steps:

• Heat the milk to 190F.
• You will need a thermometer for other cheeses but you can get by here turning off the heat just before the milk begins to boil.
• Add the vinegar and allow the mixture to cool.
• When cool, pour the mixture, which now consists of curds and whey into a colander and drain off the whey.
• Pour the curds into a bowl and sprinkle on the salt and mix well.
• You may wish to use less salt or more, depending on your taste.
• A little cream could also be added, for a more silky variation.
• Now the best part, enjoy fresh or use in a cooked dish such as a lasagna!

COTTAGE CHEESE

Steps:

• Pour milk into a small pot; bring to a boil. Add vinegar and remove from heat. Stir mixture slowly until curds form, 1 to 2 minutes.
• Pour mixture into a colander lined with cheesecloth. Allow liquid whey to drain off as curds cool, about 15 minutes. Season curds with salt.

QUICK COTTAGE CHEESE

Steps:

• Pour the skim milk into a large saucepan and place over medium heat. Heat to 120 degrees F. Remove from the heat and gently pour in the vinegar. Stir slowly for 1 to 2 minutes. The curd will separate from the whey. Cover and allow to sit at room temperature for 30 minutes.
• Pour the mixture into a colander lined with a tea towel and allow to sit and drain for 5 minutes. Gather up the edges of the cloth and rinse under cold water for 3 to 5 minutes or until the curd is completely cooled, squeezing and moving the mixture the whole time. Once cooled, squeeze as dry as possible and transfer to a mixing bowl. Add the salt and stir to combine, breaking up the curd into bite-size pieces as you go. If ready to serve immediately, stir in the half-and-half or heavy cream. If not, transfer to a sealable container and place in the refrigerator. Add the half and half or heavy cream just prior to serving.

SLOW COOKER LASAGNA

Steps:

• In a large skillet over medium heat cook the ground beef, onion, and garlic until brown. Add the tomato sauce, tomato paste, salt, and oregano and stir until well incorporated. Cook until heated through.
• In a large bowl mix together the cottage cheese, grated Parmesan cheese, and shredded mozzarella cheese.
• Spoon a layer of the meat mixture onto the bottom of the slow cooker. Add a double layer of the uncooked lasagna noodles. Break to fit noodles into slow cooker. Top noodles with a portion of the cheese mixture. Repeat the layering of sauce, noodles, and cheese until all the ingredients are used.
• Cover, and cook on LOW setting for 4 to 6 hours.

HOMEMADE COTTAGE CHEESE (CROCK-POT)

Steps:

• Add the rennet liquid to the 1/2 cup of water, set aside.
• Heat skim milk to 85 degree F and maintain temperature for one minute.
• Add buttermilk and Rennet solution and stir well.
• Cover with towel and leave at room temperature (70 degrees F) for 12 to 18 hours. A firm curd will forms and a little Whey will appear on the surface. (To test for firm curd, remove a milk sample at a point near the edge of the pan or bowl with a spoon. The curd is ready when the coagulated milk sample holds its shape and the edges are sharply defined.).
• Cut the curd into 1/2 inch squares by passing a long knife through the curd lengthwise and crosswise of the container.
• Heat curd slowly over hot water until temperature reaches 110ºF.
• Hold this temperature for 20-30 minutes, stirring every 5 minutes to help distribute the heat evenly and keep the curd from sticking together.
• Note: If using a double boiler bring the water to boil and then turn off and watch closely, otherwise it may overheat and you'll have 'cheese'. In my crockpot I turn to high and keep a close eye on the temperature; stirring around the edges and bottom every 5 minutes. Once it gets up to 100 degrees, I turn it to low until it reaches 110, then turn to the keep warm setting. Each crockpot is a little differnt so watch it carefully. I've also read where the container with the curd can be microwaved on high for 1 minute, then stirred and let stand for 5 minutes; but I haven't tried this method yet.
• Immediately pour the the curd into a bowl, or collendar that is lined with cheese cloth and drain for several minutes; shifting the cloth occassionally to help drain off the Whey.
• Once the Whey has been drained off, immerse curd in the cheese cloth in a bowl of cold water for approximately 2 minutes.
• Drain the Whey from the curd and transfer the cheese to a bowl.
• Mix in salt and cream.
• Chill before serving.

HOMEMADE COTTAGE CHEESE

Steps:

• Place milk in large saucepan and stir in yogurt and lemon juice; cover and let stand at room temperature for 3 days. Mixture should be solid.
• Place saucepan of solid milk mixture over medium-low heat and cook for 20 minutes. Line a large bowl with cheesecloth and pour milk mixture into prepared bowl. Lift cheesecloth to drain.
• Tie filled cheesecloth around kitchen faucet and let mixture continue to drain overnight. Keep cottage cheese refrigerated in an airtight container until ready to use, up to 3 days.