Walnut Raisin Baked Farmer Cheese Recipes

FARMER'S CHEESE WITH HONEY, RAISINS, CINNAMON AND TOASTED WALNUTS

Steps:

• Preheat oven 400 degrees F.
• Lay walnuts on baking sheet. Roast and shake once or twice to insure even toasting. Roast until a shade darker and aromatic, about 15 minutes.
• Remove walnuts and set aside to cool.
• Turn the oven to broil.
• Place farmer's cheese in large mixing bowl. Add the remaining ingredients and the toasted walnuts. Mix thoroughly. Transfer mixture to a small baking dish (aluminum disposable is fine).
• Place under broiler until brown and bubbly on top, about 2 to 3 minutes.
• Serve hot or at room temperature with crackers of any kind or slices of crusty bread.

WALNUT-RAISIN BAKED FARMER CHEESE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to broiler.
• Place Friendship Farmer Cheese in a large mixing bow. Add the remaining ingredients and the toasted walnuts. Mix thoroughly. Transfer mixture to a small baking dish (aluminum disposable is fine). Place under broiler until brown and bubbly on top, about 2 to 3 minutes. Serve hot or at room temperature with crackers of any kind or slices or crusty bread.

HONEY WALNUT CREAM CHEESE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).
• Place walnuts on a baking sheet. Bake until toasted and fragrant, about 10 minutes. Transfer walnuts to a plate to cool. When walnuts are cool, transfer to a resealable plastic bag and crush with a rolling pin.
• Combine cream cheese, honey, and walnuts in a food processor and pulse until creamy.

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.

FARMER'S CHEESE AND RAISIN FILO STRUDEL

Steps:

• 1. Position a rack in the center of the oven and heat to 350°F. Lightly brush a 13 x 9-inch glass baking dish with a little of the melted butter.
• 2. Using a rubber spatula, work the cheese through a medium-meshed wire sieve into a medium bowl. Stir the bread crumbs and milk in another medium bowl.
• 3. Beat the room-temperature butter in a large bowl with a handheld mixer on high speed until creamy. Add the sugar, lemon zest, and vanilla and beat until light in color and texture, about 2 minutes. Beat in the egg yolks, one at a time. Mix in the farmer's cheese, soaked bread crumbs, and sour cream.
• 4. In another medium bowl, using very clean beaters, beat the egg whites at high speed until they form stiff peaks. Stir about one fourth of the whites into the cheese mixture, then fold in the remaining whites. Fold in the raisins.
• 5. Place a filo sheet in the prepared pan, letting excess dough hang over the sides. Using a soft brush, lightly brush the filo as best as you can with melted butter. Layer 5 more filo sheets, buttering each layer. Pour in the cheese mixture and spread evenly. Layer with 6 more filo sheets, buttering each layer and the top. Tuck the excess filo into the baking pan.
• 6. Bake until the top is golden brown, about 1 hour. Cool for 30 minutes. Dust the top of the strudel with confectioners' sugar. Serve warm or cooled, with the vanilla sauce, if you wish.
• MAKE AHEAD
• The strudel is best the day it is baked.