Ricotta you little beauty!

At the risk of this blog sounding like a homage to Martha Stewart I am going out on a limb here, to share a new recipe.  A ricotta cheese recipe.  If you have ever lived in a place like Korea, where cheese is the word they use to refer to some rubbery, flavourless, pre-sliced processed squares that quite literally leave a bad taste in your mouth, then you be more able to appreciate this post.  Especially if you are as addicted to cheese as I am.

It all started a few weeks ago, when I wanted to make a veggie lasagna (GREAT! Now it really does sound like Martha could be my homie*).  I needed some ricotta for the recipe and couldn't find it in the supermarket, being Korea and all.  So after asking online where I could find some a real South African tannie told me how easy it was to make. And it REALLy is this easy!  So for a more precise recipe, with measurements and detailed instructions you can find it easily on the web.  Otherwise just have a look at what I did...

You will need:
Milk - a guess I used about 1L
Cream - (is optional...my dieting self left it out)
1 (biggish) lemon
a cheese cloth (or some material that you could strain through)
and about 35minutes.

Bring the milk (and cream, if you so choose) to a slow boil.
Don't full on get it bubbling over, and remember to stir it regularly.
Let it boil for a minute or 2, and then turn the heat off, totally.

        

Squeeze the juice from one lemon into the hot milk.  You could also use vinegar, but I like the tangy aftertaste.

The acidity of the lemon will get the process going.  All you have to do is sit and wait.  It takes about 15minutes I guess.  I'm not too sure because I got sucked into an episode of 'House' and lost track of time.  You will now it is done when it looks a little something like what babies burp up. YUM!! ;)







Pour the liquid through your cheesecloth (the tannie also said you can use a stocking), to separate the curds and the whey.  (Don't know how little miss Muffet could have eaten that!!)
The longer you strain it for the more solid the cheese gets    - duh! -
But if you prefer something more like a cottage cheese strain it for a shorter amount of time.  You can also mix in herbs if you like.

The end product should look something like this. Yummy, homemade ricotta cheese!!  Now all I need is a bagel!!














*"homie" is a word that Martha pickup up in prison.  Before that she would simply say "friend".

I woke up on this abnormally dark, rainy day wanting to bake some rusks....but its a bit of a mission (especially finding ingredients in a typhoon).  So instead I have decided to bring you up to date a bit.

It has been a while since my last post, as I was gallivanting around Jeju Island (also sometimes referred to as Korea's Hawaii).  The tickets over were a present from MW along with the most special gift I have ever received.  Baring in mind that MW is not a teacher and has no relation to my classroom time his "Appreciation Plaque" really made me feel super special. 

So with that, it was on with the boardies and off to the airport. Fun in the sun for a week, while little Zach made new friends at the puppy motel (but that is a blog post for another day)!

I landed in Jeju after being in the air for only 50minutes. After spending about the same amount of time at the car rental place, I was told that I cannot rent a car because my Korean driver's licence was less than a year old. :(  So I hopped on a bus and made my way to Yeha Guesthouse.  (Clean rooms, friendly helpful staff, a free beer in the evening, other cool travelers about, VERY affordable!!) 

A blow by bow account of my assault on the island would take longer than you have time to read, so I will just show you some highlights of the trip.

These stone statues practically litter the island.  It is said that if you touch the nose of the stature that your next child will be a son. 

I met some AWESOME South Africans and we hung out for a few days. This is us in a lava tunnel.

Amazing waters and rock formations at a cool waterfall.

"VANG MY". Little joke between the SAFFAs.

Fourwheeling around a small Islet of Jeju(Udo). So much fun!!

In a quaint little coffee shop on Udo islet. 

One of MANY picture perfect beaches, felt like a REAL holiday.

Drinking from the falls. Was the FUNNIEST thing taking these pics. Was in HYSTERICS.

Just another tough beach day! 

At the top of 'Sunrise peak', a volcanic crater.

Looking down from Sunrise peak.

A cute unicorn lighthouse at Iho beach. With Briony, another awesome SAFFA.

The same beach, with the same Briony.

There are still hundreds of photos I could show you, but for now this will have to suffice.  It was such an amazing break, and so good for the soul.  Thank you to all the crazy-awesome people I met for making it so much fun, but most of all a HUGE than YOU to MW! You rock my little world.