Home made ricotta cheese

I dont make very many meals using ricotta cheese.  Mainly because it is expensive and I am cheap!

I found a “recipe” online that seemed pretty easy so I gave it a shot a few months back and it worked!  It was easy and cheap!  Two of my favorite things!

What you will need:

Large saucepan

spoon

3 cups whole milk (or 2% but you wont get as much cheese)

1/3 c white vinegar (I have heard lemon juice works too but never tried it)

Place the saucepan on the stove and dump in the milk (recipe can be doubled, tripled or quadrupled if you need more cheese).  Turn the burner on to medium low and heat the milk for 10 minutes.  Milk should be hot, but not boiling.  Set the timer for 10 minutes and walk away – no stirring necessary.  After 10 minutes, dump in the vinegar and stir.  You will instantly see it start to separate into curds and whey.  One the curd has completely separated out you can stop stirring.  You can tell if the curd is completely separated out because the whey will be clear and no longer white.  If you stir for 2 minutes and the whey is still white or slightly white, add another glug of vinegar from the jug….precise measurements are not necessary.

Once everything has separated, let it cook (medium low) for another 10 minutes.  No need to stir it or baby sit it.

Once the timer goes off, strain the curd from the whey through a fine mesh strainer.  If you dont have a fine mesh strainer, line a regular colander with cheesecloth or plain cotton, and strain away.

Once most of the whey is drained off, rinse the cheese under cold water. Let it drain again.  Use immediately or store (covered) in the fridge for up a to a week.  I have never tried freezing it, but it would probably work.

This is what it looks like about 30 seconds after you add the vinegar

Once the curd and whey are completely separated

While straining

Voila!  Ricotta cheese.  Easy Peasy.

patience is a virtue my dear…..

one that I am trying very hard to restore to my life!

A two year old at their best can test your patience…toss a 5 month old in the mix and you have hell on earth some days.

sometimes it takes all my willpower to just breathe.  relax. and then respond.

I have discovered that if I delay responding – even for a second – it allows me to respond without becoming frustrated.  It may seem overly simplistic, or common sense to some, but when I am dealing with a tantrum from a 2 year old and a screaming teething infant – its NOT second nature,  lol.

so on my journey to becoming a more patient parent, I think I am progressing.  I still have quite a ways to go, but baby steps in the right direction are better than no steps in the right direction.

Well, here we go!

January 1, 2010

Well, today is the day.  Today is the day I start my journey towards a better me.   A better mother….a better wife.

I have been thinking a lot about my 2010 new year resolutions this year.  Mulling over what I need to accomplish this year to craft the new and improved me.  Usually I stick with “safe” resolutions….things that dont require much effort and because of that, dont offer much reward.

This year is different.  This year I resolve to:

• Be more patient with my kids.  They deserve it.
• Be more loving towards my husband, both physically and emotionally
• Become more healthy through exercise and a healthier diet
• Simplify and Organize my home
• Continue towards complete financial freedom

Be more patient with my kids.

I have turned into one of “those” moms while at home.  You know the ones I am talking about…the ones who make you raise an eyebrow and think inwardly “I would NEVER do that.”    I’m the mom you see loosing it when their kids simply asks for something.  The one who sighs and then barks “NO” to a simple request.  I have no patience anymore with my kids.  The littlest thing seems to set me off lately and I HATE IT.   So from now on when I want to scream or snap at my two-year old I work on expressing myself without showing the frustration.   One thing I am implementing is an afternoon activity.   Each day we will turn off the TV after lunch and do an activity of some sort.  Maybe a craft, maybe a workbook…just something that will keep us working quietly together and building a better relationship between us.

Be more loving towards my husband

He works hard and deserves a wife that is more loving and emotionally supportive than I have been lately.

Become more healthy through exercise and a healthier diet

I have been seriously lacking in this department and it shows.  And two kids in 2.5 years certainly didnt help.  I weighed in this morning at a disgusting 205.6 pounds!  When hubby and I met, I weighed 165lbs.  Thats a 40lb gain! Disgusting.  I will be continuing my no flour, no sugar diet….exercising for 30 minutes 4 days per week, and trying to incorporate more whole foods into every meal.  One way I am going to do this is to try a new flour and sugar free recipe 3 times per week.  It does not have to be a “meal” recipe – it can be a snack, salad, side dish or main course….so long as it is sugar and flour free.

Simplify and Organize my life and home

In 2010  I will throw away or donate 2,010 items currently in my house.  This can be any combination of items (kids stuff, household goods, anything I can get my hands on).  Anything that is usable, I will either sell or donate.   Anything broken or with missing pieces will be thrown away.  Each month i will tackle one “problem area” in my home…maybe the toys, maybe the computer desk and its never ending paper clutter…you never know what I might tackle one day!

Continue towards complete financial freedom

Hubby and I have been following Dave Ramsey since January 2008.  I that time we have paid off over $32K!  We completed Baby Step 2 (pay off all consumer debt) in April of 2009…it was a WHOPPING $28K in credit cards and 1 car loan.  Now we are working on saving cash for a fully funded emergency fund (5-6 months of living expenses) and then stockpiling cash to pay for a home addition in 4-5 years.  Our goal is to save $15k a year for the next 4 years in order to have $60K set aside to add an addition onto our house as we are quickly outgrowing it .

The simple life?

I have realized lately that I am NOT the person I want to be.  I am not the mom or wife I want to be.  2010 is the year for me to change.  This is my story as I work towards a better, happier me.

I have one goal for 2010.  I want to simplify.  I NEED to simplify.  Get back to a simpler time.  Take time to enjoy my life and family.  Take time to play with my kids, spend quality time with my husband and simplify my home.

I have a long way to go, but with a little time and effort I will make it.