Caraway Cheese Ball Food

CARAWAY CHEESE BALL

Steps:

• Beat the cream cheese in a large bowl until fluffy and soft. Stir in the mustard, sherry, and 1 teaspoon of caraway seeds, mixing thoroughly. Beat in the Cheddar cheese and vegetable oil. Shape mixture into a ball and roll in the remaining 3 tablespoons of caraway seeds. Wrap coated ball in plastic and refrigerate until firm, at least 4 hours.

COTTAGE CHEESE CARAWAY ROLLS

Steps:

• Cut yeast and butter into flour, salt and sugar just as if you were making a pastry crust.
• Blend in cottage cheese and eggs. (This is probably easier in a food processor or with a mixer). Gradually add the milk until the dough forms into a ball.
• When the dough has come together, take it out of the bowl and finish kneading by hand. Add the caraway seeds so they distribute through the dough as you knead. It will be slightly sticky, but that's okay.
• Put the dough into a lightly oiled or buttered bowl, cover with plastic or a damp towel and put in a warm place to rise.
• After the dough has doubled in size, punch down and form into balls: I got a dozen large rolls from this recipe.
• Put the rolls on baking sheets, cover with a damp towel and let rise until almost double in size.
• Bake in a 375 degree oven until brown. 15 - 20 minutes.Tapping one on the bottom with your finger should give you a slightly "hollow" sound.

GERMAN CARAWAY CHEESE AND FRESH HOMEMADE CHEESE: (APPETIZER)

Steps:

• TO MAKE THE CARAWAY CHEESE: Make sure the farmhouse cheese is DRAINED WELL in cheesecloth.
• (Do not add any cream to the cheese after draining.) Place the butter, baking soda, and salt in the top of a DOUBLE BOILER over SIMMERING water.
• When the butter is melted, add the cheese, and continue cooking, whisking occasionally, until the cheese has melted, about 1 hour.
• The butter and cheese will be separated.
• Beat in the sour cream and caraway seeds until the mixture is blended well together.
• Pour into a large loaf pan or a crock.
• Cover, and refrigerate for at least 1 hour, until the cheese is firm.
• Turn out onto a serving dish, if you like, bring to room temperature, and serve.
• TO MAKE FRESH FARMHOUSE CHEESE: Warm the whole milk and buttermilk over low heat in a large saucepan or stockpot until they reach 90 degrees on an instant-read thermometer.
• Pour 1/4 cup of this mixture into a glass measuring cup and heat it in the microwave for 10 seconds on high, or until it is 115 degrees; alternatively, heat the 1/4 cup milk in a small saucepan until it reaches the same temperature.
• Crumble the rennet tablet into the warm milk in the measuring cup and stir to blend.
• Pour this mixture back into the large saucepan and stir well.
• Remove from the heat, cover the pan, and let the mixture sit overnight, for at least 14 hours.
• In the morning, return the pan to the heat and remove its cover.
• For a larger curd cheese, bring the mixture to 130 or 140 degrees over medium heat; for a smaller curd cheese, bring the mixture to about 115 degrees over low heat.
• Continue cooking, stirring occasionally, at the desired temperature for 1 to 1 1/2 hours, or until the curds have separated from the whey.
• Meanwhile, line two colanders with a double thickness of cheesecloth.
• Tie or clip the cheesecloths to the perimeters of the colanders to keep them from slipping inches Gently pure half of the mixture through 1 colander and half through the other.
• Let the whey drain off the cottage cheese for about 1 hour.
• Spoon the drained cheese into two 1-pint containers.
• Stir in some fresh cream, sour cream, or whole milk, if you like, for a softer consistency and flavor.
• The cheese will keep covered in the refrigerator for up to 1 week.
• Makes 8 cups.
• Home Cooking.