I ADVISE YOU TO CLICK THIS! It has begun. FOOD SHORTAGES.

Fortunately, cottage cheese is ridiculously easy to make.

[link to housewifehowtos.com (secure)]

Basically, bring a gallon of milk (NOT ultra-pasteurized) to 190 degrees - stirring occasionally to prevent scorching/sticking.

Remove from heat and add 3/4 cup white vinegar.

Cover and let sit for 30 or so minutes.

Line a colander with double thickness cheesecloth (long enough to fold into a "bag" when ready) and place over heat resistant bowl.

When milk, vinegar mixture has cooled for 30 min, scoop the curds into the lined colander. Let drain for at least 30 min.

Gather curds in cheesecloth into a ball and run under cold water until completely cooled. Put curds in bowl and break up into small pieces.

To eat add salt (if desired) and heavy cream (milk works, too) to desired consistency.

Makes up to 2 cups and it is GOOD. Supposed to keep in fridge for a couple of weeks, but I'll never know: It's always gone before then.

Notes:
This apparently works with powdered milk as well.

I mis-read the directions and only heated the milk to 180 degrees. It worked fine, but probably wasn't as "germ-free".

Makes great lasagna, too.

GROAN! But not too loudly, as that was actually a good pun!

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I hesitated for a moment...then decided to post it anyway :)

I went into a Chipotle yesterday. No avocados, no guacamole. If Chipotle can't get avocados, we're screwed.

Also, a friend of mine has a local health food store. He normally carries a ton of local, organic produce. He made a post this past week apologizing for the lack of produce. The spring and early "summer" we had here, in Nothern New England was awful. Nothing grew. If it did, it is REALLY late.

Interesting! Tons of avocados & guac at my store in MN...low on cottage cheese, yet tons of cottage cheese in pookas neck of the woods.

This sounds more like distribution than supply.

What made you say it apparently works from powdered milk as well? I happen to have a good supply of that which keeps re-appearing, and could go to no possible better use than cottage cheese!

I just had a horrifying thought...what if we ran out of ketchup?

How the hell could you eat a hamburger without ketchup?

It was in one of the recipes I checked - I always look up a bunch before I try something. For this, they all basically said the same thing except for the (unknown which) one that mentioned powdered milk. My guess is that good whole milk is best, but when you're in dire straits, ANY comfort is good!

I don't know for sure because I've never tried it...but I don't see how you could make cottage cheese from powdered milk.

Powdered milk is fat free...To my understanding it's the vinegar that binds the milk-fat to make the curds...no fat = no curds.

But what do I know?

We have a lot of dairies in this area, fortunately, but let's see what happens when they have to feed over the winter - cottage cheese may become incredibly expensive, along with all other dairy products.

Better be stocking cheese right now, people, too. And after opening it, wipe it with a vinegar cloth or paper towel to prevent mold.

GROAN! But not too loudly, as that was actually a good pun!

Speaking of cheese...you can freeze cheese...but when you thaw it out and use it, it will be gritty...UNLESS YOU MELT IT! Then it's perfect.

So remember...if you freeze it you need to melt it!

Pooka, I have to disagree. At least in this household, the 'better' the pun the louder the groan. It's sort of like reverse applause for the great verbiage.

I disagree, MC. Cheese, once frozen, is crumbly, not gritty

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Was definately gritty for me...I usually buy a block of colby or mild cheddar. Not sliced (until I sliced it).

I can help you there, MC. I'll eat your hamburgers, because I would never ever soil one with that red phony substance! Don't even own a bottle of it, and never do! Mustard, on the other hand - OMW - I have GOT to prep mustard!!!!!!

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Pooka, mustard seed is real easy to grow. I planted some from a spice jar one year & it grew like a weed...luckily the MN winter killed it or I don't know what I would have done.

I think mustard is only mustard seed, white vinegar, and salt...It might have turmeric in it as well.

I can help you there, MC. I'll eat your hamburgers, because I would never ever soil one with that red phony substance! Don't even own a bottle of it, and never do! Mustard, on the other hand - OMW - I have GOT to prep mustard!!!!!!

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Pooka, mustard seed is real easy to grow. I planted some from a spice jar one year & it grew like a weed...luckily the MN winter killed it or I don't know what I would have done.

I think mustard is only mustard seed, white vinegar, and salt...It might have turmeric in it as well.

Store trip today...everything looked fully stocked...even cottage cheese.

I went looking for country-time lemonade powder and found it...and they even had TANG

I didn't know they still made TANG :)