Saturday, July 30, 2011

A giveaway from Urban Cheesecraft: Make your own cheese!






If you have been around here long enough, it should be no big shocker to you when I say that I LOVE cheese.  Duh.  But, guess what else I love?  Etsy.  

Um... You are probably wondering what those two things could possibly have in common, and I don't blame you.  Although Etsy sellers have always shared plently of homemade goods including jams, cookies, and salts, I have been noticing an increasing number of specialty goods that look simply scrumptious.  Case in point: In one of my recent Etsy newsletters (naturally I subscribe to get cool Etsy Finds delivered to my inbox) I discovered Claudia of Urban Cheesecraft through one of Etsy's amazing videos.  Claudia founded Urban Cheesecraft as a way to share an easy and accessible way to make your own cheese at home - she basically takes all the guesswork out by providing kits that have everything you need to make cheese, and all you have to do is add the milk!

Check out a video about Urban Cheesecraft here, and don't miss the baby goats.  Is anything more adorable?



I think what I love the most about these kits from Urban Cheesecraft are the fact that for first-time cheesemakers, the process is so simple.  In my opinion, lots of people would prefer to eat 'handcrafted' food that they make themselves, whether it is bread, preserves, tomato sauce, or cheese, but often taking the initial step seems like a lot of work and it can be daunting.  Here Urban Cheesecraft provides all the equipment, all the instructions, and all the ingredients in one simple, inexpensive kit so you can have homemade cheese in just an hour.  (And isn't this kit cute?  Even better, it is made from post-consumer materials.  Love that.)  You just choose your milk, and you are ready to go!  Each kit makes 10 batches of cheese, so it is actually a really stellar deal.







Urban Cheesecraft has a variety of cheese-making kits, including the easiest kit to make paneer or queso blanco, more kits to make mozzarella or ricotta, and also kits to make goat cheese/chevre.  



I love all of Claudia's philosophies about eating locally, getting involved with your community, and getting in touch with your food.  She sources her milk from local farms in Portland, and offers tips for where to find your milk, whether you want to go local in your city or whether you just want to pick up your milk from the grocery store.  I would encourage you to keep things as close to home as possible, but do what works for you!

And lastly, I think these kits are a fantastic idea for a fun project to do with your kids or with a group of friends.  For kids, I think it teaches them a little bit of the 'science' behind food and it is really neat to see the formation of the cheese curds.  But surely, it can bring out the inner nerd in any adult as well.  I am thrilled that Urban Cheesecraft has offered to giveaway one of these awesome cheesemaking kits to one of my readers so you can share this cheese-making experience with your family and friends!   




To enter the giveaway for your choice of a basic cheesemaking kit from Urban Cheesecraft do all or any of the following for a total of four entries:
1. Become a fan of Urban Cheesecraft on Facebook.
2. Visit Urban Cheesecraft's Etsy page and 'favorite' the shop or any of the products.
3. Visit Urban Cheesecraft's Etsy page and tell me which cheese kit you would like to get.  (I got the goat cheese/chevre kit!)
4. Have you tried making your own cheese before?  Leave a comment and tell us about it!  Or, tell me what is your favorite DIY or homemade food project? 

For an additional three entries do any of the following:
1. Subscribe to The Cilantropist by email (add email in the sidebar). 
2. Be a new fan of The Cilantropist on Facebook.
3. Share this giveaway on twitter by retweeting the following: Easy to make your own cheese! Enter to win a #DIY Cheesemaking Kit from Urban Cheesecraft on @TheCilantropist! http://bit.ly/opudhT #goaterie

Giveaway is open to US residents only, and you can enter anytime until Saturday, August 6th at 9pm PST.  Be sure to leave separate comments for each entry, and don't forget to come back and tell me if you 'liked' Urban Cheesecraft or The Cilantropist on Facebook, or 'favorited' on Etsy!

And, to find out more about Claudia and Urban Cheesecraft, including her cheese-making classes, visit her website or her shop on Etsy.


And lastly, although this isn't technically a post about a recipe involving goat products I am sending in this post as part of the Goaterie event set up by Creative Culinary and La Fuji Mama.  They wanted to celebrate all things goat, so they dreamed up Goaterie.  Rachael says: 

We’re calling the festivities “Goaterie”—a name dreamed up by a group of goat enthusiasts on Twitter that is a play on the word “coterie.”  

Well, we all know I can't resist plays on words or goat cheese (my favorite cheeses are from Cypress Grove!) so of course I had to spread a little goat love here on The Cilantropist.  Since I am pressed for time these days, I was thrilled that Claudia of Urban Cheesecraft was willing to help me out and giveaway these DIY kits - can I recommend the Goat Cheese/Chevre kit? 

Have lots of fun enjoying goat products, and definitely stop by at Creative Culinary and La Fuji Mama to check out more recipes using goat milk, cheese, and meat!   


*I was not compensated for this giveaway, and of course, all opinions are my own.  All images here are used courtesy of Urban Cheesecraft.*

122 comments:

  1. I would get the mozzarella and ricotta DIY kit!

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  2. I subscribe by google reader! Great giveaway!

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  3. Wow, I LOVE this idea. I have liked it on facebook!

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  4. I haven't ever made my own cheese but I've made my own yogurt (in a crockpot) and I know it's very similar!

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  5. Wonderful. I'd love to make my own cheese and find such kits here...

    Cheers,

    Rosa

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  6. I would get the mozzarella and ricotta DIY kit!

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  7. I am now a fan of Urban Cheesecraft on Facebook.

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  8. I made Urban Cheesecraft one of my favorites on Etsy

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  9. this is an awesome giveaway! i would love to do this with my 4.5 yr old daughter

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  10. I'd do goat cheese also and i love making my own komboucha and kefir. Fermentation is FUN!!

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  11. Awesome Giveaway...love to make my own cheese



    gerdy
    applecoco2004@yahoo.com

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  12. i like on FB - Urban Cheesecraft

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  13. I can't remember the last time we bought bread, and once I get off bed rest and go buy the bottles, I'm making vanilla extract. I've never tried cheese!

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  14. You're in my google reader too!

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  15. Of course I would get the goat cheese one! I would love to make my own goat cheese!

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  16. just subscribed to your email!

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  17. Oh baby, this is my kind of giveaway--I like Urban Cheesemaker on FB and I would go with the Paneer and Queso Blanco kit. Among others.

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  18. I have made my own chevre, with some success. I would to try to make ricotta.

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  19. I am your newest fan on Facebook.

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  20. I retweeted your original tweet.

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  21. I love to make my own cheese esp ricotta.. what a great giveaway

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  22. I made this etsy shop a favorite, what a great idea!

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  23. I"m a fan of urban cheese craft on facebook!

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  24. I favorited urban cheesecraft's etsy page.

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  25. I would love to get the mozzarella and ricotta cheese kit.

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  26. I'm a fan of the cilantropist on facebook!

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  27. I'm following Urban Cheesecraft on Facebook, looks like they have really wonderful kits, FUN!!!

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  28. I've been wanting to make my own cheese! What a great giveaway-thanks :)

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  29. I'm a fan of The Cilantropist on Facebook!

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  30. I'm now a fan of Urban Cheesecraft on Facebook!

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  31. I would LOVE to get the Goat Cheese/Chevre kit! It would be amazing to know how to make my own cheese.

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  32. I am now a fan of Urban Cheesecraft on Facebook.

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  33. I am a fan of Urban Cheesecraft on facebook!

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  34. I added Urban Cheesecraft to my "favorites" on Etsy

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  35. I would get the Deluxe Kit so I could try to make many different varieties!

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  36. I subscribe to the Cilantropist e-mail

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  37. I liked Cilantropist on facebook

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  38. I liked Urban Cheesecraft on facebook

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  39. I tweeted about the giveaway. @NorwegianPeach

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  40. I have tried making mozzarella before...but it came out pretty rubbery and flavorless :(

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  41. I've made ricotta a few times and it's come out well. We tried to make mozzarella once, but we did something wrong and just ended up with chewy ricotta-y clumps.

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  42. I would love to try their goat cheese kit!

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  43. And I've made them a favorite on Etsy!

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  44. Favorited the shop on Etsy (Saladgoddess).

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  45. Would love the Deluxe DIY Kit. (And love that she uses *vegetable* rennet!)

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  46. I have made paneer many times (also known as homemade ricotta). Have haunted cheesemaking sites, but have not yet made a rennet-based cheese.

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  47. Tweeted: http://twitter.com/#!/saladgoddess/status/97882134005563392

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  48. Those goats are just too cute!

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  49. I'm a fan of Urban Cheesecraft on Facebook!

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  50. I would love to get the Goat Cheese/Chevre kit. Looks so creamy and delicious!

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  51. My favorite homemade food project has got to be bread - there's room for endless variation and everything you make tastes so much better than the bread you buy in the store. Plus, no preservatives means it's fresher, healthier and I get to bake more often!

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  52. I favorited Urban Cheesecraft's Etsy shop!

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  53. I have only made ricotta cheese at home, but would love to do more experimenting. Great giveaway!

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  54. I became a fan of Urban Cheesecraft on Facebook!

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  55. I would get the deluxe DIY cheese making kit on Etsy.

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  56. I favorited the deluxe DIY kit on Etsy.

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  57. I've made queso blanco before and loved the simplicity of flavor and ease of preparation.

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  58. I've made my own butter before- I totally want to try making cheese!!

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  59. And I just became a fan of Urban cheesecraft on Facebook (Lindselicious)

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  60. I think I'd have to go with the mozzarella and ricotta kit.

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  61. I like Urban Cheesecraft on FB. What a cool idea!

    Amy @ A Little Nosh

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  62. Tweeted: http://twitter.com/#!/amyradish/status/98397801398026240

    Amy @ A Little Nosh

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  63. I'm a recent convert to the cheese bandwagon. As a child I decided I didn't like cheese and didn't challenge that belief until this past year. Yikes! All that time wasted. Now I've been flirting with making my own cheese and a DIY kit would be perfect! It would especially compliment my years long love of homemade yogurt making. Even if I don't win a kit, it's going on my wishlist - luckily for me, I have a birthday around the corner!

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  64. I totally want the goat cheese/chevre kit!

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  65. What a great giveaway! I likve Urban Cheesecraft on FB.

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  66. I liked Urban Cheesecraft on Facebook.

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  67. I'd like to try the mozzarella and ricotta kit.

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  68. I've never tried to make cheese before. My favorite things to make homemade are cookies.

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  69. I liked Urban Cheesecraft... still like 'em now too!

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  70. I would like to start off with the mozzarella and ricotta kit, but then definitely move on to the goat cheese. I would just have to find goat's milk somewhere near me...

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  71. I liked (love!) The Cilantropist on Facebook.

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  72. I would love the chevre kit. I have made mozzarella and fromage blanc before with kits from "Ricki the Cheese Queen." I am multitasking and checking out the Etsy subscriptions as well as Urban Cheesecraft. Thanks for this new source for kits.

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  73. I Became a fan of Urban Cheesecraft on Facebook.

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  74. I favorited: Mozzarella and Ricotta- D.I.Y. Cheese Kit

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  75. I'd love to get the Mozzarella Ricotta Kit!

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  76. I have made my own ricotta and here is a link to a paneer version! http://cookingwithbooks.blogspot.com/2011/04/cheese-making-101.html

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  77. I liked/ am a fan Urban Cheesecraft on facebook!

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  78. I like their mozzarella & ricotta kit. Looks like fun!

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  79. I am a fan of Urban Cheesecrafter on Facebook

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  80. I favorited Urban Cheesecrafter on etsy

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  81. I tweeted about it: http://twitter.com/PoetInThePantry/status/99881703409065984

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  82. I have not made cheese before, but I do love making my own bread.

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  83. I also favorited it at Etsy. I hope I did it correctly!

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  84. Have not made cheese on my own but have seen it made by my grandmother and mom when growing up in Finland. Always wanted to try but chickened out.
    Closest to cheese I have strained greek yogurt through cheesecloth and used it as a spread on open face sandwiches.
    I would love to have the goat/chevre cheese kit if i'm a lucky one!

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  85. I would love to get the Deluxe pack if it is into the Giveaway otherwise Mozzarella-ricotta or Goat cheese one...Oh Boy! Such a difficult choice!! :)
    But I really wish to win it, it will be so much fun to enjoy freshly homemade cheese with homegrown vegetables/herbs...ahhh Heavenly!
    Thanks for the opportunity Amanda :)

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  86. Also I am liking it on ETSY and I am already subscribed to your beautiful blog. Can't miss a single post :)

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  87. And forgot to mention that I do make homemade cheese all the time. Paneer is an all time favorite. I remember when I was in Pocatello,ID where there was no access to Asian grocery store or any Indian restaurant. Once I made Paneer out of 3 gallons of milk for my Husband's graduation party..And that was a lot of work but all worth!!Fresh cheese makes all the difference in the world :) I wish to make fresh mozzarella, goat cheese one day :)

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  88. Hi Amanda, this is a great give-away! Here's my entry:
    I've liked the the Etsy page and 'favorite' the website as well. I already subscribe to your page :)
    I would love to win the Goat Cheese packet!!
    I make Paneer at home very often - a simple process of boiling whole milk and separating the solids by adding some vinegar/lime juice. I love the soft and creamy texture of it. It's a versatile cheese great for grilling, curries or stuffing. You tried those samosas I made with paneer :).

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  89. I became a fan of Urban Cheesecraft on Facebook

    ~Jill (luvcooking2@yahoo.com)

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  90. I visited Urban Cheesecraft's Etsy page and marked my favorite

    ~Jill (luvcooking2@yahoo.com)

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  91. If I'm the lucky winner, I would like the paneer & quero blanco kit

    ~Jill (luvcooking2@yahoo.com)

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  92. I subscribe to Cilantropist via email

    ~Jill (luvcooking2@yahoo.com)

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  93. I tweeted your giveaway

    ~Jill (luvcooking2@yahoo.com)

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  94. I would get the mozzarella and ricotta DIY kit!

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  95. I haven't tried to make my own cheese. It sounds like quite an adventure.

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  96. became of fan of cilantripist on FB!

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  97. became fan of urban cheese on FB

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  98. I would get the chevre/goat kit for sure!

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