Kevin Lee Jacobs

Gardening, Recipes & Home Décor Tips

Giveaway: Cheesemaking Kit

BY Kevin Lee Jacobs | 88 Comments

Last updated on December 2nd, 2011

LAST APRIL, when I offered Ricki Carroll’s cheesemaking kit in a random drawing, the response was overwhelming. Even Ricki Carroll (whom Barbara Kingsolver praised in her book Animal, Vegetable, Miracle) took notice, for she generously volunteered the kit above for this month’s drawing. The pleasures of homemade cheese, and how you can enter to win the kit:

If you only know tasteless, rubbery mozzarella, and bland, gummy ricotta from the supermarket, get ready for a colossal treat. I can tell you from my own experience that these two cheeses, when made from scratch, offer incredible flavor and texture. Try making them once, and I suspect you’ll never buy their commercial counterparts again.

Ricki’s kit contains enough rennet and citric acid to make 30 batches of cheese. It also contains a thermometer, and a large piece of butter-muslin. Butter muslin is used for draining the whey from ricotta.

To enter this random drawing, just do these two things:

First, subscribe — if you haven’t already — to my weekly email newsletter.

Next, leave a comment below. Say anything you’d like. Just be sure to include at least part of your email address at the end of your comment, so that I can easily verify that you’ve subscribed to my newsletter.

Enter soon! This random drawing expires at 11:59PM on Friday, June 24, 2011. I’ll announce the winner at the end of the comments; the winner will also be contacted by email.

As always, I’ll use the nifty gadget at Random.org to select a winner. Only one comment per person will be counted.

Don’t miss anything at A Garden for the House…sign up for Kevin’s weekly newsletter.

Related Posts:

Homemade Mozzarella in 30 Minutes

Homemade Ricotta is Easy!

Got Weeds? Use Vinegar, Not Roundup

Boxwood Beauty the Easy Way

Recipe: Savory Fried Sage Leaves

Lavender-Iced Cupcakes

Comments

  1. 1

    ErinFromIowa says

    I have thought about making cheese. How tasty and fun it would be. Maybe this is the jump start I have been needing?! blonday-part of email

  2. 2

    SneePete says

    Just found your blog, and love it! Thanks for the cheese-making giveaway — hope I win! SneePete

  4. 4

    Kim L says

    love your newsletter and FB, so much wonderful information. Love cheese too, how cool would it be to make my own?

  6. 6

    Vicki says

    With basil and tomatoes growing in my garden right now, how nice it would be to have homemade mozzarella to serve with them…. Thanks for offering another chance for a cheesemaking kit, Kevin! (LindenVTSmith@nycap)

  7. 7

    Yvonne says

    Have recently subscribed to your wonderful newsletter and would love to make my own cheese. gaj4047

  10. 10

    Katreader says

    Maybe I'll be the lucky one this go around! I actually saw rennet on the shelve in an Amish store and thought of you. (It's Katreader…who's about to eat some local cheese.)

  11. 11

    Carolinem says

    So excited about finding your site! Cant wait to learn read more and hopefully learn how to make cheese my own little kitchen.

  12. 12

    Nelly Rodriguez says

    Ohhh, I LOVE making cheese and never can find rennet! This would be awesome! I am subscribed to your newsletter! (my email is just like my name!)

  13. 13

    Cary says

    Oh Kevin! We have soooo much in common. My daughter gave me Ricki's chevre kit for Christmas and I have been in heaven ever since. I “met” Ricki in Barbara Kingsolver's book and am so grateful for her making home cheese making doable for us in America. Hooray for you offering this kit. Question for you is how do you use ricotta besides lasagne? Appreciate any ideas of yours. Great day to you! love your newsletter as carylanneb

  15. 15

    sharleygold says

    With all the cows and goats in Colorado, I MUST try making cheese!!! dona

  16. 16

    Brigitte says

    I have been reading your blog for a while now and love it! Wish you were my neighbor! Email is fuzzy_pup

  17. 17

    arianne377 says

    Hi Kevin,
    I have never made my own cheese but really should because there isn't a cheese I don't love. I even use Blue Cheese dressing on my salads.
    Good luck to everyone entering the contest.
    Aria……[email protected]

  19. 19

    Anonymous says

    Have only ever had store bought cheese, can only imagine to tasty possibilities. teba

  20. 20

    Sandy says

    If my basil ever takes off, some homemade mozzarella to go along with it and chopped tomatoes and a little olive oil and balsamic vinegar would make life very good. (The Principe Borghese tomatoes from the Hudson Valley Seed Library are already fruiting — I'm impressed!)

    And hitting “post comment” doesn't seem to be working. I'll try one more time.

    Hutchcopy at gmail…

  21. 21

    Anonymous says

    Learning to make cheese and sharing it with my Community Gardeners at our next monthly garden potluck would be fantastic. I am sure they would love to learn about homemade cheese in addition to what I teach them about gardening. Garden Coach Karen

    whmatthew part of email

  23. 23

    shelli says

    You were the inspiration for me to begin growing houseplants. I have horses, sheep, dogs and cats and never felt I had time for plants. I always told people “I don't do roots”. After coming across your newsletter I thought I would give it a try and I love my little indoor garden. Thank you. And I do love cheese

  24. 24

    cowgirl says

    I'd love to win this give away. It would make my day! I'm so glad I found you.

  26. 26

    Barb says

    I agree. This would give me the impetus to get started. I've clipped your columns on ricotta and mozzarella making, but dreaming is as far as I've gotten. I plan to try to make burrata as soon as I make the mozzarella! I'll let you know how that turns out. I already subscribe and follow you on FB. BarbR7 = part of email

  27. 27

    Cindy M says

    As a food historian, I must sadly admit that I don't know how to make cheese. I would be thrilled if I won this! Also, I have a small garden this year, so your site is just perfect, thank you.
    [email protected]

  28. 28

    Anonymous says

    I have never made cheese and would love to give it a try. email = suchland@acs

  29. 29

    Cee says

    Already a subscriber to your lovely newsletter, Kevin. I'm growing basil and tomatoes this year; with homemade mozzarella, I can make some fantastic Insalata Caprese!

    2013@yahoo

  33. 33

    Robin Cogburn says

    OK, I will try it. Seems time consuming, yet what do I do with my time when I can? … play on the internet. So sad…. 🙂 LOVE your blog, Kevin.
    By the way, do you worm compost? I'd be interested on a post about that. robin

  34. 34

    Nancy Shelly says

    I remember cottage cheese being made on a huge black stove when I visited my great-aunt's farm…must have been nearly 60 years ago, but I love to cook, to preserve, to bake, and I'd love to try this.

  35. 35

    Bonnie says

    Say cheese –> CHEEEEEEZE!!!!!
    Such a yummy giveaway! THANK YOU!

    ~Bonnie
    psychocandy321 @ yahoo.com

  36. 36

    james says

    Hi Kevin, really enjoy your website – tried to send you a few pictures of my shade/ meditation garden but came back undeliverable -you have quite a talent and are a real inspiration –
    what a yummy give away – would be my first foray into cheese making but I can't imagine how delicious it would be – thanks again lamberjam

  37. 37

    Jacqueline says

    Cheese glorious cheese, I love to eat it and would love to make it!

    Womenfest

  38. 38

    Phelch66 says

    Hi!

    We love your artisan bread recipe! And we have recently started making our own cheese, beginning with a great goat cheese!

    And I make my own beer – a great combination!

    My email address ends with fuse.net

  41. 41

    Janice says

    I would love to try to make my own mozza, yours always looks soooo good!

    fuda@

  45. 45

    Jen says

    Yep…you're right. Now that I've made my own mozzarella I'll never buy the rubbery stuff from the super market again. And I'd love to attend one of Ricki's classes! CCVeggieTable at yahoo.

  46. 46

    Paulapet55 says

    I am very excited about this giveaway! I lived in Naples, Italy for almost 4 years and had fresh Mozzarella almost daily! They made it from the milk of Buffalo and it was fantastic!
    I would love to be able to make my own Mozzarella and bring back the memories of living in Italy.

    [email protected]

  47. 47

    Christine R. says

    We are cheesoholics and fresh sounds even better! christinerobobinson64 at hotmail.com

  48. 48

    dddiva says

    This is something we've been looking into – would love to make our own cheeses. Thanks for the chance to win.
    discriminating_diva at yahoo dot com

  49. 49

    viva solar says

    I have been making cheese for my family for about 4 years now and we love it. I have tried everything from blue to mozzerella to different types of chevre.
    vivasolar at gmail dot com

  55. 55

    Junk Loving Girl says

    I am a subscriber, thanks so much for the amazing chance! My husband is always making comments we should be making our own cheese (as well as yogurt etc!) and if I win he can!

    thepricklypinecone(at)gmail.com

  56. 56

    lkvoyer says

    I've always wanted to try making mozzarella at home, but it always seems so intimidating. This kit would be a great way to try it for the first time. I'm an email subscriber. LKVOYER at aol dot com

  58. 58

    Katie says

    I love cheese! I ahve been wanting to try and make my own for a while now. Exciting!
    I am a subscriber.

  59. 59

    Homero Gutierrez says

    I've always wanted to try making mozzarella, hope I win and get the chance finally.

    empire90 at hotmail dot com

  60. 60

    Kathleen Conner says

    I'm looking forward to getting your newsletters–I just subscribed!

    klconn7 at yahoo.c

  61. 61

    kimbly says

    I've long thought about making my own cheese but have been too intimidated – I bet it tastes gorgeous homemade

    kimbly at g mail dot com

  64. 64

    Corry says

    I was SO hoping I'd win this the first time! I'm glad you're offering it again! I <3 cheese more than I can describe, and it would be SO AWESOME to make it on my own at home! Thanks for having this contest!

    core17 at gmail

  65. 65

    Randominities says

    I subscribe to your newsletter: asketcher2 at hotmail.com

    I love the idea of making cheese at home. My daughter loves to do things like this. Thanks so much for a cool giveaway! I never knew there were these kinds of kits available.

  67. 67

    jeffrey says

    I have enjoyed reading your updates on Facebook and your articles on Garden Design. Last week's weed/vinegar tip was great!
    jeffrey@j

  76. 76

    Storm Safety Blog says

    Wow, I would love to try real Mozzarella. We sampled some at the fancy cheese store in town, and it still didn't have much flavor. I imagine it tastes that much better just knowing that you made it yourself with fresh, natural ingredients. My email begins dahlia@tml…

  78. 78

    jsc123 says

    I am subscribed via email as jweezie43[at]gmail[dot]com.

    I have never thought to try and make my own cheese. But it sounds like delicious fun.

    jweezie43[at]gmail[dot]com

  79. 79

    Dani says

    This would be really fun to do with the kids. They all like helping mommy cook
    texaswaitress (at) live (dot) com

  80. 80

    shelly says

    I would LOVE to win this kit! My 15 year old daughter has been requesting we make our own cheese, and I would love to surprise her with this kit! She was telling me everything we needed to make our own cheese, and I didn't know where to get the ingredients. This is awesome! I would be super excited to win and I am hoping you pick me!!! Thanks for this chance 🙂
    Shelly
    [email protected]

  83. 83

    mary says

    signed up for your newsletter as jagar0047….
    i would love to have this for my daughter and i – thanks for the chance!

    jagar0047 at yahoo dot com

  86. 86

    Kevin Lee Jacobs says

    Wow. What great comments you all left. If only I could buy each of you a cheesemaking kit!

    And that's why I use Random.org to select a winner. The little gadget on that site selected comment #26. So…congratulations, BarbR7! You will be notified via email.

    Stay tuned! There will be another giveaway next month!

  87. 87

    Betsy says

    Home made cheese…nothing is better! Thanks Kevin for all your help around MY house!

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.