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.
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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
SneePete says
Just found your blog, and love it! Thanks for the cheese-making giveaway — hope I win! SneePete
Evans says
I started making cheese about a year ago and my family loves it.
Kim L says
love your newsletter and FB, so much wonderful information. Love cheese too, how cool would it be to make my own?
ldoyle says
During the summer, I buy cheese from local farmers. Would love to make my own! ldoyle@
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)
Yvonne says
Have recently subscribed to your wonderful newsletter and would love to make my own cheese. gaj4047
Mary says
Ooooo! I really want to try this! Jimmary is part of email π
Brenda Johnson says
Love your newsletter!!!!! (and home made cheese!!!)
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.)
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.
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!)
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
Broken Barn Industries says
Oooh, want! (Though I do get some pretty awesome mozzarella at the farmers' market sometimes.) Email is brokenbarn@
sharleygold says
With all the cows and goats in Colorado, I MUST try making cheese!!! dona
Brigitte says
I have been reading your blog for a while now and love it! Wish you were my neighbor! Email is fuzzy_pup
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.
Ariaβ¦β¦[email protected]
petsaverannette says
would love to try and make my own cheese
Anonymous says
Have only ever had store bought cheese, can only imagine to tasty possibilities. teba
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…
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
sue14625 says
love cheese but getting expensive to buy -if i could make my own would sure save money
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
cowgirl says
I'd love to win this give away. It would make my day! I'm so glad I found you.
Anonymous says
I enjoy your site, more photos please π
Carol
Part of email= suzie
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
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]
Anonymous says
I have never made cheese and would love to give it a try. email = suchland@acs
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
Anonymous says
Oh Kevin, I'd LOVE to win this! Thanks for all your great giveaways!
[email protected]
I subscribe to your newsletter and like you on FB.
Melissa Pilcher says
Love my goat cheese kit and would LOVE to win this!
Melissa Pilcher says
Oops, forgot my email
mjnjpilch
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…. π LOVE your blog, Kevin.
By the way, do you worm compost? I'd be interested on a post about that. robin
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.
Bonnie says
Say cheese –> CHEEEEEEZE!!!!!
Such a yummy giveaway! THANK YOU!
~Bonnie
psychocandy321 @ yahoo.com
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
Jacqueline says
Cheese glorious cheese, I love to eat it and would love to make it!
Womenfest
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
Roxy says
I've always wanted to make cheese from home! roxannajolly at gmail dot com
Abby Taylor says
I've done ricotta and it was so delicious. I'm dying to try mozzarella!
Janice says
I would love to try to make my own mozza, yours always looks soooo good!
fuda@
MOMFOREVERANDEVER says
subscriber
Jen says
I love cheese and your blog!
Thanks!
Jifer25
Terry says
I would love to try making some mozzarella! I am subscribed to your newsletter and FB.
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.
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]
Christine R. says
We are cheesoholics and fresh sounds even better! christinerobobinson64 at hotmail.com
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
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
viva solar says
subscriber
Cindy N. says
Love cheese, pizza and gardening. New to your newsletter! cnester711@
Brent Sims says
Make my own cheese. Way cool. I subscribed too. Count me in.
brntsims at gmail dot com
slb3334 says
I subscribe and am a huge fan of cheese.
[email protected]
Hotsnotty2 says
Subscriber, I would love to win this, thanks for the chance!
[email protected]
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
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
clc408 says
I'd love to make cheese from organic milk. Also it would be nice to be able to control the fat content.
Katie says
I love cheese! I ahve been wanting to try and make my own for a while now. Exciting!
I am a subscriber.
Homero Gutierrez says
I've always wanted to try making mozzarella, hope I win and get the chance finally.
empire90 at hotmail dot com
Kathleen Conner says
I'm looking forward to getting your newsletters–I just subscribed!
klconn7 at yahoo.c
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
cdziuba says
This is a way cool giveaway…Viva La Cheese! [email protected]
sksweeps says
I would SO love to be making delicious cheese at home! Thanks!
sksweeps (at) earthlink (dot) net
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
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.
cloud10277 says
Email subscriber
[email protected]
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
cloud10277 says
I'd love to make my own cheese! Thanks for the great giveaway.
[email protected]
kendra22 says
email subscriber kendraco22 at yahoo dot com
thanks for the chance, my son would love to have a kit like this
JohnCharles Billiris says
Hi, this looks like an interesting site.
cbstrat at gmail dot com
Annette D says
I would love to try making cheese!
[email protected]
saturdaynightfever says
I am already a subscriber and cheese makes my toes curl!
[email protected]
Juleemm says
I subscribed. I would love this kit. I love good cheese.
juleemm2003 at yahoo dot com
paula michele says
I'm a subscriber. I already make my own yogurt. I would love to try to make cheese!
hafner611{AT}gmail{DOT}com
BethElderton says
I've always wanted to try cheesemaking!
bethelderton59 at gmail dot com
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…
kakihara says
email subscriber
I love cheese and dream of one day making my own–this sounds like fun!
[email protected]
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
Dani says
This would be really fun to do with the kids. They all like helping mommy cook
texaswaitress (at) live (dot) com
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 π
Shelly
[email protected]
calvad says
I am a subscriber. I think making my own cheese would be neat. calvad at aol dot com
Diane52 says
Already, a subscriber-this would be a wonderful win. I love cheese.
Diane Baum
[email protected]
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
purango says
I subscribe to your email newsletter. I would love to make my own cheese. Thanks. [email protected]
Gianna says
I'm an email subscriber.
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!
Betsy says
Home made cheese…nothing is better! Thanks Kevin for all your help around MY house!
Doris says
Homemade cheese is so good . Would love to win this kit.