Dear curd nerds,
This is the 100th post on this blog and a great milestone. Cause for some celebration I think because, as a hobby, I didn’t think this blog would still be around after 3 years and would have received over 200,000 pages views! I am so pleased that it receives over 300 visits a day, and that the readership is continuing to grow.
Looks like everyone loves cheese and wants to learn how to make it. Which is great because I do too!
So to celebrate, I am holding a competition.
The prize is a free copy of my cheese making eBook “Keep Calm and Make Cheese – The Beginners Guide to Cheese Making At Home“, and two never-before-published recipes for Colby and Cotswold. However, if you have already purchased a copy, I will let the winner choose from one my other 4 eBooks (and you still get the two recipes).
To enter this competition, all you have to do is tell me (via comment below), what is your most favorite and least favourite post on this blog and the reason why. That is it, any post which includes podcast episodes, video tutorials and reader questions. Pretty simple really. You can view all the posts via the archive gadget on the right hand sidebar. Oh, and share the details of the competition with any like minded friends or family. The more the merrier.
The competition will close on Friday 13th September 2013. I will choose two winners at random and then send them through their prizes. Don’t forget that you have to be in it to win it, and check back on Friday to see if you have won where I will announce the winners!
So to finish off the post, here is a reader question submitted via Facebook.
“Hi Gav,
Some friends and I are wondering if you can help us please we are wanting to know if cheese is considered a processed food. None of us are really sure. I always thought homebrand cheese slices were processed and the better ones like Kraft were ok, anyway I know you are the go to cheese guru so I was hoping you might be able to shed some light thanks in advance. Annie”
Thanks for your question Annie. The answer is quite simple. When buying real cheese, look at the ingredient list. If it has only a few ingredients like, Milk, Rennet, Cultures, Salt, and maybe some moulds (if mould ripened), then it is the real deal. Processed cheese has all sorts of things added.
The definition of processed cheese via Wikipedia is; “Processed cheese, process cheese, cheese slice, prepared cheese, cheese singles or cheese food is a food product made from normal cheese and sometimes other unfermented dairy ingredients, plus emulsifiers, extra salt, food colorings, or whey. Many flavors, colors, and textures of processed cheese exist.”
So when you are next buying cheese, look for these other additional additives and reject them. Artisan and home made cheeses are far superior in quality and taste, in my humble opinion.
Anyway, best of luck to everyone in the 100th post celebration competition.
Two winners have been selected. See latest post for details.
Gav x
We are on and following this impressive blog. All the way from Africa!
Our favourite post is all the cheese. We just love it!
The least favourite post was definetely : Vote for the Environment. It's The Only One We Have!
The title is ok, but the political thing isn't that fun.
We in Belgium don't think that the 'Greens' are the right vote.
There is just no party that really thinks environmental.
Greetings,
Family of John
Congrats on your 100 posts. I love all the infor you have shared here. I loved your post on your wine infused cheese.To me that sounds like a match made in heaven.
Hi Gavin – Practically all your posts are interesting and it is hard to pick a real favourite. However, I like the honest way you tell us about your failures as well as your successes. It is said that we learn from our mistakes and experiences, but on the other hand I think it is better to learn from other peoples mistakes and experiences, not that I am suggesting you have made any particular mistakes. I remember your post about the blue cheese that was pretty ugly but you salvaged it and made a delicious cheese sauce, so perhaps that one would be my favourite. I also liked your Drunken Cow posts as they were my introduction to washed curd cheeses of which I have made 4 batches now (without soaking in wine) and they have all been great.
As for my least favourite, I find the podcasts somewhat repetitive and like other commenters, too long. These days we seem to have the patience to read a blog or search for something on the net for about 5 minutes and after that we want to move on to the next thing, so podcasts that run for 30 minutes or more are too long. There are always exceptions, and that of course is the podcast where you interviewed me☺!
Keep up the good work though Gavin. I’m waiting for post number 200.
David in Canada
Not sure what my favourite post is yet. I just came here via your other blog when I was searching how to make caerphilly. I have made 3 batches the first was great, the second was a FLOP and the latest is really great. But as I really have no idea what it should be like I am just doing some research. So far we are happy with edible and tasty. But I am looking forward to reading more of this blog and finding out the adventures of an Aussie cheese maker.
My favourite post is the cheese cave post, because for a home cheesemaker it's easy to find info about recipes, methods, etc. but it's hard to find info about how aging and how to make our own cheese cave.
On the other hand, the podcasts and the audios are not very interesting for me. But the problem is mine, because english is not my language and there's many thinks I don't understand.
Thanks for sharing your experiences on cheesemaking and
congratulations on 100 posts, that's a lot of work…
Congratulations on 100. I couldn't say that I have a favourite, nor a least favourite. I think I learn something from each post. I have bought your e-book, and have made cream cheese from some raw milk, I was lucky enough to acquire. My next attempt will be something a little harder. I also don't listen to the podcasts, because my laptop won't load them.
wow it doesn't seem that long ago that you were talking about starting this cheese blog. congratulations, every post you put up is always very informative and very well thought out, and well worth reading.. My favourite is also the 10 tips, because I find myself very nervous about starting new projects like this. I have made yoghurt cheese and cottage cheese, but really want to try feta, and mozarella. I know where to come when I eventually strike up the courage! I don't have a least favourite, other than like others the podcoasts which take a long time to load.
My favourite post is definitely your Wensleydale as I haven't seen a recipe for that anywhere else and that is my favourite cheese. I have made Wensleydale,with sage leaves, peppercorns, cranberries and one with mustard seeds is maturing in the cave. My least favourite is Stilton and only because you make it look straight forward. I have tried it twice and stuffed up both times somehow. Not that I was overly disappointed as I decided I didn't like blue cheese enough to be eating a 1 kg round anyway!
Hi Gav, congrats on 100 posts about cheese! You know I love your ebook already. My favourite post on this blog is the one about cheese presses, I thought you covered an interesting range of ideas, and there are so many different ways to press cheese depending on what materials you have at hand. I don't really have a least favourite, except to say that I don't usually get a chance to view or listen to your multimedia posts because our internet is too slow, I had to wait for ages just to listen to my interview with you! I've got more milk at the moment since Bella had another calf, so I'm making cheese again for a few weeks 🙂
My favourite post is 10 Tips for Successful Home Cheese Making because, although I haven't actually tried it yet, this great overview gives me a sense of confidence that I should give it a go!
Least favourite? Well, I guess the podcasts but only because I don't take the time to actually watch them! No doubt they're awesome! 😉