When my editor assigned me this DIY blog I figured, No problem. I was ready to tackle this project and impress friends with my cheese making skills. “What is that smell?” people would ask. “Why it’s that aged artisanal cheese that girl is holding! Did you make it yourself?” Indeed I did. “Astonishing!”

But then, pages of renneting, ripening, and brining, made me wonder, What in the name of Brie did I get myself into? I was never the kid who made friendship bracelets on the playground and Lego bricks looked more like candy than robot pieces. Me make cheese? Who was I kidding?

I was tempted to dump my unfound cheese making dreams down the drain until I was introduced to cheese makers of all levels in the blogosphere. Eventually I discovered less daunting cheese recipes that even I could handle.

And so, with a relieved sigh, I began my escapade into cheese making with homemade mozzarella. 

DIY HOMEMADE MOZZARELLA

Congratulations to our Fan Photo of the Week winner Gianaclis Caldwell, whose cheese resembles a blanketed baby. We’d like to rock this babe in our arms—and then spread it on crackers! Gianaclis’s photo has even inspired us to make our own cheese. Try this simple homemade mozzarella recipe by Anya Firisen. Yum!