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Archives for November 2010

Video Diary – Our Trip to Sydney

November 30, 2010 @ 23:12 By Gavin Webber 1 Comment

I wrote in a previous post about Amy and my trip to Sydney early this month as part of the delegation to the Keep Australia Beautiful – Sustainable Cities 2010 awards.  However, as I have only just got my video software to work again, I have managed to put together a video of our little trip.  We had a lot of fun, as you will learn as you watch it.

I hope you don’t mind me sharing with you all.  Enjoy the sights of scenic Sydney!



Indulge me please.  It is not often that I get to travel interstate with my lovely daughter, let alone attend an awards ceremony!

Gav

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Filed Under: Awards, Sustainable Living

Feta Cheese Tutorial

November 30, 2010 @ 06:36 By Gavin Webber 3 Comments

What’s not to like about Feta?  It’s is a delicious fresh cheese that is easily made at home.  So without further ado, here is the Feta Cheese tutorial which is the next in the cheesemaking series.

Feta (Greek: φέτα) is a brined curd cheese traditionally made in Greece. Feta is an aged crumbly cheese, commonly produced in blocks, and has a slightly grainy texture. It is used as a table cheese, as well as in salads (e.g the Greek salad), pastries and in baking. It can also be served cooked or grilled, as part of a sandwich or as a salty alternative to other cheeses in a variety of dishes.


Now what are you waiting for?  Get some milk and get cracking!

Feta Style Cheese

Ingredients

  • 4 litres (1 gallon) full cream cow’s milk
  • ¼ teaspoon of lipase diluted in 60ml (¼ cup) of non-chlorinated water
  • 1/8th teaspoon of direct set Mesophilic culture
  • ¼ teaspoon (2.5 ml) rennet diluted in ¼ cup (60 ml) of non-chlorinated water
  • ¼ teaspoon (2.5 ml) calcium chloride diluted in ¼ cup (60 ml) of non-chlorinated water (if milk is homogenised)

Fully saturated brine

Method

Clean and sanitize your utensils and leave to air dry.

1.  Add the milk to the large pot.  Stir in the lipase solution.

2.  Heat milk to 30°C (86°F), then add the starter culture.  Cover for 1 hour.

3.  Maintaining the target temperature of 30°C (86°F), add the rennet solution and stir, top to bottom, for 1 minute.  Cover and allow to coagulate for 1 hour.

4.  Check for a clean break, then using your curd knife, cut curd into 1.25 cm (½ inch) cubes.  Rest the curds for 10 minutes at the target temperature.

5.  Stir the curds for 20 minutes, during which you will notice that they will shrink and expel whey.

6.  Pour the curds and whey into a cheesecloth lined colander, and allow to drain for 30 minutes.  Dividing the curds into two equal portions, ladle into 2 square cheese moulds lined with cheese cloth.

7.  Fold over excess cheesecloth and stack one mould on top of the other.  Place a 2 litre (2 qt.) milk carton filled with water on top of the second mould, which serves as the weight.  It doesn’t need much pressure to form the block of Feta.

8.  After two hours have elapsed, the blocks will have shrunk enough to place both together in a single mould forming one block.  Cover again with the excess cheesecloth and press with the 2 litre milk carton for a further 2 hours.

9.  Once pressed, add the cheese to the fully saturated brine.  Leave in the brine for two days in the fridge.  At the end of the first day, flip the cheese over.  Wait until the end of the second day, then enjoy the finished Feta.

It should look something like this!

Feta cheese after brining

For those of you who want to make this delicious cheese at home, then take a look at our Feta Cheese Kit over at Little Green Workshops.  It has everything you need to get started.

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Filed Under: Cheese

Why Just Make One Cheese….

November 28, 2010 @ 19:55 By Gavin Webber 8 Comments

….. when you can make two at the same time!  Not wanting to brag, but when you are on a roll, go for it I reckon.

Feta on the left and Caerphilly on the right.  I have two 8 litre pots, so it all works out well.

I am glad that I went ahead and bought a second thermometer.  I needed a C/F dual scale one so that I didn’t have to convert all of the recipes out of the Home Cheese Making book by Ricki Carroll, which only features temperatures in Fahrenheit.  

With both cheese books on the go, I had to remember which recipe was for which batch on the stove!  I had to stop myself a few times just to make sure I didn’t stuff up.

In addition to the Feta and Caerphilly, today I am still in the process of making Wensleydale.  It would have to be the longest cheese making session out of all of my recipes.  I started at 1300 and still have about an hour to go at 1945.  However, time period aside, it is one of the best cheeses in my repertoire. 

As I am still working on the two tutorials that I filmed, there are no pictures of the actual finished product.  So this short post was just to whet your appetite, so to speak.  A three cheese weekend!

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Filed Under: Cheese

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About Gavin Webber

About Gavin Webber

An Ordinary Australian Man Who Has A Green Epiphany Whilst Watching A Documentary, Gets a Hybrid Car, Plants A Large Organic Vegetable Garden, Goes Totally Solar, Lowers Consumption, Feeds Composts Bins and Worms, Harvests Rainwater, Raises Chickens, Makes Cheese and Soap, and Eats Locally. All In The Effort To Reduce Our Family's Carbon Footprint So We Can Start Making A Difference For Our Children & Future Generations To Come.

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Podcast Reviews

  • Always inspiring and entertaining!
    August 4, 2016 by floriographer from Australia

    I've crowed about Gavin's podcast before but I just have to recommend it once again - I love that he shares his learning as well as his successes - it helps the rest of us try try try again! Thanks Gavin!

  • ms
    July 22, 2016 by Ketaea12 from New Zealand

    I really enjoy listening to Gavin, he has a kind lovely voice. He covers some great relevant topics for the everyday greenie. With lots of tips or how to or what not to do. Thanks Gavin, love it!!

  • Well worth your time to tune in
    October 23, 2015 by A Vision Splendid from Australia

    I can highly recommend Gavin’s podcast ! I have followed Gavin’s blog since the very beginning and have loved to see his journey unfold. Gavin has a lovely speaking voice so this podcast is always very easy to listen to. Gavin has a very authentic approach to his green living lifestyle. He shares the ups and downs but always provides motivation and practical steps that we can all implement.

  • very good
    June 28, 2015 by Scared pax from United Kingdom

    This is a great podcast if you want to improve your life in so many aspects and become a more sustainable person. I love the soothing voice, the good pace, and it contains lots of useful information. Recommended!

  • opened my eyes
    May 25, 2015 by Gorn4lyfe from Australia

    A wonderful show!

  • Inspiring
    April 30, 2015 by Alan Whelan from Ireland

    This is a great podcast if you're looking for practical info on saving money by living more sustainably from someone who's made that journey over the last few years. Told in a nice, easy conversational style

  • Green Living, inspiring and practical
    January 8, 2015 by EliseMac from Australia

    Thanks Gav for sharing what has (and hasn't) worked along your journey for living a greener lifestyle. Inspiring and achievable for anyone, I look forward to this podcast weekly.

  • Local food equals less waste
    December 27, 2014 by allotmentadventureswithjean from Australia

    Another brilliant podcast from Gavin Webber encouraging us, and showing us how, to cut down on food miles, growing our own food, and cutting down on food waste. Gavin is a really interesting speaker, showing us how to eat better, growing our own food and how to live more sustainably.

  • Honestly australian
    December 15, 2014 by HodgepodgeOz from Australia

    Fantastic podcast, with a wide variety of well thought and researched topics. Gavin is a honest, forthright pod aster with a genuine interest in helping others get green. Like a day alongside is a day wasted, so too is a week without listening to Gavin. Highly recommended for people starting out, or those in the midst of their new lifestyle. Keep it up Gavin, wish there were more great reviews! Kimberley

  • Morning motivation
    December 8, 2014 by Bunnyworm from Australia

    Gavin has a great passion for living this greener lifestyle that motivates others to do the same. The podcasts are always interesting and informative. :)

  • Passionate Advocate
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    Gavin's enthusiasm and passion for creating a more sustainable world is nothing short of contagious. Thanks Gav, you are my weekly source of motivation for living a sustainable life! :)

  • Gavin speaks from the heart
    October 13, 2014 by Green gavin from Australia

    Gavin's podcasts are required listening for anyone planning to live a more sustainable life. He doesn't preach, but tells you his story from the heart. You'll laugh, smile, share in his concerns and along the way you'll pick up some great tips on living a simple life.

  • Green thoughts, so well iterated
    October 9, 2014 by Kwasikwami from Australia

    This is a wonderful podcast. Not only does Gavin talk knowledgeably on a range of sustainability topics from gardening tips all the way to the issues facing humanity as a whole, but he does so in such a wonderful voice, it's like listening to my Dad, love it!!

  • Easy listening inspiration on being green
    September 24, 2014 by Broomedy from Australia

    Gav knows how to share his journey to a more sustainable life in a manner that shows just how easy it really is. Not to mention healthier, economically beneficial and generally rewarding. The podcasts are an easy way to absorb Gav's great lifestyle. I recommend to anyone.

  • Thanks Gavin!
    August 31, 2014 by Honeywoodmilk from Australia

    Great practical advice for a greener lifestyle. This podcast is for anybody interested in growing their own food in suburbia, saving electricity, brewing beer, making cheese, all that wonderful business and most of all, saving money! Thanks Gavin, love the podcast mate!

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    Like you we are having winter here in Chile—brrr! Every bit we can save on heating we will.

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    Excellent podcasts, which are full of information to help get started on a sustainable lifestyle.

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    July 19, 2014 by HeathrowHeath from Australia

    I highly recommend Gavin's podcast and blog. Down to earth, entertaining and inspirational. Thank you.

  • Interesting & easy to listen to
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    Gavin & his guests make this green journey lots of fun.

  • Great green listen
    April 18, 2014 by Obscurenickname from Australia

    Gavin is a great down to earth, tell it like it is aussie with a passion for sustainability and growing food and making cheese

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