Goat Milk

 

 

 

What is Halloumi?

 

Halloumi or Halloumi cheese  is a traditional Cypriot cheese that is also popular in the rest of the Middle East and Greece, and is now made in many countries and regions around the world. Traditional artisan Halloumi cheese is made from unpasteurised goats milk, sheep milk or a combination of the two. Traditionally, the mint leaves were used as a preservative. The cheese is white, with a distinctive layered texture, similar to Mozzarella, and has a salty flavor. But, today, Halloumi is often garnished with mint to add to the taste. Many people also like Halloumi that has been aged; it is much drier, much stronger and much saltier.

 

With its ability to withstand high temperatures without melting, Halloumi cheese can add variety and interest to cooked dishes and salads. In fact, Halloumi slices can be grilled or fried on its own. The cheese is very easy to make. Its heat resistant property comes from the fact that the fresh curds are boiled in whey and then placed in a brine solution for storage. The brine solution also makes this a long-lasting, but naturally salty cheese, and the brine is often rinsed off before the cheese is cooked or eaten.

 

The Halloumi cheese is made with only two ingredients: goat milk and rennet. The lack of cultures causes this cheese to be rather bland, and mint leaves are used to impart flavor to it. Some modern recipes also call for the addition of a mesophilic starter culture to add more flavor.

 

Ingredients:

 

• 1/2 gallon whole goat milk
• 1/8 tsp. rennet
• 1/8 cup water
• 1/2 tsp. chopped mint (optional)

Special supply:

• cheese cloth -lined colander

 

Directions:

 

• Warm the milk to 90°F. Add the rennet to the water, and stir into the milk. Continue to stir for 30-60 seconds to be sure the rennet is evenly distributed.
• Let the milk rest until the surface has gelled, usually about 10-15 minutes. You can check for gelling by lightly touching the surface of the milk with the flat side of a small spoon. If the spoon leaves an indent, the milk has gelled.
• Multiply the amount of time until surface gelling by 2, and wait that much longer before cutting the curd into 2″ pieces with a long knife. For example, if it was 10 minutes before the surface gelled, wait 20 more minutes to cut the curd – cutting horizontally, vertically and diagonally across the depth of the curd.
• Let the curd pieces rest for about 10 minutes, then cut them into smaller, 1/2″ pieces. Let the smaller pieces rest for 10 more minutes.
• Now, stir the curds gently for 10-15 minutes to encourage the whey to separate.
• Pour the curds into a cheese cloth-lined colander placed over a pot (you will be using this pot of whey later), and let drain for several hours until no whey is left standing with the curds.
• * Optional – At this point, you can add about 1/2 tsp. chopped mint into the curds, or wait and place mint inside the folded pieces of cheese at the end of the process.
• Fold the cheese cloth over the curds and press with your hands to remove more whey and to fuse the curds together. If the curds are still very loose and moist, place a weight on top (a gallon of water works fine), and continue to let drain.
• When the curds are dry enough to stick together well, cut them into approximately 2″ wide strips. Bring the pot of drained whey almost to a boil (around 195°F), and drop in the cheese strips.
• Let cook for about 10-15 minutes, or until the strips float to the surface. Remove the strips from the whey, lightly salt each side, and let cool for 1-2 hours.

 

 

How to store and enjoy Halloumi?

 

To store the Halloumi, you can make a brine solution of 1/2 cup salt dissolved in 1 quart water. It is traditional to fold the cheese slices in half, making a “U” shape (* Optional – with mint leaves inside the folded portion), before storing in the brine.

The brine will keep your Halloumi good for several months, and the flavor will increase with storage time.

You can grill or fry your Halloumi, or use it to top salads and stir-fries. The thick, chewy texture of this cheese makes it a great protein substitute for meat in main dishes.

 

 

Additional  Cheeses Recipes; Click the Link NOW!

 

 

Related topic for you;

 

MOZZARELLA

 

 

 

 

Facials provide a number of benefits for your skin, depending upon the ingredients used. They can help stimulate the skin and increase circulation, help prevent wrinkles, and tone and moisturize skin. Alternatively, help remove excess oils.

 

Skin is classified as the largest organ of the body, and as such, requires nourishment just like our internal organs. While the food we eat provides nutrients for the skin, as well as the rest of the body, our skin also has the ability to absorb substances directly.

 

Homemade facials are a great way to pamper yourself  and your skin without the high price of a spa. Facials can range from the application of a single ingredient, to complex combinations of ingredients applied in sequence. As  goat milk is rich in protein, fat, vitamins and minerals, therefore, it  is just as healthy for you on the outside as it is on the inside.

 

The cultured goat milk products, like yogurt, sour cream and buttermilk, have the added benefit of lactic acid, which is one of the Alpha hydroxy acids (AHAs) that are found in many commercial beauty and anti-aging creams and lotions. Alpha hydroxy acids help remove the dead surface-layer skin cells, revealing newer, younger-looking cells and its ability to combat acne. AHAs have been used for centuries for skin rejuvenation.

 

Learn How To Make Cultured Goat Milk Facials

 

Why make facial product?

 

While you are soaking in that bath, you can simultaneously be rejuvenating your face with a homemade goat milk facial!

What is the best part about making your own facial products?  They are inexpensive, and they actually work!

The 3 facial recipes below all include yogurt, a great nourishing and moisturizing agent. For all the recipes below, blend all ingredients thoroughly. Using a food processor or blender will ensure a smooth mixture.

 

Goat Milk Yogurt Facial Recipe #1

This one really moisturizes, and leaves skin super soft.

• 1 Tablespoon.  Goat milk yogurt
• 1 Tablespoon.  Honey
• enough Corn starch to thicken

 

Goat Milk Yogurt Facial Recipe #2

The oatmeal in this recipe helps dry excess oils, while the yogurt and honey nourish and moisturize. It is best to blend the oatmeal in a food processor or blender first – before cooking,  to make the particles smaller.

• 2 Tablespoons.  Cooked Oatmeal
• 1-2 Tablespoon.  Goat milk yogurt
• 1 Tablespoon.  Honey

 

Goat Milk Yogurt Facial Recipe #3

Cucumber makes this recipe cool and refreshing, and leaves skin feeling smooth, clean and toned.

• 1/2 of a small cucumber, seeded
• 1/2 cup goat yogurt
• 1-2 tsp. goat milk powder to thicken

 

Dry Goat Milk Facial Recipe 

 

Why make Dry goat milk facial?

 

The facial recipe below utilizes only two simple ingredients to get you started.

Powdered goat milk makes it easier to get a thick paste in this facial, and the use of buttermilk for the liquid gives you the benefit of alpha-hydroxy acids (AHAs) for smoother skin.

• 1/2 cup Powdered Goat Milk
• enough Buttermilk to make a paste

 

For all facials, start with freshly cleansed skin. Then, apply a very warm, moist cloth to the face for a few minutes to open the pores. Apply the facial mixture and leave on for 10-20 minutes. Wash off gently with a warm, wet cloth. Finally, rinse with cool water to close the pores and help retain the nourishing benefits of the facial ingredients.

 

After you have try these recipes, experiment on your own to find combination that work best for your skin.

 

*More Suggestions:

Experimenting with homemade facials is a lot of fun, and no doubt you will find original combination  that are even better than these.  So, get off the beaten path, and make your own recipes! Here are a few more ideas to fuel your thoughts.

1. Sour cream can usually be substituted for yogurt. When trying this, reduce the amount of thickeners, such as corn starch or powdered milk, as the sour cream is usually a good bit thicker than yogurt.
2. Most fruits make great additions to facials. Pineapple, papaya, bananas and grapes are commonly used. Orange juice and lemon juice contain vitamin C, but use carefully, as these may irritate some skin types.
3. Add in crushed fresh herbs, like peppermint, catnip, or chamomile, or use tea from the herbs as the liquid portion of the facial.

Want more fun DIY Facial Product? Check out our other goat milk facial post.

 

 

 

 

 

Now that you have made your Dill Bread and if you still have a lot of left over whey, firstly, let us get started and experiment it on your skin and hair.

 

Whey, the nutritious liquid left over from curdled milk when the curds are removed. Whey contains the water-soluble proteins, vitamins, and minerals in the milk. And there are many things you can do with this leftover whey. Besides using it in bread baking, soup stock, to cook pasta and in a pinch to ripen your cheese if you are out of culture, you can even drink whey plain or sweetened. When taken internally, whey protein is rapidly assimilated by the body and it provides your body with the complete protein it needs to regenerate and rejuvenate the protein-rich hair and skin cells.

 

Whey can be used on your skin as  cleanser, toner and moisturizer. Whey is gentle and slightly anti-microbial. Recent personal testimonies have stated that whey helps with acne. In fact, it was shown in a cosmetic pre-development research that whey helps lighten skin pigmentation like, age spots. And several commercial skin products have incorporate whey in their skin care products due to its benefits.

 

The simplest way to use whey for skin care is a whey bath. Simply add 1-2 cups of whey to a tub of fresh water. Soak for 10-20 minutes. The acidity of the whey is great for restoring the pH level of the skin, and the whey proteins will help rejuvenate skin cells.

 

For tired eyes, wet a tea bag with cold whey and place over closed eyes. It is best when apply in the morning. In five to ten minutes, you should feel completely refreshed!

 

For any homemade skin care recipes that use water, use whey instead, and when using a dry clay mask, wet your face first with whey.

 

Now that you have a list of whey benefits so, go ahead and make your own whey toner.

 

Why make whey toner?

 

Whey is a fantastic product for the skin, as well as for hair care.

 

Whey toner is one of my favorites  for mornings and it is inexpensive.  Make the night before and store in the refrigerator. Use ice-cold over face for a great way to start the day. Leave on for 5 minutes, then rinse with cool water.

 

If you already have leftover whey from making cheeses, then this is great! Just use about 1 cup of whey to make the tea as per instructions below. But, if you do not, this recipe is a quick way to make instant whey and toner.

• 1/2 cup Goat milk buttermilk
• 1 Chamomile tea bag

 

Place the tea bag and the buttermilk in a small, microwaveable bowl. Microwave on high for about 1 minute, or until the buttermilk has separated into “curds and whey,” and is steaming hot, but not boiling.

Strain through a tea strainer into a jar and refrigerate. Use the next morning to make your face feel alive! Additionally, your face will feel incredibly clean, but not dry.

 

 

 

Goat Milk Bath Bombs Recipe

 

Fizzing bath bombs are the perfect way to transform an ordinary bath into a luxury soak to soothe sore, tired skin. A creamy goat milk bath bomb will moisturize dry skin while calming irritations caused by psoriasis, eczema, sunburns and other conditions.

 

Requirements:

 

• Citric acid
• Baking soda
• Goat Whey Powder
• Vanilla essential oil
• Almond oil
• Molds
• Waxed paper
• Air-tight container

 

Instructions:

 

1. Measure 1/2 cup citric acid, 1 and 1/4 cups baking soda and 1/4 cup of powdered goat milk in a bowl. Stir the dry ingredients until combined.
2. Add 15 drops of vanilla essential oil and 2 tsp. of water to the mixture. Other essential oils that work great with goat milk include musk, sandalwood and jasmine. Add about 5 drops of food coloring, if desired.
3. Drizzle almond oil slowly into the mixture, gradually adding between 2 and 6 tbsp. Stir the mixture constantly, adding only enough oil as is necessary for the bath bombs to hold together without crumbling when formed into a ball.
4. Press the mixture firmly into lightly oiled molds, allowing the bath bombs to set for a few minutes before tapping them out onto a sheet of waxed paper. Allow your goat milk bath bombs to dry thoroughly before placing them in an airtight container for storage.

 

What is your favorite scent combination?

 

 

 

How Whey Benefit Your Hair?

 

Whey is an excellent hair care product. Whey nourishes, strengthens and softens hair. You will probably find that after using whey on your hair, it is much healthier and shinier looking. And, because it is slightly acidic, whey helps improve the health of your scalp – where your hair gets its nourishment.

 

There are several variations of uses for whey on your hair. If your hair is not extremely filthy or oily, you can use whey in place of a shampoo to cleanse your hair. Just rub in thoroughly and rinse with cool to lukewarm water.

 

If your hair needs a thorough cleansing than shampoo first, and follow with a whey rinse. Leave on the hair for 5 to 15 minutes, then gently rinse with water.

 

Need some serious conditioning? Wet clean hair thoroughly with the whey, brushing with styling brush to distribute evenly, then let dry naturally. Rinse with warm water, dry and style. You are really going to love how soft and silky your whey-conditioned hair looks.

 

Another of my favorite hair care uses for whey! If you use styling gel, cream or mousse on your hair, try using whey instead. Just spray or comb whey through your wet hair and style as usual.

 

The whey adds great texture and body to hair, and is especially useful for fine or limp hair, because it does not weigh it down like many hair products. Just be sure to keep separating the hairs as you dry, or the hair will tend to clump together, just like gel, cream or mousse would do.

 

Whey is the best heat and humidity-resistant hair styling product that I have come across. Even in an extreme heat index of over 110 degrees F, the whey would hold your hair without collapsing.

 

And, not forgetting, you are getting the benefit of all that protein for your hair as well!

 

 

Want more fun DIY Skin Care recipe?  Also, check out my other soaping recipes.