Pantry Friendly Cottage Cheese & Bakers Cheese
1/4 rennet tablet
1 quart warm water
3 C. non-instant powdered milk
½ C. buttermilk
In 1 quart warm water, dissolve 14 of a rennet tablet. (Junket is a brand name of rennet that you can find in most grocery stores in the Jell-O section.) Combine water, milk, and buttermilk in blender. Blend 011 low. Add to dissolved rennet-water mixture. Stir well, then let set in warm room 6—12 hours. It is set when it’s firm and has a touch of whey on the sides. When it is set, cut into 14-inch squares and set the bowl in a sink or bigger bowl of hot water. Gently stir the curds at frequent intervals to warm evenly and break up the curds. When they have warmed through and broken into curds and whey, pour through a strainer with a cheesecloth lining. Drain and rinse with cold water until it is cool and well washed. Add salt (around 1 tsp., depending on taste). To make it creamy, you can then add milk and cream.
To make bakers cheese instead, transfer cheese when it has set after 6-12 hours and place in cheesecloth lined colander. Strain out whey until it reaches the consistency of cream cheese. This usually takes 12-24 hours. This can be substituted for most soft cheeses in recipes, especially cream cheese in dips in baked goods.