July 6, 2020
This is quite the rambling post where I share many ways I’ve been using goat’s milk in the kitchen. And please, before you are impressed, let me assure you that anytime I’m making something other than a box of mac and cheese, I’m usually foregoing some responsibilities. No mom has enough time to do everything, and as I learned this morning, it obviously has been our bedsheets that have suffered while I’ve been busy in the kitchen.
On this very Monday morning, as I announced, “Boys, take off your bedsheets. We are washing today,” Allen informed us matter-of-factly that his sheets smell like boogers. Okay then. Now that you understand the full spectrum of my life and realize the reality behind the pretty food pictures, I’ll tell you about some amazing ways to use goat’s milk.
We get about three quarts of fresh goat’s milk per day and that fills the fridge quickly. I have had to get creative to keep up.
I started off by making yogurt. Instant pot makes it so easy! Add eight cups of milk, set the yogurt button to boil, cool down in ice bath, add two scoops of active live yogurt, give it a stir, and incubate in instant pot for 6-12 hours. You can do this with cow’s milk too although I haven’t tried. We use this yogurt in fruit smoothies almost every day!
From there, I made some simple flavored gelatin mixed with yogurt and pudding recipes. I also stopped buying milk from the store and began only using goat’s milk in cooking and baking. Most of the time we can’t even tell a difference. I have a pumpkin pie recipe that uses goat’s milk in place of evaporated milk, and it is delicious!
Next I learned to make homemade goat milk ice cream. I’ve done lemon vanilla, chocolate peppermint, dark chocolate, banana, strawberry, and cookie dough. The base recipe is milk, tempered egg yolks, and sugar of course! The ice cream itself is lighter than regular ice cream and balances somewhere between slushy and creamy. Our whole family loves it!
At this point, I left culinary creations and began experimenting with soap making. It was a bit intimidating at first with using caustic lye and words like saponification, but I’ve found it isn’t all that hard. I’ve made three batches so far. I began with a basic goat milk castille soap made only with olive oil, lye, and goat’s milk. Next I used goat’s milk to make lavendar bars with added coconut oil and fresh lavendar leaves. And finally, my last batch was a milk and honey bar that smells good enough to eat. All are still currently curing (up to 6 weeks time), but we can’t wait to try them!
From there, I returned to edible creations and ventured into farmer’s cheese. Heat milk to just before boil, pour in either lemon juice or vinegar, and let the curds form. Strain whey and squeeze. It can be eaten on bagel, toast, or cracker with savory or sweet seasoning by adding peppers, onions, salt, honey, or jam. It can also be used as queso blanco or ricotta in recipes or as a topping on salads. This cheese is versatile, and the possibilities are endless.
Then came cajeta. It’s a delicious caramel sauce traditionally made from goat’s milk which gives it a rich and unique flavor. Heat milk and sugar, add in a little baking soda, and simmer for an hour. It must be stirred frequently in the beginning and constantly as it thickens to achieve the smooth caramel texture. It takes about an hour to make and with all the stirring, that’s quite a commitment. Cinnamon, vanilla, or even chocolate are complimentary flavor additions. This sauce can be used as a coffee creamer, drizzled over ice cream, spread on cookies or crackers, or eaten with pretzels or fruit.
Last but not least, I made goat milk fudge. Some say you can’t go wrong with chocolate and peanut butter, and this fudge was no exception. I’m going to make it again and try more flavors soon. I’m thinking may be maple walnut or mint chocolate would be good.
Next on my list is chevre cheese! It’s a simple cheese made with culture and rennet. Hopefully it will be a success.
Speaking of culture, I want to assure you my boys are sleeping on clean sheets tonight. I would say that there are absolutely no boogers, but well, they are boys after all.
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