Fantabulously Easy Under an Hour Fresh Mozzarella

Dissolve the rennet in the 1/4 cup of bottled water and set aside.

In a large pot pour one cup of filtered or bottled water and 1 1/2 teaspoons of citric acid stirring to dissolve.

Pour in one gallon of whole milk and heat to 88° over a medium burner.

When your thermometer reaches 88° remove the pot from the heat source and add the reserved rennet mixture, stirring for 30 seconds.

Let the curds set for 5 to 8 minutes. At this point I will press my hand down on the curds so gently to see if there is a clear yellow whey liquid - if not let it sit for another 2 or 3 minutes.

With a long knife that reaches the bottom of your pot start cutting the curds north to south and then east to west into one inch cubes.

Scoop out the curds carefully and ladle into a quart sized plastic bowl which is microwave safe. Press the curds and drain off the whey.

Microwave on high for one minute and pour off the whey.

Quickly knead the curds into a ball with your hands (wear kitchen gloves since the curds will be increasingly hot) or a silicone spatula. Pour off the whey.

Microwave again for 30 seconds and quickly knead with a silicone spatula, pouring off whey. It's starting to get hot at this point so don't use your hands.

Microwave a third time for 30 seconds and quickly knead with a silicone spatula and pour off the whey.

The cheese should be nice and shiny and quite warm and nice and stretchy so wear gloves and knead and stretch the cheese like taffy. NOTE: I make the recipe with a silicone spatula and not my hands. I stretch and knead against the side of the bowl with excellent results and no scalded fingers. Add cheese salt at this point if you want. Separate into smaller balls if desired.

Drop the ball into ice water to cool.

Wrap in plastic wrap and eat within 24 hours. For best taste eat the same day.

Some folks like to make a brine to keep the cheese balls in but I think it is best stored in plastic wrap and made the same day you want to eat it.

When you become proficient you can add in yummy things at the same time you salt; try sun-dried tomatoes, basil, parsley, what suits you. You can roll prosciutto into it and slice it for a party.

Save your whey for Ricotta Cheese As a By-Product of Mozzarella ! It will only add a few minutes to your kitchen time!