homemade American cheese

As you know, we have been diligently trying to rid ourselves of processed foods this past month.  There is one food that I buy each month because it makes the best grill cheese sandwiches.

I know it is probably one of the worst foods that I like to have along with my coffee creamer.  Technically I don’t even think you can consider it cheese.  It is more of a scientific mix of milk, whey, milkfat, artificial flavorings, oh and dyes to give it that orange color.

But how can you make homemade tomato soup and NOT make grill cheese sandwiches???  When we make our sandwiches I add some “real” cheese along with the American cheese to make myself feel better about feeding it to my children.  Why shouldn’t I just MAKE the American cheese myself?  Well that is what I did this week.

You will need the following to make this:

• 1 1/2 teaspoons unflavored gelatin
• 1 Tablespoon water
• 12 ounces of colby cheese, you can use cheddar if you like
• 1 Tablespoon dry milk powder
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1/8 teaspoon cream of tartar
• 1/2 cup plus 2 Tablespoons milk

In your food processor put your shredded cheese, powdered milk, salt, and cream of tartar.  Pulse for a few seconds to combine the mixure.

In a saucepan bring your milk to a boil.  Remove from heat.In a separate bowl sprinkle the gelatin into your water.  Stir with a fork.  After dissolved stir this into the milk until mixed well.

Slowly pour your milk mixture into your food processor and process until smooth.

It will take about 1 minute.

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Transfer your mixture to a pan that you have lined with plastic wrap.  You can use a bread pan, a square pan, even a plastic dish.  Smooth down the top and spread out evenly in pan.

Cover with plastic wrap.  In my photo, I doubled the recipe that is why it fits a square pan.  Refrigerate for about 3 hours until completely hardened.

Enjoy it immediately. We sliced some off and made grilled cheese sandwiches and I didn’t even add any other cheese to it.  Tastes delicious.