Never underestimate the power of social media. Oh sure, Twitter, Facebook and the like can lead to the dissipation of our time and energy in unproductive pursuits. I myself have fallen down a few social media rabbit holes, only to emerge hours later, bleary-eyed and with no recollection of how the day passed. But those times are few and far between, and I generally feel my time on social sharing channels has been well spent. After years of strenuously resisting it, I am a convert. It is without question the best way to promote my work on All Day I Dream About Food. I can’t imagine writing a blog and getting anyone other than my own family to read it if I didn’t use social media.
Even as a convert, I am always a little slow to adopt the newest, latest and greatest things in social media. Case in point: Instagram. I’ve only just really started using it with any sense of purpose and even that is rather spotty. When it first became available for Android last year, I signed up right away, took a few fun shots of my kids, played with the filters a bit, and forgot about it. I certainly didn’t think to take pictures of all the food I was making and eating – it simply didn’t occur to me. I don’t have many followers on there and I don’t even really know how to grow my audience. For me, Instagram was simply a fun way to make lousy camera shots of my kids look all cool and vintage-y.
And then a few weeks ago, I happened to post a quick shot of some homemade mascarpone. I linked it to my Facebook and Twitter accounts and I was floored by the response. Everybody and their dog was asking how to make homemade mascarpone. Huh, maybe there is something to this “food on Instagram” thing after all! And of course, I am more than happy to oblige with the recipe. Having made my own homemade cream cheese, I knew that homemade mascarpone was possible. I came across a number of instructions online, all of which were almost identical. In the end I followed the instructions from London Bakes, who got hers from A Pastry Affair, who got hers from a bunch of instructions on the internet, all of which were almost identical. It seems that there is one accepted way to make mascarpone and everybody’s doing it. Now you can too, because it’s ridiculously easy. Even easier than making your own cream cheese. And it’s ridiculously good. I can’t see ever buying storebought again.
Even though I don’t use it to advantage, I really do love Instagram. It’s so fun to play with, I find I don’t even care if anyone else is paying attention or not. It’s a great way to jazz up pictures of my kids, and the filters can really make a difference to a grainy, blurry camera photo. It’s convenient too. I almost always have my phone on me, whereas my big, heavy dSLR sits at home. With my kids growing so fast, I don’t want to forget those spontaneous moments when we’re all having a great time. And just because I feel like it, I am going to share a few of my favorite Instagram shots. If you’re on Instagram too, I’d love to connect!
Homemade Mascarpone Cheese
Ingredients
- 2 cups heavy cream not ultra-pasteurized
- 1 tablespoon fresh-squeezed lemon juice
Instructions
- In a large saucepan, heat cream over over medium heat to a low simmer, until it reaches about 190F (I found I had to go to about 195F to get a gentle simmer going).
- Stir in lemon juice and continue to cook for 5 more minutes, keeping it right at about 190F. You may have to turn your burner up and down to keep the temperature constant. Mixture will thicken to the consistency of gravy.
- Remove from heat and let cool. Mixture will continue to thicken.
- Line a sieve with a clean tea towel or several layers of cheesecloth and set over a bowl. Pour cream mixture into sieve and refrigerate for 8 to 12 hours.
- Transfer to an airtight container and press plastic wrap flush to the surface. Can be stored in fridge for about a week.
Arthur in the Garden! says
Wonderful!
Claudia from Roaring Shoes says
Great recipe! A basic to get inspired from! Look what I did with my mascarpone <3
http://sphotos-a.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/1001037_513354092053164_1543155630_n.jpg
Carolyn says
Yum!
Marianne says
If you don’t have any cheesecloth, you can strain your mascarpone using a big coffee filter. I line a handled strainer with the coffee filter, pour in the cream mixture & set it on a big measuring cup overnight to drain. It makes cleanup sooooo easy.
Alexandra @ Confessions of a Bright-Eyed Baker says
So excited to read this!!! I never knew you could make mascarpone at home… and the ingredients are so simple!
I just started using Instagram seriously for my blog too; I love it! I was like you, when it first came out I just used it for the filters; I didn’t even realize all the social media stuff going on with it! That picture of your daughter is so cute. 🙂
Jeanette says
I’d never think to make mascarpone cheese – thanks for showing how simple it really is!
Rosie @ Blueberry Kitchen says
Oh wow, I can’t believe it’s so easy to make mascarpone and I had no idea! Thanks so much for sharing this recipe, I really can’t wait to try it!
Donna Hart says
I am highly allergic to lemon anything so I am wondering if you could use lime or orange instead. I’ve never tasted mascarpone cheese, so I would really like to make this.
Thanks for any info you could offer.
Carolyn says
Hi Donna! Here’s a link I just found that says you can use vinegar or tartaric acid! http://www.joepastry.com/2010/homemade_mascarpone/
Sommer @ ASpicyPerspective says
Sounds easy and delicious! Thanks!
Gerry @ Foodness Gracious says
Mmmmmmascarpone is so good and so easy to work with! Get back on the Instagram train Miss C, I use it a lot!!
The Mom Chef ~ Taking on Magazines One Recipe at a Time says
I’m in the same boat as you with regard to Instagram. I never remember to use it, or that I even have it on my phone and iPad. Heck, I don’t think I’ve ever even looked at my account there. I guess I should remedy that.
Regarding the mascarpone, I’m floored by the ingredients. Considering the cost of a container in the store, I figured it had a little gold dust in it or something. Thank you for sharing the recipe. I’m definitely making this!
Carrie @ Bakeaholic Mama says
I am floored by how easy this is…. I think I’m going to try it today!
Carolyn says
Yep, ridiculously easy!
Rosemary says
I just found the pin it button. Thanks
Rosemary says
Why can’t I pin this recipe on Pinterest? It’d too good not to share plus that’s where I store my recipes. I do follow you there. Thanks
Carolyn says
Why is not pinning? It works for me.
Heather from Canada says
Hi Carolyn, what are your mascarpone and strawberries resting on in the photo?
Carolyn says
Almond muffin tops. It’s just my almond crusted butter cake batter baked in a muffin top pan!
Georgia @ The Comfort of Cooking says
Wow! Who would’ve thought it was so easy?! I’ve got to try this.
Brian @ A Thought For Food says
I don’t see how anyone could be disappointed by this… how wonderfully decadent!
Susan says
Where do you find heavy cream that is not ultrapasturized? I’ve had a recipe for marscarpone from The Cheese Queen (great instructional DVD in the intro kit) but haven’t found any. I’m in Boston too, so your source would be helpful to me. Also, does the non-ultrapasteurized caveat apply to your cream cheese recipe too? Thanks!
Carolyn says
Hi Susan…I actually use Richardson’s and I go straight to their farm up in Middleton. I like it because although it isn’t fully organic, their cows are mostly pastured and only fed grain in the winter. And their cream is un-homogenized too. You actually have to shake the container to mix it up before pouring it out. I know they sell it Jordan’s in Reading too, but I think you have to call and order ahead because they don’t keep it on hand. It’s cheaper to get it straight from the farm (it’s really inexpensive too!). I think the cream cheese would work with ultra-pasteurized. I think I’ve used just whatever half and half I have on hand.
Susan says
Thanks.. I’m carless, but I’ll keep it in mind. If the growers market in Boston/Haymarket ever gets going, perhaps that will become a source. I just checked Ricki’s (Cheese Queen) page and she does say that some brands of ultrpasteurized will work, but that you don’t know ahead of time. I may try it with the Heavy cream I have on hand just to see.
John says
Whole Foods brand heavy cream is not UP. So if there is a WF at an acceptable distance you can get the cream there 🙂
RavieNomNoms says
Ummm, YUM!!! This looks amazing! I am so jealous I don’t have this in my house haha
Trish @infinebalance says
Who would have thought you could make your own mascarpone? I’m off to check out home-made cream cheese.
Luana says
There is a picture on your Instagram of flourless brownies that look like they must be the best thing ever. Did a search on your site and did not find recipe. Will you post it sometime? Soon?
Carolyn says
I made them up on the fly while on vacation but I plan on making them again soon!
Lynn says
This is awesome! Thanks for sharing! The local grocery stores don’t carry Mascarpone cheese here so now all I need are some cannoli molds and I am ready to go 😉 Thanks Carolyn!
Carolyn says
Enjoy!