Elizabeth McReynolds in Chino Hills, California

Elizabeth’s Story

I’m in Southern California. Both my husband and I were born and raised here, but his family is originally from Arkansas. His parents moved back some years ago and he later followed. We were married 2 yrs ago in Arkansas.

We decided to come back to California to start my hubby’s sheet metal construction company (Edz Custom Builders) and to save money to go back and buy land. My dream is for us to be self sufficient on our own homestead.

Meanwhile, I’m starting school (Escoffier Pastry & Baking Program), while homeschooling my granddaughter. Jesus is our rock & foundation, but she is the center of our life – 9 yrs old. I also have 3 sons: 33, 29 and 28.

I’m making cheese 🧀 but I’m totally a beginner. I don’t have a cheese cave yet. This is what I typically make – all from fresh goat milk:

Mozzarella
Rosemary chevre (pressed & crumbled)
Feta
Basil thyme ricotta

How did you first get interested in making cheese?

I love homemade. I love to create. I’m an artist and I happen to love food…. it brings my heart so much joy to serve up something both beautiful and delicious.

I’ve also always loved animals. One day, I stumbled on a homesteader video of Living Traditions and she was showing her Nigerian Goats and talking about them (click here).

Then, I remembered how years before I was hooked on goats for awhile (pictures and stories). I had lost that interest in the business of life, but God brought it back to me. And so, the love for goats was reignited….

After coming back to California, I decided I wasn’t going to wait for my farm and I searched out Nigerian goat breeders. I found a wonderful lady in driving distance and now I make weekly trips to her place (Hidden Hills Nigerians) for fresh goat milk.

They are beautiful goats and beautiful people. I hope to buy my own goat from her next season (maybe…just dreaming again), but who knows?

She has been supplying me with 2-5 gallons of fresh goat milk weekly since then.

This past summer, I milked my first goat while Janie played with the kids (baby goats) and was utterly filled with joy (it’s crazy).

How did you learn to make cheese?

I researched about the benefits of goat milk and decided I could make cheese. I nursed that idea for about a year casually.

As with everything in my life – a thought leads to books, leads to videos, leads to giving something new a try and mastering it.

To shorten that up: Youtube and books and try-try-and try again.

Honestly, cheese is a God sent gift to me. I am so thankful for the time it takes to make….the slow process is so healing. It’s a detox from the craziness of life today where everything is so rushed and fast moving.