* 7 Pints full-cream Milk
* ¼ teaspoon freeze dried DVI starter
* * ''I used a generic Ascott starter''.
* 8 drops Rennet
* 1 tablespoon Sea salt

===Method===
* Warm the Milk to 32° C (90° F)
* Mix ¼ teaspoons of freeze dried DVI starter with 4 tablespoons of lukewarm water.
* Whisk into the Milk and stir really well so it is properly mixed.
* Cover and leave for 1 hour.
* Mix 8 drops of Rennet with 4 tablespoons lukewarm water and whisk into the Milk. Stir really well so it is properly mixed.
* Leave for 2 hours for the Milk to solidify.
* Cut the curds with a long knife into 5 mm (1/4") cubes.
* Leave to rest for 20 minutes.
* In a double boiler, heat the outer water to 39° C (102° F), using extra heat to keep this temperature stable, and stir the Curds regularly until they reach 39° C (102° F). Stir regularly and don't overheat or the curds will melt together and you'll end up with Mozzarella cheese!
* Once the Curd temperature is stable at 39° C (102° F), cook the Curds for another 45 minutes. As before, stabilise by using a little extra heat - you won't need much. Stir regularly to prevent the curds knitting together. A spring-type whisk (pictured) works well for this.
* Drain the Curds in a cheesecloth lined Colander.
* Add them back to the double boiler, stir well with a whisk to break up the Curds and cook for another 45 minutes at 39° C (102° F).
* Sprinkle in the sea salt and mix well.
* Place the Curds in a cheesecloth lined cheese mould and press with a 9kg (20 lbs) weight for 45 minutes.
* Take the Cheese out of the cheese mould and turn it round.
* Press it again with 22 kg (50 lb) for 24 hours.
* Remove from the cheese press and dry for 5 days at room temperature.
* Wrap in a sterilised cheesecloth, seal the Cheddar with a flour and water paste and mature for 3 to 24 months
* Unless you have a cave handy, the fridge is probably the best place to mature your homemade cheese although it's really going to be too cold. After discovering the top shelf of my often-opened fridge could be as much as 5° C warmer than the bottom, I've decided to mature my cheeses there. As all fridges differ, check various areas of your fridge with a thermometer to find the area that is around 11°C [51° F], the ideal 'cave' temperature.
* Ideally hard cheeses should be left to mature for up to 3 months or more and turned regularly; however, if you don't have the patience to wait that long for your home-made cheese you will find the results of a young cheese perfectly acceptable.

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