curds and whey

Little Miss Muffet

Sat on a tuffet

Eating her curds and whey.

Along came a spider and sat down beside her

And chased Little Miss Muffet away.

Who knows what curds and whey are? I sure didn't, though I used to say the nursery rhyme with as much gusto as the next beanpole legged girl. It was while I was looking at a homemade ravioli recipe online the other day that I learned.

*

Evidently you can make your own ricotta-like cheese with reconstituted dry milk (why not just wet milk to begin with? - who knows.), vinegar, and sea salt. At the end of the making process, you've got curds and whey: coagulated cheese in water. You drain the whey, or water, and you're left with the curds. I am EXCITED to know this, for a reason I can't quite put my finger on.

Now then. What the devil is a tuffet?