mum's miraculous mascarpone

squee!! i fell in love with *mascarpone* the instant i heard hugh jackman say the word in kate and leopold. during christmas week, for a fraction of the cost of the stuff in the shops, mum and i (well, mum actually... i took the pics and she did the making and commentarying) made our own:
it's so easy peasy and takes about 24 hours (most of which is spent languishing in the fridge)

all you need is love
1 litre of cream
1/2 tsp (generous measure) citric acid
stir cream over gentle heat
until it NEARLY boils.
remove from heat and add citric acid.
cool. the mixture thickens.
pour into jerry-rigged
muslin cloth-lined sieve
which is propped in a saucepan.
pop in fridge overnight.
lift sieve from pan and
*look!* whey... and mascarpone!!!!!
tip mascarpone into bowl
and give it a stir.
voilà!!!

ah... perhaps one day when you've awoken from a pleasant slumber to the scent of a warm brioche smothered in marmalade and fresh creamery butter (or in this case, mum's amazing orange cake and mascarpone), you'll understand that life is not solely composed of tasks, but tastes.
i think that shall be my new mantra.