>>48323133Check out Gavin Webber on youtube, he is a fantastic starting point for newcomers with tons of great info, recipes and resources. He's also an Aussie. I've used many of his recipes to great success.
>>48323183I have a parmesan I made four years ago still in my fridge. Depends on the kind of cheese you make and the conditions you keep it in, but if you do it right, cheese can keep for years so long as you keep it from getting contaminated.
>>48323221There are some cheeses you don't have to age very long at all, and some that you can use immediately (mozzarella, ricotta, etc.)
The waiting for the longer ones is part of the fun, really. If you make one every couple weeks or months, you'll have lots of cheese to look forward to over time.
Bonus pic of manicotti stuffed with my homemade ricotta, topped with grated homemade parmesan and my own red meat sauce.
absolutely no microwaves involved 