IMsooHypr: About curds and whey - were you asking what they are, or were you saying you know what they are and were asking if anyone else knew? If you take cottage cheese as an example, the curds are the solid lumps and the whey is the liquid.
I love cottage cheese (the American dairy case stuff in tubs), but I am
super finicky about it. Small curd only, and I want firm, individual little curds, not soft, gloppy, sticky curds, ew. When I dish it up, I put a little milk in, and sprinkle paprika on top. I am sure there are people at my neighborhood supermarket who have wondered, "Why is that strange woman holding cottage cheese cartons up to the light and tilting them back and forth?" but I've learned that's the best way to guess at a "good" carton - if it sloshes back and forth, it's probably what I like; if it doesn't move when you tilt the carton, it's the mushy-sticky stuff.
Yes, I
am that weird.
"In my own little corner..."