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Thirty Minute Mozzarella

Thirty Minute Mozzarella

30minmozzYou can probably find citric acid at a good grocery store, but rennet is harder to come by. You can order it online at several retailers; I’ve purchased it from New England Cheesemaking Supply and Grape and Granary.

I prefer to use liquid vegetarian rennet, which New England Cheesemaking Supply sells at double-strength, so I use 1/8 tsp. for this recipe.

1 gallon Milk, not ultra-pasteurized (Depending on the fat percentage of your milk, you’ll get a very different cheese at the end. Whole milk produces a very rich, soft mozzarella, whereas 1% will make a harder, more string-cheese-like cheese. Fat free can get a bit too rubbery, so I don’t recommend it)
1 1/2 tsp. Citric Acid powder, dissolved in 1/4 cup room-temperature water
1/4 tsp. Liquid Rennet or 1/2 tablet Rennet, dissolved in 1/4 cup room-temperature water
1 tsp. Cheese (Flake) Salt or Kosher Salt

Pour the milk in to a large pot. On medium-low, heat slowly to 55 degrees Fahrenheit. Stir slowly and continuously to keep from scalding. Once the milk reaches 55 degrees, pour in the citric acid mixture and stir well. Keep heating. When the milk hits 88 degrees, add the rennet mixture and stir well. Right around this time the milk will start to thicken, and you’ll see little white flecks stick to your spoon as it starts curdling. Once the milk is in the 90-degree range, it should be noticeably curdled. Stir very gently at this point, if at all — you want to encourage the curds to knit together. Between 95 and 105 degrees, the curds will be quite thick. Turn off the heat once they start separating from the sides of the pot, and there’s a very clear distinction between the curds (white clumps) and whey (yellow liquid). Let the curds rest for 5 minutes.

With a perforated or slotted spoon, ladle the curds into a bowl. The curds will continue expelling whey once they’re in the bowl, which is fine. Once you have pulled most of the curds out of the pot (some little bits will probably still be floating about), pour any excess whey back in the pot. Using a microwave, heat the curds for 60 seconds. Drain off any excess whey, then fold the curds over once, then once again. This is to distribute the heat evenly. Microwave again for about 30-40 seconds, depending on the strength of your microwave. Pour off the whey. Sprinkle the salt onto the cheese, and then fold the curds over twice again. Put them back into the microwave for another 30-40 seconds. Pour of any excess whey.

At this point, the cheese should be very hot, and look like melted mozzarella! The curds will get quite hot — it’s really helpful to have a pair of clean kitchen gloves to protect your hands. Stretch the cheese, and then fold it back on itself. If it tears when you try to stretch it, the cheese is not hot enough; just repeat the microwaving process. Stretch it again once or twice. If you want a more string-cheese like cheese, do it a few more times. You can then twist or braid the cheese, or tear off pieces and roll them into small balls. If you’re going to refrigerate the cheese for later, drop it in a bowl of ice water to get the temperature down quickly. Otherwise, just dig in while it’s still warm!

The Babs

The Babs

5306 slices bacon
Salted Butter, melted
4 slices Rye bread
8 slices Tillamook® Baby Swiss Cheese
4 oz (1/2 cup) bleu cheese crumbles
1 Braeburn apple, sliced to an even thickness

Preheat a countertop griddle to medium-high heat. Begin by cooking the bacon evenly on both sides to your desired crispiness. At the same time, brush butter onto one side of all slices of bread and put them on the grill, butter side down. Top both slices evenly with your Swiss Cheese, and on one side, spread the bleu cheese crumbles. To help the cheese melt faster, place a pot lid over both slices of bread. When the bacon appears done, remove it from the grill and cut each piece in half. This will help it sit in the sandwich without spreading out past the crust. Put the bacon onto the side with the bleu cheese, then place your sliced apples on top of the bacon. Once the bread appears sufficiently browned, close the sandwich and flip it a few times to melt the cheese into the ingredients. After a minute or so, remove from the griddle, cut, plate, and enjoy.

Conchigliette al forno (Baked Shells)

Conchigliette al forno (Baked Shells)

6 ounces portabella mushrooms, cleaned and trimmeBaked-Shellsd
1 stick unsalted butter
1 teaspoon kosher salt
½ cup white wine
One cup of Chicken broth
2 cups finely shredded radicchio
2½ cups heavy cream
½ cup freshly grated Parmigiano-Reggiano
½ cup coarsely shredded fontina
½ cup crumbled Gorgonzola
2 teaspoons mascarpone cheese
6 leaves fresh sage, chopped
1 pound conchigliette rigate (pasta shells)

Preheat the oven to 500 degrees F. Bring a pot of salted water to a boil. Slice the mushrooms about ¼-inch thick. Heat 6 tablespoons of butter in a large skillet; add the mushrooms and ¼ teaspoon salt. Sauté over medium heat, add half cup of dry white wine stirring frequently, add one cup of chicken broth until they are cooked through, 15 to 20 minutes. In a large mixing bowl, combine the mushrooms, radicchio, cream, cheeses, sage. Parboil the pasta shells for 4 minutes; drain and add to the ingredients in the mixing bowl. Toss to combine. Divide the pasta mixture among 6 to 8 individual, shallow, ceramic gratin dishes (1½ to 2 cup capacity). Dot with the remaining 2 tablespoons of butter and bake until bubbly and brown on top, about 7 to 10 minutes. Garnish with fresh Italian parsley, but do not cook the parsley in the pasta.

White Pizza Grilled Cheese

White Pizza Grilled Cheese

white-pizza-grilled-cheese-I-howsweeteats_com-6
2 bulbs garlic
1 teaspoon olive oil
1 pinch of salt
8 ounces mascarpone cheese, at room temperature
¼ cup freshly chopped basil leaves
2 tablespoons freshly chopped rosemary
2 tablespoons freshly chopped thyme leaves
2 tablespoons freshly chopped oregano leaves
1 tablespoon freshly chopped parsley
8 ounces sharp provolone cheese, freshly grated
4 ounces mozzarella cheese, freshly grated
2 ounces parmesan cheese, freshly grated
8 thick slices Italian or sourdough bread

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Slice off the top of the bulb of garlic and remove any of the outside paper from the bulb. Drizzle the exposed cloves with olive oil. Wrap the bulb in foil and roast for 1 hour, until the cloves are golden and caramely. Let the garlic cool slightly. Squeeze the cloves out in a bowl and add a pinch of salt. Mash the cloves with a fork until they form a paste. Add the mascarpone to the bowl and stir to combine. Add in the basil, rosemary, thyme, oregano and parsley, stirring to combine. Toss together the provolone, mozzarella and parmesan cheeses. Heat a large skillet or griddle over medium heat. Spread the outsides of the bread with softened butter. Spread the insides of the bread with the mascarpone cheese mixture. Place a slice of bread butter-side down in the skillet and add a few handfuls of cheese on top. Follow it with another slide of bread, butter-side up. Cook until the cheese is melty and each side is golden, about 4 to 5 minutes per side. Serve the sandwiches with a garnish of extra chopped herbs.

Pasta with Heirloom Tomatoes, Basil and Brie

Pasta with Heirloom Tomatoes, Basil and Brie

4 large (1 pound or more) heirloom tomatoes in an assortment of colors
1 pound Brie, rind removed, torn into irregular piece
1 cup cleaned fresh basil leaves cut into strips (use both red and green if you have them)
3 large cloves garlic, peeled and finely minced
1/2 cup extra virgin olive oil
1 tsp. kosher salt
1/2 tsp. freshly ground black pepper
1 1/2 pounds pasta in your favorite shape to hold the juices of the sauce

Combine tomatoes, brie, basil, garlic, olive oil, salt and pepper in a large serving bowl. Prepare at least 2 hours before serving and set aside, covered, at room temperature. Bring 6 quarts water to a boil in a large pot. Add 2 tsp. salt. Add the pasta and boil until tender but al dente. Drain pasta and immediately toss with the sauce. The hot pasta will melt the brie and bring out the aromas and flavors of the tomatoes and garlic. Serve and pass the pepper mill.

Chicken and Corn Chowder with Chiles and Cheese

Chicken and Corn Chowder with Chiles and Cheese

4305941674_10a6870d463 slices bacon, chopped
1 lb boneless, skinless chicken breasts, cut into bite-sized pieces
1 medium yellow onion, chopped
1 red bell pepper, chopped
2 cloves garlic, minced
4-5 green chiles (or 1 4oz. can) diced
5 C. low-sodium chicken broth
2 russet potatoes, peeled and diced
1 C. frozen corn
1 14 oz. can creamed corn
1/2 C. all-purpose flour
2 C. skim (or 1%) milk
1 1/2 C. grated cheddar cheese
1/4 tsp. cayenne pepper
kosher salt and black pepper
Scallions to garnish, if desired

Cook the bacon in a large pot over medium heat until crispy. Remove and let drain on a paper towel. To the bacon drippings add the chicken, onion, bell pepper and garlic. Cook, stirring occasionally, for 5 minutes. Add the green chiles and cook an additional minute. Add the chicken broth and potatoes. Bring to a boil, reduce heat, cover and simmer for 20 minutes, until the potatoes are tender. Add frozen corn and creamed corn and stir well. Place flour in a medium bowl and gradually whisk in the milk. Add the flour mixture to the soup and cook over medium heat, stirring frequently, until the mixture thickens, about 15 minutes. Stir in the grated cheese and cayenne pepper. Season to taste with salt and pepper. Garnish with crumbled bacon and grated cheese if desired.

Mousetrap Grilled Cheese

Mousetrap Grilled Cheese

mousetrap4 tsp. Tillamook® Salted Butter at room temperature
4 slices Tillamook® Sharp Cheddar Cheese
4 slices Tillamook® Monterey Jack Cheese
4 slices creamy Havarti Cheese
8 slices high-quality sourdough bread (we use sourdough from Artisan Bakers of Sonoma)

Spread butter on one side of each slice of bread. Place bread buttered side down. Layer 1 slice of Sharp Cheddar on each of 4 slices of bread, then Monterey Jack, then Havarti. Sandwiches can be cooked open face on a pre-heated cast-iron pan in a 500°F oven, then closed and served, or can be closed, then cooked in a pan on a stovetop over medium-low heat until bread is toasted and cheese is melted. Serve immediately.

The Oaks Grilled Cheese

The Oaks Grilled Cheese

oaks-grillecheese-750x368

4 oz Tillamook® Unsalted Butter
8 slices wheat cranberry walnut bread (or another high quality wheat bread)
4 slices Tillamook® Sharp Cheddar Cheese
4 oz (about ½ cup) creamy Camembert cheese
4 slices (about 4 oz) Fontina cheese

For each grilled cheese, lightly butter one side of each piece of bread and place butter side down on medium heated pan or flat grill. Place 1 slice of sharp cheddar cheese on one slice of bread and 1 oz each of Camembert and Fontina on the other slice of bread. Let the cheese melt on the bread while checking the underside so as not to burn. Lower heat if necessary. Place the sides together when they have reached desired melted consistency. Let cool for 20 seconds and cut.

Beer Fondue

Beer Fondue

unnamed1 small clove garlic, halved
3/4 C. Budweiser
2 C. shredded processed Swiss cheese
1 C. shredded sharp cheddar
1 T. flour
dash hot sauce
veggies and bread for dipping

Rub inside of saucepan with garlic. Add beer; heat slowly. Coat cheese with flour. Add cheese to beer, stirring constantly until thick. Stir in hot sauce. If mix becomes too thick, stir in a little warm beer.

Turkey, Pesto and Cranberry Melt

Turkey, Pesto and Cranberry Melt

Turkey-Pesto-and-Cranberry-Melt-The-Hopeless-Housewife6 slices of roasted turkey breast
6 slices fresh mozzarella cheese
4 tablespoons pesto
6 tablespoons fresh or canned cranberry sauce
4 slices sourdough bread, cut ½ – ¾ inch thick
Butter

Heat butter in a skillet over medium heat. Spread the pesto on the sourdough bread, and then add turkey breast, cranberry sauce, and mozzarella cheese. Place the sandwich into the skillet and let cook for a few minutes until cheese becomes melty, then flip the sandwich onto the other side and repeat until desired color and look is reached.

Gruyere Popovers

Gruyere Popovers

2 1/2 cups whole milk
2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
Coarse salt
6 large eggs
Unsalted butter, softened, for pans
1 cup coarsely grated Gruyere cheese (3 ounces)

Preheat oven to 425 degrees. Whisk together milk, flour, and 1 teaspoon salt. Whisk in eggs (mixture will be lumpy). Heat two 6-cup popover pans in oven for 5 minutes. Generously brush cups with butter. Fill each cup a little more than halfway with batter. Sprinkle with cheese. Bake for 20 minutes. Reduce oven temperature to 350 degrees. Bake until golden brown, about 25 minutes more. Let cool in pan for 5 minutes. Turn out popovers. Serve warm.

Smoked Gouda Fritters with Balsamic Honey Mustard Dipping Sauce

Smoked Gouda Fritters with Balsamic Honey Mustard Dipping Sauce

smokyfritters1 (15-oz) container whole milk ricotta
1 cup shredded smoked gouda
1 cup shredded mozzarella
1 cup flour
3 eggs, lightly beaten
2 cups seasoned breadcrumbs
Canola oil, for frying

For the Dipping Sauce:

1/3 cup Dijon mustard
2 tablespoons grainy mustard
2 tablespoons aged balsamic vinegar
1 tablespoon honey
Salt and pepper, to taste

For the Fritters: Combine the cheeses in a large mixing bowl. Mix well. Scoop approximately 1 tablespoon of the mixture into hand and roll gently into a ball. Place on a parchment-lined baking sheet. Repeat with remaining filling. Once all fritters are formed, place the tray in the freezer for at least 30 minutes. Remove from tray and dredge each fritter in the flour, then the eggs, and finally the breadcrumbs. Repeat with all fritters and return to the baking sheet. Freeze for at least 30 minutes (frozen fritters can be stored in plastic bags and fried whenever you need them). Heat the oil in a large, heavy-bottomed pot until temperature reaches about 350°F. Working in batches, place the chilled fritters in the hot oil and cook for 2-3 minutes, or until golden brown on all sides. Remove from oil and immediately sprinkle with salt. Repeat until all fritters are fried. Serve fritters warm with dipping sauce.

For the Dipping Sauce: While the fritters are chilling, mix all ingredients for the dipping sauce together in a bowl. Set aside until ready to serve.

Bacon Beer Cheese Soup with Chicken

Bacon Beer Cheese Soup with Chicken

6 slices thicacc8bdeff0f9ccaa0bb627872f7bb63ck cut bacon
1 pound boneless skinless chicken breast
¼ cup butter
¼ cup flour
2 teaspoons garlic powder1/2 to 2 teaspoons ground chile de arbol (or 1/2 to 2 teaspoons cayenne pepper; to taste)
1 teaspoon smoked paprika
1 teaspoon kosher salt
1 teaspoon pepper
1 cup beer, Belgian style wheat beer (Blue Moon)
1 cup chicken broth
2 cups half and half
8 ounces mild cheddar cheese, shredded
1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
Chives
Croutons

Warm an 8 quart pot over high heat. Using clean scissors; cut bacon into pot. Cook bacon until lightly crisp, stirring occasionally. Meanwhile, cut chicken into bite size pieces. Remove bacon from pan and place on a plate. Add chicken into bacon grease to cook. Stir occasionally until chicken is cooked through. Remove chicken onto plate with bacon. Cut butter into 1 tablespoon pieces and add to pan drippings. Whisk in flour and spices. Add beer, broth and half & half. Whisk to combine and bring to a bubble. Add cheese whisk to combine, stir until you have a smooth mixture. Add Worcestershire sauce, chicken and bacon. Stir to combine. Allow to simmer until ready to serve, stirring occasionally.

Hot Brie Pasta

Hot Brie Pasta

½ lb. ripe Brie
¼ cup olive oil
½ cup fresh basil, julienned
1- 3 cloves garlic, crushed
2 tomatoes, seeded and cubed
¼ tsp. salt
½ tsp. freshly ground black pepper
½ lb. pasta (fettucine, linguine, or capellini all work well)
½ cup peas
Parmesan

Remove rind from Brie and cut into irregular pieces. Combine with next 6 ingredients and let stand 2 hours at room temperature. Cook pasta al dente, drain, and add raw peas (frozen are acceptable, but of course must be thawed first). Toss hot pasta with Brie sauce. Top with Parmesan cheese and serve at once.

Mozzarella Sticks with Buttermilk Dip

Mozzarella Sticks with Buttermilk Dip

The secret to getting restaurant quality mozzarella sticks at home is using panko-style breadcrumbs and making sure that each piece of cheese is double dipped for an extra crispy crust that is free of any holes for the cheese to escape from during frying. Freezing the mozzarella sticks prior to frying ensures that the crust has time to adhere to the cheese in the dry environment of the freezer. As with all frying, make sure to carefully monitor your oil temperature and allow it to rebound in between batches. Because the mozzarella sticks are frozen, it might be a good idea to make a double batch to keep on hand for any last minute game day parties.

12 stick s of string cheese or 12 pieces of mozzarella cut into 4 x 1/2 inch sticks Mozzarella-Sticks-with-Buttermilk-Dip-1024x768
1 1/2 cups panko-style breadcrumbs
4 teaspoons Italian seasoning
1/2 teaspoon table salt
Freshly ground pepper to taste
4 eggs
1 cup of all-purpose flour
Canola oil for frying

1/3 cup buttermilk
1/4 cup sour cream
2 tablespoons freshly squeezed lemon or lime juice
1 tablespoon olive oil
1 1/2 teaspoons honey
2 tablespoons minced fresh basil
2 tablespoons minced green onions
2 tablespoons minced flat-leaf parsley
1/4 to 1/2 teaspoon of table salt to taste
Freshly ground black pepper to taste

Dredge the mozzarella sticks: Spread the flour and breadcrumbs on separate plates (pie plates work well for this). Add the Italian seasoning, salt and pepper to the breadcrumbs and mix well. Place the eggs in a small bowl and beat them lightly. Drop a piece of cheese into the flour and roll it around until it is well covered. Shake off the excess flour and dip the cheese into the egg mixture before rolling it in the breadcrumbs until well coated. One last time, dip the breadcrumb coated cheese back into the beaten egg and roll again in breadcrumbs to create an extra crispy coating. Set aside on a clean plate and repeat with the remaining cheese sticks. Once all of the mozzarella has been breaded, place the plate into the freezer uncovered and freeze until the breadcrumb coating is firm, at least 2 hours.

Meanwhile, make the buttermilk dip: In a small bowl, whisk all of the ingredients together until well combined. Cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate until ready to serve.

Fry the mozzarella sticks: Pour enough oil into a large heavy-bottomed pot to come to a depth of at least 2 inches. Using an candy thermometer, heat oil until it reaches a temperature of 350°. Fry the mozzarella sticks in batches, being careful not to overwhelm the oil, until crispy and browned on the exterior, about 5 minutes. Drain on paper towels. Repeat with remaining mozzarella, allowing the oil temperature to rise back to 350° between batches. You can place the finished mozzarella sticks in a 200° oven to keep them warm while the others fry. Serve immediately with buttermilk dip.

Roasted Poblano, Onion & Jack Quesadilla

Roasted Poblano, Onion & Jack Quesadilla

14997845320_4e5dab26fd_o6 poblano chiles
1/4 cup loosely packed fresh cilantro
1 tablespoon plus 2 tsp. olive oil
1 medium white onion, thinly sliced lengthwise (about 1-1/2 cups)
Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper
two 10-inch flour tortillas
grated Monterey Jack cheese (4 to 8 oz.)
sour cream or crème fraiche to taste

To roast the peppers using a gas flame: Turn a gas burner to high and char the poblanos directly over the flame, turning them with tongs as soon as each side becomes fully blackened, about 6 to 8 minutes per pepper. To roast the peppers in the oven: Preheat the oven to 400ºF. Halve and seed the peppers and place on a parchment-lined (for easy cleanup) baking sheet. Roast for about 30 to 35 minutes or until charred in some places. (Don’t let them get too black as I did here or you will have trouble peeling them.) Immediately after roasting, put the poblanos in a bowl, cover, and set aside to steam and loosen the skins. When they’re cool enough to handle, peel the charred skin off with your hands or a small paring knife. Pull out and discard the stems and seed clusters (if you haven’t already). Slice the peppers into 1/4-inch-wide strips and put them in a small bowl. Put a baking sheet in the oven and heat the oven to 150°F (or its lowest setting). Meanwhile: heat 1 tablespoon of the oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the onion and cook, stirring frequently, until soft and lightly browned, 3 to 5 minutes. Add the poblano strips, season with a generous pinch of salt and a few grinds of pepper, and cook, stirring occasionally, until the peppers are heated through, another 1 to 2 minutes. Transfer to a plate and wipe the skillet clean. Heat 1 tsp. of the oil in the skillet over medium-high heat until hot. Add one tortilla and scatter over it half of the cheese, half of the poblano mixture, and half of the cilantro. When the tortilla smells toasty and the bottom is browned in spots, in 1 or 2 minutes, fold it in half, pressing it with a spatula to flatten it. Transfer to the baking sheet in the oven to keep warm. Repeat with the remaining ingredients to make one more quesadillas. Cut each quesadilla into wedges and serve with the sour cream or crème fraiche on the side — I like to open my quesadilla up and drop spoonfuls of crème fraiche inside.

Pesto Grilled Cheese & Roasted Tomato Soup

Pesto Grilled Cheese & Roasted Tomato Soup

p-2-682x1024About 14 vine tomatoes (not the huge beef ones, just firm-mediumly-sized ones, still on the vine)
3 cloves of garlic, unpeeled
Handful of basil
Salt, pepper, paprika, chili flakes, olive oil
1-2 mugs of vegetable stock (depending how thick you like your soup)
For the sandwiches:
4 pieces of bread
Few slices of gouda
Butter
Big handful of basil
Half a fist sized chunk of parmesan, grated
Handful of pine nuts
1 small clove of garlic, crushed
Olive oil

Pre-heat your oven to 190C/375F. Place your tomatoes into a baking tray with your garlic cloves, a good drizzle of olive oil, salt & pepper. Pop them into the oven for about 45mins.

While they’re cooking, whip up your pesto. Gently toast the pine nuts in a dry frying pan over a medium heat. When they’re golden put them in your food processor with your basil, parmesan, olive oil & garlic. Blend & you’re done. When your tomatoes are roasted to perfection (the skins should have popped open and peeled up at the edges) take them out and leave them on the side to cool down. Once they’re cold enough to handle, peel off the skins. Throw your naked, quivering tomatoes into a blender with your stock, a pinch of paprika, a dusting of chill flakes & a fist full of basil. You can always add a good splash of cream here for double comfort points. Blend until smooth & soup like.

To make your pesto grilled cheese, heat a dry frying pan on a medium heat. Grab your bread & butter each piece, on just one side. Smear a generous amount of your pesto onto the unbuttered side & top with a couple slices of cheese. Put the top of the sandwich on, butter side facing up. Place into the pan & weigh it down with a something flat (I used a pie dish but you can use a plate, just make sure it won’t melt) & pop something heavy, like a can of beans on top. Cook for about 2mins or until the cheese starts to melt, then carefully flip it over & repeat.

Cinnamon Streusel Baked French Toast Sticks

Cinnamon Streusel Baked French Toast Sticks

brazilian-cheese-bread2 cups finely grated fresh Parmesan (or Pecorino Romano)
2 large eggs
2 large egg yolks
1 1/4 cups sour manioc starch (povilho azedo)
3/4 cup manioc starch or sweet manioc starch (povilho doce)
2 teaspoons kosher salt
1/2 cup whole milk
1/2 cup water
1/4 cup plus 3 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
Pinch of ground nutmeg
Pinch of cayenne pepper
Pinch of black pepper

1. Place the Parmesan in the bowl of a food processor. Add the eggs and yolks and blend until you have a smooth paste, about 1 minute. Place the two types of manioc starch and salt in the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment. Place the milk, water, and oil in a small saucepan, and bring to a boil. Immediately pour the milk mixture into the starch mixture, all at once, and turn the machine on at low speed. Mix until the dough is smooth and the starch is completely incorporated, about 2 minutes. Pause the machine and add the cheese-egg paste, scraping it directly into the manioc starch mixture. Add the nutmeg, cayenne, and black pepper, and mix the dough at low speed until it turns a pale yellow, about 10 minutes. You are trying to develop the structure of the dough by kneading it slowly. The dough should feel a bit sticky and moist. Transfer the dough to a bowl, cover it with plastic wrap, and refrigerate for at least 2 hours, or overnight. Preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C). Line a baking sheet with parchment paper. Lightly coat your hands with olive oil (or flour them with manioc starch), pinch off walnut-size pieces of dough, and roll them between your palms. Alternately, you can use an ice-cream scooper to make 1-inch balls. Place them on the parchment, leaving 1 1/2 to 2 inches between the rolls. Bake the cheese rolls in the oven until they puff up and are lightly golden brown, 12 to 14 minutes. To ensure even cooking, rotate the pan once during baking time. Remove the baking sheet from the oven and place the rolls in a basket lined with a napkin. Serve immediately, while they are still at their warmest and chewiest.

Mozzarella with Herbs

Mozzarella with Herbs

Mozzarella with Herbs

 

8 oz. part-skim mozzarella cheese, cut into bite sized pieces (2 C.)

2 T. extra-virgin olive oil

1 T. chopped fresh basil

1 T. chopped fresh oregano

1 T. chopped fresh flat-leaf parsley

kosher salt

fresh-ground pepper

 

In a medium bowl, combine mozzarella cheese, olive oil, basil, oregano, and parsley. Cover and chill for 2-4 hours. Let stand at room temperature for 30 minutes and season with salt and pepper.

 

Yield: 8 servings

Calories: 103

Fat: 8g

Fiber: 0g

 

 

Tomato-Mozzarella Salad

 

Prepare as above, except add 4 C. roma tomato wedges and 2 T. balsamic vinegar. Serve on a bed of 6 C. fresh spinach. 6 servings, 169 calories, 11g fat, 2g fiber

Marinated Fresh Mozzarella Pearls

Marinated Fresh Mozzarella Pearls

Marinated Fresh Mozzarella Pearls

 

1 lb. fresh mozzarella pearls (or use any type of fresh mozzarella and cut into bite-sized pieces)

1/2 C. olive oil

1/2 C. chopped fresh herbs (measure after chopping)

(I used mostly basil with just a few T. of chopped oregano)

salt and fresh ground black pepper to taste

1/2 tsp. fresh red pepper flakes (more of less to taste)

 

Drain mozzarella in a strainer placed in the sink while you wash and chop herbs. Be sure mozzarella is drained well, and pat dry with paper towels if needed. Wash herbs, spin dry in salad spinner or blot dry with paper towels, then finely chop enough fresh herbs to make 1/2 C.. Mix chopped herbs with olive oil and red pepper flakes, and season with a generous amount of salt and fresh ground black pepper. Put mozzarella pieces into a plastic or glass container with a tight-fitting lid, add olive oil mixture, and stir to combine. Put lid on container and marinate mozzarella at room temperature for 30-60 minutes, turning container over a few times so the mozzarella stays covered with the olive oil-herb mixture. Serve at room temperature.

Cheese on Toast

Cheese on Toast

Cheese on Toast

 

Toast bread. Spread thinly with butter. Add an obscenely thick layer of cheddar cheese. Sprinkle with black pepper and a few dashes of Worcestershire Sauce. Grill until the cheese is bubbling and just starting to blister into delicious brown patches.

Bacon Cheeseburger Macaroni & Cheese

Bacon Cheeseburger Macaroni & Cheese

Bacon Cheeseburger Macaroni & Cheese

1 box (12 oz.) Elbows

1 T. olive oil

2 T. garlic

½ white onion, small dice

1 C. (80/20) ground beef

1 white onion, quartered

10 cloves whole garlic

4 C. heavy cream

2 sprigs thyme

Salt to taste

2 T. black peppercorns

½ tsp. nutmeg

¼ lb. butter

1 C. flour

3 C. white cheddar cheese, grated

1½ C. bacon lardons, medium dice

Chopped fresh parsley

 

Cook pasta according to package directions.  Ground Beef Mix: In a sauté pan, add olive oil, garlic, onions and ground beef until beef is cooked through. Remove from pan and set aside.  Béchamel Cheese Sauce: In a sauce pot, sauté quartered onion and garlic then add cream and thyme. Season with salt, pepper and nutmeg and cook until onion and garlic are tender and sauce is at a simmer. Whisk in roux (butter and flour). Once thickened, add 2 C. of cheese. After the cheese has melted, strain mixture to create a smooth sauce.  In a bowl, combine 1 C. each of ground beef mix and bacon lardons with cooked pasta. Add 4 C. cheese sauce and remainder of cheddar cheese. Pour into baking dish and garnish with remaining ground beef, bacon and parsley.

one-hour ricotta cheese

one-hour ricotta cheese

I love having a simple, versatile homemade cheese on hand for adding to sandwiches or pasta, or to dollop on fruit. This farmer cheese fits the bill and can be made without any special cheesemaking equipment. Officially, ricotta is made from “reboiling” the whey left over from other kinds of cheesemaking, but, unofficially, it’s a super simple fresh cheese requiring nothing more than milk, heat, and acid. If you’ve ever added both lemon and milk to your tea (I have—oops) then you know that acidic ingredients will curdle milk. In this ricotta recipe we take advantage of this, and use common acidic ingredients to make cheese.

The three biggest determinants to the final flavor of your ricotta are the quality of the milk you start with, the acid you choose, and the amount of time you allow your cheese to drain. Start with very fresh daily. Pasteurized milk and cream are fine, but skip ultra-high-temperature pasteurized options; these often fail to form a nice curd. After thirty to sixty’ minutes of draining, this ricotta is thick enough to spread on toast or serve with fruit.

If you drain it long enough, or press it under weight to get even more liquid out, it will become firm and crumbly, much like Mexican queso fresco or Indian paneer. Save the whey that drains off your cheese—you can use it to replace some or all of the water used in bread making and other baking. It adds a nice tang and extra protein.

BASIC RICOTTA

1 quart whole milk
1 C. heavy cream
3 T. white distilled vinegar
l tsp. kosher salt

In a heavyweight, nonreactive saucepot, combine all the ingredients. Stirring occasionally, gently bring the mixture to a simmer over medium heat and watch for the mixture to begin to curdle. You may see some curds very early in the cooking process, but between 185 and 200 degrees F, the curds will become quite distinct from the whey and will float to the surface. Watch for the whey to change from white and milky to yellowish-clear with only a bit of milky haze. When you note district curds and mostly clear whey, remove the pot from the heat and let sit, undisturbed, for 30 minutes. Line a mesh strainer with a damp paper towel, several layers of cheesecloth, or a clean, damp lint-free towel. Set the strainer over the bowl and pour the curds and whey through the strainer. Let sit for at least 30 minutes to drain. Check the texture. The longer you strain the cheese, the firmer it will get. If you plan to strain longer than 1 hour, transfer the cheese to the refrigerator and strain chilled. For an even firmer texture, drain the mixture until the curd holds its shape, then form it into a disk shape and lightly salt the outside of the cheese. Wrap the cheese in a clean towel or several layers of cheesecloth and set the cheese on a plate. Place another plate on top of the cheese, and then set something heavy—like a big can of pumpkin or a jar of tomatoes—on top of the plate to weight the cheese. Transfer the whole contraption to the refrigerator. Periodically check for whey that has pooled on the bottom plate and discard it. Drain the cheese until it has reached the desired firmness, up to 12 hours. Wien the ricotta is ready, transfer it to a clean container with a tight-fitting lid and keep it chilled. It’s best eaten fresh but will keep for about 1 week in the refrigerator.
Try these ricotta variations. Simply follow the instructions above, but substitute these ingredients.

LEMON RICOTTA

1 quart whole milk
1 C. heavy cream
3 T. freshly squeezed lemon juice
l tsp. kosher salt
Zest of l lemon

LIME RICOTTA

l quart whole milk
l C. heavy cream
3 T. freshly squeezed lime juice
l tsp. kosher salt
Zest of l lime

Gnocchi with Gorgonzola Sauce

Gnocchi with Gorgonzola Sauce

2 1/4 pounds russet potatoes
1 large egg
2 C. all-purpose flour
1 tsp. salt
1/2 tsp. ground black pepper
1/8 tsp. ground nutmeg
1 C. whipping cream
3 C. crumbled Gorgonzola cheese (about 13 oz.)
Chopped fresh chives
Grated Parmesan cheese (optional)

Pierce potatoes several times with fork. Microwave until tender, turning once, about 16 minutes total. Cut potatoes in half lengthwise; scoop potato flesh into bowl; discard potato skins. Mash potatoes until smooth. Mix in egg. Sift flour, salt, pepper, and nutmeg over potato mixture; stir to combine. Knead gently. Divide dough into 8 pieces. Roll each piece on work surface into 1/2-inch-diameter rope. Cut dough into 1-inch lengths and make grooves in each piece with fork. Cook gnocchi in large pot of boiling salted water until gnocchi are tender and rise to surface, about 5 minutes. Using slotted spoon, transfer cooked gnocchi to warm platter. Bring cream to simmer in heavy medium saucepan over medium heat. Add Gorgonzola, whisking until melted. Spoon sauce over gnocchi. Sprinkle with chives and Parmesan, if desired; serve.

Sarah’s Hot Olive Cheese Puffs

Sarah’s Hot Olive Cheese Puffs

1/2 C. all-purpose flour
1/4 tsp. salt
1/2 tsp. paprika
1 C. (4 oz) grated extra-sharp cheddar cheese
3 tsp. butter, softened
48 medium pimento-stuffed green olives, drained (approximately)

In a bowl, whisk together flour, salt and paprika. In a food processor, blend cheese with butter. Pour flour mixture into processor and pulse a few times until mixed. Pinch off a small amount of dough, flatten between your palms, wrap around olive and roll lightly between your palms to smooth out. (If dough is too soft to handle, chill for at least 30 minutes before using.) Just before serving, preheat oven to 400 degrees. Place olives on an ungreased baking sheet and bake for 10-15 minutes, until browned on the bottom. Serve hot.

Pomegranate Jeweled White Cheddar, Toasted Almond and Crispy Sage Cheeseball

Pomegranate Jeweled White Cheddar, Toasted Almond and Crispy Sage Cheeseball

2 tablespoons unsalted butter
10 fresh sage leaves
1 (8-ounce) block cream cheese, softened
4 ounces mascarpone cheese, softened
6 ounces freshly grated sharp white cheddar cheese
1/2 cup sliced, toasted almonds
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon pepper
1 cup pomegranate arils
Crackers for serving

Heat a skillet over medium heat and add butter. Once it’s sizzling, toss in the sage leaves and cook until crispy – flipping once and cooking about 1 minute per side. Remove the sage leaves and place them on a paper towel to crisp up a bit. Set the butter aside. In the bowl of your electric mixer, combine the cream cheese, mascarpone and cheddar cheese. Beat until combined, then add in the almonds, sage leaves, remaining butter, salt and pepper. Mix on low speed until combined, about 1 minute, scraping down the sides and the bottom if needed. Take the cheese mixture out of the bowl and mold it into a big ball as best you can. Roll it in plastic wrap and place it in the fridge for 30 minutes. Meanwhile, place the arils on a paper towel and pat them completely dry. Let them sit out while the cheese is chilling to remove as much liquid from them as possible. This will keep the cheeseball pretty! After 30 minutes, mold the cheese into more of a smooth ball. Add the arils to a plate or baking sheet and roll the ball through them, using your hands to press arils into all the cracks and crevices. You will need to gently press so the arils adhere to the cheese. At this time, you can serve it immediately or keep it in the fridge until ready to use. If you want to make it ahead of time, you can roll the ball 1 to 2 days beforehand. I’d wait until the night before or morning of to add the pomegranate arils, and you may need to let the cheese come to room temp a bit so it’s sticky enough.

Cheese Powder

Cheese Powder

Cheddar or white cheese powder is a third stronger than cheese. The amount of cheese used in any recipe varies with the recipe. If your recipe calls for 12 oz. cheese, you would use 8 oz. powder. If your recipe calls for 16 oz. cheese, you would use about 11 oz. the powder.

Uses for Cheese powder:
This is real cheddar cheese in a dry powder. Use it to give a cheesy richness to rolls, muffins, and bread, sauces, dressing, mac and cheese, potatoes, vegetables or sprinkle it over Popcorn use it on anything you use cheese on! It’s great for camping, backpacking, and storage where refrigeration is not available.

Cheddar Cheese Popcorn

3 T. melted butter
1/4 C. cheddar cheese powder plus 1 T
1/4 T. yellow mustard powder
1/4 T. cayenne pepper (jalapeno pepper powder for “hot” popcorn)
4 C. popped popcorn
Sea Salt & Pepper to taste

In a large bowl combine butter, cheddar cheese powder, mustard powder and cayenne or jalapeno powder with popcorn. Season with salt and pepper to taste and toss to combine. Serve immediately.
Or just sprinkle cheese powder on top of buttered popcorn.

Dry Cheese Sauce Mix

1/3 C. dehydrated cheese powder
3 T. nonfat dry milk powder
3 T. dehydrated butter powder or flakes
3 T. flour
1/4 tsp. salt
1/8 tsp. white pepper
1/8 tsp. onion powder

Combine all ingredients in a small bowl and mix thoroughly with wire whisk. Store in tightly closed container in the refrigerator. To make cheese sauce, combine 1 C. hot tap water with 1/2 C. Cheese Sauce Mix in a small saucepan over medium heat. Bring to a boil, stirring constantly with a wire whisk. Makes 1 C. cheese sauce.
Cheddar Cheese Sauce Mix

1/4 C. butter or margarine
1/4 C. milk
2 T. Cheddar Cheese Powder.

Cooking Instructions: Mix all ingredients. Heat to 180F and hold 5 minutes.

Pantry Friendly Cottage Cheese & Bakers Cheese

Pantry Friendly Cottage Cheese & Bakers Cheese

1/4 rennet tablet
1 quart warm water
3 C. non-instant powdered milk
½ C. buttermilk

In 1 quart warm water, dissolve 14 of a rennet tablet. (Junket is a brand name of rennet that you can find in most grocery stores in the Jell-O section.) Combine water, milk, and buttermilk in blender. Blend 011 low. Add to dissolved rennet-water mixture. Stir well, then let set in warm room 6—12 hours. It is set when it’s firm and has a touch of whey on the sides. When it is set, cut into 14-inch squares and set the bowl in a sink or bigger bowl of hot water. Gently stir the curds at frequent intervals to warm evenly and break up the curds. When they have warmed through and broken into curds and whey, pour through a strainer with a cheesecloth lining. Drain and rinse with cold water until it is cool and well washed. Add salt (around 1 tsp., depending on taste). To make it creamy, you can then add milk and cream.

To make bakers cheese instead, transfer cheese when it has set after 6-12 hours and place in cheesecloth lined colander. Strain out whey until it reaches the consistency of cream cheese. This usually takes 12-24 hours. This can be substituted for most soft cheeses in recipes, especially cream cheese in dips in baked goods.

Cheddar Chive Soufflés

Cheddar Chive Soufflés

butter for greasing the ramekins
2 tsp. grated parmigiano reggiano
3 tsp. butter
3 tsp. flour
1.25 C. hot milk
4 egg yolks
6 oz. sharp cheddar, grated
1 tsp. mustard
2 tsp. chopped chives
5 egg whites mixed with 1 tsp. water
1/2 tsp. cream of tartar
salt and pepper

Grease the bottom and sides of your ramekin(s) and sprinkle with parmesan cheese. Pop into the freezer for at least 5 minutes so the parmesan cheese sticks. Preheat your oven to 375 degrees F. In a small saucepan, melt the butter and cook until it stops sputtering (the water has cooked out). Whisk in the flour and a pinch of salt and cook for 2 minutes over medium. While constantly whisking, slowly pour in the milk, and turn the heat to high. Keep whisking, and once the mixture starts to boil, take the pan off the heat. In a big bowl, whisk together the egg yolks until smooth. Temper the eggs into the mixture by first pouring some of the hot sauce into the eggs (while constantly whisking), then pouring the eggs into the saucepan (whisk, whisk, whisk)! Whisk in the cheddar, mustard, chives, and a pinch of salt and pepper. In a very clean bowl, whip the egg whites and cream of tartar together with a hand mixer, until you get stiff peaks. Stir in 1/4 of the stiff egg whites into the egg yolk cheese base to lighten it, then fold the rest in via 3 installments, until the mixture is nice and light. Be gentle so you don’t deflate the egg whites. Portion the souffle mixture into your ramekins, and fill them up to the top. Place on a sheet pan and bake for 25 minutes if you are using the small ramekins, and 35 minutes if you are doing the big one. Enjoy!

Tomato-Cheese Bread for Cameron

Tomato-Cheese Bread for Cameron

1 C. lukewarm water
2 1/2 tsp. yeast
1 tsp. sugar
2 1/2 C. (11 1/2 oz.) bread flour, divided
1 tsp. dried oregano
1 tsp. tomato powder
1 tsp. salt
1 generous C. (4 oz.) coarsely shredded sharp cheddar cheese
2 tsp. olive oil

In the bowl of your stand mixer, combine water, yeast, sugar, and one C. the bread flour. Cover the bowl with plastic wrap and set aside for 30 minutes. Add the remaining flour, oregano, tomato powder, and salt. Knead with the dough hook until the dough cleans the side of the bowl and starts becoming elastic. Add the olive oil and continue kneading until the dough is smooth and elastic and is no longer sticky. Add the cheese and knead just until it is incorporated. You don’t want to knead so much that the cheese disintegrates into the bread. It it’s a little unevenly distributed, that’s fine. Cover the bowl with plastic wrap and set aside to rise until doubled in size, about 60 minutes. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees and sprinkle some cornmeal on a baking sheet. Flour your work surface and knead the dough briefly before you form it into your preferred shape. Put it on the baking sheet, cover with plastic wrap, and set aside to rise until doubled in size, about 30 minutes. When the dough has risen, slash it as desired, then bake at 350 degrees for 45 minutes, until nicely browned. Cool completely on a rack before slicing.

Mystery Bun

Mystery Bun

1 Crusty Roll
Olive Oil, for Brushing
1-2 T. Pesto
1 clove Garlic, crushed
4 slices Mozzarella Cheese
1 Tomato, seeded and sliced
Baby Spinach Leaves

Slice off top of roll to make a lid and pull out the soft insides, leaving crust intact. Lightly brush inside with oil. Place bread bits in food processor and pulse until you have breadcrumbs. Transfer to a small bowl and mix in the garlic, and enough pesto to flavor the breadcrumbs without being soggy. Spoon a layer of breadcrumbs into the roll. Add a layer of cheese, tomato and spinach, followed by another layer of breadcrumbs and so on until used up (2-3 layers). Place lid on top and wrap tightly in plastic wrap.

LTS Day Cheese

LTS Day Cheese

4 cups water
1 1/2 cups non-instant powdered milk
2-4 T. lemon juice or vinegar
¼ tsp. salt

Mix water and powdered milk. Place in a pan on low heat. Add slowly a little drizzle of lemon juice or vinegar, and stir gently. If using lemon juice, make sure it hasn’t expired. If it is old, it might need to be replaced for this recipe to work. Continue to gently stir while milk cooks; don’t let it come to a boil. Milk will gradually develop curds and separate from the whey, which will be almost clear. If it does not turn into curds and whey, add a little more lemon juice or vinegar. Strain and rinse the curds in cool water. Add salt.

Fresh Ricotta with Oat Biscuits, Chestnut Honey and Candied Walnuts

Fresh Ricotta with Oat Biscuits, Chestnut Honey and Candied Walnuts

2 tsp. extra-virgin olive oil
2 tsp. aged balsamic vinegar
4 leaves radicchio
kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper
1/2 cup fresh ricotta
Heavy cream or milk. for thinning the ricotta if necessary
8 Duchy Originals Oaten Biscuits or Carr’s Whole Wheat Crackers
Chestnut honey, for drizzling
16 candied walnut halves, or toasted walnuts, broken into small pieces, plus 8 complete
halves, for topping the ricotta

Heat the olive oil and vinegar together in a large skillet over medium high heat for about 1 minute, until the liquid bubbles. Put radicchio leaves in the skillet in a single layer and cook about 45 seconds on each side until they are seared and slightly wilted. Season with a pinch of salt and pepper. Remove from skillet and set aside to cool to room temperature. If ricotta is not spoonable, thin with a little cream or milk. Place two biscuits on each of 4 plates. Tear radicchio in half and drape a half on each biscuit, leaving biscuit partially exposed. Spoon 1 T. fresh ricotta over the radicchio. Drizzle honey over each, sprinkle with crumbled walnuts and place one candied walnut half on each mound of ricotta.

Tortilla Chip Casserole

Tortilla Chip Casserole

3/4 cup chopped onion
2 T. butter
1 can (15 oz.) tomato sauce
1 can (4 oz.) diced green chilies
2 tsp. cumin
1 tsp. salt
1/4 tsp. red pepper
1 pkg. (7-1/4 oz.) tortilla chips, crushed
2 C. Monterey Jack cheese, shredded
1 cup dairy sour cream
1 lb. ground beef
1 cup cheddar cheese

Sauté onion in butter. Add sauce, chilies, cumin, salt, red pepper. Simmer 10 minutes. Layer in buttered 9 inch square pan, half of each of the following: Tortilla chips, Monterey Jack cheese, beef and sauce. Repeat once. Bake in preheated 350 degree oven, about 25 minutes. Spread sour cream on top and cheddar cheese. Return to oven 10 minutes.

Loaded Bacon Cheddar Bread

Loaded Bacon Cheddar Bread

6 C. all purpose flour
3¼ C. warm water
2 tsp. instant yeast
2 tsp. salt
2 tsp. sugar
2¾ C. cheddar cheese, fresh grated not bagged
10 strips cooked thick cut bacon, chopped and divided
fresh ground black pepper to taste

In a large mixing bowl combine water, yeast, salt and sugar. Allow mixture to sit for several minutes. Add flour, two C. cheese, ½ bacon and fresh ground black pepper. Stir with spoon until combined. Dough will be shaggy. Don’t stress if it looks messy. It will come together in the end. Cover with a towel and allow to rise in a warm place for an hour. After an hour, turn dough out onto a floured board and knead for a few minutes. It does not need to be completely smooth. Just knead it long enough to come together. Divide dough into two equal halves and place in standard loaf pans. Cover loaves with remaining cheese and bacon. Cover with towel and allow to rest for thirty minutes. Bake in a 400º oven for fifteen minutes. Cover loosely with foil and reduce heat to 350º and continue baking for another 35 minutes. Remove foil and allow to bake for another 10 minutes. Notes: If the dough feels too wet, add a little more flour but know that this dough is a bit stickier than most.

Grilled Halloumi Cheese & Spinach Salad with Tapenade

Grilled Halloumi Cheese & Spinach Salad with Tapenade

Halloumi is that miracle cheese that doesn’t melt when you heat it. This salad takes thick slices of that cheese, fries them up till golden brown, and serves them with a warmed tomato, lemon and olive sauce on top of spinach leaves. A great, warmed salad.

1/2 pound Halloumi Cheese
Spinach (leaves, fresh)
Lemon Zest from half a lemon
1/4 Tomato (chopped)
2 tsp. Tapenade
3 tsp. Olive Oil
Salt to taste
Ground Pepper to taste

Slice the cheese into 8 slices; set aside. Wash and dry the spinach leaves, arrange out on a plate; set aside. Mix together in a bowl all the other ingredients; set aside. Heat a few glogs of olive oil in a frying pan over medium heat and fry the cheese slices until golden brown on each side, about 3 minutes per side. They may splatter, so be prepared to lower the heat and go it at a bit more slowly if they do. Remove the fried cheese slices from the frying pan, leaving the pan on the heat, and arrange them over the spinach. Now, dump the dressing that you mixed above into the frying pan, and heat it for about 60 seconds (see why we left it on the heat for a second?) Spoon it out over the cheese slices and spinach, and serve immediately.

Cook’s Illustrated Herbed Baked Goat Cheese & Salads

Cook’s Illustrated Herbed Baked Goat Cheese & Salads

Cook’s Illustrated Herbed Baked Goat Cheese

3 oz. white Melba toasts (2 C.)
1 tsp. pepper
3 large eggs
2 tsp. Dijon mustard
1 tsp. minced fresh thyme
1 tsp. minced fresh chives
12 oz. goat cheese, firm
Extra-virgin olive oil

Process Melba toasts in a food processor to fine even crumbs, about 1 ‘h minutes; transfer crumbs to medium bowl and stir in pepper. Whisk eggs and mustard in medium bowl until combined. Combine thyme and chives in small bowl. Using kitchen twine or dental floss, divide cheese into 12 evenly sized pieces. Roll each piece into a ball; roll each ball in herbs to coat lightly. Transfer 6 pieces to egg mixture, turn each piece to coat; transfer to Melba crumbs and turn each piece to coat, pressing crumbs into cheese. Flatten each ball into disk about 1 ‘h inches wide and 1 inch thick and set on baking sheet. Repeat process with remaining 6 pieces cheese. Freeze cheese until firm, about 30 minutes. (Cheese may be wrapped tightly in plastic wrap and frozen for 1 week.) Adjust oven rack to top position; heat oven to 475 degrees. Remove cheese from freezer and brush tops and sides evenly with olive oil. Bake until crumbs are golden brown and cheese is slightly soft, 7 to 9 minutes (or 9 to 12 minutes if cheese is completely frozen). Using thin metal spatula, transfer cheese to paper towel lined plate and let cool 3 minutes before serving on top of greens. Serve warm.

Cook’s Illustrated Salad with Herbed Baked Goat Cheese & Vinaigrette

Prepare the salad components while the cheese is in the freezer, then toss the greens and vinaigrette while the cheese cools a bit after baking. Hearty salad greens, such as a mix of arugula and frisee, work best here.

2 tsp. red wine vinegar
1 tsp. Dijon mustard
1 tsp. minced shallot
1/4 tsp. salt
6 tsp. extra-virgin olive oil
Pepper
14 oz. (14 C.) mixed hearty salad greens
1 recipe Herbed Baked Goat Cheese

Combine vinegar, mustard, shallot, and salt in small bowl. Whisking constantly, drizzle in oil; season with pepper to taste. Place greens in large bowl, drizzle vinaigrette over, and toss to coat. Divide greens among individual plates; place 2 rounds warm goat cheese on each salad. Serve immediately.
Cook’s Illustrated Salad with Grapes, Pine Nuts, Prosciutto and Herbed Baked Goat Cheese

Prepare the salad components while the cheese is in the freezer, then toss the greens and vinaigrette while the cheese cools a bit after baking. Hearty salad greens, such as a mix of arugula and frisee, work best here.

2 tsp. balsamic vinegar
1 tsp. Dijon mustard
1 tsp. minced shallot
1/4 tsp. salt
6 tsp. extra-virgin olive oil
Pepper
14 oz. (14 C.) mixed hearty salad greens
1/4 C. red seedless grapes, halved
1/4 C. pine nuts, toasted
6 oz. thinly sliced prosciutto
1 recipe Herbed Baked Goat Chese

Combine vinegar, mustard, shallot, and salt in small bowl. Whisking constantly, drizzle in oil; season with pepper to taste. Place greens in large bowl, drizzle vinaigrette over, and toss to coat. Divide greens among individual plates; divide grapes and pine nuts among plates; and arrange 2 slices prosciutto and 2 rounds goat cheese on each salad. Serve immediately.

Baked Fontina

Baked Fontina

Baked fontina1 1/2 lbs Italian fontina, rind removed and cubed into 1-inch pieces
6 cloves garlic, thinly sliced
1 T. fresh thyme, chopped
1 tsp. fresh rosemary, chopped
3 T. extra virgin olive oil
1/2 tsp. Kosher salt
1/2 tsp. freshly ground black pepper

Adjust top rack of the oven so that it sits about 5 inches under the broiler unit. Preheat broiler. Spread cheese out in the bottom of a 12-inch cast iron pan. Drizzle olive oil over the cheese. Mix together the garlic and herbs in a small bowl and sprinkle the mixture evenly over the cheese. Sprinkle salt and pepper over the top of the cheese. Bake for 6 minutes, until the cheese is bubbly and melted through. Carefully remove the pan from the oven and set it on a heatproof surface – the pan will be hot! Serve immediately.

Rimrocker Cheese-Potato Croquettes with Chive crème fraîche

Rimrocker Cheese-Potato Croquettes with Chive crème fraîche

Chef Damon Jones dreamed up this play on a loaded baked potato after tasting a sample of Rimrocker cheese from Tumalo Farms. At the chef s Ashland restaurant, he serves the croquettes on a bed of microgreens. If you can’t find Rimrocker cheese, you can substitute a semihard cheese such as cheddar from a local dairy instead. Make this recipe the day after a holiday dinner when leftover mashed potatoes are in plentiful supply.

½ C. crème fraîche
2 T. finely chopped chives

2 tsp. unsalted butter
1/2 C. finely chopped leeks
1 1/2 C. mashed potatoes, cooled
4 oz. semihard cheese, such as Tumalo Farm’s Rimrocker cheese, coarsely grated (about 1 C.)
1/2 C. plus 2 T. plain dried breadcrumbs
Salt and freshly ground black pepper
1 egg
Extra-virgin olive oil

Make the chive crème fraîche: Whisk the crème fraîche and chives together in a small bowl until well combined. Cover and refrigerate until ready to use. Make the croquettes: Melt the butter in a medium skillet over medium-low heat and cook the leeks, stirring occasionally, until soft, about 5 minutes. Remove the pan from the heat and let cool slightly. Mix the leeks, mashed potatoes, cheese, and 2 T. the breadcrumbs together in a medium bowl with a rubber spatula until well combined. Salt and pepper to taste. Portion the potato mixture into 8 small croquettes using your hands. Lightly beat the egg in a shallow dish. Spread the remaining ½ C. bread crumbs in a separate shallow’ dish. Place the dishes next to each other and dip the potato cakes in the egg, turning once to coat both sides, and then the breadcrumbs, turning once to coat both sides. Line a plate with paper towels. Coat the bottom of a large skillet with olive oil and warm over medium heat. Add the croquettes to the skillet and, working with 4 cakes at a time, cook them over medium-high heat until golden brown, about 3 minutes per side. Transfer the cakes to the paper towel-lined plate to drain; cover the plate with foil to keep warm while you cook the remaining cakes. Divide the croquettes among four plates. Serve piping hot with a dollop of chive crème fraîche.

Cheese-Topped Mushroom Caps with Spinach

Cheese-Topped Mushroom Caps with Spinach

8 very large mushrooms
1 small onion, minced
1/4 C. grated carrots
1 tsp. olive oil
1 C. packed spinach leaves, finely chopped
2 T. toasted sunflower seeds
1 T. minced fresh parsley
1/4 C. shredded reduced-fat Swiss cheese

Carefully remove the stems from the mushroom caps. Finely chop the stems and set aside.
Arrange the caps, stem side up, around the edge of a large microwave-safe plate. Cover with wax paper and microwave on high for 2 minutes. Give the plate a half turn. Microwave for another 2 minutes, or until the caps are softened. Turn the caps over to drain any liquid that has accumulated in them. In a large no-stick frying pan over medium heat, sauté the onions, carrots and mushroom stems in the oil for 5 minutes. Add the spinach and cook for 3 minutes, or until wilted. If there is any liquid remaining in the pan, cook the mixture for a few more minutes to evaporate it. Stir in the sunflower seeds and parsley. Divide the mixture among the mushroom caps. Sprinkle with the Swiss cheese. Arrange in a pie plate or shallow baking dish. Bake at 350° for 15 minutes. Serve hot.

Yield: 8 servings
Calories: 43
Fat: 2.4g
Fiber: 1g