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The Food Enthusiast Blog: cooking tips and tasty recipes
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Cheese Makes Everything BetterFarmer's Cheese Being very mild and fresh, farmer's cheese makes for an excellent accompaniment to most summer dishes. Every region has their own variation. So, check out your local specialty grocery store to see what kinds of farmer's cheese are available in your area. Typically a soft cheese, farmer's cheese can hold up to those hot summer days, which makes it a go-to cheese when packing up a picnic basket. Just don't forget those gourmet crackers. Add farmer's cheese to a pasta salad for a special touch. Or serve up a fresh garden salad with farmer's cheese and fresh vegetables on beautiful dinnerware for an elegant summer meal. Fresh Goat Cheese There are many varieties of goat cheese, everything from the cheese having a strong to mild flavor and everything in between. Even the textures are varied; goat cheese can be soft to semi-firm. Try rolling the goat cheese in fresh garden herbs such as thyme or basil and enjoy as an easy appetizer. For another quick and delicious snack, make a goat cheese spread to top crostini. Most of the time, fresh goat cheese can simply be enjoyed on its own and can be paired up with just a glass of Chardonnay or Sauvignon Blanc for delicious treat! Mozzarella Another cheese that stands out and truly epitomizes summer's sweetness is of course mozzarella! Mozzarella is a semi-soft cheese and has a high moisture content. It should be served the day that it is made, but can be eaten within a week. Fresh mozzarella balls paired up with garden-fresh tomatoes and hand-picked basil is a classic summertime combination. Place all the ingredients on square dinnerware and finish the dish with a little drizzle of extra virgin olive oil and a little sprinkle of salt and pepper and you're ready to enjoy summer! Cheddar As with most cheeses, cheddar cheese comes in many variations of flavor - from mild to sharp. An assortment of aged-cheddars are quite common to see. They can be aged for a just a few months to many years. This dense and crumbly-texture cheese is the perfect addition to many dishes. If you are thinking barbeque, aged-cheddar makes for a delicious topping on an angus beef burger right off the grill. Search around in your garden for some fresh vegetables like squash or broccoli and make a tasty summer soup. Just don't forget to add the cheddar cheese! Feta Feta cheese has a distinct and salty taste. Feta typically is made from goat's milk, but can come from the milk of cows and sheep as well. Since feta has a crumbly texture, it can be enjoyed in many ways. Enjoy a summer tomato salad with onions a little olive oil and lemon juice and top the salad with a crumbling of feta cheese. Or how about grilling some zucchini and topping that with feta for a delicious side! How does a watermelon and feta salad sound? Just combine some watermelon, feta, olives, some mint and add a splash of olive oil, vinegar, and freshly ground pepper - and the tastes of summer will just run through your mouth! Author: Ann Martin Posted: Saturday 10th July 2010, 2:30 AM Back To Food Enthusiast Blog |
