Cheese
I love my cheese and eat a little almost every day. There are so many choices, and not all of them are good. I tend to steer clear of processed cheese products because they always have so many strange ingredients, like guar gum, and "emulsifiers". What I do like is variety and quality. There are a few reduced fat cheeses on the market that are acceptable, but I have yet to find a fat free cheese that tastes good and has anything but a gummy texture. I know those pre wrapped slices are very popular, but I'll just say no thank you to them (just my opinion and taste).
Types of cheeses range from the moist cottage and ricotta varieties, to the crumbly feta and blue cheeses, to firm cheeses that slice like cheddar, mozzarella, jack or gouda, and hard cheeses the lend them self to grating, such as Parmigiano Regianno, and Asiago. Domestic cheeses can be found for a reasonable price, but imported or domestic specialty cheeses can be pricey.
1 ounce of good cheese provides all the protein and calcium of whole milk. An ounce aged Gouda, for instance, contains 140 calories and 11 grams of fat, along with 9 grams of protein and nearly a third of the daily requirement of calcium. That's not low cal by any means, but it is so delicious and satisfying.
What to choose is your decision. Now on to some interesting recipes by CC members. In choosing the recipes this week, I've bowed to the low fat, processed cheese, understanding that counting calories is one of our primary goals.
- Mexican Fritatta by member hoggarido - All the flavors of Mexico, with a generous amount of shredded cheddar, and still low in calories per serving.
- Very Creamy Potato Cheese Soup by member dcrawford - adapted from the famous Moosewood cookbook recipe - simple and low in fat, but extra creamy and rich tasting.
- Ivan's Pancetta and Feta Pasta Sauce by member blorg - Rich and salty complement to any pasta.
- Boursin by member oldarcie1o - a tasty spread for raw veggies or crackers.
- Healthy Chocolate Cheesecake by member kklingen - Rich tasting! You'll never miss the fat!
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