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10 October 2009

IN PRAISE OF CHEDDAR


I love cheese. Hard cheese, runny cheese, white cheese, yellow cheese, blue cheese, old cheese, young cheese--you name it. You might remember that I live in a cheese - producing region. You’d think that this would make me happy. Content. Not wanting to ask for another thing.



So you can imagine how thrilled I was when my friend Danielle brought me this lovely:

It’s farmhouse cheddar, from England by way of the South of France. Danielle and her husband have a house in the Dordogne, near some gorgeous markets. In one of those, Danielle found this cheddar. Oh, my. There’s 500 g of this white gold--just over a pound. It’s crumbly and lovely and nose-tickly.



After I nibbled it a couple of times and gave part of it to my friend Francoise (who loves cheddar as much as I do), I have about 250 g left. What should I do with it? I’d love to hear your ideas.




14 comments:

La Table De Nana said...

It looks yummy:) I just crumbled some cheddar to put in puff pastry ..cut out like Maple Leaves.. I'll add dijon and Jacques' prosciutto tomorrow and brush w/ beaten egg to make Small appetizers for our Thanksgiving lunch w/ family~

Kate..you can make so many scrumtious things:) Little cheese crisps:) W/ flour and Rice Krispies..?they are sliced like coins and baked:) You can freeze and the pleasure would last:)

I have to tell you..Our turkey will be accompanied by fluffy mashed potato/carrot/turnips..:) But I am topping each mound w/ a baked Potato Star:)As a special garnish for this special day tomorrow.Thank you for all your posts and all the inspirations~:) (S) yes ..plural~

OOh..just a glass of wine and the cheese would be great w/ me:)

Hungry Dog said...

I love cheddar, it is my favorite. I'd be inclined to just eat this with good bread or crackers, but you could do a great, decadent mac & cheese, or what about gougeres? I made those with gruyere once but cheddar might work. Enjoy!

Simones Kitchen said...

What a gorgeous piece of cheddar... O and what to do with it... There is so much you can do with it that it would possible be easier to start telling you what not to do with it...!

Carol at Serendipity said...

Kate,

My middle name is cheese or sometimes melted cheese. I could sit there with that cheese and a variety of pickles and be in heaven.

I just took an apple pie out of the oven - cheddar and apples are a wonderful combination.

Carol

Kathy Walker said...

I love cheese...any kind. Special cheese...special dish needed.

Kathy @ Sweet Up-North Mornings... said...

Yes!!! Cheese!...It's a lot more then something to say when your having your photo taken!!! and I adore your fancy Pants potatoes...food is such fun, xoxo~Kathy @ Sweet Up-North Mornings...

Barbara said...

I'm amazed you have any left!!!
My mother used to take a really good cheddar, some hot macaroni, added some hot milk and baked it for a quick and easy mac and cheese. I like a good cheddar baked with a tomato in a pita pocket until it's crunchy and melted. Ohhh I do love cheese!

grace said...

here's one of my many quirks--i can't stand orange cheddar, but i LOVE white. what's that about, do you think?

Kate at Serendipity said...

Monique, cheese crisps? Hmmm...that sounds perfect. I like the sound of your appetizers too. I am touched to be a (very small) part of your Thanksgiving celebration. (or could I say I was the star???) I'm also touched that you find my cooking inspiring. THANK YOU.

Hungry Dog, so far that's what I've done--just nibbled with good crusty bread. We don't have a lot of crackers here, but we get rye crispbread. Sometimes I melt some of the cheese on top... Mac and Cheese! Oh, YUM.

Junglefrog, I KNOW. It seemed like such a big chunk, but now it's severely reduced. It's wonderful with some good crunchy apples.

Carol, apples are veryvery good with this. I have some that I've sliced thin and eaten with the cheese.

Kate, you got it! Although. There's not that much left now...

Kathy, thanks. I hope you make the potatoes. They're a lot of fun.

Barbara, in fact there's not very much left. I think Mac and Cheese is a great idea. Somewhere I saw a killer recipe, but now I can't find it. Me too. I love cheese! I think it's food of the Gods.

Grace, maybe because the yellow stuff is never good and sharp? Or maybe it just seems like that to me. I prefer white cheddar too...

Thanks for all of your kind comments. I have a little of the cheese left, and I'm hesitating between a "guaranteed no-fail" souffle (yeah, right) and Fancy Pants Macaroni and Cheese. When I decide you'll be among the first to know!

Ginger said...

OK!! Is it ok to ask you if I can have your life? Sounds so awesome. I am in the middle of raising teenagers and every moment is starting to seem like a "Take me away" moment. Well, if nothing else, I can enjoy a nice glass of wine and some cheese! Thank you so much for sharing....

Divina Pe said...

I love cheese too. Has someone suggested cheese scones? It might be too familiar though. Maybe you can try it with different nuts, dried fruits and fresh fruits with wine so you can enjoy the taste of the cheese more. Something like a cheese platter but only one cheese. :) Well, whatever you do, please let me know what it is. :)

Bob said...

Mmmm, cheddar. One of my favorite cheeses. Course, that's a long list. Heh.


Hmmm, you could make American style mac and cheese. :)

Anonymous said...

Wow, this cheese looks tempting! Mmm, English cheddar.... White cheddar always looks much more appealing to me than yellow.

Like Carol, the first thing I thought of was apple pie with cheddar. Maybe you could do a play on a tarte tatin with a bit of cheese in/on the pastry or a tad with the apples if you use a bought puff pastry?

Cheddar scones are a great idea, too, or cheddar-herb biscuits. What about cheddar-walnut-fig tarts or bundles?

Enjoy it all, whatever you do! (And thank you for visiting my blog this weekend!!)

Sasha said...

I <3 cheese, too.

I'm gonna have to agree with "nightowlchef"; either scones or bisquits.

: )