Cuisine: Cheese

Southwest Breakfast Strata

I have a house full of relatives and I needed an easy breakfast option. Usually, I would make this with corn tortillas, but I liked the flour tortilla option. I have slightly tweeked this recipe. I made this the night before, which makes it so easy in the morning. All I have to do is stumble to the coffee maker and take it out of the fridge. (actually my husband does the stumbling)

By Leslie Blythe

Tuna Melt

This Tuna Melt sandwich is tuna salad and a layer of cheese done under the broiler. It is said that the Tuna Melt was born in 1965 on King Street in Charleston, South Carolina at the Woolworth’s lunch counter. Apparently, there was a bowl of tuna salad on the edge of the griddle shelf and the contents tipped over onto the grilled cheese sandwich being made at the time. I guess the tuna melt is a mistake.

A tuna melt sandwich is tuna salad and a layer of cheese, sometimes grated. The sandwich is then grilled or broiled open-faced until the cheese is melted. I wish I liked tuna, but I made this for my husband, Eric, who loves them. You can also add a slice of tomato, use any kind of bread and any kind of cheese. Our "house" cheese is Tillamook Cheddar.

By Leslie Blythe

Creamy Boursin Omelette

My daughter, Zoe, got us hooked on Boursin® Vermont White Cheddar & Sage Spread. It claims to be a sophisticated take on cheddar. A hint of delicately earthy sage balances the tangy sharpness of real Vermont Cheddar. I went to the market with my husband and he bought some. The lady working the check out said she LOVES this cheese and puts it in her scrambled eggs. Well, isn't that a nice idea!? I'm probably one of the few people who would come home from the market and make something the check out lady likes. So, I went on the Boursin site and found this omelette recipe, though you could just throw some in your scramble. Sorry about the blurry photo, I was hungry and didn't take my time!

By Leslie Blythe

Cheese Snackles

Cheese Snackles - My brother-in-law Russell came last week and brought us a bag of these fabulous cheese crackers. They were so good, I asked him to get the recipe from his friend, Rose-Marie, who is constantly asked to bring them to social gatherings. She got the recipe from her friend Ann who died at age 50 in 1989, so she is glad to have her friend remembered. Thank you Rose-Marie!

By Leslie Blythe

Party Potatoes

Party potatoes are also called Funeral Potatoes. Funeral potatoes are a traditional Mormon potato hotdish, or casserole, that originated in the U.S. state of Utah. The dish usually consists of hash browns or cubed potatoes, cheese (cheddar or Parmesan), onions, cream soup (chicken, mushroom, or celery) or a cream sauce, sour cream, and is topped with butter and corn flakes or crushed potato chips. Reminiscent of my mid-west upbringing, where every side dish had a crunchy topping. However, this recipe is minus the crunch!

By Leslie Blythe

Chile Cheese Egg Casserole

My friend Brady, made us a wonderful dinner. It’s a recipe that has been passed down in our town circa 1974. Over the years it has been changed and adapted each time. This is his current version.
Here is his note
“I like to mix up my cheeses if I can.  Frequently I will use the Mexican 4-Cheese blend instead of plain Jack, or I may add Pepper Jack to spice things up.  I once used six different kinds of cheese!  The main cheese should always be Sharp Cheddar, but have fun and play with the rest, as long as you keep it at 32 ounces or so.”

By Leslie Blythe

Tamale Pie

This Tamale Pie takes less then 5 minutes to throw it in a casserole dish! The Trader Joe's "tasting station" is a place for some culinary inspiration. It's where they hand out samples for you to try. I almost always buy whatever they are demoing. It was this tamale pie. I am not a big fan of polenta (unless it's crispy), but I have to say I really liked this dish. It's something you could have in your pantry. You could even make it vegetarian by using vegetarian chili instead of chicken or turkey. The original recipe calls for a jar of their Cowboy Caviar, but I actually used the corn salsa instead.

By Leslie Blythe

Clementine, Burrata & Proscuitto Salad

Clementine, Burrata & Proscuitto Salad is an unexpected way to serve burrata cheese. Burrata is one of my favorite cheeses, which is a fresh Italian cheese, made from mozzarella and cream. The outer shell is solid mozzarella while the inside contains both mozzarella and cream, giving it an unusual, soft texture. The name "burrata" means "buttered" in Italian. Usually, one encounters burrata accompanied by tomatoes, basil and or pesto. I was lucky enough to tour Angelo & Franco - The Mozzarella Guys cheese facility a few years ago. They make amazing authentic Italian cheeses.

By Leslie Blythe

Cheesy Beef & Zucchini Casserole

This Cheesy Beef & Zucchini Casserole is a great way to use up some of the zucchini in your garden! It's delicious.

By Leslie Blythe

Broccoli Cheddar Quiche

Yesterday, my daughter, Grace, cleaned out the freezer, cleaned the stove, the pantry, etc. She also made dinner - Caprese Salad, Broccoli Cheddar Quiche, and Brownies. I was told on several occasions to vacate the kitchen! I could get used to this!

By Leslie Blythe