|
British Cuisine
British cuisine has always suffered from bad press. The simple homespun fare and plain preparation of most traditional British foods pales when compared to French haute cuisine, and it's not uncommon for food critics to sound almost apologetic when...
Brown bagging it the healthy way
When enjoying a healthy lifestyle, one of the biggest challenges
is making meals on the go. Brown bagging is even more difficult
when children are involved, but it is still possible to create
delicious, nutritious brown bag lunches that the whole...
Kitchen Mysteries: The Fondue Pot
One of the biggest unsolved mysteries of the kitchen is the fondue pot. Fondue pots are a popular bridal registry item and they are often given as house warming gifts. But by the time the thank you cards have been sent, the fondue pot has usually...
Satisfy Your Wine Desires - Join a Wine Club
If you are a wine fanatic, you have many options to satisfy your
thirst. But before you choose an option, you should know how to
taste wine.
In order to do a proper wine tasting, you need to swish the wine
around your mouth. This helps get...
The Sweet Side Of Science
(NC)-Everybody's heard of aspartame. The list of products using it for sweetness is long, including breakfast cereals, soft drinks, desserts and yogurt. But what exactly is aspartame?
Aspartame is a tabletop sweetener that gives foods a ...
|
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|
Quick Reference Guide for Buying, Storing and Serving Cheese
Cheese is more than just peeling back the wrapper on a slice of
American cheese. There are proper buying, storage and serving
procedures that will help maintain freshness and ensure enhanced
flavor and texture.
When buying cheese consider these three items.
1) Where to Shop
- Choose a reliable source such as a specialty market or gourmet
grocery store.
- Find a cheese only market or a cheese restaurant. Many large
metropolitan areas have restaurants that serve only cheese and
wine.
- Shop at a gourmet food store that specializes in cheese.
2) Amount to Purchase
- Buy only what will be consumed with in a few days. Flavors and
aroma of fine cheeses change over time in a home refrigerator.
3) Characteristics of Cheese
- Cheese should present the characteristics of that particular
style. The interior should not have cracks, mold or
discoloration in any form.
- Natural rind cheeses have a rustic appearance. The rind on the
outside of these cheeses is a side product of production. Blue
or Roquefort styles will have some mold and cracks; this is a
normal characteristic of these types of cheeses.
- Taste and sample. Follow your pallet and choose flavors that
appeal to you.
Storage Guide
When you fist bring cheese home remove it from the plastic wrap
or plastic bag it has come in. This type of storage is only good
for transporting the cheese from shop to home. Re-wrap the
cheese in waxed paper or parchment paper. This will allow the
air and moisture to circulate around the cheese. Air and
moisture are integral to keeping the cheese in the best possible
condition.
Serving
Guide
When serving cheese serve no more than 5 varieties at a time.
Vary the size, shape, flavor and texture to add interest. Choose
a wooden board or marble slab to serve on. If you have a silver
tray with a wood insert this is an elegant way to add a special
touch. Remember to never crowd the serving tray and place bread
or fancy crackers on a separate tray. If the cheeses served have
strong distinctive flavors use separate trays and serving
utensils. Mild flavors will pick up aromas and tastes from
stronger flavored cheese.
Cheese can be accompanied by fresh ripe fruit such as apples,
pears, grapes, strawberries, fresh figs, or melon. Even thin
sliced onions are a delightful accompaniment. Remember to slice
all the fruit, onions and bread thin and in bite size pieces.
As a desert, cheese can be very elegant, or as a light course
after the entree and before desert. When serving as an appetizer
cheese should be coupled with a light dinner due to the filling
nature of most cheeses.
Serving cheese chilled or at room temperature is a matter of
personal preference. Room temperature cheese has more flavor and
distinctive characteristics than chilled cheese. Room
temperature can be achieved by leaving the cheese out for 30
minutes before serving. Remember to keep watch that the cheese
does not get to warm and begin to sweat.
About the author:
Author: Michael Colucci
For free recipes please visit Daily Recipes or
www.dailyrecipes.net
(You are granted the right to reprint this article but the
title and content must remain unchanged and the authors name and
contact information must be included.)
|
|
|
|
|
