YumSugar

2007 Winter Fancy Food Show - Part 2 (Goat Cheese!)

YumSugar — Wed, 24 Jan 2007 14:54:40 -0800

Trendspotting: Goat Cheese and Friends
Like I mentioned earlier, we ate a lot of cheese at the Fancy Food Show. But oddly enough, we ate more goat milk flavored items than cow milk flavored items. Now there's nothing wrong with goat cheese (in fact, I LOVE LOVE LOVE the stuff), but it seemed as if goat milk products far outnumbered cow milk products. And I know that goat milk has been a trend for a little while (in fact I'd seen a lot of these products before), but it was still surprising to see so many of them under one roof.

There were too many products to actually keep up with, but here are a few that garnered my taste bud's full attention:

Goat Milk Butter from Meyenberg
This was one of my favorite things at the show. It was a rich creamy European style butter but with a rich goaty flavor. I had to go back for seconds... actually thirds.
Creamy Goat Cheese from the Vermont Butter & Cheese Company
This was a nice and spreadable goat cheese that was available in three flavors: Classic, Roasted Red Pepper and Olive & Herb. I thought it might make a nice alternative to cream cheese in the morning, or tossed with pasta.

Four more and a photo gallery, so read more

Humboldt Fog from Cypress Grove Chevre
I was happy to see that my current favorite cheese was there in full force. It's creamy and lucious with a nice tangy flavor. I could eat this by the buckets full. I would probably end up with a pretty wild tummyache, but I bet I could do it. The other cheeses from Cypress Grove were also really nice, including the Lamb Chopper (a sheep's milk cheese) and the fresh herbed chevre.

Goat Milk Yogurt from Redwood Hill Farms
This yogurt is a nice offering for people who can't digest cow milk. However, I found it to be quite strong in flavor and rather "goaty." But, if you're into that, then seriously look for this stuff, it's delicious, but I just couldn't see myself eating an entire container in the morning. Oh, and they get bonus points because they stop milking their goats in the winter so that they can provide milk to the babies. It causes a "yogurt shortage" but it sounds well worth it to me.
Echo Mountain Cheese from Rogue Creamery
This blue cheese is actually a goat and cow milk blend. The result was creamy, yet potent. I'd say it's a truly American flavor and one that I want to eat over and over again.

Marin Chevre Blue from Rouge et Noir
Another goat style blue, but this time it was a goat milk Brie that has a traditional Roquefort culture mixed right into the milk. It had a nice tang, but was smooth and creamy from the goat's milk.

Sadly, I heard there was a goat milk frozen yogurt somewhere, but somehow I missed it. With over 1,100 booths, I guess that's easy to do, but I still would have enjoyed trying it.

Oh and word of advice to cheese companies, don't serve your cheese on an overly salty or potent cracker. How am I supposed to know what the cheese tastes like?

Check out some of the goat milk products we encountered:

View 14 Photos ›

Fast & Easy Dinner: Goat Cheese and Tomato Strata

partysugar — Tue, 29 Apr 2008 05:30:22 -0700

Instead of making croutons, use leftover bread to make a simple supper in the form of a strata. Like a savory bread pudding, this layered dish is filled with fleshy tomatoes and melted cheese. The recipe involves minimal prepwork giving you plenty of time to unwind after a long day. Pair with a glass of wine and a green salad. For the recipe, read more.

Goat Cheese and Tomato Strata
From iVillage

Ingredients

1 tablespoon olive oil
1/2 pound stale country bread, sliced about 1/2-inch thick
2 large cloves garlic, 1 sliced in half, the other minced
1 pound fresh tomatoes (about 3 medium) sliced 1/3-inch thick
1/3 cup Gruyere cheese, grated
1/2 cup goat cheese, crumbled
1 tablespoon fresh rosemary, chopped
2 teaspoons fresh thyme, picked
1 teaspoon kosher salt
1/2 teaspoon black pepper
4 large eggs
2 cups milk

Directions

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
Oil a 2-quart baking or gratin dish. Rub the bread slices with garlic halves.
Mix the minced garlic with the tomatoes, season with a pinch of salt and pepper, and set aside. Layer half the bread slices in the baking dish. Top with half the reserved tomatoes, half the cheeses, half the herbs and half the salt and pepper. Repeat the layers.
Beat together the eggs and milk. Pour over the bread-tomato mixture. Place the dish on a baking sheet and bake for 40 to 50 minutes until puffed and browned. Serve hot or at room temperature.

Serves 4 to 6.

Print recipe with images | without images

Say Cheese! Tomato and Goat Cheese Tarts

partysugar — Thu, 06 Aug 2009 11:55:37 -0700

Earlier today I teased your tastebuds with a goat cheese quiz, so it's only fair to share my current favorite goat cheese recipe: tomato and goat cheese tarts. Goat's milk has a high amount of fatty acids (much more than cow's milk) that provide the cheese with its characteristic tart flavor.

Goat cheese most commonly comes in a soft, spreadable, crumbly form, although there are hard aged varieties that have a consistency more like feta. Since goats are hardy animals that can survive in areas where cows cannot - parts of the Middle East, Africa, and the Mediterranean - goat cheese is the world's most widely consumed cheese.

I love the salty and creamy flavor of goat cheese and almost always have it in my refrigerator. To see how I paired the tangy cheese with ripe tomatoes to make this easy tart, read more.

I'm a huge fan of Barefoot Contessa's recipes, and this is another winner! The tart dough is simply puff pastry, but she adds layers of flavor with caramelized onions, Parmesan cheese, and chopped basil. I've served this tart many times, both as a main course and a side dish, in individual portions and as a slab. Sliced into smaller pieces it could even work as an appetizer.

Tomato and Goat Cheese Tarts
From Ina Garten

Ingredients

1 package (17.3 ounces/2 sheets) puff pastry, defrosted
Good olive oil
4 cups thinly sliced yellow onions (2 large onions)
3 large garlic cloves, cut into thin slivers
Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper
3 tablespoons dry white wine
2 teaspoons minced fresh thyme leaves
4 tablespoons freshly grated Parmesan, plus 2 ounces shaved with a vegetable peeler
4 ounces garlic-and-herb goat cheese (recommended: Montrachet)
1 large tomato, cut into 4 (1/4-inch-thick) slices
3 tablespoons julienned basil leaves

Directions

Unfold a sheet of puff pastry on a lightly floured surface and roll it lightly to an 11 by 11-inch square. Using a 6-inch wide saucer or other round object as a guide, cut 2 circles from the sheet of puff pastry, discarding the scraps. Repeat with the second pastry sheet to make 4 circles in all. Place the pastry circles on 2 sheet pans lined with parchment paper and refrigerate until ready to use.
Preheat the oven to 425 degrees F.
Heat 3 tablespoons of olive oil in a large skillet over medium to low heat and add the onions and garlic. Saute for 15 to 20 minutes, stirring frequently, until the onions are limp and there is almost no moisture remaining in the skillet.
Add 1/2 teaspoon salt, 1/4 teaspoon pepper, the wine, and thyme and continue to cook for another 10 minutes, until the onions are lightly browned. Remove from the heat.
Using a sharp paring knife, score a 1/4-inch-wide border around each pastry circle. Prick the pastry inside the score lines with the tines of a fork and sprinkle a tablespoon of grated Parmesan on each round, staying inside the scored border.
Place 1/4 of the onion mixture on each circle, again staying within the scored edge.
Crumble 1 ounce of goat cheese on top of the onions.
Place a slice of tomato in the center of each tart. Brush the tomato lightly with olive oil and sprinkle with basil, salt, and pepper. Finally, scatter 4 or 5 shards of Parmesan on each tart.
Bake for 20 to 25 minutes, until the pastry is golden brown. The bottom sheet pan may need an extra few minutes in the oven. Serve hot or warm.

Makes 4 individual tarts.

Print recipe with images | without images

View 20 Photos ›

Say Cheese! Cypress Grove's Midnight Moon

partysugar — Thu, 14 May 2009 10:15:35 -0700

The other day I decided to treat myself to my favorite table cheese, grana padano. This Italian cheese is similar to Parmesan reggiano and is excellent eaten right out of your hands. However, my local grocery store was all out. As I stood staring aimlessly at the cheese selection, wondering what could replace my beloved padano, the cheesemonger saved me. "Have you tried Cypress Grove's Midnight Moon?" he asked. While I've had my fair share of artisanal cheesemaker's Cypress Grove's most famous cheese, Humboldt Fog, I've never tasted the Midnight Moon. An aged goat's milk cheese, Midnight Moon is perfect for any cheese plate. To find out why this is my new favorite and check out my suggestions for serving, read more.

Creamy and complex, midnight moon has similar characteristics to Parmesan. It's nutty and sharp with tiny melt-in-your-mouth crystals. The long and strong finish is caramely with a slight browned-butter flavor. It's salty, but not overly so and subtly rich. The aroma is mild. The aging process - Midnight Moon is aged for six months or more - provides a nice graininess. Pale ivory in color and smooth in texture, the wheels are finished in a black wax that easily peels off.

Here's how I plan on enjoying this delightful cheese:

Alone as a snack, or on a cheese board with charcuterie, fruit, and nuts.
With crackers, drizzled with honey or preserves.
Shaved onto a bitter green salad.
Melted in a grilled cheese sandwich or macaroni and cheese.
Grated on a crisp pizza crust.

Have you tried Midnight Moon or any of Cypress Grove's cheeses? What did you think?

View 12 Photos ›

Say Cheese! Baked Feta With Marinara

partysugar — Thu, 19 Mar 2009 10:15:45 -0700

Feta cheese is perhaps Greece's most spectacular contribution to the culinary world. Traditionally feta is made from sheep or goat's milk. However, many producers today make it with cow's milk. It's a brined curd cheese that's commonly aged in blocks. Feta is white with a salty, tangy flavor that ranges from mild to sharp.

Depending on how long it ages, feta is soft to semihard in texture. Usually it comes in the form of a square cake that's packed in brine. Feta dries out quickly once removed from the brine. The crumbly cheese is scrumptious in salads, nachos, and flaky pastries like spanakopita. To check out my favorite way to enjoy feta, read more.

While it may not be the best melting cheese, when baked, feta obtains a smooth, incredibly delicious creaminess. Combined with marinara sauce, it makes a super-easy appetizer that's insanely crowd pleasing. I've made this dish a million times and it always gets rave reviews.

Baked Feta with Marinara
Original Recipe

Ingredients

1 baguette, sliced into 1/4 inch pieces
olive oil, for drizzling
salt
fresh ground black pepper
8 ounces feta cheese
1/2 teaspoon red pepper flakes
1 1/2 cups marinara sauce

Directions

Preheat the oven to 350°F.
Arrange the bread in a single layer on a baking sheet. Drizzle with olive oil and season with salt and pepper. Toss to combine.
Bake until toasted and crisp, 12-15 minutes.
Meanwhile, crumble the feta in single layer in an oven-safe serving dish.
Sprinkle the red pepper flakes over the top.
Cover completely with the marinara sauce, spreading smooth.
Place in the oven and bake for 20-30 minutes until the marinara is bubbly and darker in color.
Carefully remove from the oven and serve immediately with the toasted crostini.

Serves 6-8 as an appetizer.

Print recipe with images | without images

View 7 Photos ›

What's Cooking at Slashfood

YumSugar — Thu, 02 Apr 2009 04:00:01 -0700

We love Slashfood so much that every Thursday we round up their most delicious stories. Here are this week's finds:

Microwaves may be better for the environment than ovens.
With Archie McPhee's new gravy bath salts, the only lump in the gravy is you.
What's it like to be an astronaut cooking in space?
Peek inside 1970s tome The Male Chauvinist's Cookbook.
Meet Mekkerbeck, an herbal goat's milk cheese made in Belgium.
Why you may need to stockpile your favorite Ethiopian coffee.

Source

Say Cheese! Fresh Ricotta

partysugar — Thu, 26 Feb 2009 09:00:07 -0800

One of my New Year's resolutions was to learn more about cheese, and now that it's almost March, I decided I better get on it! Don't worry readers, I'm taking you along for the ride: allow me to introduce my new feature devoted to the wonderful world of cheese. Each week, I'll pick a different type of cheese and use it in a delectable recipe. First up: homemade fresh ricotta. To learn more about this creamy cheese and check out the surprisingly easy recipe, read more.

The word ricotta means "recooked" in Italian, and the fresh cheese is not actually a cheese - it's a whey cheese. Whey is the leftover liquid that separates from the curds when making mozzarella, provolone, romano, etc. The remaining protein-rich byproduct is harvested, made more acidic, and reheated to create ricotta. Ricotta can be made from the whey of sheep, cow, goat, or water buffalo milk, but most American ricotta is a combination of whey and store-bought cow milk. Fresh ricotta has a slightly grainy texture and moist, almost sweet flavor. It's used in both savory (lasagna) and sweet (cheesecake) preparations.

This homemade variation is from the January issue of Bon Appétit. I was shocked when I read the article and saw how simple the recipe is: it only involves three common ingredients. After allowing plenty of time to chill, use in any recipe that calls for ricotta (stay tuned to find out how I used mine!).

Fresh Ricotta
From Bon Appétit

Ingredients

8 cups whole milk
1 teaspoon salt
3 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
tools: slotted spoon or fine-mesh skimmer, cheesecloth*, medium colander

Directions

Line a medium colander with four layers of cheesecloth. Set the cheesecloth-lined colander in the sink.
Bring the whole milk and salt to a simmer in a large, heavy-duty saucepan over medium-high heat.
Stir in the fresh lemon juice. Simmer the milk mixture gently until curds form, usually one to two minutes.
Using a slotted spoon or mesh skimmer, transfer the curds to the prepared colander. Let them drain for only a minute.
Transfer the ricotta to a medium bowl. It can be served right away, or covered and chilled up to two days.

Makes about 1 1/2 cups.

*I forgot to purchase cheesecloth, so instead of using a colander, I used a fine mesh strainer lined with a paper towel - it worked fine!

Print recipe with images | without images

View 7 Photos ›

Latest War in the Middle East Over Hummus

partysugar — Wed, 08 Oct 2008 07:45:18 -0700

A group of Lebanese businessmen have accused Israel of stealing their traditional dish, hummus. Although the exact origins of the creamy garbanzo bean spread are unknown, the Lebanese Industrialists Association, lead by Fadi Abboud, plan to sue Israel for ownership. Abboud hopes to make hummus a dish with protected geographical status.

Similar to how feta cheese must be made with Greek sheep and goat's milk or how champagne must be made with grapes native to the Champagne region of France, Abboud believes hummus and other local delicacies (baba ghannouj, tabbouleh) deserve geographical protection. His case may be futile, though; the Protected Geographical Status Law applies only to countries in the European Union. There is no such law in Lebanon and Israel.

I think the whole thing is a bit comical: who has time to fight over the ownership of hummus? Still, I'm curious to see if hummus is declared a product specific to Lebanon. What do you think about the claim?

What Would You Make???

partysugar — Tue, 25 Sep 2007 07:28:33 -0700

Ok here's the scenario: you are at home and hungry for food. You have to make something delicious for you and your boyfriend/girlfriend/spouse/child/friend but the ingredients you have from the grocery store are limited.

You have several uncooked chicken breasts, a batch of fresh arugula, and a log of herbed goat cheese. Using only the products you currently have in your cupboard and refrigerator, what would you make???

To see the list of ingredients you do have on hand, and to see what I would cook up, read more

I would start by chopping one onion and several cloves of garlic. I would add these to a pan and saute until tender.
Next I would add a can of diced tomatoes and the chicken. I would simmer until the chicken is cooked through and meanwhile, boil and cook the pasta.
I would dress the arugula with salt and pepper, lemon juice and olive oil.
Once the pasta is cooked I would add it to the sauce and toss to combine.
To plate I would pile the chicken and pasta sauce in the middle of a shallow bowl. I would top with a helping of the arugula salad and crumble the fresh herbed goat cheese all over the dish.

Now you know what I would make, how about you, what would you make??

In the fridge you have:
milk
butter
eggs
parmesan cheese
ketchup
mayonnaise
mustard
soy sauce
lemons

In the cupboard you have:
garlic
onions
potatoes
extra-virgin olive oil
vegetable oil
cooking spray
vinegar
hot pepper sauce
Worcestershire sauce
dried pasta
canned tomatoes
canned tuna
flour
granulated sugar
brown sugar
baking powder
baking soda
pure vanilla extract
peanut butter
chocolate chips
nuts

In the spice rack you have:
salt
black pepper
cayenne pepper
crushed red pepper
chili powder
paprika
ground cumin
bay leaves
ground cinnamon
ground nutmeg

Source, Source, Source

All The News That Fit To Eat - August 8

YumSugar — Wed, 08 Aug 2007 10:58:41 -0700

There's a big debate going on over raw milk. It's illegal in most states (although I can buy it here in California), but some folks say it's tastier and more nutritious. Plus 10 more meals you can make in 10 minutes. - New York Times

Tomatoes are great for salads and sauces, but how about using tomatoes in dessert? Plus simple fruity granitas and a luscious Tres Leches cake. - San Francisco Chronicle
Top Chef (and other Bravo reality shows) contestants and winners aren't necessarily guaranteed success. - BuzzSugar
We mentioned it during travel week, but it's true, cook and learn vacations are definitely on the rise. - Chicago Tribune
Can anybody tell me why I'm not at the annual American Cheese Society conference? Plus, would you have thought that beer would beat out wine in a pairing competition? - Boston Globe
The all American grilled cheese is receiving a modern makeover. - Los Angeles Times
Consumers are crazy for the mild, eco-friendly Tilapia, while chefs love to hate it. Why? Tilapia fish isn't very fishy. - Washington Post
Want to learn more about goat cheese? Start by accepting that excellent goat cheese is more than a gourmet garnish. - Dallas Morning News
In case you didn't get enough root beer earlier this week, here's a few more ideas for root beer desserts. - Minneapolis-St.Paul Star Tribune

Image Source