Food for Thought: Which cheese melts the best?
Tip of the Week
Some cheeses are designed to melt. Others won’t melt no matter what (including cottage, ricotta, feta and hard Italian cheeses). Cheese melts best under medium temperatures. The more you use, the more pronounced the flavor.
Stretchy, stringy (Best on pizza and panini): Mozzarella (fresh, aged or smoked), provolone, string cheese, fresh cheddar cheese curds.
Smooth, creamy (Best for toasted sandwiches, stuffing vegetables, topping casseroles and baking): American (processed cheese), Asagio; brick (Farmer’s cheese), butter cheese, cheddar, Emmenthaler (Swiss), Gruyere, Havarti, Monterey Jack, gouda.
-- Jim Hillibish, The Repository
Easy recipe: Cheddar Garlic Biscuits
2 cups Bisquick
2/3 cup milk
3/4 cup shredded cheddar
1/4 cup butter, melted
1 teaspoon parsley flakes
1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
1/2 teaspoon Italian seasoning (optional)
Heat oven to 450 degrees F. Mix first 3 ingredients to form soft dough. Drop by spoonfuls onto ungreased cookie sheet. Bake 8-10 minutes.
Mix butter, parsley flakes, garlic powder and Italian seasoning and brush over biscuits.
Critic's Cupboard: The ‘Ove’ Glove
SPATULA UP
Jennifer Mastroianni: I’m a sucker for gadget commercials. I love watching them. I don’t often pull the trigger and order, but if I’m in a store and see “As Seen On TV” emblazoned on a package, I’ll stop in my tracks to check it out.
So it was with the ‘Ove’ Glove. I saw the commercials, then discovered the product at Walgreens. I caved. And I must say, I’ve been entirely happy with this potholder that is more glove than mitt.
However, don’t expect it to stay pretty. The white glove gets stained and grungy in a hurry. It is machine-washable, but don’t count on it getting sparkling white after a few uses.
I wish I had two. If you plan to splurge, get a pair.
-- The Repository
Food Quiz
Polenta is made from what grain?
A. Wheat
B. Barley
C. Rye
D. Cornmeal
(www.funtrivia.com)
Answer is at bottom of column
Wise to the Word: Speck
Speck is a German and Italian lean ham, more flavorful than prosciutto or pancetta. It is brined in garlic, black pepper, bay leaves and juniper berries, then cold smoked with maple and beechwood shavings. Use it paper thin with melon or figs or on pizza and in sauces.
-- The Repository
Number to Know: 540
Calories in a large Frosty at Wendy’s. – calorielab.com
The Dish On …
“The Vegetable Dishes I Can't Live Without” by Mollie Katzen
Sometimes we need a little inspiration when it comes to adding more vegetables to our plate. On the 30th anniversary of her groundbreaking “Moosewood Cookbook,” Mollie Katzen presents just fewer than 100 delicious vegetable side dishes in this cookbook.
Whether you need an appetizer, a quick and easy snack for the kids, or something to accompany a main dish, this cookbook offers creative recipes and countless ways to infuse more vegetables into our diets.
Both vegetarians and meat-eaters alike can benefit from these tasty and healthy side dishes, many of which you can even serve as stand-alone meals.
From the Beer Nut’s Blog
Peak Organic Brewing will release a new beer that I’m actually quite excited about, the Espresso Amber Ale.
I’ve never seen any non-stout or porter coffee beers, so I’m really looking forward to see how this is. I’m also a fan of other Peak beers.
The Espresso Amber Ale is brewed with Maine-roasted, organic fair trade espresso from Coffee By Design, located in Maine. The beer is also the first Fair Trade Certified beer brewed in the United States.
If you try it, let me know what you think.
To read more from the Beer Nut, visit http://blogs.townonline.com/beernut/
Food Quiz Answer
D. Cornmeal. Polenta is made with ground yellow or white cornmeal, then boiled to a smooth texture.
GateHouse News Service