Category Archive

cheese

Homemade labneh & ricotta: How to make soft cheese at home

I want a recipe that is economical, better than what I can buy, and suitable for the easily distracted. A tall order, it would seem, but after a quick search and a flick though some old books, I found three likely candidates: labneh, ricotta, and paneer.

My paneer was underwhelming, but the other two cheeses were a roaring success! Here’s how to make soft cheese at home…

The secrets to a perfectly fancy-pants cheese board (spoiler: it’s dead easy)

I recently assembled a dry run of a dead simple fall-themed cheese board for the upcoming holiday season that I desperately want to share with you. It’s one of those party staples that taps into our inner Lunchable desires while still being totally lush. It’s like cheese and crackers gone upscale. The best part is you just have to slice a little, arrange a little (which you know we love!), and serve.

Yummy, lactose-free mac ‘n cheese

Last night we feasted on ooey-gooey mac n’ cheese fit for my husband’s digestive system. He developed lactose-intolerance in the past couple of years, which effectively put an end to his cheese-fiend ways. I adapted this recipe from The New Vegan Table, and it’s an awesome recipe. But made even better with my variation.

Make edible 1-up mushrooms out of tomatoes and string cheese

This is how to make my tomato and mozzarella with olive oil and herbs salad with 1-up mushrooms. I made these for a Changeling: The Lost character creation session, and they were a big hit!

A super easy pear, blue cheese, and honey crostini

This isn’t the first time we’ve delved into combining cheese, pears, and honey. Our fearless copyeditor Caroline whipped up some grilled cheese of the same ilk a few months back. This variation focuses on a sweeter bread and a strong cheese. Cue Challah bread and blue cheese, please!

Did you know you can make homemade mozzarella?

I have a giant basil plant in my yard that grows rampant and demands I eat it at every meal. This means that the caprese combination of mozzarella/basil/tomato/balsamic is a staple. Little did I know that mozzarella is one of the easiest cheeses to make yourself and only takes about 20 minutes.

A nummy brie and pear grilled cheese sandwich

Here’s the recipe for the sandwich that had me oohing and aahing aloud when I tried it — and wowed the Offbeat Empire at the Offbeat Retreat.

Making cheese: super noms, super easy

I recently undertook cheesemaking, using common household ingredients. Making your own cheese sounds pretty involved, right? You won’t believe how simple it is — and you might be inspired to make your own cheese tonight!