FOOD TERMINOLOGY FOR THE WEEK

Today's word are all cheeses. I love cheese and get confused sometime with what type to serve for different occasions.

GOAT CHEESE: Not to be confused with Feta, goat cheese is also referred to as Chevre. It is made from goats milk and has a very strong distinctive and tart taste with a creamy smooth texture. It is pure white with a powdery coating.

Goat cheese is best served with sweet fruits such as pineapple, cantaloupe and honeydews. It can also be served with dark toast as a spread and is best served with a very light fruity white wine.

Goat Cheese with Roasted Figs

12 large figs

1/2 cup fresh goat cheese at room temperature

warmed honey to drizzle

Preheat oven t0 425 degrees. Lightly oil a baking sheet.

Quarter the figs to about 3/4 of the way down without cutting thru. Stuff with the goat cheese and bake for 10-15 minutes or until soft. Drizzle with warm honey.

MUENSTER: This is a semi soft cheese that is ideal as an after dinner dessert cheese as well as one that can be used for casseroles and grilled cheese

sandwiches. It has a mild slightly nutty flavor and goes well with apples, grapes, and pears as well as stronger flavored foods like sausages, mustard, pickles and whole grain breads. This is one very versatile cheese, and one of my favorites! It is packaged in a yellow-orangeish covering called annato and is best sliced chilled with a oiled knife.

Muenster Sandwich

Per serving:

2 slices of Rye bread for each sandwich

2 Slices of Muenster

4 Thin slices of Genoa Salami

Sliced avocado

Sliced tomato

Thinly sliced onion

Dress the sandwich with whole grain mustard

ASIAGO CHEESE

This is a very good cheese for cooking as well as serving with fresh or dried fruits. I goes well over pasta, soups and vegetables or served as a dessert cheese with walnuts, pears, dried apricots or figs. It is also delicious with balsamic vinegar drizzled over top.

Asiago is a pale yellow to dark white cheese similar in color to Parmesan. It has a softer texture as a young cheese, but can be hard and crumbly with age. Bring this cheese to room temperature before serving.

Grate Aged Asiago over flat bread or focaccia bread doughs before baking to add an extra touch to your sandwiches.