Posts Tagged ‘Bufala Mozzarella Cheese’

« Older Entries

Bufala Mozzarella Salad: A Quick Vegetarian Fix

Thursday, January 19th, 2012

More and more people are going vegetarian these days mainly because of health reasons, I am presupposing. I can’t see any reason aside from what I just mentioned, why these health freaks steer away from juicy steaks, crispy chicken and cholesterolific hamburgers. On second thought, it might be also a belief, but, who knows?

What is more perplexing is when vegetarians go a step further and become vegan, which means that not only do they not eat animals, but they don’t eat animal products as well such as dairy or eggs.

What? No Dairy which means no cheese? Well, how can I live without cheese– the essence of my existence? Well almost. Didn’t I have my first food from my mother’s milk, just like the bull’s had theirs from their mother’s milk as well. And if there is more than enough milk from the bull, they make it into Bufala Mozzarella which by the way, I have a recipe to share and it’s called: Bufala Mozzarella Salad.

  • ¼ c. olive oil
  • ½ cup red wine vinegar
  • 2 tsp. Salt
  • 1 tbsp. Dried basil
  • ½ tsp. Pepper
  • ¼ tsp. Dried oregano
  • 1 round ball buffalla cut into cubes or crumbled

Mix the above and marinade the Bufala Mozzarella in the mixture for an hour or more. Then mix it with the following veggies.

  • 20 pcs. Grape tomatoes or 6 Roma tomatoes quartered
  • 1 small cucumber sliced
  • 1 small red pepper sliced
  • 1 small green pepper, sliced
  • 1 small red onion, sliced
  • Greek olives (optional)

Prepare the vegetables and place in a serving bowl. Add the marinated Bufala Mozzarella Cheese to the vegetables above. Toss well and serve.

Vegetarians or vegans can do away with cheese substitutions in the form of other plant products derived from grains which processed, could be made to look like cheese. Thus even with the above recipe, this can be modified and if one is vegan, they just do away with the cheese component. Crumbled tofu could be a substitute for the above recipe. However every original recipe is always best with original ingredients.

Anyway, back for as long as I can remember, vegans didn’t become such the moment they were born. Can you imagine giving a newborn baby carrot juice or soy milk. It’s possible though, but generally, we all started with mother’s milk, which to every infant is the best food ever. And speaking about the best cheese, it’s found in only in the gourmet cheese shop online, the Ideal Cheese Shop. And you don’t want to miss that.

Tags: , , , , ,
Posted in Italian Cheese | No Comments »

Comforting The Mac and Cheese with Bufala Mozzarella

Wednesday, October 12th, 2011

What is your comfort food? To some it could be hamburgers, to others it could be anything that reminds them of home or a pleasant experience requiring incessant repetitions.

And another one of the many comfort food you can have is the Mac and Cheese with Bufala Mozzarella. This recipe has been uplifted into a notch higher by creating it into miniature appetizer bites. Whether you are entertaining over a bottle of wine, or having a kid’s party, none can compare the solace it brings while reminiscing personal episodes over family dinners. And to be a welcoming starter to a celebration is so much of a delight rather than a meal in itself.

This recipe can be made ahead of time and then warmed into a 350 degree oven for a few minutes to reheat before serving. Don’t leave them in the oven for a long time or they will fall apart.

Ingredients:

  • 8 oz. Small elbow macaroni
  • 2 tablespoons unsalted butter
  • 2 tbsp. All purpose flour
  • 1 cup milk
  • ½ cup heavy cream
  • 1 tablespoon chopped fresh thyme or 1 tsp dried
  • salt and pepper
  • ½ cup grated sharp cheddar cheese
  • 1 cup buffala mozzarella cut into pieces
  • 5 tablespoon seasoned dried breadcrumbs
  • vegetable spray for the muffin pans.

1. Bring a pot of lightly salted water to a boil over high heat. Add the macaroni and cook for 7 minutes, or until slightly al dente. Drain.

2. Meanwhile, in a medium pot, melt the butter over low heat. When it starts to sizzle, add the flour and stir well to create a roux. Slowly whisk the mil and then the cream into the roux and cook for a few minutes, or until the sauce is smooth and thickened. Season with the thyme and salt and pepper to taste. Cook for another minute or two until thick enough to coat the back of a spoon. Remove from the heat and whisk in the cheddar cheeses and then the breadcrumbs.

3. Place a rack in the middle of the oven and preheat to 400 degrees F.

4. Lightly coat 30 mini muffin cups with the vegetable spray. Depending on how many pans you have, you may have to make these in batches. Place 1 heaping tablespoon of the macaroni and cheese mixture into each mini muffin cup and, using the back of a spoon, press down to condense the pasta. Place some strips of Bufala Mozzarella on top.

5. Bake the mac and cheese for 8 to 10 minutes, until they begin to turn golden brown. Remove from the oven and let cool for 2 minutes- you must let them cool before unmolding or they might just fall apart. Place a large plate over the muffin tins and unmold them. Sprinkle bits of mozzarella buffalo on top. Bake and serve hot.

So whether you are making small bites or casserole of comfort food, always get the best ingredients and relive your moments. And for the comfort of buying cheese, always get from the source of all cheeses and the only gourmet cheese shop there is, the Ideal Cheese Shop. They have a selection of the best Bufala Mozzarella, and that indeed is comforting enough.

Tags: , ,
Posted in General Cheese News | No Comments »

The Cocktail Trio: Stilton, Gruyere, and Bufala Mozzarella

Wednesday, October 5th, 2011

The life of a party always starts before the first guests arrive. And usually, this should be the time when the host/hostess is relaxed and ready to take their guests in. Why else would someone want to host a party except to have fun with friends, right? And stressing before the event should never be an option. And of course, a party is never complete without morsels of cocktail food – a welcome array of tiny bites that is paired with a mixture of alcoholic beverages. Just right enough to get everyone in the mood and get the party rolling.

A cheese platter with some fruits and nuts is always the simplest way to serve appetizers, but none can compare to that of a well prepared dish that is elegant, chic as well as delicious especially if it is cheese based. So here are some simple recipes that will impress any guest. Moreover, it is so easy and effortless to make yet would still have the elements to dazzle any curious guest and come asking for the recipes. So enjoy!

Endives with Blue Stilton Cheese and Walnut

Equipment:

  • food processor or blender
  • pastry bag fitted with large star tip (optional)

Ingredients:

  • ½ lb. Blue stilton
  • 1 tsp. Worcestershire sauce
  • ½ lb. Cream cheese
  • 60 walnut pieces
  • 7-8 endive leaves, washed

Preparation:

In a food processor or blender, combine the stilton and cream cheeses, Worcestershire sauce and process until smooth. May be prepared 2 days in advance.
On each endive leaf, pipe or spoon about half a tablespoon of the cheese mixture. Place a piece of walnut on top.

Bufala Mozzarella Bites

  • 1 pound fresh Bufala Mozzarella
  • ½ cup sun dried tomatoes (packed in olive oil then drained)
  • 1 baguette

Preheat broiler. Slice baguette into rounds, about ½ inch thick. Slice mozzarella into 24 pieces about 3/8 inch thick. Each slice should fit comfortably on a baguette round. Cut the sundried tomatoes into julienne.

Assembly:

Place a piece of mozzarella on a baguette slice, and top with a few shreds of the sun dried tomato. Run under the broiler for about 1 minute until cheese has melted. Serve.

Gruyere on Crusty Pizza

  • Organic whole wheat tortilla
  • ¾ cup gruyere cheese grated
  • 1 tbsp. Olive oil
  • ¼ tsp minced garlic
  • 1 tsp. Italian flat leaf parsley chopped
  • 1 pinch Kosher sea salt
  1. Preheat oven to 500 degrees
  2. Place tortilla on a cookie sheet lined with tin foil
  3. Sprinkle the gruyere cheese on the tortilla, leaving an inch around the edges
  4. Sprinkle on garlic and parsley
  5. Sprinkle a pinch of Kosher salt
  6. Bake in oven until cheese is melted
  7. Take pizza out of the oven and transfer to a serving plate cut in four. Serve hot.

So why not try making your appetizers and have your guest rave over your culinary expertise. And always get your cheese at the best online cheese shop, the Ideal Cheese Shop. This is the one store that has all the cheese you can think of. And when its plain cheese is made into an appetizer, you can never go wrong.

Tags: , , , ,
Posted in English Cheese, Italian Cheese, Swiss Cheese | No Comments »

« Older Entries