thoughts on cottage cheese

does this scare you?

well, it scares me. it just looks so… curdled, you know? but i’ve been thinking a lot recently about cottage cheese – and how good it really is.

first of all, if you’re still thinking “what is she talking about, cottage cheese is always hella nasty” – try reframing your image of cottage cheese: it’s just cow’s milk. only curdled. yay!

the dining hall serves non-fat cottage cheese, which means it’s creamy AND healthy, and can be used in tons of fun ways:

1. substitute cottage cheese for other cheeses, especially in quesadillas (full recipe still to come). when you mix it with salsa and black beans in a grilled quesadilla, it just tastes like creamy goodness. not scary at all.

2. put cottage cheese on your salads, like astrid s-g of milli/westchester, ny! think of it as feta, just a little more... wet.

3.If you are feeling brave, try mixing it in with your yogurt, like cate brown of coffrin/hanover, nh. she loves it, and who doesn't love cate, so why not, right?

4. a girl in my sociology class named sam (i think she lives in weybridge) only eats local products from the dining hall, which means her selection is almost entirely limited to cottage cheese, applesauce, cheddar cheese, and apples – which is actually an amazing combination!

5. substitute cottage cheese for cream cheese. grill a panini with cottage cheese, tomato, cucumbers and turkey (i'll find a good recipe for this!). or use cottage cheese on your bagel/bread for breakfast, along with jam/honey and bananas.

6. eat cottage cheese for dessert. you can “spice” it up with lots of fruit, a little jelly or honey, cinnamon, all-bran, peanut butter and (perhaps) raisins. or with whatever else you love. chocolate sauce could work too.

7. check out my soon to come recipe for noodle kugel, using cottage cheese.

p.s. i wish we had an easy bake oven, then we could use cottage cheese to make these:

seriously, they have cottage cheese in them. check out the link: http://thriftyjinxy.blogspot.com/2008/04/works-for-me-wednesday-healthy-oatmeal.html

MAKE KEBOBS ON THE PANINI MACHINE

use the wooden tea stirrers (find them at the tea table) as skewers, make your own rubs and sauces... it's a WHOLE NEW WORLD. i'll post some recipes/ideas soon.

quick notes

1. i never thought about this before last night, but apparently some anonymous people (freshman!) don't know how to make a panini. like, they actually get confused about the process of assembling one. in fact, a really nice freshman recently told me, "seriously, i just don't get it. can you post step by step instructions? i'm really lost."

so i guess here's an answer: do not attempt fancy tortilla folds or panini bundles, or whatever else is possible. just get a big white lavash, put stuff on top, and fold it in half. the end.

2. grill your onions on top of your panini with whatever sauce you used inside the panini or with balsamic vinegar and olive oil or honey or butter. just do it. please.

Thanksgiving Leftovers and Mysterious Crunchies: dinner, september 28th, 2009

welcome to the first recipe post ever. now let's get down with the get down.

a few notes:
1. portion measurements are dramatic approximations and should vary according to your own tastes.
2. LI - means limited item. they're mostly prepared foods from the hot food line or dessert station, and not always available. thus they can't be counted on in the recipe. i will try to suggest possible substitutions.
3. other additions/substitutions are untried and either dangerous or crucial/beneficial - TRY THEM YOURSELF AND REPORT BACK!
4. all posted recipes HAVE BEEN TASTED AND APPROVED by at least 2 people in the dining hall (including febs, so beware. kidding!)


TGIT - Thank God It's Thanksgiving - Sandwich
(main course)

- 2 slices of bread
- 1 tbs apricot jelly (or the cranberry sauce they serve, or strawberry jelly)
- 2 tsp raisins
- 2 slices of cheddar cheese (provolone might actually be better)
- LI spoonful of mashed potatoes (or mashed up roasted potatoes)
- LI serving of turkey breast (or sliced turkey/ham)

possible additions/substitutions: onions, barbecue sauce, tomato, hummus instead of mashed potatoes

directions: spread apricot jelly on bread and sprinkle raisins on top (which is fun because they stick to the jelly). spread a light layer of potato on the other slice of bread. layer the turkey and cheese on top. panini that shit!


Mysteriously Crunchy Ice Cream Sandwich
(dessert)

- 1/2 cup frozen yogurt and/or soft serve (you choose!)
- 1/4 cup chocolate chips (i used a mix of milk and white, but again, you decide)
- 2 tbs cup peanut butter (can be omitted)
- 1 packet of butter (can also be omitted, i think, but i have a feeling it's secretly very useful)
- 2 tbs chocolate sauce, and some for drizzling
- 1/4 cup all bran
- LI 2 slices of pound cake (or any LI prepared cookie, cake, muffin, brownie, and dare i say corn bread. healthier alternative - whole wheat bread)
- LI chunky strawberry sauce, served with the pound cake (or jam)

directions: the trick to this recipe is layering, but i think i've figured it out (with the help of tasters!!!) combine the chocolate chips, peanut butter, butter, chocolate sauce and all-bran in a bowl. microwave for approximately 30 seconds, maybe 33, or 38, whatever, until it's melted. mix together thoroughly - these are the mysterious crunchies. dispense the frozen yogurt/soft serve in another bowl (this is the bottom layer of the dish). place one piece of pound cake on top. spread a thick layer of mysterious crunchies over the pound cake. layer the strawberry sauce on top. place the other piece of pound cake over this, and drizzle with chocolate sauce. share with friends.

possible additions/substitutions: honey (spread over the crunchies), oreos


holla!
seriously though, holler back.

p.s.
http://images.topix.com/gallery/up-PRD05SLIK3KNVI7H.jpg