Cheesy polenta is such a fast, cheap and filling meal that it’s a shame I’ve only just discovered its potential. The way the cornmeal swells with milk and butter, bearing the strings of melted cheese like a silken palanquin on its back—it’s enough to make my heart sing.
All you need is a medium-ground cornmeal, a melting cheese, and perhaps some sautéed vegetables or meats to top for a quick and gratifying meal to enjoy all the time.
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Pumpkins are a cultural icon, evoking cozy memories of childhood carvings, romps through vine-covered patches, costumes sticky with Halloween candy, and warm, sweet spices. You don’t have to love the pumpkin for its jolly symbolism, and I know many abhor the poor gourd due to incessant overuse the moment August rolls into September. To be fair, it’s not the pumpkin that has been bastardized, but the array of spices that tend to accompany it in baked goods. The pumpkin itself is a thing to revere, especially when roasted and pureed into a thick, buttery paste filled with a wealth of nutrients, including vitamin A, vitamin C, and dietary fiber. If you get your hands on a really good pumpkin, its pureed flesh will also deliver a luscious, nutty sweetness that is especially delightful when baked in a hearty bread that’s smeared with tangy dairy. Alas, it’s generally wasted on oily loaves with frostings so sweet they could rot a tooth clean from the gum, while most healthy versions aren’t worth eating. This recipe, on the other hand, combines a simple, wholesome pumpkin bread with a maple-kissed spread of real cheese.
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Gouda seems to be one of those familiar cheeses that almost everyone likes, and luckily you can get a decent one at a lot of different retailers. So far I’ve found two delicious and approachable Gouda cheeses available at Trader Joe’s. It’s basic cheese, but it will fit your daily needs, be they snacking or cooking.
If you find another intriguing Gouda at TJ’s, let me know about it in the comments below. I suggest avoiding any thing with added flavors. When shopping for budget cheese, it’s best to keep it as simple as possible.
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You know that one type of cheese that you’re too afraid to talk to? It’s a flamboyant cheese with a flashy red rinds and oozy yellow pastes. It’s the type of cheese that speeds your heart rate and makes your knees quiver, yet seems far too bold and intimidating to approach. It gives you the same feeling you had in seventh grade, when that sexy skateboarder with the icy eyes and golden curls accidentally made eye contact with you before thoughtlessly turning his attention back to his friends, ignorant of the fact that he is totally the reason you shopped exclusively at Pac Sun and bought a skateboard and then split your knee open trying to ollie in your driveway whilst taking in the trash cans. This type of cheese, too, will make you do strange, unfamiliar things in the name of love. It just has that effect.
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