California cheeses are great to serve at parties. And assembling a delicious cheese party tray couldn't be easier. Pick cheeses you like and make sure you are buying Real California Cheese for great quality. Just look for the Real California Cheese seal or the "It's the Cheese" logo. The following are some tips on how to make great cheese trays for entertaining.
- Select three to five cheeses and emphasize variety and contrast in terms of texture, flavor and shape. For example, a fresh Mozzarella, Brie and Gouda.
- Plan on at least 4 ounces of cheese per person and more if cheese is the main food served at a party.
- Let the cheese sit out long enough to come to room temperature before serving - at least an hour. This allows the cheese's full flavor to develop. (Fresh cheese should be served chilled.)
- Keep aged cheeses covered if set out longer than an hour before consuming.
- Provide a separate serving knife (not too sharp) for each cheese so that the different flavors don't mingle.
- Be adventuresome in pairing cheese with flavored breads and crackers, as well as different fruit. (One caution: cheese and citrus flavors don't go well together.)
California cheeses can add excitement to many of your favorite dishes.
- Top salads with crumbled Feta, shredded Cheddar, or grated Dry Jack cheese.
- Grate a well-aged Asiago or Romano over pasta dishes.
- Cheese trays are great at parties, but for something different, try baking a Brie wrapped in phyllo or pastry dough, or baked with apricot preserves and pecans.
- Make a Mexican pizza using one of California's many Hispanic-style cheeses. Top a tortilla with salsa, black beans, cilantro and/or Jalapeños. Then top with Queso Blanco, Oaxaca and/or Enchilado.
Cooking
When cooking, turn down the heat. Most varieties respond best to low and medium temperatures for just a short time, only long enough to melt and blend. Shred or grate your cheese before cooking for even blending. For sauces, add it as the last ingredient and heat only long enough to melt. And if using it as a topping, add the cheese a few minutes prior to removing from the oven, to avoid burning.
Measuring
Weight is the best method to measure cheese for use in recipes. Four ounces of natural cheese equals one cup of shredded cheeses. One ounce of cheese equals 1/4 cup of shredded cheese.
Storing
Cheese is best enjoyed at its freshest. Always keep it tightly wrapped, sealed and stored in the refrigerator. Prolonged exposure to air dries out cheese. Cut only what you need from a piece and return the rest to the refrigerator. If you see a small spot of mold on a large piece of cheese, remove the mold by trimming at least 1/4- to 1/2-inch beneath the mold and plan to consume the cheese soon. If mold has developed over a larger section, cut away the entire section and discard. Thoroughly moldy pieces should be discarded entirely.
