Yogurt and yogurt cheese have been a part of primary diets for 8,000 years. Yogurt is made from fermented milk and yogurt cheese is made from the yogurt. To make the yogurt cheese you strain the whey from the curds and what is left is a soft spreadable cheese. This cheese is a wholesome substitute for cream cheese and spreads that may have harmful additives and preservatives.
You can make your own yogurt cheese and all the time have it in the refrigerator ready to use for all things from cheesecake to dressings. Making your own is easy and easy. Line a strainer with cheesecloth and set it over a bowl. Pour in a quart of plain yogurt, cover and let it set overnight. The whey and the cheese can be kept in isolate containers in the refrigerator for discrete recipes.
Here are several ways to use the yogurt cheese as a wholesome selection in your recipes.
o Substitute it for cream cheese in cheesecake recipes. Now you have a wholesome cheesecake!
o Mix a little bit of your cheese with some of your popular jam or jelly and spread on a bagel. This is a great after-school snack for the kids.
o Mix it with peanut butter in any recipe.
o Mix it with mayonnaise for dressings and spreads. The cheese takes on the flavor of what you are mixing it with, so you can be creative.
o Mix it with sour cream for a baked potato. Top it off with chives and chopped green onions.
o Stir in your popular spices and stuff it on celery.
o Use it in potato salad.
o Make a sandwich spread with it.
o Mix it in with ice cream for a healthier treat.
o Add a packet of your popular chocolate drink mix to 1 cup of your cheese to make a delicious chocolate mousse.
o Split an English muffin in half and toast it. Spread the cheese on the muffin and sprinkle with cinnamon. Heat it under the broiler until hot and bubbly.
o Mix with spices to add to tuna or chicken dishes.
o Use it to make your popular dressings, sauces, dips and spreads for healthier snacks.
If you want to hold the yogurt cheese for a longer period of time, roll it in several small balls and put them in a jar. Cover with a good capability olive oil and store in the refrigerator. These are easy to use, just serve a little ball of the cheese with some olive oil or spread it on a sandwich.
©2009 Shanna Ohmes
Yogurt Cheese and How to Use It