I love cheese. I’m fascinated with how many different types of cheese there are and want to try them all. A couple of years ago, when it was just me and my parents for Christmas, we started a new Christmas Eve tradition. We went to Candlelight Service, came home to a spread of hors d’oeuvres-chocolate caramel popcorn, spinach dip, cheese, crackers, and glog- then watched a movie. It’s a nice quiet evening to reflect on what Christmas is really about.
This year, I noticed that the Aldi I shop at started having specialty cheeses a few weeks before Christmas. I bought up every one of them for our Christmas Eve nosh. We had Jarlsberg, Parmesan Regiano, Prima Donna, Tomato Basil, Jalapeño Jack, Fontina, and Cranberry White Cheddar. I’ve been wanting to try the Parmesan Regiano since I read about it in one of Frances Mayes’ books. It wasn’t my favorite as a stand-alone cheese, but it is great in cooking.
As you might imagine, with all of this cheese we couldn’t possibly eat it all in one night. Mom found a recipe that used the Fontina along with a Marscapone cheese, to make what is basically a fancy mac & cheese. The recipe sounded so good, I used it in the book I was working on, Spring Dawn, and when I finished the first draft we made a batch to celebrate. Shredding all of the Fontina seemed to take forever, but it was worth it. Next time I think I would add some bacon bits though, to give it a little more kick.
The left over Jarlsberg has made a wonderful evening snack and now I have three more varieties to snack on from Ireland, Wales, and Britain. I better have a few slices then get back to work.
Rebekah Lyn's Kitchen 
Sometimes one has to make new traditions because life chafes. I like this one!
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Sigh, I have a lactose intolerance and can only eat cheeses that are lactose free or ones with very little of the sugars (harder cheeses and blue cheeses are best)… but when I do eat cheese, it’s like heaven.
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I am sighing for you Elyse.
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Oh, Elyse, I’m so sorry to hear you’re lactose intolerant and can’t enjoy all the cheeses out there. I will have to eat extra for you 🙂
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Yum. I love cheese! We tried a cranberry and nut cheese at Christmas that was really yummy!
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That sounds good. I will have to keep my eyes open for some of that.
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I’ll have to try this – AFTER I shake off those ten pounds that are making my knees sore.
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Yes, shaking those holiday pounds is a real downer. I choose to think of cheese as my protein boost.
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You’re making me hungry! Leslie and I often share cheese plates for supper when we’re in the French islands. And try breaking the Parma cheese into chunks and drizzling them with some top grade balsamic vinegar — yum!
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I bet you can get some great cheese in the islands along with fresh baguettes. Mmm.
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I love, love, love anything with cheese. I’m lactose intolerant, and I have to take tons of lactaid. But it’s worth it!
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Love it, Tamie! Glad you can take something to allowing you to enjoy such a delicious treat.
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Oh… this doesn’t bode well for my health kick… I LOVE cheese…. as you will see @MsCheevious tweeting when she talks about this post! LOL And it makes for a great party snack! YUM!
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It’s all about moderation, a nibble here and there. 🙂
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I love cheese and try almost every recipe that involves cheese. Unfortunately pasta and I have issues but I usually switch it to rice.
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Oooh, cheese. I love cheese so much I can’t buy it and have it at home as I will eat it all in one day and put on loads of weight. But often have it when I go out, just wonderful.
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