Cheese/54 recipes

Traditional Russian Pascha (Paskha) made with cream cheese, butter, raisins, sultanas, and cherries, drained in muslin for 24 hours. A rich, no-bake Easter dessert.

Pesto ravioli with chicken tenders, zucchini, and red bell pepper cooked in one skillet with chicken broth. A 30-minute weeknight pasta dinner tossed in basil pesto.

Granny's ham and potato gratin for a crowd layers parboiled potatoes, diced ham, and Swiss cheese with a mustard-garlic bechamel. Feeds 24, bakes in under an hour, and can be assembled a day ahead.

Cheese and chile squares, a baked appetizer of cottage cheese, Longhorn cheddar and Monterey Jack layered with green chiles and a tabasco-spiked egg custard. Cuts into 24 crowd-ready bites for parties.

Creamy hashbrown casserole loaded with cheddar cheese, sour cream, and green peppers. Topped with buttery cornflakes for the ultimate crispy-creamy contrast.

Garlic shrimp crostini on toasted French bread rounds with a garlicky cream cheese spread, cherry tomato halves, and fresh parsley. Makes 24 bite-sized party appetizers.

Decadent chocolate cheesecake with chocolate wafer crust, silky cream cheese filling swirled with melted chocolate chips and heavy cream, requiring 24 hours to set.

Rasomadhuri, Indian fried cheese balls made with ricotta, milk powder, and cardamom, soaked 24 hours in sugar syrup. A traditional sweet that melts on your tongue.

Raw stuffed mushrooms filled with cream cheese, deviled ham, and pimento olives - a no-bake party appetizer you can prep a full day ahead. Ready in 30 minutes, serves 24.

Cheese tortellini tossed with crisp-tender asparagus in a lemon-thyme cream sauce finished with Parmesan. An elegant 18-minute dinner that tastes like spring on a plate.

Marinated lemon chicken with garlic, oregano, and extra-virgin olive oil, charbroiled and topped with a slice of feta cheese. Greek-style grilled chicken marinated for 24 hours.

Place plain, nonfat yogurt into cheese cloth or a coffee filter. Place in strainer over a small bowl or cup. Allow to drain 2 to 24 hours, covered and refrigerated, until cheese reached desired consistency. Discard the whey (liquid). Store in covered container in refrigerator.

Truffle fudge cheesecake with 24 ounces of melted chocolate chips blended into a triple cream cheese filling on a cocoa-vanilla wafer crust. A dense, intensely chocolatey no-crack cheesecake.

Helen's Cheesecake with a ground pecan and graham cracker crust, a lemon-kissed cream cheese filling, and a sour cream topping baked right on. Refrigerate 24 to 72 hours - patience is the secret ingredient.

Classic family cheesecake with a cinnamon graham cracker crust, rich cream cheese filling, and a whipped sour cream topping baked on in the final minutes. Chill 24 hours for the best texture.

Blackened chicken mini tacos with a bold paprika-pepper spice rub, shredded and served in crispy shells with homemade pico de gallo, guacamole, and sour cream. A fun, build-your-own taco spread.