Cheese recipes

Crispy phyllo dough wrapped around savory Spam, melted Swiss cheese, and mushrooms, baked golden and served with a tangy mustard dipping sauce. A fun twist on classic strudel!

Kolache cookies with a cream cheese pastry dough folded around fruit jam and dusted with powdered sugar. A three-ingredient Czech-style pastry that melts in your mouth.

Pan-fried cod or snapper coated in grated Parmesan cheese with a lemon-Worcestershire kick, finished in the oven. A crispy, golden fish dinner ready in 35 minutes.

Crispy breaded chicken breasts served on angel hair pasta nests with marinara sauce and a three-cheese melt of mozzarella, cheddar, and Colby. A chicken parm-style dinner ready in 40 minutes.

Baked manicotti stuffed with spinach, shiitake and white mushrooms, cottage cheese, garlic, and red wine-sauteed peppers. Lightened-up Italian comfort food in one dish.

Whole wheat couscous with brown lentils, fresh tomatoes, basil, and Parmesan simmered in vegetable juice. A low-fat vegetarian one-pot meal with hearty protein and bright Italian flavors.

Creamy dairy noodle kugel with sour cream, cottage cheese, eggs, and golden raisins baked until set and golden. A forgiving Jewish comfort food classic that feeds a crowd.

Savory shrimp and Gruyere cheesecake on a buttery cracker crust, baked silky with sauteed shrimp and peppers, then chilled and served with warm Italian tomato sauce. A make-ahead party appetizer that wows.

Chicken Tetrazzini from scratch with homemade broth, spaghetti, mushrooms, cream, and dry sherry baked under a Parmesan crust. A rich, old-school casserole built on real flavor.

Eggplant au gratin with sauteed mushrooms in a creamy bechamel sauce, topped with Parmesan bread crumbs and broiled golden. A rich French-style vegetable casserole.

A stunning fresh strawberry pie with a buttery pecan shortbread crust, whipped cream cheese filling, and whole berries glazed in homemade strawberry sauce. Worth every minute.

Chocolate Halloween cupcakes with a hidden orange cream cheese center that oozes out when bitten. Spooky fun for the kids and a riff on the classic Black Bottom cupcake.

Hasselback-style potatoes with onion slices tucked between cuts, baked in butter, topped with picante sauce and melted cheddar. A Tex-Mex twist on the Swedish classic.

Chocolate caramel pecan cheesecake layers melted caramels and toasted pecans over a vanilla wafer crust, then tops with a semi-sweet chocolate cream cheese filling. A turtle-flavored cheesecake with all the classic candy flavors in slice form.

Loaded fajita nachos with seasoned shredded chicken, melted cheddar and Monterey Jack, tomatoes, olives, and green onions. Broiled until bubbly. Serve as an appetizer or a full meal.

Chicken enchiladas with two from-scratch sauces: a tangy green tomatillo-spinach sauce with sour cream or a smoky red ancho chile sauce. Topped with melted Monterey Jack.