Cheese recipes

Egg, ham, and spinach pizza with prosciutto, Parmesan, and runny yolks on a whole-wheat thin crust. A fast weeknight-to-brunch crossover that's ready in under 30 minutes.

Chocolate red beet cake: deep cocoa cake with mashed beets baked into a moist, tender crumb you'd never guess was hiding a vegetable. An old-school secret-ingredient cake.

Smoked salmon gets wrapped in blanched spinach leaves with a cream cheese and pink peppercorn spread. Chill it well for an elegant make-ahead appetizer.

Grilled eggplant provolone brushes eggplant halves with balsamic and oregano, chars them on the grill, then melts provolone on top and finishes with smoky grilled salsa. A simple, savory vegetarian plate.

An authentic Dutch cheesecake made with grated Gouda cheese instead of cream cheese, lightened with beaten egg whites and studded with golden raisins. Baked in a shortbread tart crust with lemon.

Canned corned beef hash forms a savory crust filled with green peas, then topped with a melty mustard-cheese sauce. A clever pantry-friendly pie that's ready in 40 minutes flat.

Cottage cheese blended with pumpkin purée, brown sugar, and warm spices makes a lighter, creamy filling for this graham cracker crust pie. Low-fat pumpkin pie that still satisfies.

Baked penne tossed with sun-dried tomato sausage, wilted spinach, chopped tomatoes, and creamy ricotta. A hearty Italian pasta bake that comes together in an hour.

Barley Stuffed Green Peppers filled with pearl barley, mushrooms, onion, Monterey Jack cheese, thyme, and marinara sauce. A hearty meatless main dish baked until the peppers are perfectly tender.

Zucchini boats loaded with sauteed mushrooms, onion, garlic, and thyme in herbed breadcrumbs, topped with Parmesan and baked until golden. A vegetarian appetizer or side.

Vegetarian stuffed bread ring filled with spinach, ricotta, mushrooms, and mozzarella, rolled into a circle and baked golden. A low-calorie savory stromboli.

Frozen tortoni with cream cheese, Amaretto, whipped cream, and crushed peanut brittle in foil cups. An elegant Italian-style frozen dessert with no ice cream maker needed.

Tropical quesadillas filled with ripe banana, green chilies, and Monterey Jack cheese with a squeeze of lime. A sweet-savory snack or dessert ready in 15 minutes.

Creepy cheese-stuffed rigatoni shaped into slithering snakes with BBQ sauce markings and peppercorn eyes. A kid-friendly Halloween party snack that's equal parts gross and genius.

Vidalia onion supper bread using corn muffin mix topped with butter-softened sweet onions, sour cream, and sharp American cheese. A quick 5-ingredient side bread baked in 25 minutes.

Elegant old-world broth soup with Parmesan-egg dumplings simmered in rich chicken and beef stock with nutmeg and butter. The cheese dough is boiled in cloth, sliced into cubes, and served piping hot.