Cheese/61 recipes

Make-ahead Mexican chicken casserole with corn tortillas, cheddar, Monterey Jack, sour cream, and cream of celery soup. Assemble the night before and microwave until bubbly.

Crustless broccoli, corn, and red bell pepper quiche bound with cottage cheese, yogurt, and parmesan. Lighter, lower-fat vegetarian quiche, no pastry crust required.

Yukon Gold potatoes layered with Asiago cheese sauce, crispy bacon, chives, and Parmesan, baked until bubbly and golden. The ultimate potato gratin.

Fresh vegetable flour tortilla pizza topped with mushrooms, tomatoes, black olives, and bubbly mozzarella. A 20-minute crispy-thin vegetarian weeknight dinner that beats delivery on speed and freshness.

Low fat turtle cheesecake sets with gelatin instead of baking, blending nonfat cream cheese and low-fat cottage cheese into a silky filling crowned with caramel, hot fudge, and pecans.

Quick beef and cheese burritos with seasoned ground beef, cottage cheese, salsa, and melted mozzarella wrapped in flour tortillas. A lighter take on the classic, ready in 30 minutes.

Lean chicken tetrazzini using melted cottage cheese instead of cream sauce, with spaghetti, mushrooms, dry sherry, and a Parmesan breadcrumb topping. Lower fat, full flavor.

Green chicken chilaquiles casserole: shredded chicken in tangy tomatillo salsa and cream, layered with softened corn tortillas and three Mexican cheeses, then baked bubbling and golden.

Low-fat marbled pumpkin cheesecake swirls spiced pumpkin into a creamy vanilla filling over a gingersnap crust. Pureed cottage cheese keeps it light while a water bath gives a silky, crack-free top.

Mexican-style quesadilla pizza on flour tortillas with refried beans, cumin-spiked pizza sauce, green chiles, olives, and melted cheddar and Monterey Jack cheese.

Chocolate amaretto cheesecake with a chocolate wafer crust and a lightened filling that blends cream cheese with cottage cheese, cocoa, almond liqueur and chocolate morsels. A small 7-inch springform pan dessert.

Crawfish enchiladas from Gabrielle's restaurant, rolled in corn tortillas with a creamy cheddar-chili sauce and melted Monterey Jack. Where Cajun crawfish meets Tex-Mex soul.

Twice-baked stuffed potato loaded with cottage cheese, cheddar, sunflower seeds, green pepper, carrots, and scallions. A lean, vegetable-packed baked potato made in the microwave.

Farfalle tossed in a creamy cilantro pesto made with cottage cheese and yogurt, finished with garlic and red pepper flakes. Light, fresh, and easily made vegan.

Low-fat open-faced vegetable sandwiches on whole wheat toast with a cottage cheese, mushroom, and sprout spread topped with melted low-fat cheese. A vegetarian lunch under 100 calories.

Bean connoisseurs will appreciate the characteristic taste and texture talents of pinto and kidney combined within this ancient Indian entrant. Versatility of this variety is limited only by your imagination: take them for a dip: enlist them for creative Mexican food construction: they even taste good straight!