Cottage Cheese Definitely Has Its Place!
We’re all familiar with cottage cheese. Have you noticed there’s not a lot of middle ground on the topic? People either love it or hate it (for eating straight from the carton, that is).
But were you aware of the many versatile uses of this dairy product? If you like it straight up, then you’re open to having it with fruits and vegetables. But if you’re not open to that (being one of the cottage cheese naysayers), then look to what else you can do with it.
As an example, you can puree some, add a few other ingredients, and voila!, it becomes an appetizing dip or spread. It takes on similar characteristics as sour cream and folks can’t even tell you’ve used cottage cheese rather than sour cream.
Combine cottage cheese with still other ingredients and you have delectable breads, entrees (such as lasagna), desserts, salads, salad dressings, sandwiches, and breakfast dishes.
Cottage cheese is at its flavor peak when used soon after purchase. It’s not meant for long term storage, and you’ll want to be sure the lid is tightly closed. You’ve probably noticed you can buy small or large curd. Most recipes that call for cottage cheese are referring to the large curd creamed variety, unless otherwise specified.
And here’s why you want to think about what else you can do with it—it has a lot of health benefits, the main one being that cottage cheese is low in fat and carbs and very high in protein. It is a good course of calcium, with Vitamin D. Cottage cheese has been shown to protect against stomach disorders and even help with your bones as you get older, especially in women. In other words, this humble, often maligned dairy product has enough going for it that we really ought to give it serious attention and an open mind.
To help us do just that, let’s start with a clever way to bake chicken breasts. This technique keeps your chicken breasts moist and locks in flavor!
6 halved chicken breasts (skinless and boneless)
2 cups small curd cottage cheese
1/2 cup crumbled blue cheese feta cheese, or Swiss cheese
1/2 cup butter softened
1/4 cup chopped pimiento
1/4 cup chopped parsley
1 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
Directions:
Add Recipe to Cook'n
Honestly, it’s so delicious that no one will know you’ve used cottage cheese. It definitely has its place!
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But were you aware of the many versatile uses of this dairy product? If you like it straight up, then you’re open to having it with fruits and vegetables. But if you’re not open to that (being one of the cottage cheese naysayers), then look to what else you can do with it.
As an example, you can puree some, add a few other ingredients, and voila!, it becomes an appetizing dip or spread. It takes on similar characteristics as sour cream and folks can’t even tell you’ve used cottage cheese rather than sour cream.
Combine cottage cheese with still other ingredients and you have delectable breads, entrees (such as lasagna), desserts, salads, salad dressings, sandwiches, and breakfast dishes.
Cottage cheese is at its flavor peak when used soon after purchase. It’s not meant for long term storage, and you’ll want to be sure the lid is tightly closed. You’ve probably noticed you can buy small or large curd. Most recipes that call for cottage cheese are referring to the large curd creamed variety, unless otherwise specified.
And here’s why you want to think about what else you can do with it—it has a lot of health benefits, the main one being that cottage cheese is low in fat and carbs and very high in protein. It is a good course of calcium, with Vitamin D. Cottage cheese has been shown to protect against stomach disorders and even help with your bones as you get older, especially in women. In other words, this humble, often maligned dairy product has enough going for it that we really ought to give it serious attention and an open mind.
To help us do just that, let’s start with a clever way to bake chicken breasts. This technique keeps your chicken breasts moist and locks in flavor!
Cottage Cheese-Stuffed Chicken in Foil
Serving size: 6
Calories per serving: 284
Ingredients:
Calories per serving: 284
6 halved chicken breasts (skinless and boneless)
2 cups small curd cottage cheese
1/2 cup crumbled blue cheese feta cheese, or Swiss cheese
1/2 cup butter softened
1/4 cup chopped pimiento
1/4 cup chopped parsley
1 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
Directions:
1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
2. Cut deep slice into each chicken breast.
3. In medium bowl, combine cottage cheese with Blue or other cheese choice, butter, pimiento, parsley, salt, and garlic powder; mix well.
4. Fill each breast with cottage cheese mixture.
5. Cut aluminum foil into six 12-inch squares.
6. Place stuffed chicken breast half on each one.
7. Fold foil envelope fashion and seal edges well.
8. Bake 1 ½ hours.
9. (NOTE: Chicken can also be cooked over charcoal—just turn it occasionally to ensure even baking.)
2. Cut deep slice into each chicken breast.
3. In medium bowl, combine cottage cheese with Blue or other cheese choice, butter, pimiento, parsley, salt, and garlic powder; mix well.
4. Fill each breast with cottage cheese mixture.
5. Cut aluminum foil into six 12-inch squares.
6. Place stuffed chicken breast half on each one.
7. Fold foil envelope fashion and seal edges well.
8. Bake 1 ½ hours.
9. (NOTE: Chicken can also be cooked over charcoal—just turn it occasionally to ensure even baking.)
Recipe formatted with the Cook'n Recipe Software from DVO Enterprises.
Honestly, it’s so delicious that no one will know you’ve used cottage cheese. It definitely has its place!
Sources:
- www.cabotcheese.coop
- www.thebestblogrecipes.com
- www.thedairydish.com
- www.pinterest.com
- www.theworktop.com
Alice Osborne
Weekly Newsletter Contributor since 2006
Email the author! alice@dvo.com
