Midnight Moon Goat Cheese, A Perfect Complement to a Summer Bean Salad

Midnight Moon Summer Bean Salad

1 can white beans
1 cup fresh broccoli mini florets
1 ear white corn, shaved
1/2 cup cilantro, chopped
1 teaspoon serrano pepper, chopped
1-2 oz. Midnight Moon Goat Cheese
freshly ground pepper

This salad happened quite by accident, but it's so good that it's worthy of sharing!

All of these surprising ingredients just happened to be around and wouldn't you know it, they harmonize beautifully together. The highlight of course is the cheese-- Midnight Mood Goat to be exact. Fresh cilantro and serrano pepper adds levity and an unusual kick to this light lunchtime fare. White corn, so abundant this season, and so very delicious adds a incomparable, mellow sweetness to the mix. The white beans, S&W brand, are so well seasoned already that no additional salt needs to be added. And then the Midnight Moon, very much like a premium Gouda except made from goat's milk, rounds out the flavors to lovely end.

I need to point out here that this salad requires NO dressing. It's really that good already!

This is so easy to prepare it's ridiculous! The broccoli, serrano pepper and the cilantro need to be washed. They'll be eaten fresh so wash well. If I have the time, I like to soak vegetables that I'll eat fresh in salted water for ten minutes (or all day). This is a French technique that I picked up living in a third world country. Drain. Mince or chop the pepper. Fresh broccoli I find works well in salads if cut small, so cut the flowers off near the ends about 1/2" in.

The ear of corn simply needs to be microwaved for say... 3 minutes, just until the it becomes opaque, then cooled. Another tip with the cilantro. Just pull off a handful of the leafy part from a bunch and wash briefly. Squeeze out the excess water, you can even pat dry with a paper towel, then tear or chop and add it to your salad.

Okay, the can of beans. Quality is important, and I have always been pleased with S&W. Drain beans and place in a medium bowl. Add all the other ingredients and toss lightly to mix. Dust with freshly ground pepper.(That's it.) =)

The creaminess of the beans combined with the crunch of the broccoli, with the feathery feel of the cilantro and the slight burst of sweet corn is amazing. The cheese is so velvety smooth it melds into the dish without a noticeable texture.

If you haven't had the chance yet, get yourself some Midnight Moon goat cheese! Hand-crafted and aged in Holland makes this California brand cheese by Cypress Grove Chevre a stand out. Holland makes some of the best cheese on the planet, didn't ya know? Midnight Moon comes in a small wheel, but you can purchase a small wedge like I did at the local produce market. Seductive, sexy... Midnight Moon will woo you for sure.

Serve this summery bean salad with a crusty baguette with good butter and limeade (why isn't it called limeonade?)-- that makes a perfect summer meal in my book!

Cheese for the Diet Health Conscious

Cheese for the Diet Health Conscious


Watching your weight?  Need some protein to fuel your day?  Looking to add more nutritious foods to your diet?  Look no further...

An ounce of cheese, with some crackers or a nice slice of whole grain bread, and any fruit fresh or dried, makes a satisfying, power-punching, staving-off-starvation snack. High in calcium and protein, cheese makes a smart choice to your weekly shopping list.

Cheese is affordable, accessible, natural, nutritious and noshable.

If you consider the cost of other snacks you would be consuming:  scones, muffins, energy bars, smoothies, granola bars, bagels, the price you would spend on an ounce of a high quality cheese is more than comparable yet, without all the additives, preservatives and sugar.  Add a serving size of crackers or a slice of good quality bread, with an apple or fruit of your choice and ta-da, you have nurtured yourself in way that can only make you happier and more effective.

Though cheese is rather weighty in fat content,  in moderation, like milk, can probably help you to actually lose weight. (This is my personal opinion.)

Go for the good quality, minimalist cheese varieties-- Gouda, Cheddar, Edam, Emmental. There are literally hundreds of varieties of cheese and many available now at your local supermarket, health food or speciality store... but even more exciting is that the really good stuff (from all parts of the globe) is just as easily accessible online!  Amazon.com has many of the world's best offerings just a few clicks away.

High quality cheese comes from the milk of cows that have a lush environment and are well-nourished.  Like happy cows, eating cheese on a regular basis can make happy humans perform at their highest level as well.

So, here's to eating better, eating basic, and eating smart beginning now.

Grilled Cheese the Adult Way: Gouda and Chutney

Just off The Canadian Press, a tasty way to dress up a grilled cheese sandwich, using Gouda cheese, slightly sharp and ultra creamy, with the sweet-and-tangy-combination of chutney.

Gouda and Chutney, yes, they make a nice pair and dance well together. But if you haven't the gouda-stuff (har-har), an aged cheddar will also work nicely.


credit:  The Canadian Press, Victoria Brett