Spread softened butter on bread, slap on cheese, the more slices the better, cover with another bread slice, and it was breakfast. Or midafternoon snack. No grilling, no toasting, no cooking whatsoever. That was the simplest (and I thought) the best way to enjoy cheese.
But I was a gradeschooler at the time and, as you can imagine, over the decades, I have learned that there are even more delectable ways to enjoy cheese.
More importantly, I have learned that there is more one kind of cheese, some are soft, some are hard, some are more stinky than others, and they are all good if served the right way.
Slow cooker caramelized onion and cream cheese dip – Imagine French onion soup as a dip. Thick, creamy and absolutely tasty. It takes about 12 hours to make it, but there’s very little work involved. It’s patience that’s required and it will be amply rewarded. Get the recipe.
Crispy spinach and cream cheese dumplings – Blanched spinach is chopped and mixed with softened cream cheese to make the filling for these delicious fried dumplings. A tasty snack and a splendid appetizer for the holidays. Get the recipe.
Shrimp and cheese spring rolls – Chopped fresh shrimps, scallions, chili, cheese and garlic make up the filling for these shrimp and cheese spring rolls. Great for snack or appetizer. Get the recipe.
Cheese and curry harumaki – Japanese-style fried spring rolls with pork curry in sticky sauce, and strips of mozzarella for the filling. Inspired by Ippudo’s (Philippines) curry cheese harumaki. Get the recipe.
Cheese and kimchi ramen – Cook a pack of instant ramen, add mushrooms, pork slices and kimchi. Top with cheese slices and leave to melt. Transfer to a bowl, garnish with scallions and drop an egg yolk in. Get the recipe.
Baked mac and cheese – Slow cooker beef ragu, pasta and Mornay sauce are assembled in an oven-safe dish and baked until bubbly. It’s the ultimate mac and cheese. Meaty. Cheesy. Lovely. Get the recipe.
Sesame cheese balls – Balls of dough made with glutinous (sticky) rice flour, sugar and water are stuffed with cheese, rolled in sesame seeds and deep fried until golden. Get the recipe.
Cheese-stuffed chili spring rolls – Finger chilies are split open, stuffed with cheese, wrapped like spring rolls, dipped in egg, dredged in flour and fried. Little dynamites with gooey cheese! Get the recipe.
Melty cheese beef rice bowl – A heap of shredded cheese on top of gyudon is torched until melted. It’s our home version of a beef rice bowl preparation popularized by Japanese gyudon chain Sukiya. Get the recipe.
Cheese-stuffed tuna and potato balls – If you think that tossing canned tuna with mayo to make a sandwich filling is all you can do with this pantry staple, here’s a surprise. Get the recipe.
