Summer Fun #92: Fruit and Cheese Tasting
A really fun activity to do with children to broaden their experiences is to have a fruit and cheese tasting. We had this as a lunch.
In choosing what cheeses and fruits to match, you either try to match the acidic levels or contrast acidic levels. When you can taste both the cheese and juice, without one overpowering the other, you've made a great pair. I set out all of our pairings on separate platters along with juices. They could choose from french bread, croissants or a variety of crackers to use as a base. We went through each pairing together so that we could discuss how what we enjoyed or didn't enjoy about the pairing together. When you pour the juices, just pour a small amount each time as the glass needs to be empty for the next pairing.
Goat Cheese has a strong and distinct flavor.
Pairing Number One: White grape juice with Garlic and Herb Goat Cheese, Cucumber and Balsamic Vinegar
Spread cheese on cucumber and drizzled with balsamic vinegar.
Pairing Number Three: Brie, Ham and Arugula on Green Apple Slice with Apple Juice. (Camembert can also be used in this combination.)
You could also make Brie and Pear Roll Ups.
Brie log, sliced into rounds Pear, sliced Crescent roll dough
Preheat the oven to 375 degrees. Unroll the crescent rolls and fill with Brie and pear at the large end of the dough. Roll up the dough beginning from the large end. Bake for 10-12 minutes or until golden brown.
It is interesting to see how the same cheese can change its flavor as it is matched with different accompaniments.
You could also make Brie and Pear Roll Ups.
Brie log, sliced into rounds Pear, sliced Crescent roll dough
Preheat the oven to 375 degrees. Unroll the crescent rolls and fill with Brie and pear at the large end of the dough. Roll up the dough beginning from the large end. Bake for 10-12 minutes or until golden brown.
It is interesting to see how the same cheese can change its flavor as it is matched with different accompaniments.
Mozzarella has a mild and delicate flavor with a milky taste. Pairing Number Four: Mozzarella with Cranberries and Cranberry Juice
Pairing Number Six: Nectarines, White Cheddar and Basil with White Grape Juice. Cheddar has a complex taste ranging from mild to sharp.
Pairing Number Seven: Baked Almond Crusted Manchego Wedges with Grape juice. Manchego ranges in flavor from rich and mellow to salty or piquant, depending on age. It has excellent melting properties and is a favorite in quesadillas.
Manchego cheese, sliced into wedges 1/4 cup flour 1/4 tablespoon garlic powder Salt/pepper 1 egg 1/4 cup panko breadcrumbs 2 tablespoons ground almonds Olive oil
Preheat oven to 450 degrees. Season flour with garlic powder and salt/pepper. Scramble egg with a dash of water. Mix breadcrumbs and ground almond. Dredge cheese wedges first in flour mixture, then in egg wash and finally in breadcrumbs. Lay wedges on baking sheet and drizzle with olive oil. Bake for 5 to 7 minutes, until coating is golden brown and cheese is softened.
Pairing Number Eight: Pears, Blue Cheese and Mint with Mango Juice Pairing Number Nine: Apricots, Blue Cheese and Mint with Mango Juice
The Results?
The clear winners were pairings number Two and Six. Pairings number Seven and One were a runners up, with the adults preferring One more than the children. Pairings number Eight and Nine were the least favorite, but that just might be that they didn't like the strong flavor of Blue Cheese.
Do you have favorite fruit and cheese pairings?
sources:
The Results?
The clear winners were pairings number Two and Six. Pairings number Seven and One were a runners up, with the adults preferring One more than the children. Pairings number Eight and Nine were the least favorite, but that just might be that they didn't like the strong flavor of Blue Cheese.
Do you have favorite fruit and cheese pairings?
sources:
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