Common Cuisine |

Brie is a soft cheese with a mild buttery flavor. A brie appetizer will give your gathering a touch of class.

A full wheel of brie is about the size of your hand, and comes encased in a white rind. This rind is perfectly edible, although no one will shame you if you discreetly slide yours off into the trash.

1 wheel brie
2 Tbsp butter
2 Tbsp olive oil
4 cloves garlic, finely diced*
2-3 Tbsp sliced almonds
Hearty crackers

At any point during the day of your party, melt butter and olive oil together in a skillet. Add chopped garlic, and saute for about 2 minutes, so that garlic is aromatic and slightly softened, but not burned crispy brown. Store covered in a bowl on the countertop until ready to proceed with baking.

Preheat oven to 350. Place brie wheel in a pie plate, and pour garlic mixture over the wheel. Sprinkle with almonds. Bake for 20 minutes, checking frequently to make sure the rind has not ruptured and allowed the melting cheese to run all over the plate. If this does happen, the only damage is cosmetic. And those who enjoy brie will not care.

Pull out the plate, spread the perimeter of the plate with crackers, and set the plate on a trivet or hot pad in the appetizer serving area. Add a 2″ dip knife and serve hot.

*To easily peel a clove of garlic, lay the flat blade of a chef’s knife across the clove. With the heel of your hand, give the blade a quick blow. This will crush the garlic, leading to three results: the papery cover will be much easier to remove; the clove will be flatter and easier to chop; and the bruising action will release the oils in the garlic for greater smell and taste enjoyment.

When I first tried this, I thought I had died and gone to heaven. It could easily serve as a main dish, but also makes a great choice for a potluck.

2 Tbsp butter
3 cups elbow macaroni
2 12 oz cans evaporated milk
1/3 cup milk
2 eggs
1/2 tsp seasoned salt
1/4 tsp garlic powder
1 lb (4 cups) shredded cheddar cheese
1/2 lb (2 cups) shredded jack cheese
salt and pepper

Preheat oven to 375. In a large pot, cook macaroni to al dente (barely done). Drain, and return to pot; toss with butter.

In a medium bowl, stir together milks and eggs. Add seasoned salt, garlic powder, 1 tsp salt and 1/2 tsp pepper. In another medium bowl, combine cheeses.

Layer 1/3 of the noodles in a 13″ x 9″ baking dish, cover with 1/3 of the cheese. Repeat two more times with remaining noodles and cheese. Pour milk mixture over all. Sprinkle with paprika.

Bake 35-45 minutes until top is lightly browned. Let sit 10-15 minutes before serving. Serves

• 1 egg, gently beaten
• ½ C sour cream
• ¼ C milk
• 2 T grated parmesan cheesecake2 tsp minced onion
• ½ tsp salt
• pepper to taste
• 8 oz monterey jack cheese, grated
• 10-oz pkg frozen spinach, cooked and well drained
• 4 oz thin spaghetti, cooked and drained

Preheat oven to 350. In large bowl, combine egg, sour cream, milk, parmesan, onion, salt and pepper. Add cheese and mix well; add spinach. Stir in cooked pasta.

Spread in ungreased 9″ x 9″ pan. Bake, covered, for 15 minutes. Remove cover and bake for 15 minutes more.

Serves 4-6.

• 2 cups uncooked elbow macaroni
• 1 can condensed cheese soup (cheddar, fiesta nacho, southwestern jack, etc)
• ½ cup milk
• 2 cups shredded cheddar or jack cheese
• 1 (14 oz) can cut-up tomatoes, or 1 cup salsa

Preheat oven to 350°. Cook macaroni according to package directions; drain. Mix together soup and milk, then stir in cheese and tomatoes.

Stir macaroni into cheese mixture and pour into greased 9″ x 13″ glass baking dish. Bake for 40 minutes until lightly browned.

Serves 4 to 6.

Simple to assemble, this recipe doubles easily, and also freezes well.

• ½ pkg large shells (about 18)
• 2 cups shredded cheddar cheese
• ½ jar spaghetti sauce
• 2 Tbsp Parmesan cheese

Cook shells according to package directions; drain.

Preheat oven to 350°. Fill each shell with shredded cheese, about 1 Tbsp, and place seam side down in 9″x13″ baking dish.

When dish is full, pour spaghetti sauce over top. Sprinkle with Parmesan cheese. Bake for 25 minutes until bubbly.

Serves 4 to 6.

This is an excellent take-along for a potluck dinner.

• 2 pkg 12 oz frozen hash browns
• 2 cans cream of chicken soup
• 1 C sharp grated cheddar
• 16 oz sour cream
• ¾ C chopped onion
• ¼ tsp pepper

Preheat oven to 350. Thaw potatoes in large bowl. In separate container, combine remaining ingredients. Fold into thawed potatoes. Bake in 9″ x 13″dish for 1 to 1 ½ hours.

Serves a crowd.

I love bleu cheese, but if its strong taste is not something you prefer, you can substitute something like feta. If I were going to use feta, I would add a little red onion and chopped black olives to give it a Greek flair.

• 1/3 cup mayonnaise
• 1/3 cup sour cream
• 3 cups cooked cut up chicken
• 1/2 cup diced celery
• 1/2 cup diced peeled cucumber
• 1/4 cup crumbled bleu cheese
• 1/4 cup chopped walnuts

In a large bowl, mix mayo and sour cream. Gently stir in remaining ingredients. Chill before serving.

Serves 6.