Making Yogurt Cheese with Herbs

Old Fredericksburg Cheese Spread

Old Fredericksburg Cheese Spead Served in The Garden

To help you enjoy a wonderful
Labor Day weekend, I wanted to
share this recipe that we originally did
in the eighties, and I always forget
until I make it each time, just how
wonderful and easy it is to do.

"We may live without poetry, music and art;
We may live without conscience, and live without heart;
We may live without friends;
We may live without books;
But civilized man cannot live without cooks."
- Edward Robert Bulwer, Earl of Lytton 1860






Ingredients:
1 quart yogurt cheese (recipe follows)
1 8-ouce package cream cheese, softened
1 tablespoon each; chopped fresh marjoram, thyme,
sage and parsley.
1 large clove of garlic, minced
1. Place all ingredients in your food processor, pulse well and chill
2. Serve as a dip with vegetables or with bread or crackers.

Herbs for Cheese Spread : Parsley, Marjoram, Thyme, Sage

Yogurt Cheese
1 quart yogurt (plain)

1. Place 1 quart yogurt on a piece of cheese cloth or  loosely woven material.
2. Draw the four corners of the material up and tie securely to form a bag.
3. Hang this overnight from the kitchen faucet, or anywhere it can drip. The thick mass left in the bag is the yogurt cheese

Making Yogurt Cheese

Herb Hors D' Oeuvres

Friends Coming over or needing to bring a little something to a party?

Herb Crostini

These crostinis are quick, easy and don't last very long when put out for a snack.

Crostinis
Take a loaf of french, and thinly slice.
lay the slices on a cookie sheet, greased with olive oil
Drizzle olive oil on top of the bread slices.
Sprinkle slices of basil leaves on top.
Season with Herb Sea Salt
Set the oven on broil and put the crostinis in the oven for 3 to 4 minutes.
Plate and serve!

Tea Sandwiches

Another easy Hor D' Oeuvre are assorted tea sandwiches. I made two that are in the pictures

Caprese Tea Sandwiches
on a thin slice of french bread spread cream cheese
On top add a tomatoe slice, large leaf of basil or 2, a thin slice of fresh mozzarella cheese (my favorite is from Paula Lambert's Mozzarella CompanyMozzarella Company
on another slice of bread spread some homemade pesto and add to the top and your done!

Cucumber Carrot Tea Sanwiches
on thin sliced cocktail cocktail sourdough bread spread cream cheese
next lay a thin slice of cucumber , then sprinkle with
grated carrots, season with salt and pepper.
on another slice of bread add cream cheese and put on top
and those tea sandiches are done.

Tea Sandwiches

Old Thyme Cook Cheese (Kock Kase) with rosemary, thyme & basil

I always love recipes that have been given to me! Having lived in a german town in Texas for over 25 years, I have collected lots of hand me down recipes, and of course I figure out how to mingle fresh herbs into the mix.

This recipe is so easy to do, you could easily make it for yourself or friends and family on the spur of the moment or make it ahead, put it in the frig and set it out to get to room temperature for use a few days later. Here it is:

Old Thyme Cook Cheese (Kock Kase)

1 pound cottage cheese (large or small curd)
1 teaspoon soda
3 tablespoons flour
3 tablespoons butter
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 tablespoon fresh minced rosemary
1 tablespoon fresh minced basil
1 teaspoon fresh thyme

Mix all ingredients in a heavy saucepan, and place in a warm air tight area for one hour.

Cook over medium heat for about 15 minutes, stirring occasionally. Remove from heat. Can be served at once, or cooled down and served later. Great with crackers or homemade bread.