| Cheese. Just a mere mention of the word and | | | | nutritionist. |
| one would think of sumptuous appetizers or | | | | There were actually some studies that were done |
| meals served with them. Cheese, when served | | | | to lower the salinity of feta cheese and how this |
| with wine, depicts impeccable taste and class. | | | | has significantly improved its nutritional value. |
| Here is but one of the many varieties of cheeses: | | | | The conclusion was, it has good and bad points. |
| Meet the Feta Cheese. | | | | The good: it is a superior source of riboflavin, |
| Feta (from the Italian word 'fetta' meaning 'slice') | | | | protein, calcium, phosphorus and Vitamin B12. |
| is actually cheese curd in brine solution. It takes | | | | The bad: it has a high cholesterol and sodium |
| at least three months to make feta. When it is | | | | content. It comes with high saturated fat. |
| removed from the solution, this type of cheese | | | | Another downside to eating feta cheese: |
| dries up immediately. Milk from goats, sheep or | | | | pregnancy would not allow feta cheese |
| cow can be used to make this. | | | | consumption. Since feta is made from |
| The color of Feta cheese is white. It is usually | | | | unpasteurized milk and comes in soft, it may |
| formed into four-sided cakes that can either be | | | | contain a type of bacteria called Listeria. |
| soft or semi-hard. Its salty flavor can be adjusted | | | | Although Listeria registers symptoms like that of |
| to suit the taste of the maker. | | | | the common flu and can be tolerated by adults, it |
| Traditionally, in Greece, feta cheese is made with | | | | is highly fatal to fetuses. |
| just goat's milk or a combination of goat's and | | | | Could you take another bad news? It is very |
| sheep's milk. They are first salted as a slab, then | | | | difficult to get the real thing in the country. Since |
| sliced, then salted once more before it is | | | | it is highly consumable in Greece and because of |
| subjected to maturation process. | | | | the restriction on importing products made with |
| Other countries that make feta cheese include: | | | | unpasteurized milk, Americans can have a taste |
| Albania, Bulgaria, Turkey, Serbia, Ukraine, Romania, | | | | of feta through commercial counterparts. |
| Iran, Australia, Denmark, Germany and many | | | | Although the commercial feta cheeses are inferior |
| other countries. Although feta is called differently | | | | in most aspects, at least they are the closest we |
| in each country, the process of manufacturing it is | | | | could get to feta taste. If you are looking for |
| the same. | | | | the 'original' cheese, then be prepared to pay |
| The first historic record of feta cheese was | | | | exorbitant fees! |
| during the Byzantine time. One Italian who | | | | Enough with the bad. There are more good to |
| visited Candia (in 1494) made a vivid description | | | | this type of cheese than the occasional bad. |
| of the brine solution used in making feta cheese. | | | | Feta cheese is used in a lot of sumptuous recipes |
| Additional records are those of Balkan peasants | | | | which stimulate the taste buds and it is |
| who made it either with sheep's or goat's milk. | | | | highly-incorporated in most Greek meals. Here |
| Nowadays, cow's milk can be used to make feta | | | | are a few recipes that you could research online: |
| cheese. The processes involved are: curdling of | | | | 1. Chunky guacamole (or Guacamole Picado) |
| the milk with rennet, separation and draining of | | | | 2. Goat Cheese Patties |
| the curd, putting salt on the blocks of curd, slicing | | | | 3. Feta and Ricotta Cheese Fondue |
| the slabs which are then salted once more. | | | | 4. Greek Scramble |
| Feta is usually used in making salads and is much | | | | 5. Lamb and Olive Balls |
| tastier when combined with tomatoes, olives and | | | | 6. Lemony Artichokes with Feta and Oregano |
| green vegetables. One can store feta cheese | | | | 7. Lobster bundles |
| indefinitely because of the salt solution. A wise | | | | 8. Mediterranean Feta Cheese Dip |
| tip: if you want to reduce the saltiness of the | | | | 9. Leg of Lamb Stuffed with Roasted Garlic, |
| cheese, soak feta first in milk or water (just for a | | | | Feta and Basil Leaves |
| few minutes) before eating. | | | | 10. Spinach Triangles (Spanakopita) |
| Now here is some important nutritional | | | | Aren't the recipes enough to convince you that |
| information: it contains 30-60% fat of which | | | | there is more good to feta cheese than bad? If |
| 45% is fat from milk. The caloric content is 100 | | | | you're not convinced and would want to decline a |
| calories per small slice. Whether that's good or | | | | nice meal with feta in it, then believe me, you're |
| bad for you is a question you need to ask your | | | | definitely missing one half of your life! |