Jazzed up Cottage Cheese
Do you find you’re always rushed for time, getting the kids off to school, doing paperwork, answering the phone, running errands, getting dinner ready, walking the dogs……with barely a minute for yourself let alone time to sit down and have a bite to eat? Well you’re not alone.
In today’s society we are so wired that even when we do have a few minutes alone, the computer is on, our cell phone is ringing we’re getting text messages on our ipad or iphone – that many of us find ourselves grabbing whatever we can to eat. Oftentimes that means something unhealthy. I’m a victim of this as well, unless I think ahead to prepare quick healthy foods on those days I’ve got a hectic schedule.
My favorite quick healthy fix is Cottage Cheese. I love the stuff and although it may sound boring to you a 1-cup serving provides your body with 28 grams of casein protein. These proteins are slow to digest, which means a person can feel fuller for a longer time sustaining you throughout the day and also perfect if you’re trying to lose weight – keeping you full longer means less or no snacking.
Cottage cheese is also high in Omega-3 and Omega-6 fatty acids which are found primarily in freshwater fish and known for their positive effects on brain function, while also reducing the risk of heart disease. In addition, cottage cheese is packed with calcium which helps build and keep our bones strong, selenium, phosphorus and iron, Vitamin A, B-12 with trace amounts of foliate, B-6, thiamine and niacin – that’s a mouthful! Since cottage cheese is lower in saturated fat and cholesterol than hard cheeses like cheddar and creamier cheeses like brie, it’s a healthier choice for your heart and waistline.
Cottage cheese is fresh cheese made from whole, part-skimmed or skimmed pasteurized cow’s milk. “Sweet curd” cottage cheese the most popular, has a mild flavor due to the fact the curds are washed, removing most of the cheese’s natural acidity. The texture of cottage cheese is usually quite moist and comes in three forms: small-curd, medium-curd and large-curd.
So if you’re like the person I described above or have a hectic day now and then, whip yourself up a batch of my jazzed up cottage cheese. Oh, and besides all the great benefits of cottage cheese, when you add these other fresh, bright colored and healthy veggies, your body will be loving you!
Jazzed up Cottage Cheese
1 (24 oz.) container of Cottage Cheese (whatever fat content you desire)
1 red pepper, chopped brunoise style
1 yellow pepper, bruniose style
1 stick of celery, sliced 1/4 inch
1 carrot stick, brunoise style
2-3 scallions, sliced 1/4 inch
fresh ground pepper to taste
Combine all ingredients, blend and serve chilled.
Enjoy this cottage cheese for a snack, a meal, alone, or with some fresh fruit. It will make you feel great!
Hi, I’m Vicki Bensinger! I have been teaching culinary classes throughout Missouri since 1992. I offer personalized private culinary classes for individuals and small groups in the comfort of your home or organization.
I love it! Bright, colorful and tasty!
It definitely is Ann. There’s just something about it when I add the veggies to it, the cottage cheese is brought up to a whole new level of excellence! You’ll have to try it. I know you’ll like it.
I love cottage cheese and this sounds awesome! Can’t wait to try it.
I love cottage cheese and always looking for new ways to jazz up. Yours look colorful and pretty tasty with fresh cut vegetables.
It is Tracy Marie and Balvinder. It’s surprising how refreshing and addictive it is.
This looks appetizing ! Love the addition of colorful veggies !
I do love cottage cheese and it’s so fun to add a mix of veggies in it. I love it.
My mom ate cottage cheese with fruit almost every day for lunch…and I never was a fan. On the other hand, I do like cottage cheese with veggies…especially the ones you’ve selected 🙂 Have a great weekend!
Cottage cheese can be quite boring but with this, it looks cheerful and vibrant as well as the flavor is more complex!
I am so happy to see your post this morning
I love Cottage Cheese and your suggestion sounds tasty. It is nice to hear taht a 1-cupmeans a person can feel fuller for a longer time. Perfect for me – as I’m always trying to lose weight.
I absolutely love cottage cheese & your tasty recipe is a real winner! So versatile to use too! 🙂
Will you disown me if I admit to never having had cottage cheese? I’ve always been a little afraid of it. Yours looks much more interesting than regular old cottage cheese though 🙂 Lovely!
Lovely with the peppers,colorful n appetizing!
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Thanks for all your comments. I agree cottage cheese alone can be boring but I do love the taste and jazzing it up with these veggies brings it to an entire new level. It’s so good this way I could eat and entire bowlful.
Parsley Sage – no I wouldn’t disown you. I remember when I was a child just looking at cottage cheese made me feel sick, then I tried it and it’s delicious! However, I still feel that way about herring. My mom and sisters love it, and I won’t touch it – it just looks disgusting to me. I also remember I didn’t want to try skim milk when I was younger. I thought it was SKIN milk and pieces of skin would be in it. How silly and yet disgusting was that! We all have foods we don’t want to try.
Great info on cottage cheese! I didn’t know half of that. And it’s good stuff, although I also prefer mine jazzed up. Try it with siracha sauce sometime – it’s a great combo. Spicy without too much heat. Good post – thanks.
Yes Vicki, sometimes we end up eating junk food and that’s why obesity is on the rise. This cottage cheese dish is simple and yet so good! I loved the fact that it has omega-3 fatty acids too, so non-fish-eaters should eat this regularly. What a wonderful and informative post Vicki!
I’ve looked at many people eat cottage cheese over the years, but it’s just one thing I can’t bring myself to try. I have issues with textures and I just can’t see it going down easy…it’s a really weird aversion.
Whenever I see something like this I wonder why I never thought of it myself! What a great idea and something I’ll try soon!