There is something in my life that means a lot to me. We share a special relationship, one based on pleasure. I am not talking about Bob, though he is aware of my feelings, nay, addiction, for Parmesan cheese. Actually, all hard Italian cheeses. We call it "shakey cheese," not only because it is usually dispensed from a container that is shaken, but because I become shaky in its presence. When I was a baby, my mom used to cut slivers of it for me to suck on. I love Parmesan and overuse it at every Italian meal.
Tonight, I was sauteeing myself some spinach to pour over pasta. Bob and I bought a big block of Parmesano Reggiano (The King of Parmesans) at Costco. Bob dutifully portioned it out, freezer-bagged it, and put the cubes in the freezer so they last a long time. Parm Reg is outrageously expensive: $15 a pound at C-Market usually. Costco sells it for around $11, but you have to buy at least a full pound, if not more. I decided that my pasta/spinach combo deserved some Reggiano and pulled out a chunklet from the freezer.
It was still frozen, so I decided to let it whirl in the microwave for a few seconds. Apparently "express defrost" is very hot, because after 15 seconds in the 'wave, my block of hard Italian cheese had melted into a gooey mess. At first, I was crestfallen. I had ruined a block of expensive cheese.
OR HAD I?
Reader, melted Parm Reg is heavenly. I placed a stringy blob of it on my pasta, and it was the most salty, winey, toothsome treat imaginable. Over-microwaving the cheese was the best mistake I ever made. And now I am too full of cheese to eat any dessert. Oh well.
IN OTHER NEWS:
Lurid materials regarding the eating of poop were found today at work. Specifically, an interview with an unidentified eater of poop. I have also seen child pornography under the auspices of archivy. Just another day at Harry's Hideaway!
Posted by Zerd at October 16, 2007 10:13 PM