Dear Heloise: Can you please give me some information on cheese? What is its shelf life, how long can it be kept in the refrigerator, and can it be frozen? If so, for how long?
My husband and I read your column every morning, and I also have your books. Thank you so much for your hints. — Madeline and Richard in New Mexico
You are welcome! Here's the information you asked for. Natural cheese (made from milk) in 1-pound blocks can be kept in the refrigerator if you wrap it tightly in plastic wrap and put it in an airtight container. It will usually remain fresh for one to two months in the refrigerator.
Most natural cheeses can be frozen for six to eight weeks. Be sure to wrap it well (even double-wrap for extra protection), and label and date the package.
Keep in mind that hard cheeses (cheddar, Swiss, etc.) freeze better than soft cheeses (brie, feta, etc.).
Cheese must be thawed in the refrigerator, and freezing can change the texture of cheese, making it crumbly or mealy. — Heloise
Send a great hint to: Heloise, P.O. Box 795000, San Antonio, TX 78279-5000; fax: 210-HELOISE; or e-mail Heloise@Heloise.com.
Dear Heloise: I love your bread-pudding recipe and have used it often. Now I've misplaced it and was hoping you could print it again. Thank you so much in advance. I read you every day in The (Colorado Springs) Gazette Telegraph and am amazed at all of the new things I've learned. — Barbara in Colorado Springs, Colo.
Yum! Bread pudding is a favorite and a good way to use leftover, stale bread. I'd be happy to reprint this for you. Place a beaten egg in a casserole dish (size according to how much you plan on making). Add 1 or 2 cups of milk, again according to the size of the dish. Simply add torn-up buns, bread, sweet rolls or doughnuts until the milk is almost all soaked up but still very juicy.
You won't need sugar if you're using sugared rolls or doughnuts; otherwise add a couple of teaspoons of sugar, a little cinnamon and a teaspoon of vanilla extract, and stir thoroughly. Bake the mixture for 1 hour at 350 degrees Fahrenheit and enjoy. — Heloise
Dear Heloise:This is a "try as you go" recipe, so you can experiment. I made the most delicious dish with some leftover rice, and I thought I would share it.
In a frying pan, I put the rice, some peas, bell pepper, celery and onion. Then I added a couple of eggs and stirred the mixture until the eggs were cooked and the veggies were warm. It was delicious! — Hope in Arkansas
One of my assistants says that one of her favorite quick meals is to mix a package of seasoned rice mix with eggs. She cooks the rice mix first and lets all the water absorb, then puts a little bit of the rice in a skillet along with a couple of eggs. She says it is simply delicious! — Heloise
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