My Favorite Things: Q is for Queso

Queso is the Spanish word for cheese and cheese is one of my favorite things. 
I have to admit that I have not tried most of the varieties of cheeses. However, I am quite fond of the types of cheeses that I have managed to try so far. 

Queso de bola (Photo credit: inakihuarte)

At home, I make paneer whenever I feel like having some homemade cottage cheese (that and when we have more milk in the fridge than we can hope to use). Paneer is a queso that is so easy to make and we tend to have some in the fridge for when we feel like having some in our viand or sabzi. Paneer also works well with rice. 

paneer, cubed (Photo credit: chotda)

Cheddar is a queso that has always been a favorite as it makes for yummy sandwiches. Plus they are great pill-hiders for our canine babies when they are not well and need some medicines -- they are unable to resist the temptation that cheddar offers. 

Mascarpone is delightful in tiramisu and I make some once in a while. Mozzarella is great for pizzas and pastas and there is always some in our fridge. As much as I wish I could make some, mozzarella is something I have yet to try to make at home. 

Mozzarella cheese (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

While I was in the Phillipines, cooking cheese like Velveeta was readily available. But here in India, I have to make do with cheddar when a recipe calls for cooking cheese. I also miss the iconic Queso de Bola which was always a main feature on dinner tables during Noche Buena at Chirstmas in the Philippines. 

Plain and simple, queso is among my favorite yummy things. ;)