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This just my opinion.......

Mama Mangia

Mama Mangia

Super Moderator
This is just my opinion on black pepper and Parmesan cheese.

I never bought ground black pepper - I prefer to grind and crack my own for cooking.

And I don't buy sawdust (that is what I call grated Parmesan cheese - like Kraft, for instance). Fresh grated cheeses give a much better flavor and you can mix two or more together for a wonderful flavor.


:p
 
I could not agree with you more. Especially on the cheese.

The powdery stuff in the green can, is not cheese!

There was another thing that I'm particularly snooty about, but I just can't remember it right now. I'll come back and edit if it comes to me. I'm getting forgetful in my old age. ;)
 
I think all cheese tastes so much better freshly grated! We never used to do it and would buy some of the preshredded cheeses to save time for tacos, pizza, etc. To save a little bit of money we decided to shred it ourself for tacos one night, and also because we couldn't find extra sharp cheddar.

Well, now we're spoiled and no longer buy ANY cheese preshredded. : )
 
Extra sharp Cheddar cheese is my favorite cheese. Don't think I ever noticed the difference until one morning when making an omelet and didn't have a pouch of pre-shredded Cheddar cheese. Most of the time we get Kraft, but I buy Horizon Organic if the store carries it.

A little store near us sells a wonderful white extra sharp Cheddar cheese in chunks that they keep under glass near the counter. It's a nice different cheese.
 
White cheddare fresh grated cheese. Now that sounds good!! Well I've never grated my own cheese. But I think I will try it. I bet that would be good on tacos.
 
Pre-grated Parmesan does taste rather like sawdust, doesn't it? I have to say I agree with you. I always have a chunk of Parmesan in the refrigerator and grate it fresh. The difference in flavor is really night and day!
 
As for Parmesan cheese, there isn't much that can compare with fresh Parmesano Reggiano from Italy. The last time we bought it the price was about $13.00/lb. But we never use a lot of Parmesan cheese in any one meal so the price doesn't hurt that bad.
 
I wish I could say that!!! I go through a lot of Pecorino Roman, Asiago, Fontinella, Fontina, etc. and the average price if between $9.50 and $11.50/pound.

But it's worth it because of the great taste! I don't care if the canned sawdust is $3.99 - I would never buy it!
 
Lol...the fresh grated cheese just seems to remind me of Olive Garden. When they shred the cheese on the salad. I almost always make them grate the entire block they have. Not only do I like a ton of cheese, but I like to see the look on their face....just waiting for you to say stop. :p
 
Until I got my husband that pepper grinder he wanted for Christmas, I didn't understand what the big fuss about fresh-ground pepper was! There's no going back for us, now, though. :p
 
I am the same way. It started with one of those disposable McCormick pepper grinders and matching Sea Salt grinder. Well....it is all over with now...I have to have Sea salt and fresh ground pepper. I like the larger chunks of salt for some reason...it seems to give it a more potent taste..and takes less salt than normal salt.
 
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I have to agree. Pre-grated cheese just doesn't taste the same, no two ways about it.
 
Sea Salt is healthier than regular table salt because it does not contain the artificial chemicals used in processing regular table salt. Sea salt also tastes better to me than regular table salt. I no longer have regular salt in the house only fine sea salt. If you switch from regular salt to sea salt you should purchase sea salt that is iodized (essential vitamin for the body).
 
Yeah, iodized salt is really important, especially if you're pregant b/c its important for the baby's development.

I agree that fresh-grated cheese tastes better! Plus as a kid it was so fun to grate and then see the fluffy pile I made :).
 
I use a big mortar and pestle to grind up my pepper and it makes great big flakes of pepper. So good. And don't get me started on the canned cheese! Ew!
 
I know this is an old post but I wanted to mention I could not agree more about fresh vs. canned parmesan or pregrated packaged cheeses. I own a salad shooter and love to use it to grate my cheese fresh, it works great and clean up is a cinch.
 
I always buy a block of parmesan or as it is lovingly called in my house "stinky cheese" and shred it up in a food processor and then store it in the fridge. It goes pretty quick!

I use a pepper grinder too. When I need a lot of pepper for some recipe, more than I want to grind by hand, I use a coffee grinder.
 
Mama Mangia said:
This is just my opinion on black pepper and Parmesan cheese.

I never bought ground black pepper - I prefer to grind and crack my own for cooking.

And I don't buy sawdust (that is what I call grated Parmesan cheese - like Kraft, for instance). Fresh grated cheeses give a much better flavor and you can mix two or more together for a wonderful flavor.


:p
Click to expand...


Completely agree with you on both points. I usually use a blend of whole peppercorns...either a four blend or a five blend (has allspice in it as well) but will only but it whole and use a pepper mill.....

Parmesan...I am not even entirely sure that junk you buy from Kraft is real parmesan...it may say that it is, but man the taste and smell difference from real freshly grated parmesan is HUGE....
 
George said:
Completely agree with you on both points. I usually use a blend of whole peppercorns...either a four blend or a five blend (has allspice in it as well) but will only but it whole and use a pepper mill.....

Parmesan...I am not even entirely sure that junk you buy from Kraft is real parmesan...it may say that it is, but man the taste and smell difference from real freshly grated parmesan is HUGE....
Click to expand...

George - you are so right and there is a big difference in flavor as well. But I do wonder what exactly that sawdust is in the jar! Just curious.

I am a huge Pecorino Romano fan which I use in place of Parmesan. And I love to grate it myself - I never buy any shredded cheese in the store - I do it myself.
 
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