This year we decided to have one more round of the Presto Diet starting after Labor Day weekend. We were trying to decide what to have for dinner, Since we were going to be fairly strictly vegan for the next 2-3 months, I wanted to use up any perishable cheese and I certainly didn’t want to go buy new cheese since I was already faced with getting rid or freezing a couple of pounds of cheese.
So I was faced with a little dilemma when George requested Baked Ziti. I had no Mozzerella and a half pound of Farmers Cheese that was unopened. I didn’t want to use the unopened cheese since I could just put it straight into the freezer. Then I found about a pound of Munster Cheese in the deli drawer. The flavor profile was about right and I had plenty. I made 7 thick slices for the top and cubed the rest into 1/2 inch cubes. The cheese cubes got mixed with the noodles, tomato sauce, some 1/4 inch cubes of pepperoni, and some Parmesan cheese.
Baked it in the 350 degree oven until it was hot enough in the center to melt the cheese cubes (170-180 degrees – I measure the temp with my instant read thermometer). I like to let it rest for at least 30 minutes before cutting into it so it slices almost like a pie. That 30 minute wait is always the toughest part.
Look how beautifully it browned up! I’ll remember how well Munster browns for the next time I want to make macaroni and cheese with a cheese crust.
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