Update: the winners of the Alouette cheese are Jennifer Jo from Mama's Minutia (a great little blog that I don't know why isn't as big as The Pioneer Woman's), and Vicki! Thanks for playing!
We're currently on a two-week family road trip going through Washington, Oregon and Northern California. While driving yesterday, we started fantasizing about what our favorite cheese might be. Bleu? Gouda? Feta?
And then we remembered that we've been meaning to post an Alouette giveaway. So, on a rare three-night Oregon coast stop, we went to the Alouette site and found this scrumptious looking caponata recipe. Caponata is a Sicilian vegetable salad made of chopped, fried eggplant and celery seasoned with sweetened vinegar and capers in a sweet and sour sauce. (Whew! Thank you wikipedia!)
It looks perfect for a light, warm weather dinner or an any time appetizer.
No effort rating, since we haven't tried this one. We're guessing, with the chopping, it sits on the fence between 1/2 and 3/4 assed.
Here's what you need and how you do it
1/4 cup virgin olive oil
1 cup onion, chopped in 1/2-inch dice
1 Tablespoon pine nuts
1 each medium eggplant, cut into 1/2-inch cubes (to yield 2 cups)
1/4 cup green olives, chopped
1/4 teaspoon fresh thyme leaves
1/4 cup diced tomatoes
1 ounce balsamic vinegar
1 package Alouette® Feta Mediterranean
In a large 12 to 14-inch saute pan, over medium heat, heat the olive oil until hot but not smoking. Add the onions, pine nuts, and saute for 4 to 5 minutes until softened.
Add the eggplant continue to cook for 5 more minutes. Add the thyme, chopped tomato, olives, and balsamic vinegar. Bring the mixture to a boil.
Lower the heat and simmer the mixture for 5 minutes.
Remove from the heat and allow to cool to room temperature.
Fold in Alouette® Feta Mediterranean Crumbles.
Serve the caponata spooned on crostini or in middle of table with crostini on side to allow guests to help themselves.
Now for the fun part. Leave a comment on this post telling us your favorite kind of cheese by 10pm Pacific Daylight Time on Friday, August 5th to qualify to win one of two sets of three Alouette cheese coupons. That's $21 worth of FREE CHEESE, people. For two of you.
We'll choose the winner at random and make our announcement on Saturday, August 6th, when we will, at long last, be home!
My current favorite cheese is a smoked cheddar from the farmer's market.
Posted by: Smalltown Mom | August 03, 2011 at 04:52 PM
Feta!
Posted by: Melissa | August 03, 2011 at 04:53 PM
I love all kinds, but something soft and sweet and ridiculously creamy would be my best guess. Perhaps a Fromager d’Affinois?
Posted by: Jennifer Jo | August 03, 2011 at 04:54 PM
Feta, and Swiss, and really SHARP cheddar! My favorite food.
Posted by: Jennifer | August 03, 2011 at 05:26 PM
I've never met a cheese I didn't like, I love them all!
Posted by: JANET MOMINEE | August 03, 2011 at 05:39 PM
mmmm...cheese.... Do I have to pick just one? Warm raclette on crusty baguette or herbed goat cheese on peppered water crackers or smoked gouda with turkey on a sesame bagel or fresh mozzarella on a sliced tomato from the garden or feta in a salad with dried cherries or... okay, I'll admit, I've hardly ever met a cheese I didn't like. I would be delighted to win this giveaway, as my kids love the herbed Alouette a lot!
Posted by: MommyTime | August 03, 2011 at 05:46 PM
man that's like picking my favorite appendage! Lately its been blue cheese. But now I want some of the alouette garlic and herbs. I love it on a pita with some turkey and tomato. mmmm
Posted by: leah g | August 03, 2011 at 05:52 PM
I love Brie and Cotija cheese. Couldn't pick just one!
This sounds nummy! I can't wait to try it.
Posted by: Maria | August 03, 2011 at 07:17 PM
Hey, you're in my neck of the woods! Cypress Grove chevre is my favorite.
Posted by: Kim W. | August 03, 2011 at 08:37 PM
Hard to pick just one. How about Stilton?
Posted by: shana | August 03, 2011 at 08:43 PM
I love just about any kind of cheese but I guess I'm partial to swiss, feta and parmigiano reggiano. And grana padana and extra sharp cheddar. I think that's it for now :)
Posted by: Anne | August 03, 2011 at 09:52 PM
My favorite cheese I have ever had was in Quebec at a little fromage shop on the little island of Orleans.Made there and called le Paillasson. It is a flat disc shaped cheese that you wedge and then grilled and served with a peice of bread.It was yummy that way but we brought some home and froze it (which is what they recommended) and later grilled it and served it with tomatoe jam. That was the best!
Posted by: Vicki | August 04, 2011 at 04:05 AM
love gouda!!!
donnam
Posted by: donna m | August 04, 2011 at 06:44 AM
I love Alouette Baby Brie. Just the right size for a small celebration!
Posted by: Dawn Kersula | August 04, 2011 at 09:45 AM
Looks delicious! My favorite cheese is a probably cream cheese- it's so versatile!
Posted by: Vicky M | August 04, 2011 at 11:08 AM
My favorite cheese is Brie.
Posted by: Rita | August 04, 2011 at 12:25 PM
My favorite cheese is Taleggio!
Posted by: Nelly Rodriguez | August 04, 2011 at 02:12 PM
Époisses de Bourgogne - otherwise known as napoleons favorite cheese.
Known to us as the expensive, semi-stinky cheese you can eat with a spoon - that's worth every penny!
Posted by: Ohiogirl | August 04, 2011 at 07:59 PM
It's hard to pick a favorite kind of cheese...right now I would say brie.
Posted by: Jill in Vermont | August 05, 2011 at 05:50 AM
I recently discovered an English Blue Cheddar. (Get it at Whole Foods.) Sharp and crumbly, great with fruit and crackers or crumbled in salad!!
Posted by: Lisha @ The Lucky Mom | August 05, 2011 at 07:43 AM
Favorite cheese? Hmmmmm.... that's tough. I'll say manchego (or a good grainy parm).
Posted by: Kirsten | August 05, 2011 at 02:12 PM
Fresh mozzarella!!!
Posted by: Meredith | August 05, 2011 at 04:25 PM