Bread Cheese Smothered in Warm Salsa

Once upon a time, there was a woman with a dream job, managing the wine, cheese and speciality food section of a food co-op in Santa Monica, California. She lived four blocks from the Pacific Ocean, rode her bike to work year round, and loved her work. One day, her ambition raised its ugly head and she thought to herself, "I am Bored! Where are the new challenges in life?" So she quit her dream job and spiraled down into misery and sorrow.

True story. It would be a sad story, but that spiral led her out of the Southland to the North Coast where she met the love of her life and has since lived happily ever after.

But during that dreamy job time she never met Bread Cheese. Why not? Where had Bread Cheese been hiding during that dreamy time? Why had the cheese vendors kept it from her? Thankfully, when she arrived in the land of happily ever after, the cheese monger at the local food co-op brought Bread Cheese out of hiding and she joyously felt her cheese life was now complete.

Do you despair that you have not yet found Bread Cheese? Know your rights! Demand it from your cheese monger today! And start on the road to your happily ever after too!

Bread Cheese Smothered in Warm Salsa

(Serves 4-5)

1 package bread cheese, cut in 1 inch cubes

32 oz diced tomatoes

1 serrano chile, deseeded and deveined, minced

2 cloves garlic, minced

1/4 onion, minced (about 1/2 cup)

3 tablespoons olive oil

Corn tortillas, warmed over gas flame

Heat a large skillet, preferably cast iron, over medium heat for 3-4 minutes. Add 2 tablespoons olive oil and swirl to coat. Add onion, garlic and chile and cook 3-4 minutes until tender; add tomatoes and stir well. Cook over medium low heat for 15 minutes or so until tomatoes begin to bread down, stirring occasionally so the salsa doesn't stick to the bottom. Keep simmering on low while you pan fry cheese. 

Heat a flat top griddle or other frying pan over medium heat for 2-3 minutes. Add the thinnest film of oil and fry cheese until it browns and creates a crust, flipping once. Tuck fried cheese into the salsa and simmer at least 5 minutes to allow cheese to absorb some of the flavor of the salsa. Serve hot with warmed corn tortillas or sturdy tortillas chips.

Hugs!