I'll have some cheese with that, please!

Parade!  I made it 40 days and 40 nights with no cheese, and let me tell you, it was NOT easy!  I told you about my vow to give up cheese for lent, here, and I think the hardest part about actually giving up cheese was seeing all the AMAZING recipes with cheese around blogland.  Here are my top 10 that made me crave cheese and wonder why I ever gave it up!

1. Mozzarella, Tomato and Avocado Salad


Val's creation looks like a party made for my mouth!  I would have never thought to include avocado in this mixture, but have to admit, it looks mighty good!  Recipe found {here}.

2. Artichoke & Goat Cheese Strata


This was featured on Alissa's last "Tasty Tuesday" and, oh boy, does it look good!  I love goat cheese, and surprisingly, it's one of the "healthier" cheeses out there.   Recipe found {here}.

3. Blueberry-Lemon Cheese Crumbcake
I'm a big fan of cheese in dessert and this looks like no exception.  I love the blueberry and lemon components...Laura definitely nailed this one.  Recipe found {here}.

4. Croque Monsieur
Word on the street is that a good croque monsieur is a piece of heavenly deliciousness!  I've never had one but hear that they are absolutely to.die.for.  Kristin's is the real deal.  Must try this soon!  Recipe found {here}.

5. Fiesta Quinoa Stuffed Mushrooms

Jenn featured this delectable dish on her blog recently and started to drool a bit!  I love the black beans and cheddar...she told me that I could have these sans cheese but I can't imagine them being as good!  Recipe found {here}.

6. Chickpea Salad with Feta and Heirloom Tomatoes


Chickpeas is one of my absolute faves!  I have it in my salad everyday and just love the consistency...and they also have a lot of health benefits to boot.  Mary's salad looks delicious.  Recipe found {here}.

7. Prosciutto and Brie Sandwich with Fig Jam


Brie and fig jam has to be one of my ALL time favorite combos!  Have a little with some red wine and you're golden.  This take on brie and fig jam, by Emily, looks phenomenal!  Recipe found {here}.

8. Spring Vegetable Pizza

 
Val nails it again with the cheese...this pizza looks like everything I've been craving the last 40 days!  Love that she uses Gruyère in this pizza!  Recipe found {here}.

9. Soft Pretzels with Jalapeño Cheese Sauce
Ok, these pretzels look glorious and everyone knows you can't have pretzels without cheese sauce!  These would definitely be a crowd pleaser for the next ball game!  Recipe found {here}.

10. Grown Up Mac & Cheese


Ummm how elegant does this look??  It's definitely not your kid's mac & cheese...that is for sure!  Alissa's addition of sun-dried tomatoes and of course the bacon makes this a dish to remember.  Recipe found {here}.

Now do you see why it was SO hard to stay away from cheese?!?  I definitely recommend you check out these recipes and the wonderful blogs they belong to ASAP!  You won't be dissapointed {unless of course, you've giving up cheese!}.

xo natasha

34 comments :

  1. Oh how tempting!! Those pretzels look amazing, I'm a sucker for a giant soft pretzel :)

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  2. Oh wow. The tomato mozzarella and the quinoa look absolutely delicious!!
    Xx

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  3. omg SO impressed that you were able to give up cheese for 40 days! i am craving mac n cheese, that pizza, pretzel dip and avacado motz cheese crostinis! everything looks SO tasty! xoxo jcd :: cornflake dreams

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  4. I cracked up laughing when I saw your post on my feed, yay! cheese!- I would try every one of those recipes, thanks for sharing :)

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  5. Yum! All of them look so good and cheesy! The Grown Up Mac & Cheese is really getting to me. Will have to try that...

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  6. i don't think i would be able to give up cheese for a week, let alone 40 days! all of those recipes look killer - i've bookmarked them all! :D

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  7. This is torture! Everything looks good and I have another hour until lunch! Thank goodness I'm having a yummy dinner! Homemade Lobster rolls! Otherwise I might have to find myself a Croque Monsieur!

    http://jennaleelac.blogspot.com/

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  8. Thanks Natasha! Everything you posted looks delicious to me. Hope you are enjoying your reunion with cheese!

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  9. I love cheese too much to give it up! Plus, I'm a vegetarian so no cheese would be pretty tough. But every time I give up sugar for a week or so, I see so many recipes around blogland that look/sound so amazing. It's so hard sometimes!!

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  10. So, tell us. What kind of cheese(s) did you try first. Good for you for sticking to it. I'm way too addicted to cheese!

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  11. Actually! Hubby and I made a margherita pizza last night, which was SOO good! But we had a little cheese on Easter Sunday...in my salad and on our garlic pasta! Trying to ease back into it!! :)

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  12. Man the first cheese I would have tried is definitely a homemade mac n cheese, like the one above, but my favorite snack is the basic Crate and Barrel cheese on triscuits with a drop of tabasco. Put that in the oven for a quick cheese fix:)

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  13. Those pretzels look amazing. I die for bread and cheese. I could eat Italian for the rest of my life and be perfectly happy (:

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  14. Cheese is like bacon, its makes everything taste better! I have just now broadened my cheese palette and I am in looooove with goat cheese right now! Congrats to you...I always say, when I eat good food, that I feel like I am cheating on my hubby. I bet you know what I mean after that first bite of cheese after 40 days?!!!!

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  15. Aww, YOU ARE AMAZING. Thank you for posting my goodies!! You made me day =)

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  16. Yum!!! I do not know how you gave up cheese for 40 days!!! You must have amazing self-control. I think that I really want to make those pretzels.

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  17. You are making me so hungry! That avocado, tomato, and mozzarella salad looks heavenly!

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  18. I am so impressed you made it 40 days with no cheese! Cheese is my weakness, I eat it everyday! I seriously want to eat every recipe you posted. I think I am going to make that chickpea salad next week!

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  19. I can't believe you went 40 days without cheese! Enjoy eating cheese now.

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  20. I love cheese too and the worst part about it is that im allergic to it! But I love it! I am going to try that Mac and Cheese recipe along with that lemon blueberry thing...ugh! I want it right now it looks so good. Both..maybe even at the same time. Am I pregnant?! HAHA JK

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  21. Oh yum! You had me at mozzarella and tomato.. bravo on giving it up for Lent.. 40 days? whew..

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  22. It was not a good idea to stop by your blog. Got me really hungry at 10 pm New York time. Haha, thank you for sharing! Love your blog and following you now :D

    blog.misspouty.com

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  23. Yum Yum Yum Yum. I actually had to get up and get a snack after I looked at all these pictures!

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  24. YUM! i love cheese too haha its not good for you, but lifes too short right?! im your newest follower!

    XO
    Kat
    www.withlovefromkat.com

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  25. Let me tell you, you are a better woman than I...I think I would have made it about 40 minutes (c: And what an amazing lineup of yumminess! I'm really eyeing the pretzels and cheese...probably the worst one for you, but hey, who wants to live past 40 anyways??? (c:

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  26. apparently we have the exact same taste in food because these are all my favorites! :) yum yum yum!

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  27. My mouth is watering over the grown up mac and cheese! Looks delicious!

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  28. oh my gosh those all look SO good! Especially the stuffed mushrooms!

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  29. Natasha this is really cool. All the bloggers' recipes are beautiful! Thank-you for sharing that blueberry cake too.

    Laura

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  30. Giving up cheese is quite the accomplishment!! Wow. Great job :) Hope you are eating it by the pound now!

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  31. oh my! I could never give up on cheese ;)love all and every kind! congrats - these recipes all look divine.

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  32. I was expecting a post like this!!!!!! You know I can't live without cheese!!

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  33. Oh wow, thanks for posting! These look heavenly!

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  34. As I was just thinking that i had no inspiration what to eat or to cook, you gave me many delicious ideas, thank you.
    Chantal from Beaulifestyle

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