Mexican hot and spicy cheese.

[Workingman]

It is called 'Mexicana' and the supermarkets have it on and off. I am addicted, so need a constant supply.....

So yesterday 'Sorry, sold out' signs had me thinking... I have spices, I need cheese. Asda had bags of grated Cheddar. Idea.

I took 250g of the grated cheese and added 2 dsp of dried chilli flakes and 1 tsp of chilli powder to a metal dish and mixed. In a pan I heated enough water so as not to touch the bowl when set over the pan. the mix was then heated so that the cheese softened but did not melt. It needed to be constantly turned so that all the cheese softened. It was then turned out and kneaded till all the yellow shreds disappeared and the whole lot turned a uniform orange/red.

I rolled it into a well pressed sausage shape, wrapped it in clingfilm, which was spun to make a tight casing. A rest in the fridge overnight produced one fabby spicy cheese for a fraction of the 'real' thing.

I am thinking that herby versions would also work.

[Diflower]

Never seen or heard of it, what does it look like and what do you use it for?
Cheese and spicy I can understand, just not sure what you're talking about

[Workingman]

Di, it's like Cheddar with a peppery hit.

Great on burgers, sprinkled in chunks on salads or on its own with some onion jam: my fave.

Due to the chilli peppers it is a reddy orange colour.

Give it go with some cheap grated cheese, what can you lose but a bit of cheese and some spice?

[Kaz]

So basically, it's like a processed cheese with flavouring? I think I get it - interesting

I do like flavoured cheese, I often buy Wensleydale with chives

[Workingman]

So basically, it's like a processed cheese with flavouring?

Welllll not quite.

It is real proper grated Cheddar cheese softened to the point where it will accept new ingredients and bind together to be re-formed.

It sounds a bit of a palaver, but once it has been done it becomes easy.

My first lot was not quite there but it was still edible.

[Diflower]

I don't really buy any flavoured cheeses, apart from once in a blue moon the Wensleydale with cranberries, which is like eating a cheesecake if you put it on a digestive
Don't eat cheese on burgers...I think if I was doing something that might want it, I'd just add the cheese plus hot paprika or chillies, as with some Mexican recipes

[Kaz]

I've had the one with cranberries as well, yummy

Frank, so it's ordinary cheddar that's had things added - ie processed

[Workingman]

Frank, so it's ordinary cheddar that's had things added - ie processed

No!

Wikipedia: Processed cheese (also known as prepared cheese, cheese product, plastic cheese, or cheese singles) is a food product made from cheese (and sometimes other, unfermented, dairy by-product ingredients); plus emulsifiers, saturated vegetable oils, extra salt, food colorings, whey or sugar. As a result, many flavors, colors, and textures of processed cheese exist. Its invention is credited to Walter Gerber of Thun, Switzerland, in 1911.

Mine is real cheese, proper cheese, it's cheese. Got it?

All I did is make real cheese accept other flavours and still be edible.

I now have some mint and chive to have with onion jam, thank you.

[Kaz]

Sounds delish