Little fruit balloons.

Also known as plumcots, pluots are a cross between a plum and an apricot. J and I purchased a pound or so from Tiny's Organics, because we wanted to see what all the hype was about. They are clearly the starfruit of 2009. I have to admit that they deserve the hype. More plum than apricot, these are juicy, sweet, and delicious. They reminded me of concord grapes in a way, just how the skin is slightly tough and then the fleshy part bursts out with juice and sweetness. I would advise eating pluots over the sink or with a fistfull of paper towels nearby. They may look small and harmless, but they are little fruit balloons, waiting to pop.

Recipe 7 – Vegetarian Entrée and Side Dish - Cheese-Macaroni Asparagus Bake

The special ingredient in this vegetarian entrée or side dish is cheese! The recipe calls for 2.5 cups Swedish fontina or Red Leicester cheese.

J and I ventured into Beecher’s Handmade Cheese, in our opinion the mecca for cheese in Pike Place Market, and asked if they make either a fontina or Red Leicester. They do not but recommended a substitute: Beecher’s Flagship cheddar. We accepted the substitute and used it to make this fancy mac & cheese, which is basically what this casserole dish is all about. Here are some views inside the shop:

You can see that Beecher's also makes their own fancy Mac & Cheese using the Flagship and Just Jack cheese.

Honestly, there isn’t too much to say about this one. If you like mac & cheese and don’t mind grating up a mound of speciality cheese and then watching it melt, this recipe is for you.