French brie from Trader Joe, starting to soften and get stinky.
Trader Joe has an affordably priced double cream French Style brie (the picture on the website is for a different product; look for the red label above). The stinky secret is that, when ripened, it turns into a feral spread akin to an aged Camembert. Feel around in the cold case when shopping, and find a wedge on the soft side. Take one home, leave on a counter out of the sun, and wait. In a few days you can unwrap the package and enjoy the gym-shoes aroma of a much more expensive well-aged cheese.
What can you do with this stinky brie? Spread on crackers or baguette slices, of course. But you can also use it on a sandwich where it lubricates as well as flavors. And, try a dollop on a pizza that need a little perking up.
The Trader Joe brie has reached a consistency at which it can be smeared on bread when making sandwiches as a mayonnaise substitute.
A few more days and the aroma will increase to the point that other foods in your kitchen (not to mention your family/roommates) are complaining. The cheese has melted to the point that you can squeeze it out of the package like icing from a piping bag. Squirt it onto robust toasts like our copycat Fig & Olive Crisps or simply straight into your mouth. It’s all good.
Thanks! Something new but old to try. My parents did that with Liederkranz when it came in boxes in the 1960s. On the counter until it oozed out. There is a re creation Liederkranz available in foil. Never saw it.
Have you tried other soft cheeses?
Have not, since the TJ brie is so readily available and well priced. But this would be fun to try with a lot of different cheeses; the family would love it.
Not sure my husband would be too pleased by the aromas emulating from the cheese after a day or so of leaving this on the counter….now my cats…well..I bet they would love it!!!
Have not tested on cats! But you’re probable right…
My wife’s uncle’s girlfriend loves TJ’s. She always brings stuff to family gatherings. None of it is ever edible.
do a search for “Trader Joe” on this blog and she can find a catalog of good eating. She will go from zero to hero!