I’m racking my brain trying to find things to share in Kimi’s (The Nourishing Gourmet) Pennywise Platter Thursdays! Until this morning, I couldn’t figure out what to share, so I thought I’d have to pass participating this week. But then, I thought of my fine cheese grater from Norpro.
My mom found it for me a few years ago, probably at a thrift store on closeout at a kitchen store. It is a Norpro stainless steel fine cheese grater. It costs $14.42 $8.69 from Amazon. That could seem a bit spendy, but you know what? Good quality cheese – raw cheese from pasture-raised and/or grass-fed animals – is spendy! The raw cheddar cheese I buy now, until I am making more of my own, is about $12 per pound. This high-quality stainless steel tool helps me stretch one block of cheese twice as long as it would otherwise last, at least. No matter what you spend on cheese, you can make it stretch farther by using a fine grater.
Because the cheese is grated so finely, it goes farther, and people don’t even realize it. They do not think they’re getting jipped. Whether it is on a salad, topping a pizza, or on a sandwich, tiny gratings of cheese can cover more surface area. Our family numbers five and sometimes we have a family of seven over for dinner. This is when I really count on this grater to make half of a $12 block of Landmark raw goat cheddar cheese feed all of us.
(But, to put the $12 per pound in perspective, read FoodRenegade‘s post yesterday – the The Price of Real Food – where she shares that boxed cereals can cost $10 per pound and offer a nutrition loss! And while you’re at it, read from Local Nourishment how the real food campaign at Starbucks is baloney. But back to the point… )
Raw cheese from pastured and grass-fed animals is a wonderful part of a healthy, traditional diet. I’m not suggesting we should avoid eating it, unless there are allergies (of course). I am recommending the use of a fine grater so all of us can be more financially frugal with our consumption of it.
So there it is. Such as it is, my contribution to Pennywise Platter Thursdays, hosted by The Nourishing Gourmet.
About Wardeh
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Wardeh, I’ve looked on Amazon in the past to find the same grater you have, but I was never sure which one it was.
The one you linked to here costs $8.69 instead of the $14.42 that you mentioned in the posting, so I wanted to double check to make certain that the one you linked to is the correct one?
Thanks! When I know for certain which is the correct one, I’m planning to order it!
.-= Julieanne Miller´s last blog post… Summer Bouquet 2009 from The Old Schoolhouse Magazine! =-.
Julieanne – that is the one! Maybe they just lowered the price? Or I made a mistake. In any case, it looks to be $8.69 now! Thanks for pointing it out. I’ll update the post. I’m so happy you’re going to get it!
Hi there! Nice post! Well, guess what? I actually bought your cheese grater NEW, how ’bout that?? And I bought THREE of them–one for each of you daughters. Come to think of it, I might have purchased FOUR, but I will need to ask Jibran if he rec’d one from me. In any case, it WAS a good deal, because I bought them at a kitchen store that was closing down. But they were more like $10 dollars each, not the $14 that they would be in a gourmet kitchen store. So glad you use it and have been able to stretch your cheese further! Love, Mom
Mom – Well, I’m surprised! And I’m sorry for speaking out of turn. I had no idea it was a new purchase! But – one thing I will never get wrong is that you give very good gifts! You’re the best, I love you even more than the grater!
Great Post! Thanks for being so sweet and trying to think of new ideas for the carnival. You’re the best.
And this is a great idea too! Thanks for sharing.
.-= Kimi @ The Nourishing Gourmet´s last blog post… =-.
Too bad my anonymous commenter from last week (who was miffed that I don’t like to waste meat by serving 3 pounds at a single meal to my family of 6) doesn’t come over here and holler at you for “lying” to people about the amount of cheese they’re getting at your house
I have yet to find a source for raw cheese but I do like to buy decent cheese, usually at Sam’s Club, that costs $7-15 per pound. My tiny-holed grater is awesome for that! We can make a generous wedge of Asiago last for 2 months or more, despite serving it 2-3 times per week. God cheese has such nice strong flavor anyway that a ton of it just isn’t necessary.
Thanks for your kind comments at my blog. It was nice to “see” you over there
.-= Lindsey in AL´s last blog post… Won’t you be my neighbor? =-.
Kimi – Oh, I hope you didn’t think I was complaining! I didn’t mean for my comments to sound that way. I love your carnival and I really want to participate. I just am running out of pennywise ideas! And its only been three weeks.
Lindsey – you crack me up! At first I though you were serious. I am pretty naive that way. But then I sighed with relief and started laughing out loud. I went to your blog and read your meatball post and that comment you mentioned. My goodness, I did not get the same impression as the anonymous commenter. I’m with you on the meatballs – we only eat them occasionally and then each person only gets 2! I guess I’m a bad mom like you.
I agree that good cheese can be used sparingly. The feta I just made with a really strong flavor – I find we only use half the amount with tons of flavor – it is just so good!