Would love to make this...need subsitution idea

cloneme_losehalf

Any idea what cheese would be of strong flavor to replace with the sharp provolone. I was thinking a smoked cheese maybe. I need something easy to find.

Ingredients
3/4 teaspoon salt, divided
1/2 teaspoon dried rosemary
1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
3 cups (1-inch) cubed peeled butternut squash
Cooking spray
6 sweet hickory-smoked bacon slices (raw)
1 cup thinly sliced shallots
8 ounces uncooked mini penne (tube-shaped pasta)
1/4 cup all-purpose flour
2 cups 2% reduced-fat milk
3/4 cup (3 ounces) shredded sharp provolone cheese
1/3 cup (1 1/2 ounces) grated fresh Parmesan cheese

Preparation
Preheat oven to 425°.
Combine 1/4 teaspoon salt, rosemary, and pepper. Place squash on a foil-lined baking sheet coated with cooking spray; sprinkle with salt mixture. Bake at 425° for 45 minutes or until tender and lightly browned. Increase oven temperature to 450°.
Cook the bacon in a large nonstick skillet over medium heat until crisp. Remove bacon from pan, reserving 1 1/2 teaspoons drippings in pan; crumble bacon. Increase heat to medium-high. Add shallots to pan; sauté 8 minutes or until tender. Combine squash mixture, bacon, and shallots; set aside.
Cook pasta according to the package directions, omitting salt and fat. Drain well.
Combine flour and 1/2 teaspoon salt in a Dutch oven over medium-high heat. Gradually add milk, stirring constantly with a whisk; bring to a boil. Cook 1 minute or until slightly thick, stirring constantly. Remove from heat. Add provolone, stirring until cheese melts. Add pasta to cheese mixture, tossing well to combine. Spoon pasta mixture into an 11 x 7-inch baking dish lightly coated with cooking spray; top with squash mixture. Sprinkle evenly with Parmesan cheese. Bake at 450° for 10 minutes or until cheese melts and begins to brown.


Karen Levin, Cooking Light

RachelT14

Provolone is quite a soft cheese, my cook book recommends Mozzarella as a substitute over smoked cheese.

cloneme_losehalf

Thanks for the help. Now to figure out if mozzarella or provolone have more flavor...LOL. I just don't know where I could get sharp provolone.

Blackthorne99

Whole Foods grocery store has a terrific variety of cheese, and they probably have sharp provolone, as well as 100 other varieties to choose from. AND they'll let you sample them to see what you like.

mdfeller

Whole Foods grocery store has a terrific variety of cheese, and they probably have sharp provolone, as well as 100 other varieties to choose from. AND they'll let you sample them to see what you like.

Love your quote in your siggy!

cheri0627

I just don't know where I could get sharp provolone.

Try the deli counter at your grocers. Boar's Head has a good sharp provolone that I particularly like.

cloneme_losehalf

UGH!!! Nowhere in town here sells the sharp provolone! (pondering the 40 min travel one way just to get smoked provolone...thinking maybe try a different recipe for butternut squash and making the 40 min travel from next grocery day)

Javajunkie67

Try Pecorino Romano, it has an great sharp taste that pairs beautifully with the parm and bacon.

cloneme_losehalf

Try Pecorino Romano, it has an great sharp taste that pairs beautifully with the parm and bacon.

Thanks that might be easier to find

Blackthorne99

Love your quote in your siggy!

I had to put it there after several people wrote to me and said "how did you lose weight eating like you do?" (some curious looking for tips, and some skeptical). Made it easier for people to understand that diet is just one piece of my puzzle. I have several.