F is for FETA!

What is Feta Cheese?

Feta is a curd cheese with no rind. A curd cheese is any cheese made from skimmed milk curd. Feta is made from at least 70% (or more) of sheep’s milk and the rest is goat’s milk. To store and preserve the feta, it is sliced into large cubes and stored in large, brine-filled barrels.

Feta cheese is thought to have its origins in Greece and in 2005 a ruling was made that the name “Feta” is reserved for this type of cheese from Greece alone (there are very similar versions made throughout Europe). Feta comes from the Italian word “fetta”, which means “slice”. Some believe this name was chosen because of the way feta was served: cutting it into thin slices.

In any case, Feta is such a delectable way to add a little Greek flare to your recipes. I can’t wait to share the recipes I’ve been cooking for my family with you!

You can buy it in the grocery store in block or crumbled form. You can always crumble the block if a recipe requires. You won’t be able to use the pre-crumbled feta to make chunks or slices, so keep that in mind when you’re shopping!

As I checked out the Feta at various grocery stores, I found that the price ranged from about 41 cents per ounce up to $1.50 per ounce. The differences? Usually if you buy a larger size you get a cheaper price. It seemed that chunks of feta were a bit more expensive than crumbled feta. The quality of the feta and origin of the specific brand makes a difference too. On sale and/or in bulk you might find feta cheaper than 41 cents per ounce but that was the lowest base price I was able to find.

The first feta recipe comes tomorrow so get ready! I’ve already done my cooking, picture-taking and most of the writing so now it’s time to enjoy the posts!

Happy Economical Eating!  ~Jenna