As we grow up, life becomes one gigantic ball of judgments, and desire for ice cream, and Twitter, but mostly lots of judgment. Many people take on the “I don’t care what people think of me” mantra, fueling them to do things like own an Android. But, there is one judgement that will always win, no matter the attitude: cottage cheese.
Shoppers’ faces fill with judgments as they pass the rows of various dairy products, with expectations to choose organic and stay fat free. Other shoppers pretend not to judge, but as they reach for cage-free organic eggs, they frown at the Great Value Styrofoam. But this is nothing to the indomitable fear of cottage cheese.
Cottage cheese has embraced its stereotype as the fiend of dairy products. Lumpy, a little too runny, inconsistent and baby-food like, cottage cheese can’t win.
Partially, cottage cheese should take the blame, though. Is it more of a cheese or more of a yogurt? Is it breakfast or dessert? Should it be sweetened or made a savory topping?
Now here comes the plot twist. I urge you, Sunday-morning-paper-reader, to march up to that intimidating glass fridge in the grocery store and definitely grab yourself a tub. Because once you get to know cottage cheese, it will be one of the most faithful best friends you could ask for.
Toddlers had it right; this treat is some kind of amazing. I have recently embraced cottage cheese with open arms, and I have found myself making up for 18 years of lost time. Here are my new found best uses.
The simple snack: Cottage cheese can be better than yogurt, top with a sprinkle of granola and honey or syrup for a sweet satisfying snack or dessert.
The topping: Replace cream cheese with cottage cheese on bagels, healthier, lower calorie, easier to spread and so much more delicious.
Ice cream: If you are lucky enough to own an ice-cream maker (if you don’t, stop reading now and invest), cottage cheese ice cream is a wonderful combination of frozen yogurt and ice cream, and you simply can’t stop eating it.
I could go on and on with creations, but now I ask you to take a minute and erase your stereotype. Once you get past the initial commitment, cottage cheese becomes a lot like life. Sometimes you have to just jump in, commit and see what could happen. By investing part of yourself, or $2.99, you too could discover the greatness. You could find part of yourself left buried under a stereotype. You could meet soul mates by bonding over something as life altering as cottage cheese. Who knows where the relationship could lead?
I can thank cottage cheese for the inspiration to break the mold and be seen as a true cottage cheese addict in such a public domain. If I can make the change, you can, too. Be the change you want to see in the world, and stuff like that. So smile at the man grabbing a tub, join in, and together we can start something. Start a revolution of joy and lumpy dairy cheese. I promise you won’t regret it.
Emily Schaldach is web editor at El Diablo, the Durango High School student newspaper. Her parents are Tim and Susan Schaldach of Durango.
