By Servis Bros

Going back 100 years ago, in a small town named Lambertville, New Jersey started a small dairy operation called Fulper Farms. Today, in the same location one can find the same dairy. Over the last four years, my brother and I have been frequent customers of this dairy, particularly enjoying Fulper’s mozzarella, ricotta, and feta cheeses. We have also been frequent customers of the fifth generation granddaughter's small micro raw milk dairy farm, Fresh Start Farm.

Let’s talk about one of these delicious products - feta cheese. For starters, feta is a great source of calcium that supports healthy and strong bones. It is high in protein (a great additive to most meals for our weight-lifting folks). Feta contains beneficial fatty acids that help with anti-inflammatory responses and promote heart health. Lastly, it is a great source of vitamin B12 which helps with cell growth and nerve function. We are not claiming to make feta cheese one of your main food groups but it's a good idea to incorporate this delicious dairy byproduct into a diverse diet.

On top of a handful of good health benefits, feta can be used in a multitude of different ways. We are going to list the two most functional ways that we use feta cheese below.

The first is Tirokhafateri. This is just a fancy word for feta yogurt garlic spread. This spread can be made by combining feta cheese, greek yogurt, one garlic clove, lemon juice, and extra virgin olive oil all into a food processor. Use the EVOO to make the spread how you'd like it. Everyone is different so you might like more yogurt than feta or vice versa. We tend to add a little chili flake to give the spread a little kick. This Greek spread is the greatest with roasted beets but can easily be added to almost anything to elevate a dish.

The second way we enjoy highlighting feta cheese is by “marinating” it. This isn't a typical marinade you'd think of by soaking something in a liquid to tenderize it but more of a fancy way to “dress” the feta. We start by crumbling the cheese into a mixing bowl and adding some chopped rosemary and thyme. We then toast a little fennel seed and coriander seed, buzz that up and add it to the bowl. We finish our dressed cheese with some dried thai chili, lemon juice, and EVOO for consistency. This delicious makeup is perfect for salads, added on top of grilled meats, or put on a cheese board with some charcuterie. It’s a perfect midday snack, however, you choose to indulge.