... is Kaas (Dutch for cheese). When I was living in Singapore, I gobbled one of those Christmas cheese with red wrapping since I thought it was like keso de bola. I was ignorant then since I grew up only with pasturized cheese- there was no European bistros back then and I was fed with Eden and Magnolia cheese (Note: There is a place in Holland called Edam, which is probably how they came up with Eden Cheese). I didn't get sick, thank goodness.

It was only when I lived in the Netherlands that I was introduced properly to real cheese. Whenever I went to the farmer's market, I made it a point to stop by the cheese stalls and try as much kaas as I could before eventually deciding which type of cheese to buy. It came in huge, heavy rounded circles (see pic below). I also learned to pronounce Gouda ("how-da") correctly with a rolling Dutch G and realized that the Americans are butchering it by saying "good-dah". When I first saw the Albert Heijn grocer sold 99 cent euros mozarella, I squealed! I ate half of it by the time I got home and used the other half for my pasta dish.

After being acquainted to the different types of cheese and learning to nibble cheese any time of the day (when I was a kid, I thought people ate cheese only during breakfast), I soon became a loyal follower of herb cheese, specifically with cumin seeds. Now, I can't find it elsewhere. I wish someone would send me a pound size over. I do miss my dutch kaas. 

To learn more about different types of cheese, click here.

My fave cumin seed kaas is on the left with the little dots @ the Farmer's Market