First, some words about brie cheese. This is a relatively soft cheese, sort of with the consistency of play-dough. It's not hard like cheddar, where you easily cut it into slices. On the other hand it's not soft like mustard. When you spread brie onto a cracker it resists the knife a bit, but you can mush it down into shape with work. Brie is traditionally served in round wheels with a thin layer of white mold on the outside. Some people eat that white layer, while others cut it off. I am firmly in the cut-off category :)
It's very hard to describe the tastes of cheese. For example when I eat cheddar and brie side by side, the cheddar has a thicker texture, the brie is creamier, but both have a mild, "cheesy" flavor. I would say the brie is more mild than the cheddar.
So back to the Delice de France. This is served in a full wheel, about six inches across and an inch high. There is a cardboard outer container which can be recycled, an inner plastic wrap which cannot, and then the cheese itself. I find this slightly annoying because you can't then easily save it well. I have to cut the wheel into two halves and put each half into a ziplock to save it. Still, the entire container of 16oz was only $5 at my Sam's Club, so that is 31 cents an ounce. That is a serving size - so not bad at all!
A serving has only 1g of carbs, and 5g of protein. This provides 15% of your daily calcium! There is 170mg of sodium, 35mg of cholesterol, and no trans fats. There are 6g of saturated fats. This is 110 calories.
The ingredients are great! There is cultured pasteurized milk and cream, salt, and enzymes. That's it! It's so nice to know what you are eating, and to know it is natural.
You can have brie on a variety of crackers - I prefer Triscuits, but of course it's up to you. Find ways to work cheese - in moderation - into your diet. The calcium is great for you, and the natural flavors have been enjoyed in a variety of cultures!
Lisa Shea's Library of Low Carb Books
