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Why I Love Healthy Living’s Cheese Department

From the finest selection of international cheeses to the wide array of local Vermont cheeses, they have it all! And I have to tell you about Sean, the amazing Cheese Associate at Healthy Living! He is so friendly and knowledgeable and makes picking out just the right cheeses for our cooking classes easy and fun!

The exceptional staff and incredible selection are why we shop at Healthy Living for all of our cheese needs here at Chef Contos Kitchen & Store on Falls Road in Shelburne, Vermont.

In fact, we had an awesome class recently called “Just in Queso: Cooking with Vermont Cheeses” where we made delicious summer recipes, all featuring Vermont cheeses purchased from Healthy Living.

While we thoroughly enjoyed all of the recipes prepared in class, the star of the show was definitely this Kale Salad:

Kale & Avocado Salad with Dates & Alpine Cheese:

1 bunch kale, stems removed, leaves thinly sliced
1/4 cup pine nuts, lightly toasted
1/3 cup extra-virgin olive oil
3 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
2 ripe but firm avocados, halved, pitted, peeled, and cut into 1/4-inch slices
2 ounces alpine cheese, shaved
8 large or 10 medium dry dates, pitted and cut into slivers
Coarse salt and freshly ground pepper

In a large bowl, toss together kale, pine nuts, oil, and lemon juice. Add avocados, cheese, and dates, and toss gently. Season with salt and pepper; serve. For the alpine cheese we used Vermont Shepherd Verano.

This post was written by Healthy Living Taste Maker Courtny Contos, owner of Chef Contos Kitchen and Store in Shelburne, Vermont.