There are many ways of using Mascarpone Cheese and here are my top 10 links to some great recipes.

Mascarpone is an Italian cheese made from cream, coagulated by the addition of citric and acetic acids.  Mascarpone originated in the area between Lodi and Abbiategrasso, Italy, which are southwest of Milan.  The origin can be traced to the late 16th or early 17th century. The name is popularly held to derive from mascarpa, an unrelated milk product made from the whey of Stracchino, which is a young, barely aged cheese

A few weeks back I gave you our recipe for Panettone French Toast.  The final touch was to add a dapple of mascarpone on top in place of butter.  Problem is you are often times left with a good amount of this cheese, wondering what to do before it goes bad.  As you may or may not know mascarpone is most notably associated as a key ingredient in Tiramisu.  Listed below are 10 links to 10 great recipes (Tiramisu included) that I’m sure you will want to try.

(The first four recipes were highlighted in a post at http://www.huffingtonpost.com)

#1 Killer Tiramisu – Years ago when I had my Italian Foods Shop, I always knew when someone was attempting to make a Tiramisu.  They would approach the counter with a package of lady fingers, a tin of espresso and asked if we sold mascarpone cheese.  I found this recipe on the internet and had printed copies to give to customers that fit the above description.  Their claim, “Best Tiramisu recipe – outperforms Olive Garden, Carabbas and maybe even your Grandmas!”  Here’s the Link, http://www.italian-dessert-recipes.com/best_tiramisu_recipe.html

Lady Fingers, a staple in most Tiramisu recipes

#2 Mushroom and Mascarpone Tarts – If you are the type of person that likes a mix of sweet and savory then this dish is for you.  Great as an appetizer when you are expecting a crowd or as a more intimate dish for a planned dinner party.  Give yourself a little time to put these tarts together, and I’m sure you will find it worth the bother.  Click here for the recipe, http://www.thecurvycarrot.com/2012/02/17/mushroom-and-mascarpone-tarts-and-a-virtual-baby-shower/

#3 Sweet Potato and Mascarpone Ravioli with Caramelized Onions – I really like this recipe for many reasons.  First off it’s a ravioli, so enough said there.  Secondly, sweet potatoes and caramelized onions are high on my favorite foods list.  Add the mascarpone and you can’t help but have a winner.  The website, Vegetarian Ventures, is one I think you may want to bookmark.  To get right to the ravioli click here, http://www.vegetarianventures.com/2013/01/14/sweet-potato-and-mascarpone-ravioli-with-caramelized-onions/

#4 Fontina and Mascarpone Baked Pasta – The inspiration for this dish seems to come from the same problem I wanted to address in this post.  What to do with left over cheese from one recipe before it spoils.  The author here, AlidasKitrchem.com, is saving two cheese with one recipe.  For those of you who haven’t experience Fontina Cheese you are in for a tasty experience.  Alida tells us “Fontina and Mascarpone Baked Pasta is a delicious and sophisticated twist on macaroni and cheese ~ perfect for company or Sunday dinner comfort food.”  Click here, http://alidaskitchen.com/2012/09/20/fontina-and-mascarpone-baked-pasta/

#5 Melon and Prosciutto Risotto – This one comes from Bon Appetit and to quote the author “I like to take a classic pairing and turn it on its head.”  If you like Risotto with a twist then you need to give this one a whirl.  http://www.bonappetit.com/recipe/melon-and-prosciutto-risotto

 #6 Broccoli-Mascarpone Soup – Here’s another one from Bon Appetit that offers a cool way of adding mascarpone into a delicious soup.  Who couldn’t use another soup recipe, especially as I look out my window to a cold freezing wintry mix hitting the ground.  A soup day indeed.  http://www.bonappetit.com/recipe/broccoli-mascarpone-soup

#7 Chicken with Mustard Mascarpone Marsala Sauce – From the food network and courtesy of Giada Di Lauretiis comes a recipe I feel I really need to explore further.  My mom loved making Chicken Marsala and I could see her giving this one a try.  Serve this over the top of some Fettuccine and you have a meal the whole family will enjoy.  Here’s the link, http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/giada-de-laurentiis/chicken-with-mustard-mascarpone-marsala-sauce-recipe.html#!

#8 Ricotta-Mascarpone Mousse with Balsamic Strawberries – What’s not to like about this dessert?  Ricotta, mascarpone, balsamic and strawberries make up one delicious combination.  So if winter has you down and you want to think summer, here’s the way to go.  http://www.simplyrecipes.com/recipes/ricotta_mascarpone_mousse_with_balsamic_strawberries/

#9 Chicken Stuffed with Herby Mascarpone – One of the great things about doing this post was finding super cool ways of adding mascarpone to dinner recipes.  This stuffed chicken recipe is a real quick way to get dinner on the table. Recipe courtesy of Good Food, http://www.bbcgoodfood.com/recipes/4787/chicken-stuffed-with-herby-mascarpone

#10 Pasta with prawns, mascarpone & lemon – Another Good Food selection, I really like the idea of pairing the mascarpone with pasta and seafood.  A cool midweek dinner idea and as the website suggest it’s best made with wholemeal pasta shapes.  Click here, http://www.bbcgoodfood.com/recipes/1841654/pasta-with-prawns-mascarpone-and-lemon

So go ahead and give some of these recipes ideas a spin.  If you are like me I’m sure you will add some of your own personal touches to really improve the recipes and I hope we helped you discover a new food partner in mascarpone cheese.