There’s a new product on store shelves that will help you live healthier through the holidays, and it’s a popular favorite on holiday tables — cheese.

There’s a new cheese on the block from Cabot Creamery, now celebrating more than 90 years in business in Cabot, Verm.

Cabot has created delicious lower-fat cheddar cheese varieties that reduce fat without sacrificing flavor and melting properties. Cabot 50 Percent Reduced Fat Cheddar Cheeses can be substituted in many recipes and tastes great as a snacking cheese.

When compared to its regular cheddar cheese, one ounce of this lighter cheese has half the fat (4.5 grams instead of 9), is lower in calories (70 calories instead of 110) and lower in sodium (170 mg per ounce).

Cabot 50 Percent Reduced Fat Cheddar Cheese can be used in many ways and enjoyed during the holiday entertaining season.

•Cube it as part of a meat-and-cheese tray, combined with fresh veggies (see recipe below).

•Melt it on canapés or on top of appetizer pizzas (see recipe below).

•Mix it in dips and casseroles

•Sprinkle it on soups and salads.

•Skewer it on appetizer kabobs with fresh vegetables and a lean cooked meat

Here are some easy-to-use tips:

•Allow Cabot cheese to come to room temperature before serving: texture, flavor and aroma will be richer.

•Wine-pairing suggestions —Sauvignon Blanc white wine or Dry Rose red wine.

• Food-pairing suggestions — crusty bread, pecans, dried apricots, pears and vegetables.

•Melts easily; substitute for cheese in your favorite holiday recipes.

Try this new cheese; your heart will thank you. You can find Cabot Sharp Light Cheddar white or yellow varieties 50 percent less-fat at your local Hy-Vee.

Cabot cheese apple pitza

Serves 4 (1/2 pitza each)

 All you need

•1 Golden Delicious apple

•2 tablespoons honey mustard

•2 (7-inch) round whole-wheat pita

•4 ounces Cabot 50 percent Reduced Fat Sharp Cheddar Cheese, grated (about 1 cup)

 All you do

1. Preheat broiler.

2. Cut apple into quarters and remove core from each quarter. Cut apples into very thin slices. Place in bowl and toss with honey mustard.

3. Place pita on baking sheet; arrange apple slices on top. Place under broiler for about 3 minutes or until apples begin to soften.

4. Sprinkle with cheese and return to broiler for a few more minutes until cheese is browned in spots. Cut into wedges to serve.

Nutrition information:  230 calories, 5 grams fat, 10 mg cholesterol,  820 mg sodium, 28 grams carbohydrate, 10 grams fiber and 20 grams protein

Source: www.cabotcheese.coop

 Festive cabot cheddar tree

 All you need

•5 (8-ounce each) bars Cabot Sharp Light Cheddar, plain and flavored

•Fresh thyme sprigs

•Grape cherry tomatoes or olives

•1 mushroom

 All you do

1. Cut each bar of cheddar into 1-inch cubes – the perfect portion size!

2. On large platter or cutting board, arrange cubes in rows to form tree shape, using different flavor for each row and separating flavors with thyme sprigs and rows of tomatoes or olives.

3. For star on top, peel skin from mushroom; press star pattern into mushroom with point of knife.

Source: www.cabotcheese.coop