It doesn't get much simpler than this summer salad made from sliced stone fruits. The trick to turning it into something special is adding just a wee bit of finely chopped basil. I wouldn't have guessed it either, but the combination is magic. How does this relate to cheese, you ask? Well, serve the plum and nectarine fruit salad with a loaf of bread and a creamy, mild cheese on the side and you've got yourself the perfect summer lunch.

Gran Queso is an interesting cheese with many influences. It is the creation of  a Swiss family who started making European-style cheese in Wisconsin in the 1990s and were inspired by Spanish Manchego. Gran Queso is like Manchego in texture, but not much else. To start with, it is made with cows' milk instead of sheeps' milk, like Manchego. The flavor is also bolder; a bit saltier and sharper, and as you get further into it, sweet and caramelized in an aged gouda sort of way.

The cheesemaker, Roth Kase USA, reccommends pairing Gran Queso with Rioja or cream sherry in a nod to its Spanish inspiration, but also says that wheat beer or hard cider will pair nicely, too.

If you're a strict vegetarian, then it will matter to you whether or not a cheese is made with vegetarian rennet. When it comes to artisanal cheese, this can be a tricky thing for a consumer to figure out. If you shop at a good cheese shop, the cheesemongers should know. If you shop at a larger store, check and see if the label on the cheese indicates vegetable or microbial rennet, instead of animal rennet.

What exactly is rennet? The answer is found here, along with a partial list of some artisanal cheeses made with vegetarian rennet.

I love olives, so it makes sense that I also love olive tapenade.  Often, however, I find that the tapenade I buy in stores is way too salty for my tastes. I've taken to making my own at home and you should too, since it's incredibly simple. Olive tapenade is a great spread for summer appetizers, and it also pairs really well with most types of cheese. As you can see by the photo, I think it's especially good with a summer favorite, mozzarella and tomatoes.