"Paul M. Cook" > wrote in message
news:L9Cnh.105$rz3.4@trnddc03...
>
> "elaine" > wrote in message
> ...
>> Could I substitute something else for this. It's very expensive!
>>
>> Oh, it is a topping for a soup.
>
> A drizzle of crème freche or Mexican crema would be great. But mascarpone
> is not expensive really, and you can use it for other things. It's great
> toast and it would go well with the soup. Mascarpone lasts for months in
> the fridge so you don't even have to use it all at once. Presentation is
> everything. You can get those plastic squeeze bottles real cheap almost
> anywhere. Use it to apply the crème fresh or whatever in a nice pinwheel
> pattern on top of the soup. The eyes are a part of the whole eating
> experience after all. And you can store the rest in the bottle in the
> fridge.
>
> Paul

Thanks all. Wouldn't you know it, my server was down and I couldn't get
on-line. I ended up using sour cream and mixing a couple of tablespoons of
whipping cream with it. Wondered about cream cheese, but didn't have any,
plus I didn't know if this was supposed to taste sweet.

Didn't really matter since everyone seemed to enjoy it anyway. When I
checked out the mascarpone in the supermarket it was $10.99 for an 8 oz
tub - I just needed 1/2 cup - so what to do with the rest!

One of these days I'll buy it - 'specially if it lasts for a while in the
fridge.

elaine