Parmesan cheese is one of my favorite kitchen staples. It can perk-up leftovers or a so-so frozen dinner, it adds flavor to salads or steamed veggies, and it goes great with pasta. When it comes to buying parmesan cheese, I suggest an upgrade from the freeze-dried powdery substance. If you are willing to pay almost $5 for a gourmet cup of coffee, why not splurge a little on some great cheese? Whole blocks of parmesan cheese or (parmigiano-reggiano) aren't that expensive and can add another dimension to your meals. If you don't want to shred it yourself, consider a container of pre-shredded parmesan that hasn't been reduced to little granules. Kraft also makes a great three-cheese shredded blend of parmesan, romano and asiago cheeses. Save the powder for the shakers at the pizza parlor.