Prosciutto is relatively unfamiliar to many North Americans, except as a rather exotic and costly ingredient sometimes used for appetizers. If that describes you, do yourself a favor - buy prosciutto the next time you are the supermarket or deli, and when you get home, pair it with some crusty French or Italian bread and maybe a sliver of good, strong cheese. It's simple - and heavenly. This is all part of the Mediterranean palate and it's emphasis on the skillful blending of strong, simple tastes.

Prosciutto is a dried, cured meat, chewier and more intense than ham. Slice it thinly (or have them do it for you at the deli) - slices of prosciutto are often sliced so thin you can see through them, but they won't break or fall apart. If you are partial to prosciutto wrapped around a piece of melon, by all means enjoy it that way.

But don't wait until you are cooking for a fancy dinner party - buy prosciutto and melon now, and enjoy it by yourself or with family. Most ways of serving prosciutto are incredibly easy to prepare - easier than making a pot of Kraft Dinner, and so much better for you!

That having been said, prosciutto probably does not leap foremost to anyone's mind when we think of health food! It is red meat, after all, and depending on the type of prosciutto you buy it might have quite a high fat content. It's also cured and contains nitrate, which are not a healthy thing to be eating too often.

Following a Mediterranean style of eating, however, meats such as prosciutto are used almost as we would use a flavoring - in small does, accents for an otherwise fresh and natural diet. Buy prosciutto at an Italian deli if you can find one in your area, for superior quality and selection.

Nowadays, there are several varieties of prosciutto available, even in North America. Buy prosciutto in lower fat varieties if you prefer, but by all means, give this tasty alternative to ham or cold cuts a try!