Question: I can't always find Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese at my grocery store. What other cheeses can I use instead?

Answer: You can use another hard, aged cheese that's good for grating. In the test kitchen, we love grana padano, which is cheaper, milder and melts a bit easier than parmigiano-reggiano; asiago, which is sharp yet buttery; and pecorino-romano, which has a more pungent flavor. And last, a shopping tip from Rach: If you see parmesan cheese in your grocery store, make sure the word "reggiano" is on the label -- this means it's an authentic Italian cheese (otherwise, it's imitation, and nowhere near as delicious!).

-- Katie Barreira, senior test kitchen associate with RachaelRayMag.com