Category: Favorite Recipes
Fall Comfort Foods: Baked Fondue
The leaves are turning, the temperature is dropping and we are ready for ALL of the comfort food of fall. As long as there’s cheese involved…
10 Minute Pasta Sauce To Make Today!
We know that sometimes time is a factor in your cooking decisions, which is why today we are sharing a 10-minute pasta sauce that you can whip up with plenty of time to spare.
Pop your pasta on the stove and you’ll have a sauce ready in the time that it takes to cook.
You will need:
1 clove garlic
20 black olives
2 tbsp capers
1 tin chopped tomatoes (or fresh as an alternative)
1 bunch fresh basil
Salt and pepper
- Finely slice the garlic and fry it in a pan with a small amount of olive oil for 1 minute.
- Finely dice the olives and capers together and add them to the pan. Fry for another minute, then pour in the chopped tomatoes.
- Simmer for 2 minutes.
- Tear in the basil and season with salt and pepper to taste.
If you do have an afternoon free, why not try making fresh pasta to go with your sauce? Read on for the recipe!
Recipe – Makes enough fresh pasta for 6 people
You will need:
6 large eggs
600g ‘00’ flour
Method – making the dough:
- Put the flour onto a board or in a bowl.
- Make a well in the center of the flour and crack the eggs into it.
- Beat the eggs with a fork until they are smooth.
- Using your hands, incorporate a little of the flour into the eggs at a time, until everything is mixed together.
- Combine the dough until you have one smooth lump.
- Knead the dough to develop the gluten. Stop when the pasta feels smooth and silky.
- Cover the dough fully and rest it in the fridge for at half an hour.
Method – rolling the dough:
You can simply use a rolling pin to roll pieces of the dough until they are lovely and thin.
If you have a pasta machine, the best thing to do is follow the instructions that it comes with as some have different mechanisms. In general, though, this will be your basic method.
- Dust your work surface with some ‘00’ flour. Take a handful of pasta dough, press it flat and roll it through your machine on the widest setting.
- Move the pasta machine down a setting and roll the dough through again.
- Fold the pasta in half. Repeat steps 1 and 2 five or six times, folding each time.
- Once the pasta is very smooth, roll it through all of the settings on the machine from widest down to narrowest.
- If you are making tagliatelle or lasagne, rolling it until it is just slightly thicker than a playing card. For stuffed pasta including ravioli and tortellini, make it thin enough that you can clearly see your hand through it.
- Cut or shape your pasta before it dries. Use a clean, damp cloth to stop it from drying out if you need to.
Shaping and cutting fresh pasta:
For lasagne or tagliatelle, you will simply need a sharp knife to cut the pasta to the desired shape. Your pasta machine may have attachments to cut the pasta. If you are shaping the pasta we recommend finding video instructions that will show you the quickest method. Get the family involved to get the pasta ready before it dries!
To cook your pasta:
- Add pasta to a large pot of boiling salted water.
- It will take 1 to 3 minutes, so watch the pot closely.
- Test the pasta to ensure that it is just slightly al dente before serving.
Whether you’re using fresh pasta or dried, we know you’ll love this 10-minute pasta sauce!
National Creme Brûlée Day
Today is National Creme Brûlée Day! If you haven’t tried this special dessert then you are missing out on a real treat. It’s one that we love here at Shisler’s Cheese House. Read on to find out more about it and how to make it.
The history of National Creme Brûlée Day
During the Medieval era, Crema Catalana was regularly served in Spain and consisted of a custard topped with caramelized sugar. In the 15th century, a burnt cream dessert began to be served at Trinity College, Cambridge in England. This became a more widely made dessert in Britain in the 1600s, sometimes called Cambridge Burnt Cream or Trinity Cream. The first printed recipe for a dessert called crème brûlée appeared in the 1691 edition of the French cookbook Le Cuisinier Royal et Bourgeois.
How to make Creme Brûlée
To make 6 small ramekins of crème brûlée:
6 egg yolks
6 tablespoons white sugar
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
2 and 1/2 cups of heavy cream
2 tablespoons brown sugar
- Whisk together the egg yolks, white sugar and vanilla extract until they are creamy.
- Put the cream into a pan and heat on a low heat until small bubbles start to appear at the edge. It should not start to boil completely.
- Take the cream off the heat and whisk it into the egg yolks quickly.
- Pour the mixture into the top pan of a double boiler and heat gently until it is thick enough to coat the back of a spoon. This should only take around 3 minutes.
- Pour the mixture into small, heatproof ramekins. Place these in a baking tray. Pour a splash of water into the baking tray. This helps the custard to set without cracking or curdling.
- Place the baking tray in the oven at 300F for 30 minutes.
- Remove from the oven and cool to room temperature. Then refrigerate for at least one hour. If you have the time, refrigerate them overnight.
- Turn on the broiler. Sprinkle a layer of brown sugar over each ramekin and then place them under the broiler to melt and caramelize the sugar. Watch it very carefully as it can burn quickly. Alternatively, if you have a cook’s blow torch, you can caramelize the sugar using this.
- Leave the crème brûlée to cool and return to the fridge for a short time to set the custard fully.
Once you are ready to serve, you can enjoy cracking into the sugar with a spoon and hearing the satisfying sound of your work! This is definitely an impressive dish to serve at a dinner party. Your guests will appreciate your hard work and a delicious dessert.
Variations on Creme Brûlée
There are many ways that you can add to the basic crème brûlée. Try adding raspberries, either whole or pureed, to your custard for a fruit variation. You could use spices such as cinnamon to add a new twist on the flavors. We have even tried a bay leaf crème brûlée which was interestingly rather savory!
Will you be celebrating National Creme Brûlée Day by making one at home? Let us know in the comments below!
Summer Cooking Ideas
If you’re new to the blog then you might not know that we’ve put together tons of different summer cooking ideas for you. Today we’ve collected lots of them together to inspire you! If you’re not so experienced with cooking, try our tips to help you start cooking from scratch.
Summer cooking ideas: BBQ Season
Start by checking out our checklist of everything that you need if you want to host a barbecue this summer. You can make it really simple by asking your guests to bring along different elements of the meal. After all, everything can be prepared fairly quickly when your guests arrive. If you want to do some advance preparation, then check out our recipes for amazing marinades. For vegetarians, try making a delicious halloumi burger – simply pop the halloumi on the barbecue rather than frying it in a pan.
Pasta
Sometimes there is nothing better than a bowl of delicious pasta with a fresh, vibrant sauce. Why not try making fresh pasta at home? It might seem complex, but it is really quite simple and the results are well worth it. Serve it with a grating of parmesan for that finishing touch. For extra Italian flavor, serve it with Insalata Caprese, incorporating beautifully ripe tomatoes and mozzarella.
Pizza
Another Italian classic! Our post explains how to make pizza from scratch which is sure to impress your friends and your taste buds! Of course, to make it an extra fun summer evening then an outdoor pizza oven is the way to make your pizza. Ask guests to bring their favorite toppings and let the oven do its work to add the perfect char to your dough.
Salads
When the weather heats up, we often just want to eat fresh salads. Check out our post on salads to find out how to combine greens, herbs, protein, and grains to create incredible meals in almost no time at all. You’ll also find tips for making salad dressings that bring everything together. Try something adventurous by adding different fruits to your salads or creating your own signature dressing using your favorite flavors.
More Summer Cooking Ideas
You’ll find our post on smoked meats really useful if you love them and need some more ideas for using them in recipes. For the best sandwiches this summer, try our recipe for making your own bread. This is another cooking endeavor that seems difficult, but once you’ve tried it you’ll want to make it all the time. We have so many cheese posts that will help you pick which cheeses to serve whether you’re making sandwiches, a quick cheese board, or an elaborate summer meal. Try one of our cheese desserts as a sweet treat to end the night.
Finish off your summer meals with our favorite selection of summer drinks that are easy to whip up for an evening with the family or guests.
What are your favorite summer cooking ideas? Let us know your top tips in the comments below!
Easter Recipes to Help You Celebrate
In preparation for this coming Easter weekend, we decided to put together a list of Easter recipes for you to put together. Whether you’re celebrating with family, gathering a group of friends, or enjoying a quiet day to yourself, you’re sure to find some ideas that will make your day extra delicious.
Roasted Leg of Lamb
Of course, a roasted leg of lamb is a classic at Easter. We sometimes like to use a simple rub of lemon juice, oregano, salt, and pepper. However, you can spice things up by using a marinade of harissa, a North African chili pepper paste that will add lots of flavor to your dish. Serve it with plenty of vegetables, but especially go for spring flavors like carrots, green beans, radishes, and beets. Try making your own gravy to accompany everything.
Four Cheese Scalloped Potatoes
A great accompaniment to roast lamb and a decadent treat for your table, scalloped potatoes do take some time to put together but they are well worth the effort. Use a mandolin slicer to speed up the process. We like to add a combination of creamy cheeses to make this extra special for our Easter recipes. Add Asiago, Mozzarella, and Raclette in slices between the potatoes for layers of melted goodness, and then grate Parmesan onto the top to create a cheesy crust.
Chocolate Nest Cakes
A firm family favorite and a dish that the kids can all get involved in making. Just be prepared to clean up a little mess afterward.
- Prepare a muffin tray lined with paper cake cups.
- Melt some of your favorite chocolate (of course, we recommend Heggy’s).
- Add in a cereal of your choice. Cornflakes or shredded wheat work really well. Ensure that the cereal is well coated in the chocolate.
- Spoon the mixture into the prepared cups.
- Top each nest with some mini chocolate eggs.
- Leave to set and then enjoy!
Asparagus and Cheese Tart
If you’re serving vegetarians this Easter, or simply want to add some lighter Easter recipes to your table, we love an asparagus and cheese tart.
- Take a sheet of puff pastry and score a border around 2 cm from the edge.
- In the middle, add slices of cheese. You can choose your favorite but you are looking for something that will melt well and have plenty of flavor. We recommend goats’ cheese or cheddar.
- Layer spears of asparagus on top and add freshly ground salt and pepper. You could also put freshly shelled peas on at this point for even more spring flavor.
- Bake in the oven until the pastry has become puffed up and golden. The asparagus should be nicely roasted and the cheese melting underneath.
- If you like, add arugula leaves on top.
This recipe can be served hot or cold, so it’s a good choice if you want to prepare it in advance or if you are heading to a pot luck dinner.
We hope you enjoy making these Easter recipes to share with your family this weekend. However you’re celebrating, we want to wish you a wonderful Easter.
Uses for Pretzels That You Might Not Have Thought Of!
We love to find new ways for you to indulge in our favorite treats here at Shisler’s Cheese House, and today is no exception. We’re going to explore some uses for pretzels that you might not have thought of. That’s right, they’re not just for dipping and snacking!
We stock a huge range of pretzels, including favorites such as our Gourmet Chocolate Covered Pretzels. These have been made with love by Stefanelli’s Candies in Erie, PA since 1929 and we are now proud to offer them to you here in Ohio’s Amish Country! You’ll also find peanut butter, honey mustard, and yogurt pretzels amongst a wide range of others.
Uses for Pretzels: Breakfast
If you’re making your own granola bars at home, or even just a good batch of granola for hearty morning breakfasts, why not add a handful of crushed pretzels to the mix? They can add both texture and flavor. The saltiness will contrast with your chosen sweet ingredients to create the perfect mix.
Uses for Pretzels: Snacks
Of course, pretzels are a snack in themselves, but they can also be elevated to a whole new level with just a few moments of effort. Crush up salty pretzels and roll a ball of cream cheese in them for a quick and easy game night dip. Combine them with other treats to create a sweet or savory trail mix. You can even add a pretzel on top of your favorite sweet drinks; hot chocolates and milkshakes with plenty of whipped cream are our favorites.
Uses for Pretzels: Dinner
Savory pretzels make a great crunchy topping for a variety of dishes including chicken, pasta or even schnitzel. Crush them up using a rolling pin and sprinkle them anywhere that you might use breadcrumbs. Just be sure that you haven’t chosen chocolate pretzels!
Uses for Pretzels: Baking
This is where pretzels really can be used anywhere! They’re great crushed into the crust for a cheesecake or sprinkled on top of cupcakes. Combine them with popcorn and melted chocolate to make clusters for movie night. Chop them into your cookie dough for extra crunch. Add them to your s’mores for another layer of fun.
If you are not in the mood for baking yourself, then why not pick up some Heggy’s White Chocolate Pretzel Delights? These are a combination of fresh ground pretzels mixed with a white creamy coating so that you can enjoy a treat without the need to cook.
We hope that you’ve enjoyed our new uses for pretzels. How do you like to eat them? Let us know in the comments below!
Barbecue Marinades to Spice Up Your Summer
We’ve put together 3 recipes for a great barbecue marinade that will make your summer events more fun than ever. Read on to find out how to easily elevate your barbecue to the next level.
- Homemade BBQ Sauce
This is an absolute classic but it’s even better when you make it from scratch. You can marinate meat in it to add flavor and then you can add even more when the meat is cooked. It’s a long list of ingredients but it’s well worth it.
It works well with most meats, but ribs will be exceptional.
Barbecue season is here: grab our checklist
Barbecue season is upon us, so it’s time to prepare! We often find that at the beginning of the summer it’s a bit of a scramble to get everything you need together for a barbecue.
Let us help you out with our quick checklist.
- Meat!
This is the one thing you’re not likely to forget. Try to get the best quality meat that you can. If you haven’t tried making homemade burgers before, give it a go. Otherwise, you can’t go wrong with burgers and hot dogs from the butcher. For something really special, grab some steaks. If you want to inject plenty of flavor, then chicken wings and thighs take on marinades really well.
- Veggies
It’s great to get some vegetables on your plate and this will mean you have something to serve vegetarian guests. Eggplant, zucchini and squash all cook well on the barbecue. Large mushrooms and tomatoes on the vine can work well too. You can always parcel up veggies in foil and then place them on the barbecue if they might slip through.
- Bread
Hot dog and burger buns are essential for carrying all of that delicious meat. You might want to bake a quick loaf to serve with cheeses and salads, but no-one will turn down a store-bought sesame bun!
- Salads
A simple green salad will go a long way as it can be eaten on the side or even in your burger. A caprese is a great salad for serving at barbecues as the flavors of tomato and mozzarella go so well together and will develop throughout the day. Whip up a potato salad and you’ve got a perfect selection to serve to your guests.
Don’t forget to add salad dressings to the table. We recommend letting your guests dress their own salad so that they can pick their favorite dressings and the leaves will stay crisp.
- The extras!
A barbecue is really made special because of all the extra touches.
Cheese is essential. The classics are a slice of Cheddar or American Cheese, but Blue Cheese and Swiss are also delicious melted onto burgers. You could also put cheese onto the barbecue. Halloumi is a particularly good option as it won’t melt and has a lovely, salty taste. Definitely stock up or even have a go at making your own.
Make sure you’re stocked up on sauces such as ketchup, mayonnaise, mustard and, of course, barbecue.
- Drinks
Beer is the classic, but there are plenty of refreshing summer drinks. Mix up a jug of something cool for designated drivers and pop a bottle of champagne in the fridge if it’s a special occasion.
Has this inspired you to get the grill going? Let us know in the comments!
How to Make Fresh Pasta
We all know that fresh pasta tastes so much better than any dried pasta. But how many of us have actually tried to make it at home?
It might seem daunting, but pasta really isn’t so hard to make. Today we’ll show you how to make it from scratch.
Recipe – Makes enough fresh pasta for 6 people
You will need:
6 large eggs
600g ‘00’ flour
Method – making the dough:
- Put the flour onto a board or in a bowl.
- Make a well in the center of the flour and crack the eggs into it.
- Beat the eggs with a fork until they are smooth.
- Using your hands, incorporate a little of the flour into the eggs at a time, until everything is mixed together.
- Combine the dough until you have one smooth lump.
- Knead the dough to develop the gluten. Stop when the pasta feels smooth and silky.
- Cover the dough fully and rest it in the fridge for at half an hour.
Method – rolling the dough:
You can simply use a rolling pin to roll pieces of the dough until they are lovely and thin.
If you have a pasta machine, the best thing to do is follow the instructions that it comes with as some have different mechanisms. In general, though, this will be your basic method.
- Dust your work surface with some ‘00’ flour. Take a handful of pasta dough, press it flat and roll it through your machine on the widest setting.
- Move the pasta machine down a setting and roll the dough through again.
- Fold the pasta in half. Repeat steps 1 and 2 five or six times, folding each time.
- Once the pasta is very smooth, roll it through all of the settings on the machine from widest down to narrowest.
- If you are making tagliatelle or lasagne, rolling it until it is just slightly thicker than a playing card. For stuffed pasta including ravioli and tortellini, make it thin enough that you can clearly see your hand through it.
- Cut or shape your pasta before it dries. Use a clean, damp cloth to stop it from drying out if you need to.
Shaping and cutting fresh pasta:
For lasagne or tagliatelle, you will simply need a sharp knife to cut the pasta to the desired shape. Your pasta machine may have attachments to cut the pasta. If you are shaping the pasta we recommend finding video instructions that will show you the quickest method. Get the family involved to get the pasta ready before it dries!
To cook your pasta:
- Add pasta to a large pot of boiling salted water.
- It will take 1 to 3 minutes, so watch the pot closely.
- Test the pasta to ensure that it is just slightly al dente before serving.
We hope that you’ve enjoyed learning how to make pasta from scratch. Do you have any tips for first-time pasta makers? Let us know in the comments!
10 Uses for Jams and Jellies
Whether you love trying different jams and jellies, or you have made lots yourself, sometimes you need to find a way to use some up. Especially at this time of year, when you’ll be thinking about making new jams with all of the lovely summer fruit.
Read on to find out some of our tips and tricks for using up jams and jellies.
- Cakes
You don’t always have to use strawberry or raspberry jam to sandwich cakes together. Try out different flavor combinations and find your favorites.
- Gravy
This might sound a little odd, but trust us: it’s delicious. A little sweetness can go a long way to turning a good gravy into a great gravy. Add a teaspoon at a time and keep tasting; you don’t want to overpower it.
3. Yogurt
Stir jams and jellies into plain yogurt to create a delicious and easy dessert. It’s perfect for when you’re craving something sweet but you don’t want to leave the house.
4. Salad Dressings
Sometimes you might add a little sugar or honey to a salad dressing for sweetness. Try jam instead! Make sure you taste it before pouring it over your salad to make sure that you’ve got the flavors right. A great tip is to take a leaf or veggie from your salad and dip it into the dressing to taste. This way you get to try the flavors together, instead of tasting dressing on its own.
5. Grilled Cheese
We’ve mentioned this before, but jam or jelly can take your grilled cheese to the next level. We especially love this with cheeses like ricotta or mascarpone, but hard cheeses like gouda work well with fruit as well.
6. Barbecue
As the weather warms up and you start to think about cooking on the barbecue, try using jelly as a glaze for meats. Mix your jelly with a little water and heat over a low heat until it is a brushable glaze. Then simply brush it onto the meat.
7. Cocktails
Any cocktail that is shaken can have a spoonful of jam added to it. We especially love apricot jam in a mojito, but this is definitely something to experiment with. Make sure that you give everything a good shake before serving.
8. Pancakes
Pop jams and jellies on the table when you’re serving pancakes and watch them get eaten up! This is especially good with whipped cream.
9. Oatmeal
Oatmeal with a dollop of jam on top is a true joy. Try different flavors to find your favorite. You’ll never have a boring bowl for breakfast again.
10. Biscuits
Sandwich biscuits together with jam or even add a little to the batter to create an added sweetness. This is a quick and easy way to add excitement to your baking. It’s also a fun way to get the kids involved in the kitchen!
We hope you’ve enjoyed our list. If you need some jam or jelly to try out these ideas, we’ve got you covered. Which will you try? Let us know in the comments!
