Category: Product Reviews
Lebanon Bologna… The Meat, The Myth, The Legend
The History of Lebanon Bologna
Situated in Pennsylvania’s Dutch country, Seltzer’s Lebanon Bologna houses the secrets of creating superior Lebanon Bologna. The mouthwatering creation began before the turn of the century as Pennsylvania Germans were resourceful by incorporating Old World butchering, curing and sausage-making skills into Lebanon County farm life.
Known for their reputation for quality and reliability, Seltzer’s Lebanon Bologna is a cut above the rest when, leading the industry in this regional product and specialty. Being the largest global distributor of this specialty, the company reaches all corners of the nation, distributing Lebanon Bologna. Continuing to hold steady to traditional methods, the Seltzer brand has defied modern cost-cutting methods as they produce their bologna the way it was meant to be produced, the old-fashioned way, using tall, wooden smokehouses over hand-tendered fires. Word has it that the secret behind the incredible taste is not within the ingredients, but instead in the smoke and curing stages where billows of smoke in dark smokehouses slowly and steadily spice logs of aged beef. My mouth is watering just thinking about this process…
Air control is a critical aspect of all industry operations, as the smell of the meat smoking process can permeate the air. When the federal government began inspecting meat-packing industries, the first to be inspected was the Lebanon Bologna company. Today, it continues to uphold its notoriety for quality and customer satisfaction as it remains of one of the oldest, continually USDA approved operations in the country. This speaks measures of its product quality.
Keeping their tradition thriving, Seltzer’s Bologna integrates the old world with the modern world, upholding tradition while implementing selective technological improvements as they continue their dominance of a consistent, uniform product. Mix in a little art and science and you have the birth of an exceptional old world-new world smoked bologna that leaves your taste buds begging for more.
Seltzer’s Lebanon Bologna is created and prepared with Pennsylvania Dutch quality and pride. In Lebanon County, where the way of life centers around “good food and plenty of it”, Seltzer’s is longstanding American tradition that continues today.
The Man, The Myth, The Legend…
In 1902, Harvey Seltzer, an ambitious butcher, concocted a unique combination of pure beef and spices. From this combination, he produced his bologna becoming so popular that he started production on a much larger scale and named his company Palmyra, his hometown. His original recipe has been handed down from generation to generation and his family today continues to produce the high-quality, exemplary taste, that is Lebanon Bologna.
An Everyday Treat!
Lebanon Bologna, while it is absolutely delicious, is not just a holiday or special occasion eat, it’s a treat for every day and it makes every day a treat! Have a slice of Lebanon Bologna on a sandwich, or chunk it up into a salad, or for the daring souls out there (such as myself), eat it a slice straight from the bologna log, its delightful any way served! Lebanon Bologna has such a profound impact on folks, that in some cases, it is known that the delicious flavors cause people to coin this “Lebanon Baloney”
Pick Some Up Today
If you’re at Shisler’s Cheese House or around the area, be sure to try some of the world renowned Lebanon Bologna. You can’t go wrong and it pairs very nicely with cheese! Eat it as a quick lunch or dinner, or even as a snack on the car ride to or from your destination. Shisler’s Cheese House is a one-stop shop for this delicious taste of Lebanon! Here at Shisler’s Cheese House, we carry Lebanon Bologna and Sweet Lebanon Bologna, both ready for you to try so that you can experience a true taste of the rich Pennsylvania Dutch tradition.
Check out our supply of Lebanon Bologna by clicking on any of the links below!
To visit our site for other delightful eats, click here or the on the image below!
Heggy’s Chocolates… Over 90 Years of Premium, Handcrafted Chocolates!
You’re shopping at your local grocery store and it comes to that point when you’ve reached the checkout line and they always have those shelves above the cash register conveyor belt full of any chocolate bar you could possibly ever think of. These candy bars and chocolates were a staple and always brought tears of joy and excitement to kids and adults alike, as they passed through the grocery store aisles or at the checkout line. Needless to say, this was a great marketing ploy to grab the attention of kids and parents… right as you check out, don’t forget to grab some chocolate and candy for the road! I mean, how could you go wrong? Every one knows Baby Ruth, Hershey’s, Milky Way, M&Ms, etc… and the list goes on. Now, while these chocolates are enjoyed by millions across the nation and even across the world, they don’t come close to beating the handcrafted chocolate delicacy assortments of Ben Heggy’s Chocolates!
A Taste of Heaven…
Ben Heggy’s Handcrafted Chocolates and Candies have been a rich tradition featuring premium, handcrafted chocolates and candies across the United States for over 90 years and continues to be one of the premier companies in its industry. Since its opening in 1923, Heggy’s remains family-owned and operated. They continue their high levels of commitment to satisfaction, to the community, and their customers, alike.
It is truly a rare instance to see a company continue their handcrafted way with chocolates and candies given the vast improvements in computer-run machines and other means of technology. Heggy’s is one of the few that have never changed their ways of handcrafted superiority, as care, patience and dedication are all critical ingredients in Heggy’s one-of-a-kind, delicious taste.
Heggy’s has grown into much more than a household name in handcrafted chocolates and candies. They have revolutionized the industry across the board through decades of tireless work delivering product and superior customer service. Over the years, Heggy’s has built an incredible following of customers and lovers of chocolate and candy.
At Shisler’s Cheese House, we can bring the experience of Heggy’s Chocolates right to your doorstep. With a wide assortment of Heggy’s Chocolates, there is no reason to go anywhere else. Shisler’s Cheese House carries a wide selection of these premium, handcrafted chocolates ready for you! From dark chocolate to milk chocolate to white chocolate assortments, there is no selection that will disappoint you.
A Personal Recommendation…
I had the chance to taste some of Heggy’s Chocolates and my personal choice would be White Chocolate Pretzel Delights. Just looking at one will make your mouth water, but opening the wrapper and tasting this delight just puts you on “Cloud 9” in chocolate heaven. If I had to compare to another chocolate, it would be Hershey’s Cookies N’ Creme, but ohhh, so much better! Imagine Cookies N’ Creme being the appetizer and White Chocolate Pretzel Delights being the dessert! I’d much rather have dessert than an appetizer! But… don’t take my word for it, stop by and try some today!
Heggy’s White Chocolate Pretzel Delights
Great For Any Occasion…
Heggy’s Chocolates can be used for any occasion: holidays, birthday parties, dinners, social events, picnics, reunions, etc… just to name a few. It does not have to be a special event, but Heggy’s Chocolates can make any ordinary event into a special one. Just be aware, you can’t stop after one… once you start, it’s tough to put these decadent, handcrafted chocolates down!
For our entire inventory of Heggy’s Chocolates, click here
Don’t Miss Out On The History of Lebanon Bologna
Lebanon Bologna
Resembling salami in texture and appearance, Lebanon Bologna is an all beef, semi-dry, fermented, smoked and cured sausage. This dark colored sausage comes with a distinctive tangy flavor. The traditionally prepared versions of this sausage are infused with a strong smoky flavor through hardwood smoking.
The origins of Lebanon Bologna can be traced back to the Pennsylvania Dutch. It was strongly influenced by the European slow-cured sausages. In Pennsylvania, this sausage is served as luncheon meat and continues to be popularly available. This sausage is produced in Lebanon County, Pennsylvania, from where it derives its name.
Bologna was patterned and developed based on German slow cured products by German immigrant farmers settled here. Lebanon Bologna is one of the most unique sausages made in America though it has its origins in Europe.
Since the 18th century, Lebanon Bologna has been popular food stuff in the Pennsylvania Dutch Country. This identity food is an intrinsic part of the distinctive culinary heritage of south eastern Pennsylvania. Those who were born and grew up here ate many a slice stuffed in sandwiches smeared with cream cheese or served fried with eggs.
Lebanon Bologna comes in four different flavors namely the original, double smoked, sweet and honey smoked. Realizing the undesirable effects it can have on quality of the final product, very high heat is not used to manufacture this sausage. Thermal processing thus does not exceed 120 °F (49 °C). As high heat is out of question, microbial growth is controlled through other processes and ingredients.
In order to allow for reduction of nitrate to nitrite and for lactic acid bacterial enrichment, the stuffed and blended beef sausage is aged at least for ten days before it is smoked. The smoking phase lasts for four days during which fermentation continues to occur.
Most manufacturers today use good quality lean beef. Savory spices are added in a special blend; the bologna is seasoned and smoked naturally in wooden smokehouses outdoors. Bologna is then cured in a gradual manner over hardwood fires that are hand tended.
As Lebanon Bologna’s distinctive taste comes from the slow smoking method, all manufacturing units have smokehouses constructed of wood in old designs. Walk inside the smoke house and you will be transported right back to ancient times.
Lebanon Bologna was once a seasonal product available only during the November butchering season. Today it is commercially produced throughout the year.
Stop by Shisler’s Cheese House or check out our website and enjoy Lebanon Bologna today! @ $8.99 per lb.
Why Heggy’s Chocolates are better than the Rest
Heggy’s Chocolates Assortment
Ask any passionate chocolate lover and he (or she) will tell you all about the deliciously rich, creamy and smooth Heggy’s chocolates. Heggy’s Candy Company has been offering premium high quality chocolates for over nine decades. Since the time of its establishment in 1923, the company has been providing consumers with premium hand crafted candies and chocolates throughout America.
Today, Heggy’s continues to be a family owned and operated business. They have been serving the community and customers with a high level of commitment and have continued to keep the almost extinct handcrafting quality chocolates and candies alive.
Withstanding the test of time, they have perfected the art of creating masterpieces in chocolate. Every single piece of candy and chocolate offered by Heggy’s is created with a lot of necessary patience and care. Candies and chocolates manufactured by Heggy’s are also packed to precision in individual wrappers. This helps retain their delicious flavor and freshness.
No wonder there are many devoted candy lovers in America loyal to Heggy’s. Chocolates and candies are offered today by this brand over the internet expanding its reach. You can choose from the delicious catalog and have the exquisite flavor of Heggy’s delivered right to your doorstep.
Heggy’s chocolates and candies are ideal as gifts for any occasion. Enjoy the unique taste of their milk chocolates or choose from the exciting range of mouth watering dark chocolates. Bite into the delicious milk chocolate crunch and savor the elusive taste of those buttery peanut brittle bits dipped in rich milk chocolate.
Reach out for the maple walnut creams or enjoy the amazing taste of milk chocolate sprinkled with English walnuts with a soft cream center. The popular milk peanut clusters chocolates come with a vanilla cream center covered with chocolate and fresh ground peanut blend.
If you love dark chocolate, choose the dark chocolate crunch, maple walnut creams, dark chocolate peanut clusters, dark chocolate brownie, peppermint and jersey creams, dark chocolate coated caramel or dark chocolate French mint. There is no dearth of choice.
Heggy’s also has on offer a range of rich caramels including the delicious butterscotch, mouthwatering almond and exciting Brazil nut, pecan, walnut and plain vanilla caramel. This is not all. Heggy’s offers a variety of high quality nuts such as the Redskin Peanuts, Spanish Peanuts, whole cashews, natural pistachios, fancy mixed nuts, roasted salted pecans, roasted salted macadamia nuts, smoked almonds and blanched almonds. If you love chocolates, candies and nuts, Heggy’s is an experience not to be missed.
Enjoy the Goodness of Uncle Mike’s Beef Jerky
Uncle Mike's Beef Jerky
Beef jerky is one of the most favorite snack foods. Beef is marinated in a curing solution and dried to lend a unique flavor and extend shelf life. Native Americans used to smoke dry meat in order to preserve it for a long time. And beef jerky meat processing technology finds its roots in this practice.
Uncle Mike’s beef jerky, backed by years of experience, today produces the finest quality beef jerky. If you love this snack, you must have certainly tried this brand. This beef jerky tastes as close to homemade snack as possible.
Beef jerky offered by Uncle Mike’s has the right moisture that enhances the taste. This is why it is so popular all over the world. Originally, the Amish method was used to produce Uncle Mike’s beef jerky. Amish method involves lack of preservatives and hormone free cows.
Uncle Mike’s offers beef jerky in three seasoned favors namely the hot beef jerky, original beef jerky and Teriyaki beef jerky. The main reason for the popularity of Uncle Mike’s beef sticks and beef jerky is due to the great care and attention that goes into the preparation.
Beef jerky is offered by Uncle Mike’s in six mouth watering flavors. A unique feature of this beef jerky is that it tastes firm and is not leathery like other jerky found today. Uncle Mike’s beef jerky provides you with that perfect protein boost and is ideal to be carried on your camping, hiking, fishing or boating trips.
Beef jerky is preferred by health and fitness enthusiasts as it has low fat and high protein content. Meat is cured using salt solution and moisture is reduced to half to make the jerky. Uncle Mike’s beef jerky is perfectly cured and has the right amount of roughness in texture and the exact amount of moisture.
All beef jerky offered by this brand come with a powerful flavor. They are popularly chosen by people who want a low calorie product that is nutritious, high in energy and protein and low in fat and cholesterol.
Try the delicious range of flavored Uncle Mike’s beef jerky. Some of the most popular types of beef jerky offered by this brand include the barbecue style, hot style, mild hickory smoked and teriyaki jerky.
If you have not tried this snack yet, it is time to taste the delicious and tasty Uncle Mike’s beef jerky. Uncle Mike’s makes delicious beef sticks as well.
Uses of Fresh and Healthy Amish Butter Cheese
Amish Butter Cheese
Add Amish butter cheese to any meal or snack and enjoy its creamy richness. This is a unique type of cheese with an exotic butter flavor that melts in your mouth. Made by the Amish, this butter cheese is used by people in many ways.
Amish butter cheese is derived from butterkase, its closest ancestor. Butterkase is a buttery and creamy cheese that originates from Austria and Germany. The cheese is pale yellow in color in spite of the red or golden natural rind. Butterkase is a popular cheese with 50 percent fat content. This cheese is semi-soft in texture.
Amish butter cheese does not come with the rind like butterkase. The pale yellow cheese with its buttery, rich, creamy flavor is obtained from cow’s milk. Good quality Amish butter cheese is made from milk collected from cows that are not on artificial hormones. No artificial ingredients, flavors or preservatives are added to the Amish butter cheese during the preparation process.
Most of the Amish countries including Illinois, Indiana and Ohio are authentic sources of genuine Amish butter cheese. From the Midwest region, this butter cheese is then distributed by vendors to other parts of the nation through retail stores and online.
Bite into a piece of delicious Amish butter cheese and you will find its creamy and smooth flavor mesmerizing. The cheese tastes just like havarti and is popularly used for melting in fondue recipes. Amish butter cheese is enjoyed by many as a snack. If you place an order for burgers or sandwiches in any of the Amish countries, you will find them dripping with the easy to slice, semi-soft Amish butter cheese.
If you are fond of only the best quality cheese, it is important to choose authentic Amish butter. Remember that while most of the products labeled Amish butter cheese are genuine, some of them may just refer to Amish as a method of cheese making. These do not come with the Amish guarantee even though the butter cheese is supposedly made without preservatives and uses the same hormone-free cows. This is because milk is obtained from cows owned by different people and there is no guarantee that all cows are hormone free.
Enjoy the goodness of Amish butter cheese melted, grilled or sliced. If you are a cheese lover, you will certainly enjoy its versatility and smooth flavor. This butter cheese is the perfect choice for snacks and sandwiches.
Havarti Cheese – One of the Best Cheeses from Denmark
Havarti cheese
Ask any cheese lover and he (or she) will tell you how Havarti cheese is one of the best cheeses from Denmark. This is a semi-firm, creamy cheese developed in and named after a farm. Havarti’s mild flavor is similar to the Gouda or Tilsit and it comes with a lot of irregularities and small holes.
Bite onto a cube of Havarti cheese and you will be surprised at the distinctive flavor that packs a subtle punch. You can find this variety of cheese as plain blocks and flavored with cumin, caraway, dill and other spices.
The credit for creating Havarti goes to the wife of a Danish farmer. She developed this cheese at the turn of the twentieth century after exploring the cheese making art, traveling to many parts of the world. Havarti cheese was a result of her experimentations with different cheese making methods.
Just like most cheeses, Havarti making process also starts with curdling of milk by introducing rennet to it. Curds are drained by pressing into cheese molds and the cheese is then aged. Subtle flavor of this cheese comes from the fact that it is washed rind.
Bite into the flexible Havarti cheese and you will also notice a buttery, creamy flavor. Color of this cheese can be anywhere between pale to creamy yellow. You can find a lot of holes on the cube. It is imperative to allow the cheese to age if you want to enjoy its delightfully subtle and acidic flavor.
Havarti pairs excellently with wine and is often served with crackers and fruits. Many use this cheese as a replacement for strong cheeses like Emmental and Gouda in recipes that require mild cheese. You can find Havarti predominantly used on salads, on sandwiches and in fondue. If you are slim and fit and can afford to bite into the full cream, melt-in-the-mouth cheese, you can choose the enriched Havarti cheese version. If you are on a strict diet, you can enjoy the low fat version of this cheese.
If you are planning on using enriched Havarti in any of your recipes, do so sparingly after ensuring that the dish has the capacity to handle the heavy flavor. Havarti cheese is indeed one of the best cheeses from Denmark. It is commonly found in many parts of the world today. Havarti’s low fat version is especially popular as it retains the very flavor, texture and essence of the enriched version. On the cheese and wine platters, you can find the herbed Havarti. If you wish for a pleasant tasting experience, you can pair your wines with enriched Havarti cheese.
Origins of Canadian Cheddar: A Fine Aged Cheddar
Canadian Cheddar: A Fine Aged Cheddar
If you love cheese, you must have tasted the fine aged cheddar. If the cheddar felt stronger and had a sharper flavor, you can be sure it was the Canadian aged cheddar. This vintage cheddar is extremely mature and strong. Special facilities are needed to make this cheese which has to be maintained carefully at a constant temperature.
Fine aged cheddar can be matured for up to 15 months. Canadian cheddar is matured for at least 4 years and come with a pungent, earthy and sharp flavor. This type of cheese comes with a firm texture. Those who enjoy crumbly cheese choose the farmhouse traditional cheddar.
Cheddaring refers to the process where curd is kneaded with salt after heating. It is then drained of the whey, cut into cubes and stacked and turned. Apart from fine aged cheddar, other types of cheddar cheese sold in shops include the orange cheddar, white cheddar and flavorful cheddars such as Horseradish cheddar, garlic cheddar, smoked cheddar, and bacon cheese.
Since the year 1170, cheddar cheese has been in production in England. There is a common belief that the recipe was brought into Britain by the Romans. It was only in the nineteenth century that cheddar cheese was standardized and modernized by Joseph Harding the Somerset dairyman. He is known as the father of Cheddar because he promoted dairy hygiene and used the latest technical developments to make fine cheese. He also propagated modern techniques for making a variety of cheddar cheese including the fine aged cheddar.
It was way back in 1864 that Joseph Harding described fine aged cheddar as mellow in quality and character, yet firm in texture. This cheese comes with a fine and full flavor and practically melts in your mouth.
Canadian fine aged cheese is today paired with wine by connoisseurs. Cheddar pairs well with wines such as Merlot, Syrah and Zinfandel red wines. White wine lovers enjoy their cheddar with Sauvignon Blanc, Pinot Gris and Riesling. If you enjoy sophistication and wish to pair your Canadian fine aged cheese with wine, then you must choose the fine Port, Brandy or Madeira.
Alternately you can also pair your cheddar with Porter, Pale Ale and Stout. Enjoy fine aged cheddar with good Scotch. If you have a delicate palate, you can pair cheddar with cider or fruit beer. The combinations are limited only by your imagination and taste.
What do you think? Let us know your favorite uses or pairings for Canadian Cheddar in the box below.
Chocolate As a Health Food?
In researching the recent fad of chocolate and Wine pairing, we became intrigued by a statement from one of its proponents stating that chocolate is a healthier choice than cheese to pair your favorite wine with. Obviously, we are big defenders of cheese here, but we did discover that chocolate has a lot of impressive health benefits.
Many of us were already aware that dark chocolate contains cancer-fighting anti-oxidants, but did you know that it contains more than red wine, tea, blueberries, or cranberries?
Chocolate is good for your heart too. The phenols in chocolate can help reduce the risk of heart disease and arteriosclerosis (hardening of the arteries). The flavanols in chocolate help the body use nitric oxide, which is essential for healthy blood flow and blood pressure, so chocolate helps reduce high blood pressure as well. A study at the University of California Davis even determined that chocolate causes a reduction in blood platelet activity, which causes blood to clot. So eating chocolate can have an anti-clotting, blood thinning effect similar to low doses of aspirin that are very popular in the medical community these days.
Studies in the past have focused on the health benefits of dark chocolate, but Wheeling Jesuit University determined that consuming milk chocolate can benefit memory, attention span, reaction time, and cognitive problem solving ability. The increased mental performance is associated with theobromine and phenylethylamine, both of which are elements commonly found in Milk chocolate. So chocolate makes you smarter too!
Any chocolate lover knows that it makes you feel good. That may be one more reason many of us are prone to eat too much of it. But there is scientific evidence that eating chocolate stimulates the production of endorphins, which provide a pleasurable sensation similar to the one that runners get after jogging a few miles. (Eat chocolate or run? Hmmm…..) Chocolate even contains the neurotransmitter serotonin, that acts as an anti-depressant. A study in England also concluded that even just the smell of chocolate can lift your spirits. No wonder everyone who works in our store is always so happy!
So eating chocolate fights cancer, prevents heart disease, improves brain function, and makes you happy, and we have not even mentioned all of the vitamins and minerals it contains. But of course there is a caveat: the dreadful word that always pops up whenever we are discussing nutrition or healthy eating, “Moderation.” Consuming an overabundance of chocolate is not good for the waistline, which could defeat the purpose of all of the other health benefits outlined here. Too much sugar can also weaken the immune system and present risks for Diabetes if consumed regularly. So indulge in an amount that fits into a healthy daily calorie intake. Lastly, if you’re going to eat chocolate, make sure you indulge in the best. We recommend Heggys Chocolates.
Troyer’s Trail Bologna: An Amish Country Classic
Troyer’s Trail Bologna
Have you ever heard of Trail Bologna? We used to think everyone had. Passers-through never seemed to be able to get enough of it. But then we realized that it was only available in the local area. We have seen imitations in places like California and New Jersey with clever names like “Ring Bologna.” But this is a perfect example of one of those cases where nothing even comes close to the original: Troyer’s Trail Bologna.
Trail is capitalized because it is named after the tiny town of Trail, Ohio. Trail is so small that it does not even have it’s own zip code. It shares a zip code with the nearby town of Dundee, OH, and population statistics are not even available. Trail was so named because SR 515, the main road through the town, was originally a trail created by American Indians before the European settlers moved to the area. About the only thing in Trail Ohio today is the original production facility where Troyer’s Trail Bologna is made, complete with a general store where enthusiasts can buy all of the products Troyer’s offers, along with other local fare.
Michael Troyer began producing this bologna in 1912. He used a special blend of seasonings and unique wood smoking process to develop this chunky beef bologna with a rich smoky flavor. It was originally hand stuffed into casing and rolled into its hallmark “ring” shape. It is a common misconception that the Original Trail Bologna was made from Venison (deer meat). It is illegal to sell the meat of wild game, so the Original Trail Bologna is all beef. But the facility will process deer brought in by hunters using their unique methods. There is also a rumor that Michael Troyer purchased his recipe for $25 from another family in Trail named Weiss, who had already been producing the now famous bologna for some time. But that has never been confirmed.
Today, Kenny, Kevin, and Darrin Troyer run the facility with the same standard of quality that their great grandfather did nearly one hundred years ago. Of course the facility has evolved. The Trail Bologna is no longer hand stuffed and modern machinery has enabled them to keep up with the ever-increasing demand. The facility now produces an average of 50 tons of Trail Bologna per month, doubling that during the holiday season. But the standard of quality that made Troyer’s Trail Bologna famous has never faltered. All three brothers are still highly involved with the production process. They now offer their Trail Bologna infused with locally made cheddar cheese and hot pepper cheese. They also produce it in sandwich size logs suitable for slicing and enjoying on sandwiches. They even make a Turkey Trail Bologna for their more health conscious customers.
Troyer’s Trail Bologna is best enjoyed with Swiss Cheese, Baby Swiss Cheese, Cheddar Cheese, or Hot Pepper Cheese for those with a more daring palate. Local and tourist taste buds are intimately familiar with the unique flavor of Troyer’s Trail Bologna. Locals who move out of state often complain that they cannot find it anywhere else. It can be very difficult to find outside of the state of Ohio. Fortunately however, for those who are web-savvy, one local merchant is offering it nationwide over the internet at https://cheesehouse.com/troyers-trail-bologna.aspx
Enjoy the smoky flavor of Troyer’s Trail Bologna, an Ohio Amish Country original!
