Category: Uncategorized
Kiflis: An Eastern European Holiday Staple
Last week we posted some pictures of some AMAZING Hungarian Cookies that have been a huge hit. Both the online response and in store sales have been overwhelming. So, we wanted to take a few minutes to give you a little info on the history of these cookies and the bakery that makes them!
Featured Product: Heggy’s Fresh Roasted Nuts
Now, if you’ve never had Heggy’s Nuts – you might be thinking…”If I’ve tried one nut, I’ve tried them all.”
If you have experienced these freshly roasted, perfectly salted, phenomenal nuts, you’ll agree with me when I say, “They raise the snack bar pretty darn high!”
National Pizza Month
October is National Pizza Month!!! I mean, let’s be honest, every month is a cause to celebrate this favorite Italian inspired dish. But, in 1984, Gerry Durnell designated this month a 31-day celebration of everyone’s favorite food and, in 1987, the U.S. Congress made it official.
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…
Charcuterie and Snack Inspiration
Always looking for inspiration, we have been eyeing the Instagram accounts of some very creative charcuterie artists. We can see some of our products working themselves into these beautiful presentations quite nicely!
5 Ways to Beat the January Blues
We know that this time of year can be a little deflating, especially after the bright fun of the holidays. That’s why we’ve put together a list of things to might help you to beat those January blues.
- Take time to get outside
A bit of fresh air can do you an absolute world of good. Take a hike or even just head to your local park. After the indulgences of Christmas, it is super refreshing to get outside. Not only that but being in a green space can help you to reach a positive mental state. Perhaps you could get the whole family involved and head out on a nature trail or wrap up warm for a winter picnic.
2. Cook your favorite foods
When the weather is cold and you’re stuck inside, it’s the perfect time to be stirring at the stove or popping something delicious in the oven. Whether it’s baking something sweet or creating a new savory something to share with friends, it’s definitely one way to beat the January blues. If you’re cooking up a storm you could even invite friends and family to enjoy your efforts. A table brimming with food surrounded by your loved ones is usually a good antidote to any problem. Of course, our favorite foods usually involve cheese!
3. Dance it out!
After all the Christmas songs in December, you might have forgotten to listen to your favorite music. Find a playlist that you love, crank up the volume and have a good dance to get all that tension out. Even better, head to a local dance class. Whether it’s some street dance or a bit of ballroom with someone you love, all that movement is sure to banish any winter blues.
4. Don’t give yourself unrealistic expectations
The New Year can be a time that makes you feel like you need to set huge goals or create resolutions that change your whole lifestyle. For lots of us, this can be more stressful than calming. Why not give yourself a break and set yourself some realistic goals that won’t push you to feel under pressure. One simple change, or something you would like to achieve this year, is enough!
5. Plan a holiday
We all need a break now and then and now might be the perfect time for you to plan one. It doesn’t have to be far away or overseas, a local break can be just as refreshing as a holiday on the beach. If that’s not possible right now, why not spend a day as a tourist in your local area? See the sights, eat some delicious food, even treat yourself to a hotel stay and get some proper rest. If it’s the cold winter that is getting you down, then planning for a summer holiday might be the perfect thing to look forward to. Put a countdown in your calendar so that you can enjoy the run up!
How do you like to beat the January blues? Let us know in the comments!
Discover Our Amazing Gift Boxes
Did you know that we have such a huge range of gift boxes? Read on to find out what’s in each one.
Gift Box #1: Baby Swiss Cheese
Having the whole family around during the holiday season? Grab this gift box that contains a whole 4Lb. Baby Swiss Cheese Wheel. Our Baby Swiss is made in Charm Ohio, by the original producer Guggisberg Cheese. It is a young, semi-soft whole milk cheese with small holes and a mild flavor. It also comes with chocolates for those with a sweet tooth!
Gift Box #2: Troyer’s Trail Bologna and Cheese
In this gift box, you’ll receive a 1Lb. Troyer’s Trail Bologna Ring. This is a chunky, all-beef bologna with a smoky taste, created by the fourth generation of the Troyer family. You’ll also find a 3/4Lb. wheel of Farmer’s cheese and a 3/4Lb. wheel of Colby cheese. Farmer’s Cheese is a mild, unripened white cheese made by adding rennet to cow’s milk. It’s a firm and crumbly cheese; the perfect accompaniment to smoked meats. The Colby cheese provides a lovely contrast, as it is a semi-hard cow’s milk cheese with a mild and creamy taste. We always pop in some assorted chocolates for those after-dinner cravings.
As the name suggests, this really is a cheesy box! You’ll receive a 3/4Lb. wheel each of Cheddar, Cojack (Marble), Farmer’s Cheese and Pepper Jack. Marble Cheese is made from both Colby and Monterey Jack cheese, which is why it is sometimes called “Cojack”. Pepper Jack is a cow’s milk cheese that has been given a spicy intensity through the use of jalapeno, serrano, and habanero peppers. Along with the classics Cheddar and Farmer’s Cheese, you’re sure to have the best cheese board in the neighborhood.
Gift Box #4: Amish Cheese and Goodies
This is the perfect box for a party, or to give to someone who really deserves a treat during this season. Inside you will find a 1Lb. Baby Swiss Cheese Wheel, 1 Summer Sausage Link, a 3/4Lb. wheel each of Colby and Pepper Jack cheese, Shisler’s Private Label Mustard, Home Style Amish Jam, Carr’s Crackers, Assorted Chocolates, and 6oz. of REACH Coffee.
Gift Box #5: Baby Swiss Cheese and Troyer’s Trail Bologna
A classic Amish Country combination. This box contains a 4Lb. Baby Swiss Cheese Wheel, a large Troyer’s Trail Bologna Ring, Shisler’s Private Label Mustard, Carr’s Crackers, Assorted Chocolates and 6oz. of REACH coffee.
REACH coffee is a specialty grade coffee from the region of Chanchamayo, Peru, which is then roasted in Cleveland, Ohio. Perfect for those after dinner pick-me-ups.
Gift Box #6: Amish Country Sampler Gift Box
This box is the King of gift boxes. You’ll need help to carry this one! It contains a Large Troyer’s Trail Bologna Ring, a box of Heggy’s Chocolates, Home Style Amish Jam, Shisler’s Private Label Hot Jalapeno Mustard, a 3/4Lb. wheel each of Cheddar, Cojack (Marble), Farmer’s Cheese and Pepper Jack, a Baby Swiss Cheese Wedge, a Summer Sausage Link, Townhouse Crackers and 6oz. of REACH Coffee.
Which one of these would you love to open? Let us know in the comments!
Thanksgiving Checklist: Everything You Need to Prepare
We know that it’s a busy time of year, so we’ve put together a checklist to help you prepare for the festivities next week.
1. The Turkey
Many tables around the country will hold a turkey next Thursday. Now is also the time to make sure that you have a big enough dish to cook your turkey in. If you’re brining your turkey, then check that you have a large receptacle to keep it in. You’ll want to start this process up to 24 hours before you are ready to roast.
2. A Vegetarian Option
If you have guests that don’t eat meat attending your dinner then you will need to prepare a vegetarian main. There are so many recipes out there these days, so have a quick search online. If you’re unsure what to serve, you could even ask your guests for ideas so that you know you’re serving something appropriate.
3. The Sides
You’ll know which sides are family favorites! Make sure that you have all the vegetables in advance. You can also start prepping and storing them ahead of time so that everything is simple on the day. If you have family coming to stay with you, why not make an evening of doing the prep the night before over a drink? If you are making the stuffing, stock up on ingredients and dry out your bread.
4. The Sauces
Cranberry sauce and gravy are absolute essentials, but they can both be made ahead of time and stored. You can even freeze gravy!
5. Dessert
Whether you’re buying your desserts or making them, no Thanksgiving meal is complete without a sweet treat. If you need to order them then now is the time to make those last minute orders.
6. Drinks
Make sure that you have stocked up on a range of wines and beers as well as non-alcoholic options for little ones and those who don’t drink. Put anything that needs to be chilled into the refrigerator ahead of time.
7. Snacks
For those moments when you get last-minute guests or you all need a snack as you settle down in front of the TV. Make this even easier by picking up our Thanksgiving Menu Collection. It includes Troyer’s Trail Bologna Ring, Cheddar Cheese, Cranberry Delight Mix, Shisler’s Private Label Apple Butter, Pumpkin Muffin Mix, and Uncle Ozgood’s Popcorn on the Cob. It’ll tick this straight off your Thanksgiving checklist without any stress at all.
8. Table settings
Whether you prefer a minimalist or plentiful style, it makes the day seem like an occasion if you set the table beautifully. Use your best dishes and flatware, light candles and create a centerpiece that will welcome your guests.
9. Prepare for house guests
If you are having house guests, prepare for their arrival. Make sure the beds have clean linens and that you’ve collected together any supplies that will be needed. Providing the WiFi password written down somewhere will stop people from asking you for it when you are preparing dinner, although you might want to take the opposite approach and ask people to put their phones away at the door!
10. Prepare for leftovers
Make sure that you have bread in the house for turkey sandwiches! Collect some boxes ready for guests to take away leftover treats to enjoy in the days after Thanksgiving.
We hope this helps you to prepare for a wonderful Thanksgiving!
Cheese Glossary: The Letter P
Today we are continuing with our cheese glossary! Ever wondered what cheese that starts with a p? Learn now!
Parmesan
Parmesan Cheese is a hard, dry cheese, which has a complex, sharp, nutty flavor and a somewhat grainy texture. It is made from unpasteurized cow’s milk. Starter whey, containing thermophilic lactic acid bacteria, and rennet is added to separate the curds. These are then compacted and placed into molds. The wheels are placed into brine baths for up to 25 days where they absorb the salt. After brining, each cheese is aged for 12 months.
Parmigiano Reggiano
Parmigiano Reggiano cheese gets its name from the Italian regions of production: Parma, Reggio Emilia, Modena, Bologna, and Mantova. It originated in the Middle Ages, at least 700 years ago. It was first made by monks in Reggio Emilia, with production spreading to the Parma and Modena regions. With the exception of new production equipment and technology, the basic process to make the cheese has changed very little in the hundreds of years since.
A Parmesan Consortium was created in 1934 which regulates the production of authentic Parmesan Cheese and inspects all of the cheese produced by nearly 800 cheese producers. Parmigiano Reggiano is a Protected Designation of Origin (PDO) cheese in the European Union, which legally requires the cheese to be produced in certain regions of northern Italy in order to be labeled as Parmigiano Reggiano. Outside of Europe, the phrase “Parmesan Cheese” may be used to refer to any hard grating cheese.
Pasteurization
A process of treating food or drinks with mild heat to extend their shelf life.
Penicillium
A group of molds is used in various processes including food production.
Penicillium Camemberti
A white mold that is used to make Camembert, Brie, Langres, Coulommiers, and Cambozola cheeses.
Penicillium Glaucum
A mold that is used to make cheeses including Gorgonzola.
Penicillium Roqueforti
A mold used in the production of Roquefort, Gorgonzola, Stilton, and Danish Blue.
Pressed
A cheese there the curd is placed in a mold and pressed to form the shape of the finished cheese.
Provolone
Provolone Cheese, like mozzarella, is a pulled or stretched curd cheese with two varieties. Dolce (mild Provolone) is aged for just two to three months. It is a semi-soft, mild, smooth table cheese. Piccante is aged for six to twelve months and has a much stronger flavor.
The term Provolone (meaning large provola) appeared around the end of the 19th century when it started to be manufactured in the southern regions of Italy. Modern Provolone has smooth skin and is produced mainly in the regions of Lombardia and Veneto. It is produced in different shapes. Some are like a very large sausage which may be up to 30 cm (1 ft) in diameter and 90 cm (3 ft) long, whilst others come in a truncated bottle shape or a large pear shape which has a characteristic round knob for hanging.
Provolone cheese can be made with buffalo or cow’s milk, or a mixture of the two. Once the curds and whey have been separated, the curd is kneaded and stretched while still hot. The cheese is bathed in brine before a wax or plastic rind is added to the outside. It is tied up with rope and hung in the aging cellar.
Proteolysis
This is the process of casein protein breaking down into other compounds including peptides and amino acids, that give cheese flavor.
Pungent
This describes a particularly sharp aroma of cheese.
Cheese Glossary: The Letter M
Another letter for our cheese glossary today!
Manchego
Manchego is a sheep’s milk cheese from Spain. The shape of Manchego cheese is very characteristic and defined. It has an intense taste and crumbly texture which makes it perfect for eating alone. It has a rich golden color and small holes. It is traditionally made with grass molds so it has a very distinctive zigzag pattern on the cheese. It appears as a herringbone pattern n the rind, which is inedible.
The rich, semi-firm product is aged in natural caves for two to six months, giving it a zest and exuberant flavor. It is always aged for a minimum of two months. There are significant changes in the flavor over time and sometimes in Spain, you will see it served in a variety of ages.
Manchego cheese is made in the La Mancha region of Spain. It has a long historical and literary tradition, as it was mentioned by Cervantes in the legendary “Don Quixote of La Mancha”.
It is made from the whole milk of the Manchega sheep, which are only bred in the La Mancha region. Archaeological remains show that a cheese like Manchego may have been made as far back as the Bronze Age.
Marbled
Marbled cheese is usually a blend of Monterey Jack and Colby cheese, marbled together to create a striking effect. Monterey Jack is a buttery, semi-firm cheese that originated in California. It is usually only aged for around a month, making it a fresh, fairly soft cheese to enjoy.
Medium-aged
A semi-hard or hard cheese that has usually been aged for three to six months.
Mozzarella
Mozzarella is a semi-soft cheese. Due to its high moisture content, it is traditionally served the day after it is made, but can be kept in brine for up to a week or longer when sold in vacuum-sealed packages.
Derived from the Neapolitan dialect spoken in Campania, mozzarella is the diminutive form of mozza (“cut”) or mozzare (“to cut off”) derived from the method of working. The term is first mentioned in 1570, cited in a cookbook by Bartolomeo Scappi, reading “milk cream, fresh butter, ricotta cheese, fresh Mozzarella, and milk”.
Citric acid and milk are combined and then heated until the mixture is ready to have rennet added. At this point, the curds and whey will have separated and the curds will be cut. They are the removed, stretched and kneaded until they become the cheese that we recognize.
Muenster
Muenster cheese is a mild, white cheese with a reddish-orange rind made from paprika. This can be eaten but is often cut off. It is semi-firm in texture with a mild smell that stronger as it ages. Muenster cheese is currently made in Germany, France, and the United States. It was originally made by Benedictine monks that migrated to the Alsace region of France. The cheese was created to save milk and feed numerous people. The original name “munster” comes from the word monastery. Authentic French Muenster cheese is made from the milk of cows that graze in the Vosges mountains of eastern France. Today, farmers still use traditional methods of cheese-making.
Are you enjoying learning about cheese? Let us know in the comments!