Search Results for: chocolate
Butterscotch Caramels: Baking Ideas
Today we’ve put together a selection of brilliant baking ideas for you to try out with Heggy’s Butterscotch Caramels.
Butterscotch Caramels: Cookies
We like to make a simple oatmeal cookie dough and then pop a butterscotch caramel in the middle of each cookie before they go into the oven. This allows the caramels to melt and create an incredible flavor along with a chewy texture that it sure to have you going back for more. You can even add broken up pretzel pieces for extra crunch and a fabulous sweet and salty contrast.
If you want to make something really visually impressive, make a simple cookie dough and cut out your chosen shape. Place the cookies on baking paper and cut out a shape from the middle of the cookie. Put a caramel in the hole and bake the cookies. The caramel will melt and create a window!
Butterscotch Caramels: Blondies
You might love brownies, but do you ever make blondies? Blondies have less cocoa than a brownie and instead focus on brown sugar to create a fudgey baked treat. We like to push butterscotch caramels into the pan before baking so that they create pockets of caramel for you to find in the blondies.
Butterscotch Caramels as a sauce
Melting down butterscotch caramels is a quick and easy way to make a delicious butterscotch sauce when you don’t have time to make one from scratch. This is a great way to create a quick and simple dessert. Simply drizzle over ice cream, fresh fruit, or even cake for a perfect caramel finish.
Of course, you can still always enjoy your butterscotch caramels straight from the wrapper. We certainly won’t judge you for it; they are delicious! How do you like to eat them? Let us know in the comments!
Happy St Patrick’s Day!
On Sunday 17th March, people around the world will celebrate St Patrick’s Day. Today we thought we would tell you a little more about the history and traditions of the day.
What is St Patrick’s Day?
It is a cultural and religious celebration held on the death day of St Patrick, the patron saint of Ireland.
Who was St Patrick?
He was born in Roman Britain in the late 4th century and kidnapped at the age of 16 when he was taken to Ireland as a slave. He escaped but later in order to convert the Irish to Christianity. By the time of his death on March 17, 461 AD, he had established monasteries, churches, and schools across the country. He also wrote that he “baptized thousands of people”.
There are many legends surrounding St Patrick. Probably one of the most famous is his use of the shamrock to illustrate the Christian teaching of three persons in one God. The shamrock subsequently became a symbol for St Patrick’s Day and for Ireland as a whole.
Another legend tells that he banished all of the snakes from Ireland, after they tried to attack him as he undertook a 40-day fast on top of a hill. Some say that the snakes are a metaphor for the druids, who St Patrick drove out by teaching Christianity.
How is St Patrick’s Day celebrated?
It is officially a public holiday in Ireland. Historically, the Lenten restrictions on food and alcohol were lifted for St Patrick’s Day, making it a time of celebration. That has continued today with drinking and revelry forming part of the celebrations in many different areas around the world. There are often parades and festivals with traditional Irish music and many people will wear green or adorn themselves with a shamrock.
The custom of ‘drowning the shamrock’ was popular in the past, with a shamrock being placed in a glass and covered with whiskey, beer or cider. The shamrock was then either drunk with the rest of the drink or tossed over the shoulder for good luck.
In England, the British Royals traditionally present bowls of shamrock to members of the Irish Guards, a regiment in the British Army. This is currently done by the Duchess of Cambridge. The city of Liverpool has the highest proportion of residents with Irish ancestry in England and they celebrate with a parade as well as musical and cultural events.
Around the world, parades are held in Moscow, Sarajevo, and Tokyo, amongst other cities. The Caribbean island of Montserrat and the Canadian province of Newfoundland & Labrador both join Ireland in taking a public holiday.
Are there traditional foods to eat?
Soda bread, a yeast-free bread that is very simple to make, is a traditional Irish food and is a good accompaniment to a main meal of roast lamb and potatoes. You could also enjoy a traditional Irish stew. For dessert, baking with chocolate and Guinness is a fun way to celebrate Irish flavors.
We hope you’ve enjoyed our exploration of St Patrick’s Day. How will you be celebrating? Let us know in the comments!
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!
Foods To Try If You’re Going Sugar Free
We know that more and more people are trying to cut sugar out of their diet. You might have some health concerns and be trying to combat them with a low sugar diet. You might simply want to explore alternatives. Today we’re going to share with you some of our products which can help you to reduce sugar cravings whilst still enjoying balanced, healthy meals.
The first thing we would recommend is going to our Skinny Alternatives section. Here, you’ll find healthy cheeses, sugar-free chocolates, calorie-free dressings and a wide range of snacks.
Sugar Free Chocolate
We stock a wide range of sugar free chocolates including the Cashew Praline, Mint Meltaway, and Peanut Clusters. All of these deliver great taste and texture without the sugar so that you can enjoy a treat without worrying about your health.
Walden Farms: Sugar Free Syrups and Dips
We’re proud to stock Walden Farms products here at Shisler’s Cheese House. We stock their syrup in Blueberry, Chocolate, and Strawberry, as well as their pancake syrup. You can enjoy delicious syrup with no calories, fat, carbs, gluten or sugars of any kind. They are made with concentrated fruit extract and natural flavor. Enjoy them in a glass of milk, over ice cream, with fresh fruit or in a smoothie. Make yourself some easy sugar free pancakes and drizzle them with pancake syrup for an amazing healthy breakfast or dessert.
Our favorite sugar free batter recipe is to mix:
2 mashed bananas
2 eggs
1/2 cup wholewheat flour
1/4 cup milk
1/2 tsp baking soda
1/4 tsp salt
Once you have a nice smooth batter, simply drop spoonfuls into a hot pan and then flip when you start to see air bubbles appearing. They’re quick and delicious!
Walden Farms also make calorie free dips in both chocolate and caramel flavor. The chocolate dip is made with premium natural cocoa beans, real chocolate, and other natural flavors, while the natural caramel flavor is great with slices of apple or pear.
As if that wasn’t enough, there is also a calorie free marshmallow dip! It is made with all natural vanilla flavor and is delicious with your favorite fruits, in a parfait, a smoothie, with yogurt, or as a topping on pudding or Jell-O. You’ll be spoilt for choice!
Walden Farms Calorie Free Salad Dressings
We’re also lucky enough to have a whole range of calorie free salad dressings, so you can avoid the hidden sugar that pops up even in savory dishes. Choose from a wide range of flavors including Ranch, Italian Sun Dried Tomato, and Honey Dijon. Just like the syrups, they have no calories, fat, carbs, gluten or sugars of any kind.
Try them drizzled over salads, as flavor in your sandwiches or as a marinade for grilled meats, fish or vegetables.
We hope you’ve enjoyed our exploration of our sugar free range. Hopefully, you found something to try this week. What are your favorite ways to reduce the sugar in your diet? Let us know in the comments below!
Happy Valentine’s Day!
We wanted to wish all of our customers a very Happy Valentine’s Day!
Whether you’re celebrating love this week or taking some time to celebrate yourself, we wanted to share some ideas for making the day extra special.
We’ve created two fabulous gift boxes that are sure to hit the right note on February 14th.
Our Valentine’s Day All Chocolate Gift Box is perfect for those with a sweet tooth. Inside you’ll find a Heggy’s Solid Milk Chocolate Heart, Chocolate Cheese, Heggy’s Milk Chocolate Turtles, and two kinds of chocolate covered fruit!
With this much chocolate packed in, your loved ones will be thinking of you for a long time.
Our Valentine’s Day Gift Box combines some of our favorite treats. Inside you’ll find Havarti Cheese, a Heggy’s Milk Chocolate Heart, Strawberry Cheesecake Swirl Fudge, Strawberry Caramel Creams and Yogurt Covered Cranberries.
This is the ideal gift if you’re preparing a special dinner and want to have cheese and sweet treats to complete the evening.
If these selections aren’t quite right for your loved ones, check out our huge range of gift boxes. You’re sure to find something that will help you demonstrate your love.
Now all that’s left to do is plan the perfect date night. Here are some ideas that we love!
1. Movie night
Whether you head out to the cinema or stay in with lots of blankets curled up on the sofa, watching a movie together is always fun. Choose a classic that you’ve seen before so that you two can reminisce about your first dates and make sure that you’ve got plenty of popcorn!
2. Hiking
Grab some trail mix and head out for a hike. This is a great way to get to know your partner better, as you support each other to get to your destination. Take along a picnic for an even more romantic day.
3. Take a brewery or winery tour
This is a super fun way to spend an evening. Find a local brewery or winery that holds tours and head along. You’ll learn something new about how your favorite tipple is made and you might even get to try some samples along the way!
4. Take a cooking class
Instead of putting the pressure on one person to cook a stunning meal this Valentine’s Day, or booking a busy restaurant, why not head to a cooking class? You’ll be sure to have fun goofing around and you should get a great meal out of it at the end. If it’s a disaster, you can always grab a takeaway and file it away in your funny stories to tell the kids.
5. Go to a spa
The ultimate in relaxing dates, if you are both in need of some time out then book into a spa. Whether you try out the treatments on offer or simply sip champagne in the hot tub is up to you, but it’s always good to find time to relax.
However you are spending your Valentine’s Day, we hope that it is one filled with love!
Try a New Tea In Our New Mug
To celebrate the release of our new mug, we wanted to give you a list of tea to try that you might enjoy drinking from it!
Black teas
When you think of tea, you are probably thinking of a cup of English Breakfast. This is a black tea, which means that the leaves have been oxidised resulting in a dark color and a stronger flavor.
Did you know that black, green and white tea all come from the same plant, the Camellia sinensis? How the leaves are treated creates the different colors and flavors of the tea. There are also some variations based on the climate and soil in which the tea is grown.
Black teas include Assam, the most widely produced variety, Darjeeling, and Ceylon. Darjeeling has a very mild, fruity flavor and is grown in India. Ceylon, grown in Sri Lanka, is also light and will vary in flavor depending on the altitude at which it is grown.
Some black teas, such as chai and Earl Grey, have flavors added to them. Chai includes spices such as cardamom and cinnamon, whilst Earl Grey has bergamot oil which imparts a citrus taste.
Green teas
These leaves do not undergo the same drying and oxidization as black tea, leaving them fresh and green. It is sometimes slightly bitter in flavor.
To brew excellent green tea, the water should be left to come off the boil to avoid scalding the leaves. Sencha has the whole leaves, whilst matcha has been powered to produce a different effect. Again, some green teas have flavors added to them.
White teas
The lightest of the drinks from the Camellia sinensis, white tea features young, minimally processed leaves. They are often simply left to wilt in the sun and are not rolled or oxidized. The resulting drink is extremely light and delicate, with a natural sweetness.
Herbal teas
There are now herbal drinks in every flavor you can think of. Some have health benefits from their active ingredients, whilst others will simply offer a fruity alternative to your usual drink. These are particularly good options if you are trying to cut down on your caffeine intake, as many of them will be naturally caffeine free.
Hot chocolate
Of course, some of you might not be tea lovers. For you, we recommend checking out our top tips for making a great hot chocolate. Whether it’s choosing great toppings or adding a little extra flavor, we’ve got all the ideas you need to make a cozy evening at home even better.
We hope you’ve enjoyed our quick foray into different types of tea. Rest assured, if coffee is more your thing then that’s great too! We even stock the delicious REACH coffee right here in the store. Our mug is designed to show your pride in shopping here at Shisler’s Cheese House and even comes with some Heggy’s Chocolates for you to enjoy as you sip on your latest teas.
What’s your favorite tea? Let us know in the comments!
Last Minute Christmas Gifts: Ideas to Save the Day!
We know that it’s a busy time of year for all of you, so we have put together a list of last minute Christmas gifts that could help you save time and get everything under the tree before the big day!
Last Minute Christmas Gifts: Gift Certificates
This is the perfect gift for someone you are struggling to buy for. Our gift certificates are valid for one year and can be used all at once or in multiple transactions. They can spend it on their favorite cheeses and treats. You’ll be provided with a code immediately after checkout, so this is a great last minute Christmas gift if you’ve left it until Christmas Eve! You could even email the code over if it is for someone that you won’t actually be seeing over the holidays.
There are also lots of other websites that provide gift certificates via email should you need something quick and easy to give. Choose different stores for different members of your family and no-one needs to know that it was a rush to buy them!
Last Minute Christmas Gifts: Hampers
We have an incredible selection of gift boxes and have added some extra special new ones this year so that you can really show your love and appreciation during the holidays. Treat someone really special to the Deluxe Gift Box, which includes cheeses, chocolates, snacks, and even a Shisler’s Cheese House t-shirt!
For wine lovers, take home our Red Wine or White Wine Collection. These specially selected boxes of cheese have been chosen to complement the flavors of the wine. They will make for a fun addition to any holiday parties and will certainly make any cheese-loving friends happy too.
We can even help you to put together a hamper of specially chosen gifts if you have more time and want to select items that you know your friends and family will love. You could even pick up some treats from us and combine them with other gift items such as cosmetics to create a unique gift.
Last Minute Christmas Gifts: Chocolate!
You really cannot go wrong with the gift of chocolate over the holidays. Whether it’s Heggy’s Milk Chocolate Turtles for the kids or Brazilian Chocolate Truffles for the grown-ups, you’ll find something for everyone on your list. We like to keep a few boxes of chocolates on hand for those unexpected guests so that you’re never caught without a gift to reciprocate with.
Unless you are buying a gift certificate, you will need to pop into our store in person to secure these last minute gifts. We’ll be happy to help you pick out everything that you need and you’ll be able to complete your Christmas shopping in no time.
We hope that this list has helped you to approach those last minute Christmas gifts without any stress. Pop in to see us at Shisler’s Cheese House today and find everything you need.
Have you done all of your Christmas shopping? Let us know in the comments!
Christmas Wines: How to Choose a Great Selection
With Christmas fast approaching, we have put together a great selection of Christmas wines for you to serve over the festive period.
Christmas wines with turkey
If you’re serving a traditional turkey and all the trimmings this year, then you’ll want a wine that complements each of the flavors without being overpowering. Luckily, turkey is versatile enough that you can serve a variety of wines with it depending on your personal tastes. A full-bodied, oaky white wine such as a Chardonnay or a White Burgundy can be a good choice. For red wine, a Beaujolais or a Pinot Noir is a great choice. You’re looking for something that doesn’t have too much tannin, but that has a little acidity to cut through the richness of the meal.
Christmas wines with dessert
Whatever you choose to eat for dessert over the holidays, you’ll need a wine that can stand up to sweetness in abundance. Try a Muscat for lighter, fruity desserts or a Sauternes for richer flavors including chocolate. A port is a great after-dinner wine and excellent if you are serving a cheeseboard instead of a sweet dessert.
Sparkling Christmas wines
For some, it really isn’t Christmas until you’ve heard the pop of a cork and the sparkle of fizz in your glass. Whilst champagne might be the first option that comes to mind, there are lots of wines to explore if you are looking for some fizz for your Christmas table. If you want to splash out, then you could go ahead and pick up a French champagne, but you can also find fantastic Blanc de Blancs made right here in the United States. If you prefer something a little sweeter, try Prosecco, which has the added benefit of being more budget friendly.
Serving at the right temperature
One of the best ways to ensure that all of your wine pairings work well is to make sure that you serve the wines at the correct temperature. Light red wines such as those above should be served at room temperature, whilst a full-bodied white wine only needs chilling for 1 – 2 hours before serving. Sparkling wines can be served slightly cooler.
Remember that your Christmas table is a celebration of everything you love, so choose wines that you know that you will enjoy. If you can, ask to try them in store before you buy. There’s no need to splash out on something that you’re not sure about just because it’s Christmas if there is a wine that you always love to serve.
Which Christmas wines do you love? Let us know in the comments!
Christmas Gifts from Shisler’s Cheese House!
We love to help you celebrate Christmas here at Shisler’s Cheese House! We’ve got some great gifts this year to help you show your loved ones how much you care.
Earlier this week, we shared our new Deluxe Gift Box, which has everything you could wish for over the holiday season.
If you need a small gift or something to keep in stock for those unexpected guests that drop in, then our Gift Mug with Heggy’s Chocolate is a great choice. We absolutely love these chocolates as they are simply the highest quality. They’re inside a mug that will remind you of us when you’re sipping your morning coffee.
For those who are difficult to buy for, we created the Cheez-E-Gift Certificate. You’ll be provided with a code immediately after checkout, so they’re perfect for last minute gifts or those moments where you didn’t realize you would have guests! They can also be mailed to you if you would prefer to have something physical to give to your loved ones in person. Gift certificates can be spent across our full range in multiple transactions so that the recipient can enjoy a year’s worth of trying different cheeses or splurge in one go on all their favorite chocolates and gourmet snacks.
Our full range of gift boxes offers everything from a selection of cheeses to a box for those who love chilies and spice. There’s something for your sweet-toothed friend and your uncle who loves Scotch. Check out the full range and get shopping today!
Please do check our shipping policy to make sure that any order will be shipped to you in time for Christmas and avoid any disappointment. Remember, you can always visit us in store for help and advice with your gift shopping in the run up to the holidays.
Introducing our new Deluxe Gift Box!
We’re super excited to share our new Deluxe Gift Box with you today here at Shisler’s Cheese House.
It contains more of our favorite Amish products than ever:
- Troyer’s Trail Bologna Ring 1 Lb.
- Shisler’s Gift Mug with 1/2 Pound of Heggy’s Chocolates
- Shisler’s Private Label Apple Butter
- Shisler’s Private Label Hot Mustard
- Wheel of Colby 3/4 Lb.
- Wheel of Cojack (Marble) 3/4 Lb.
- Block of Swiss Cheese
- Baby Swiss Cheese Wedge
- Summer Sausage Link
- Crackers
- Muffin mix
- Shisler’s Cheese House T-Shirt
The Troyer’s Trail Bologna Ring is a chunky, all-beef bologna with a smoky taste, created by the fourth generation of the Troyer family.
Our gift mug is a new edition to the range so that lovers of Shisler’s Cheese House can share their pride as they drink their morning coffee. We’ve filled it with 1/2 a pound of Heggy’s Chocolates. We are super proud to include Heggy’s Chocolates in our boxes. They match our tradition of excellence in hand-crafted chocolates.
Shisler’s Private Label Apple Butter is made from the best locally grown Apples and locally produced Amish Butter, perfect for spreading on toast or stirring into your recipes. We also love our Private Label Mustard, which can be used as a dipping mustard or spread into sandwiches.
Colby cheese is a semi-hard cow’s milk cheese native to the United States. It is very mild and creamy. It goes through a washed-curd process, rather than a traditional Cheddar process, making it slightly softer. It is an excellent table cheese and works well in salads because of its mild taste.
Cojack cheese is a blend of Monterey Jack and Colby cheese, marbled together to create a striking effect. Monterey Jack is a buttery, semi-firm cheese which originated in California. It is usually only aged for around a month, making it a fresh, fairly soft cheese to enjoy.
Swiss Cheese is a holey, semi-hard cheese with a creamy color. It has a nutty, slightly piquant flavor whilst simultaneously being somewhat creamy. It’s delicious in a sandwich or served cut into cubes alongside salads and hams. It works well with most meats and is particularly good with a beef burger.
You’ll also get a wedge of Baby Swiss Cheese, which substitutes water for the milk’s whey to slow the bacterial action. This creates smaller holes and a milder flavor. With all of this cheese, we’ve given you crackers so that you have something to enjoy it with!
Summer Sausage can be kept without refrigeration, which is how it gained its name. Ours is smoked, rather than dried, with a tangy taste. It’s certainly too good to be kept for only the Summer season.
We know this is going to make an amazing gift for some of your loved ones during the holiday season. Snap one up today!
