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How to Taste Wine
If you love drinking wine, then you may have wondered how to taste wine properly can truly elevate your experience.
How to Taste Wine: Environment
One of the most important things is to create the right environment. Odors such as cooking smells, pets, or perfume will affect the wine’s aroma. Using the wrong glass or serving wine at the incorrect temperature can even affect the wine’s flavor.
Try to move away from anyone wearing strong perfume. It is possible to condition your glass by swilling some wine and pouring it out. Wait for your wine to be the right temperature before serving and eat neutral foods to cleanse your palate.
How to Taste Wine: Look
The first part of tasting wine is to look at it.
Start by observing the color, holding it to the light and noticing the clarity of the wine. Then you swirl your glass, which will increase the surface area of the wine and allow oxygen in. This helps to open up the aromas.
If you notice particularly cloudy wine, you may want to check if it smells bad, as this may be a sign that it is past its best.
Look at the legs of the wine. These are the drips of wine that run down the inside of the glass. If the legs are thick and slow moving this indicates higher alcohol and sugar content, which will usually have a fuller mouthfeel. If you see thinner legs, then this will usually be a lighter wine.
How to Taste Wine: Smell
Sniff the wine several times and then concentrate on all the aromas that you are experiencing. If there is a dusty, leathery, or vinegar smell, then the wine may be past its best. You may recognize floral, fruity, herby, spicy or mineral scents. These come from the grapes themselves.
There are also secondary aromas, which come from the winemaking process. These include smells of cheese rind, nuts or beer, as they usually come from the yeast. Tertiary aromas come from the aging process and might include a scent of toast, smoke or vanilla.
The Final Essential Element: Taste
After observing and smelling, you get to taste the wine! Take a sip and roll it around in your mouth to see what you can taste.
You may notice that different flavors occur during the beginning, middle and end of your drinking experience. You might also notice the texture of the wine. Some will be thin and almost watery, but wines increase in richness as they increase in alcohol.
When you take a second sip of wine, try to draw some air into your mouth, then breath out of your nose. This process will aerate the wine slightly and help you to identify more of the flavors.
We hope you’ve enjoyed our wine tasting tips. Remember that the most important thing is to enjoy your wine and have fun with it. If you want to try tasting different wines with different cheeses, why not pick up our White Wine Collection or Red Wine Collection?
Get Ready with our Football Season Snacks
With the NFL Season fast approaching, we thought it was time to share with you our Football Season Special. It’s full of football season snacks for you.
Inside you’ll find some Swiss Cheese, Troyer’s Trail Bologna, Pepper Jack Cheese, Shisler’s Private Label Mustard, Shisler’s Private Label Hot Pepper Relish, and Carr’s Crackers. We think this is a great combination of snacks.
Swiss Cheese is a mild cow’s milk cheese with a slightly nutty, sweet flavor. This contrasts well against the Pepper Jack Cheese which is flavored with spicy jalapenos, serrano peppers, and habaneros. It has a creaminess and then a good kick from the chilies.
Troyer’s Trail Bologna is a true classic, made in Ohio by the fourth generation of the Troyer family. It is an all-beef chunky bologna with a smoky taste. It’s usually sliced thin and will be delicious with cubes of the Swiss cheese. Pile everything onto a cracker with some mustard or relish and you’ve got an ideal complete snack.
This is the perfect combination of snacks to enjoy whilst kicking back and watching the game. If you want to create more of a meal or you have a large group coming over, why not pair it with some hot dogs or a great big bowl of chili?
If you like a selection of salty football season snacks, check out our gourmet foods section. You’ll find nuts including pistachios, Spanish peanuts, and roasted pecans as well as white chocolate popcorn and trail mixes.
Make sure that you stock up on beers and you’ll have the best sports night ever. Whatever team that you are supporting, you’ll be in good company with our special hamper of treats. It will bring together even the most bitter rivals.
If you’re watching alone, then you’ll have a nice selection to enjoy over several games. It’s sure to keep you fuelled during even the tensest moments of play. Pop your jersey in, get comfy on the couch, and settle in for a great night of family fun.
You could even take this gift box along when you’re tailgating at a college game. Show your support whilst enjoying some great snacks. If you won’t have time to cook something or you just want the ease of showing up with a box of everything you need, then this box if perfect for you.
You can also have this sent to a loved one. Missing a friend or child who’s gone away to college? Send them our gift basket and let them know that you’re thinking of them, even if you can’t watch the game together. We can also put together special gift boxes with non-perishable products if you are sending them overseas.
What are your favorite football season snacks to eat whilst watching the game? Let us know in the comments! Tell us your team, too!
Back to School: Preparing your Loved Ones for College
With the time approaching for college students to begin their studies or return after a well-earned break, we’ve put together a back to school care package that’s sure to keep them happy.
Send them off with a selection of treats and they’ll be able to share them with friends when they arrive. We’ve put together our care package with those difficult goodbyes in mind. It’s a perfect gift for any student who might get homesick or simply need a pick me up between all their new lectures.
Inside you will find generous helpings of:
- Banana Split Mix – includes cranberries, banana chips, almonds, chocolate covered peanuts, chocolate drops, pineapple tidbits, raisins, yogurt covered peanuts, peanuts, and yogurt drops
- Blue Raspberry Licorice
- Buggy Trail Mix – includes butter toffee peanuts, honey roasted sesame sticks, cheddar crackers, pretzel nuggets, and wheat crackers
- Cinnamon Graham Pretzels – the classic flavor of cinnamon graham crackers in the shape of a pretzel. These are especially delicious with a cream cheese dip.
- Mikey’s Mix – packed full of nuts, raisins, and chocolate treats
- Peanut Butter Pretzels – a crunchy snack filled with delicious peanut butter
- Shisler’s Private Label Raspberry Pretzel Dip – perfect for eating with our pretzels
As these items are less perishable than others that we stock, they can be sent in the mail. You could even send them overseas to our service men and women to let them know that you are thinking of them.
If you know that your college goer is going to need help getting up in the morning, you could also send them some REACH coffee. This is a specialty coffee from the region of Chanchamayo in Peru that is then roasted in Cleveland, Ohio. We’re proud to stock this coffee as it’s great for everything from an espresso to a frothy latte.
Explore our other gift boxes for different tastes. Some do have perishable items so be sure to check how long shipping will take and whether your recipient has access to a fridge. If you are finding a gift for someone with a sweet tooth, then our Heggy’s Chocolate Gift Box might be a great option for you. It will contain an assortment of premium hand crafted chocolates and candies from a wide selection including vanilla creams, chocolate coated caramels, marshmallows, and Heggy’s Crunch.
So, whether your loved one is heading back to school for the first year or their last, you can show them how much you love them with our care packages. Surprise them with a taste of home or something new for them to try. You could also give one of our e-gift certificates if you would like them to be able to order a special treat for themselves. The code will be sent to you after purchase, so it doesn’t matter whether you buy it for them to go back to school with or during the semester.
What are your top back to school tips for all the new college students out there? Let us know in the comments!
Goat’s Cheese: 7 Ways to Eat It
We absolutely love goat’s cheese here at Shisler’s Cheese House. We’re hoping that you will too and that’s why we’ve put together a list of 10 great ways to eat it.
We stock chevre goat’s cheese imported from France. This has a crumbly, cream cheese-like texture with a very creamy flavor. You’ll also get plenty of that goat’s cheese tang!
In a salad
This is how we often think of using goat’s cheese. It’s a classic for a reason! Crumble your cheese over salad leaves, roasted tomatoes and red peppers for a great combination. Add some pumpkin seeds for crunch and a balsamic vinegar dressing to bring everything together.
As a stuffing
Goat’s cheese works really well as a stuffing because it won’t melt too much and run out during cooking. Slice open a chicken breast and stuff it with the cheese, chopped tarragon, lemon zest and seasoning. Wrap the chicken in bacon or prosciutto and bake for approximately 20 minutes at 370F, until the juice runs clear.
On toast
It’s the simplest dish around but it’s still delicious! Spread some cheese on a piece of toast and dig in. You can even drizzle over some honey or spoon on some chopped fruit for a hint of sweetness.
With fruit
The creaminess and acidity of a crumbly chevre make it a very good friend to fruit. Try it with roasted fruits like figs, cherries, apricots, or peaches. It also goes really well with apples and honey. You can pair them in a tart, as a simple snack, or in a sandwich.
In pasta
Goat’s cheese works as a filling or a sauce for pasta dishes. Pair it with spinach, butternut squash or pine nuts. Stir it into a cream sauce with a little lemon zest to pack it full of flavor.
In a burger
There are a couple of ways to do this that will make your burgers pop. If you are making burgers from scratch, you can put a slice of goat’s cheese into the middle of the burger mix. Alternatively, add goat’s cheese on top of your burger whilst cooking or when you add it to your burger bun.
With a glass of wine
Goat’s cheese pairs really well with wine, but you’ll need to find one that stands up to strong flavors and the creaminess of the cheese. We recommend a Sauvignon Blanc, especially one from Sancerre if you can find it. The acidity of the wine will cut through all that creaminess and enhance the flavors of the cheese.
Do you like goat’s cheese? Which recipe would you try? Let us know in the comments!
Salad Ideas to Make Today
On warmer days, it always seems like time to whip up a quick salad. You might not want to be working at a hot stove, so this is a great way to get dinner on the table in the heat. Today we’re going to take a look at how to construct a delicious salad that you might find in a restaurant. We know that sometimes making a salad at home can leave you disappointed, so read on to find out how to make yours a meal to remember.
1. Greens
The greens are the base of any good salad. Try to include a variety of different greens so that you get different flavors and textures into your meal. Romaine and iceberg lettuce bring crunch, compared to soft spinach or Butter lettuce. You can add pepper flavor with arugula or watercress. Lightly season your greens with salt and pepper to bring out their flavor.
2. Fresh herbs
Adding fresh herbs to a salad with instantly add extra flavor. You can work with whatever you have in the fridge or try classic flavor combinations like tomato and basil. Cilantro, parsley, and dill all work really well.
3. Color and variety
Use your other ingredients to make your salad really vibrant and enticing. Use a variety of colors to make it stand out. You’ll also be getting lots of vitamins from the different vegetables. You can bring in texture by using crunchy vegetables like raw carrots and add healthy fats from avocado. Cucumber and tomato bring freshness and juice to the salad.
If you like sweetness in your salad, you can add dried fruit or sweet nuts. For extra saltiness, add a cheese like halloumi or feta.
4. Grains
One great way to add variety and texture to your plate is to include grains. Couscous, quinoa, farro, barley, and even rice are all great. They have the added benefit of taking on flavor well so your dressing will make more of an impact. They’re super versatile and really good for you.
5. Protein
If you need a filling meal to keep you energized from lunch until dinner, be sure to add some protein. Beans, nuts, and seeds all work well and will add to the varied texture of your dish. You can even add some chicken or fish if you want to make it a full meal. To keep it lighter, but still filling, add a poached or boiled egg.
6. Dressing
We stock a whole range of salad dressings here at Shisler’s Cheese House, so you’re sure to find one that suits your salad. Our private label dressings all contain delicious Vidalia onion as well as flavors including creamy cucumber and summer tomato. We also offer a range of calorie-free dressings including ranch and raspberry vinaigrette. Dress your whole salad before plating it. This will give a much more even distribution of flavor so that every mouthful sings.
We hope that you’ve enjoyed our salad tips. What’s your favorite? Let us know in the comments!
Locally Made Syrups and How to Use Them
You know that here at Shisler’s Cheese House, we only like to stock the very best. That’s why we carry the best syrups that we can find, produced in small batches on a family farm in Holmes County, Ohio. Read on to find out about all our flavors and how you can use them in your kitchen.
The sap is hand gathered and boiled on a small backyard evaporator, then filtered and combined with locally gathered wild black walnuts and a small amount of cane juice crystals. There is nothing like this unique twist on an old favorite. Pour it over a stack of ‘jacks or a bowl of ice cream.
This syrup was inspired by one of our favorite recipes: grilled pork loin glazed with blackberry sauce and pecans. It’s made by simply combining local blackberries with water, sugar, and pecans.
Combine this syrup with butter and scallions, then brush onto a grilled pork loin in the last fifteen minutes of cooking for a real treat. You could also drizzle it right from the bottle over homemade ice cream.
Made from the best locally grown blueberries. If you love blueberries then, of course, you will love our blueberry syrup! It’s an excellent accompaniment to your favorite breakfast food or ice cream, but for something more unusual try it on grilled swordfish with a touch of butter.
Inspired by our producer’s grandmother, who made the best cinnamon rolls the world has ever known. It tastes like freshly baked rolls loaded with cinnamon and drizzled with vanilla icing. This syrup is our attempt to bottle that wonderful winter treat in an easy to enjoy form.
Try this syrup on your morning oatmeal, in your coffee and tea or on top of a fresh baked roll. It will immediately transport you to a seat in the local pastry shop with a big smile on your face!
In the heart of Ohio’s Amish Country there is a beautiful organic lavender patch loaded with flowers and fragrance. Our supplier infuses these fresh flowers and adds pure granulated sugar and a dash of blueberry juice for color. Did you know that lavender was historically used to spice the foods of royalty? It’s perfect for flavoring sorbets, shortbreads, champagne cocktails, hot teas or sparkling water.
Twice a year, in Northeastern Ohio, the red raspberry canes explode with the fireworks of succulent fruit. We combine these local bursts with organic cane juice crystals to make a syrup that is worth fighting for! This is brilliant added to meat loaf, meatballs, marinara sauce or your favorite salsa for a delicious twist.
Our Shagbark Hickory Syrup is crafted in small batches by our supplier in Ohio’s Amish Country. The exfoliating bark of the Shagbark Hickory tree is sustainably harvested from trees that grace our woodland, washed carefully and steeped in pure well water. The extract is then filtered and sweetened with organic cane juice crystals and aged to perfection. The process of making hickory syrup dates back many years. Its smoky, nutty flavor is less sweet and more complex than maple syrups. Our Hickory Syrup can be used anywhere you would use maple syrup. It also makes a great glaze for meat and seafood, added to stir-fried shrimp or chicken and as an ingredient in homemade BBQ sauce.
We hope you enjoyed the tour of our syrups! Which one are you going to try first? Let us know in the comments!
Hiking? The Snacks to Take Along With You
As the weather warms up, we know that some of you will be heading into the outdoors for some hiking. Whether you’re tackling a gentle walk or your nearest mountain, we’ve got the snacks to keep you fueled up.
1. Trail Mix
The clue is absolutely in the name. When you’re on the trail, eat trail mix.
Our original trail mix is packed with nuts and dried fruit. Our diet trail mix is great if you’re hiking to get fit. Buggy trail mix has butter toffee peanuts, honey roasted sesame sticks, cheddar crackers, pretzel nuggets, and wheat crackers. They’re sure to keep you walking even when the going gets tough.
We also offer a banana split mix which contains cranberries, banana chips, almonds, chocolate covered peanuts, chocolate drops, pineapple tidbits, raisins, yogurt covered peanuts, peanuts, and yogurt drops. You could also try Mikey’s Mix which is packed with nuts and chocolate treats in case you need an extra incentive to keep hiking.
If you’ve got time, you could try making your own trail mix. Check out our gourmet foods section and pick your favorite things to mix up.
2. Dried Fruit
Dried fruit is a great source of energy while you’re hiking. We especially love dried strawberries, kiwi, banana chips, and pineapple.
We also offer Think Fruit Dried Fruit Snacks in a variety of flavors, packaged up and ready for you to take out on the trail.
3. Jerky
Jerky is full of protein which makes it perfect for hiking. Try our Uncle Mike’s Beef Jerky, which we offer in Mild, Hot or Teriyaki flavor. It’s easy to pack and pull out as you’re walking.
4. Nuts
We have a great range of nuts including peanuts, pistachios, and cashews. They’re a healthy source of protein and fats. You can even create your own mixes of them or take along sachets of nut butter to snack on.
5. Energy bars
There are loads of different energy bars out there, but most of them are great for keeping you on the go. Take your favorites along with you hiking and remember to pack a few for your friends as well.
We hope that these ideas will help you to plan your next hiking trip. Remember to take plenty of water along with you to keep hydrated. Make sure that you plan your route and take along a map to keep you safe. Appropriate footwear, layers and waterproof clothing will keep you warm and dry – we know that the weather can be unpredictable sometimes!
Where is your favorite hiking spot? What snacks do you like to take along? Let us know in the comments!
How to Create a Charcuterie Board
We’ve shown you how to create a balanced cheeseboard before, but today we want to help you create a great charcuterie board. Add a bottle of wine, and you’ve got a party! Read on to find out about all of our tips. We hope that it will inspire you to host your family or friends and treat them to a selection of your favorites.
- Think about colors and textures
You want to make your charcuterie board as vibrant and interesting as possible. Try to include a variety of colors and textures that will entice your guests. After all, they do say that we eat with our eyes first. Arrange the board so that the colors create contrast and draw you in.
- Create abundance
Try to make your board look as full as possible so that it seems like there is a real abundance of fantastic food on offer. If you’re serving a small group, use a smaller board so that you can still pile the produce high. Try layering each item up so that there is enough for all of your guests. You want them to be able to try everything instead of holding back.
- Include a variety of flavors
This is probably the easiest part of the process. Select some of your favorite meats, but try to think about your guests as well. Include both smoked and non-smoked meats, as well as sausage styles. Check out our selection – you’re sure to find something for every palate.
4. Add seasonal fruit
This is a great way to add color and flavor to your board. It will also give your guests a chance to experiment with different flavors. Classics would be apples or figs, but we know that you’ll find something original to try.
5. Find great jams, pickles, and preserves
We love adding pots of delicious preserves to a charcuterie board. Simply serve the jar and a spoon to encourage your guests not to be shy to try them. This will look much more elegant than trying to spoon it onto the board. Check out our Jams & Jellies and Pickles & Peppers sections.
6. Try something unexpected
Everyone has seen a charcuterie board with some simple cheeses and meats, so try to add an element of surprise. You could try nuts, crackers in unusual flavors or other snacks to add crunch to the board. You could even serve some chocolate for your guests to try. Experiment with your own ideas and see what your guests love.
We hope that you have enjoyed our charcuterie board tips. As always, try out different things to find the ones that you and your family love. Remember, if you pop into the store we are always on hand to help you pick out brilliant pairings. We can also recommend wine to drink with your charcuterie and cheese.
What would be on your perfect charcuterie board? Let us know in the comments!
Peanut Butter: The Perfect Addition to your Baking
We love finding new baking ideas and we also love peanut butter, so today we are combining the two to share with you some fun ideas for baking with peanut butter.
- Peanut Butter Cookies
Best served with a glass of milk, these are a true classic. Add peanut butter to your cookie batter or spread it on top. You can go for straight peanut butter or add chocolate – choose your favorite. Cookies also make great ice cream sandwiches!
- Peanut Butter Cheesecake
Mix the peanut butter into the cheese, use peanut butter cookies in the base, or even create a peanut butter topping. You could even chop some Heggy’s Milk Chocolate Peanut Butter Creams and stir them in. However you decide to bring peanut butter into your cheesecake, you know that it will be delicious.
- Peanut Butter Brownies
Take your favorite brownie batter and swirl in some peanut butter. You could even add a crunchy topping with some crushed up Peanut Butter Pretzels. Try a blondie with white chocolate if you have a really sweet tooth.
- Peanut Butter S’mores
Just when you thought s’mores couldn’t get any better, we added peanut butter! You can do this in a couple of different ways. Either make a normal s’more and add a smear of peanut butter to one of your graham crackers or replace your chocolate with a peanut butter cup. You could even add some caramel if you want a real treat.
5. Peanut Butter Pancakes
Pancakes aren’t just for breakfast. They make a great dessert too! This filling will work for both. Put peanut butter, chocolate chips and slices of banana in your crepes before rolling them up.
6. Peanut Butter Sundae
Create a sauce by heating 3 parts caramel, 1 part peanut butter and 1 part milk until it is smooth. Pour it into the bottom of your sundae glass. Layer it with ice cream, banana, caramel, and any other ingredients that you like. Top with a sprinkling of chopped peanuts.
7. Peanut Butter Popcorn
Combine peanut butter with syrup to drizzle over popcorn. This is a messy treat so make sure that you have cloths on hand to clean up!
8. Protein bars
If you want to create a healthier treat that will give you plenty of energy, make a peanut butter based protein bar. These can be made with peanut butter, honey, protein powder, and oatmeal, but there are lots of different recipes out there.
Have you been inspired to bake with peanut butter? Then pick up a jar of our Amish Peanut Butter Spread today. Made locally from a special blend of all natural ingredients, it’s sweet and creamy, with a soft and silky texture, perfect for baking.
If you plan to serve these at a party or take them along to an event, please be careful to ensure that no-one present has a nut allergy and always label your dish stating its ingredients. We would hate for someone’s baking to become a health risk.
6 Ways to Make a Great Hot Chocolate
With a little way to go before Spring, our minds have turned to warming drinks to get us through the last of the cold days. You might have heard of the word ‘hygge’, which is the Danish idea of coziness and contentment. A hot chocolate is definitely a drink that has a hygge feel to it. Today we’re sharing our top tips for making your hot chocolate really sing.
1. Add toppings
There are the classics: marshmallows, cream, chocolate sprinkles. But you could also add cinnamon, sauces, nuts, marshmallow fluff, dried fruits, coconut shavings, or cereals. For extra decadence, try popping a chocolate truffle on the top and letting it melt in. You could even put a scoop of ice cream on the top for extra creaminess. If you add marshmallow fluff, try crisping it with a kitchen blow torch for a s’mores effect!
2. Add a syrup
There are so many syrups available now and loads of them would be delicious in a hot chocolate. Try classics like peppermint, salted caramel or vanilla. You could even try making your own syrups at home with your favorite flavors. We highly recommend trying a bay syrup with your hot chocolate for a grown up twist.
3. Find the best quality hot chocolate
We’re not talking about the powdered stuff in sachets. Get hot chocolate made with real chocolate and you will marvel at the difference. You can even grate chocolate into hot milk to create your ideal drink. Imagine crafting a drink that is essentially your favorite chocolate bar!
4. Try different milks
A hot chocolate made with milk instead of water is the height of luxury, but have you tried different milks? Non-dairy milks are becoming increasingly popular and taste great in hot chocolate. Our favorite is coconut milk which will give you the effect of a Mounds bar in a cup. Almond milk and soy milk also work well and they are a little lighter.
5. Add a glug of your favorite tipple
This is one for curling up on the sofa with your favorite book or movie at the end of the day. Make your usual hot chocolate and then add a little of your favorite spirit. Whiskey or brandy work well but our favorite would have to be Irish Cream. You could try flavored vodkas instead of syrup.
6. Share it with your favorite people
Cozy up with your friends and family and share a hot chocolate. Provide everything above so that you can customize them to your taste. Find your coziest blankets, put on a classic DVD and your warmest slippers and settle in for the night. You can even ask friends to bring over their favorite mug to enjoy their drink in.
We hope you enjoyed our tips to help you stay warm and cozy with hot chocolate. We love bringing a little hygge into our lives and we hope that you do too. How do you like your hot chocolate? Let us know in the comments!
