Month: December 2019
Merry Christmas from Shisler’s Cheese House!
We wanted to wish all of our customers, both near and far, a very Merry Christmas!
However you are celebrating, we hope that it is a wonderful day for you all.
Happy Christmas everyone!
Last-Minute Gifts for Christmas
We know that it’s a really busy time of year and sometimes you miss someone off your gift list leaving you needing last-minute gifts in a hurry. If you’ve realized that there’s someone you need to buy for but you don’t have time to get something delivered or head to the shops then our Cheez-E-Gift Certificate is the perfect solution.
You’ll be provided with a code immediately after checkout, so it’s perfect for last-minute gifts or those moments where you didn’t realize you would have guests!
Our 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.
They can be spent on our full range so you know that they will find something that they love, whether it’s an old favorite or they want to try something new. Sometimes it’s difficult to guess someone’s tastes but with the gift certificate you don’t have to.
If you can pop into store then you could also check out our 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.
What are your other favorite last-minute gifts? Let us know in the comments and help our other readers out!
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!
Our Favorite Cheese Words!
Now that we’ve come to the end of our cheese glossary, we thought we’d share which of the words we shared with you were our favorite!
Affineur
This very fancy term indicates a person who ages cheese. They will decide when it is perfectly ripe and ready for you to eat.
Burrata – this is such a delicious cheese that you must try!
A fresh Italian cheese made from mozzarella and cream. It has an outer shell of mozzarella, filled with stracciatella and cream. Stracciatella is a cheese made from Italian buffalo milk and is made up of small, creamy shreds.
Friable
This means a cheese that crumbles easily.
Grana
This comes from the Italian word for grain and refers to a group of hard, grainy cheeses. These include Asiago, Grana Padano and Sapsago.
Hooping
The process of putting fresh curds into mold forms.
Kashta
A very creamy cheese originating from the Middle East. It is sometimes baked or simply eaten with honey. This cheese is almost a dessert!
Limburger – such an unusual cheese and another must-try!
Limburger is rated as one of the stinkiest cheeses in the world! It is a spreadable cheese with an almost bitter flavor. A rind washed cheese, it has a distinct brown-colored rind with semi-soft, ivory cheese inside. It can be quite mild but it also has a distinct grassy and mushroom taste. The aftertaste has a tang to it.
The bacteria Brevibacterium linens causes the odor and the maturing process which creates Limburger. When it is young it has a firm, crumbly texture with a salty flavor, like feta. At six weeks, the edges soften but the center stays firm. By two months it is almost all smooth and creamy and by three months it develops its intense smell and flavor. Limburger originated in the historical Duchy of Limburg, which is now divided between modern-day Netherlands, Belgium, and Germany. However, most Limburger today comes from Germany. Only one company in the United States still makes it, the Chalet Cheese Cooperative of Monroe, Wisconsin. We’re proud to source our Limburger Cheese from Wisconsin.
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.
Ovolini
A ball of fresh mozzarella, weighing approximately four ounces.
Stirred-curd Cheese
These are sometimes called granular cheeses. They are made in a similar way to cheddar cheese but do not go through the cheddaring and milling process. It tends to have a higher moisture level than other cheeses. The granular aspect comes from the open look to the
cheese.
Terroir
This French term denotes the effects that geography and different environments have on food. It is particularly used in reference to cheese and wine. It includes climate, soil, and terrain, as well as the techniques used in growing. These may be based on a particular tradition.
Umami
The fifth taste after sweet, sour, salty and bitter, which is often equated with a savory taste. This was first identified in Japan but is now used worldwide. It is often found in mature, aged cheeses.
Xynomizithra
A Greek sheep and/or goat whey cheese that is made on the island of Crete. It is a soft, white and creamy cheese that has a sour taste. It is commonly served with honey as a dessert.
We hope you enjoyed the cheese glossary! Which was your favorite word? Let us know in the comments below!
Christmas Gift Boxes for the Whole Family
With Christmas fast approaching, we thought the time had come to remind our lovely customers about our wonderful range of gift boxes.
Our Deluxe Gift Box 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 helps lovers of Shisler’s Cheese House share their pride as they drink their morning coffee. We’ve filled it with 1/2 a pound of Heggy’s 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. 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. 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. Muffin mixes provide a great way to whip up some quick baking that your guests will love, without any stress.
Finally, because you’re clearly a huge Shisler’s Cheese House fan if you’re digging into this gift box, you’ll find your very own Shisler’s Cheese House t-shirt!
Our Amish Cheese and Goodies collection is another perfect gift for your loved ones this Christmas.You’ll find a 1Lb. Baby Swiss Wheel, a summer sausage link, a ¾ Lb. wheel each of Colby and Pepper Jack cheese, Shisler’s Private Label Mustard, home style Amish jam, Carr’s crackers, assorted chocolates and 6oz. REACH coffee.
One of our other great gifts is the Troyer’s Trail Bologna and Cheese box. Inside you will find a 1Lb. Troyer’s Trail Bologna ring, a ¾ Lb. wheel each of Colby and Farmer’s cheese and assorted chocolates.
We all know someone who really loves cheese, and that’s why we created the Cheese Lover’s Gift Box. This contains a ¾ Lb. wheel each of Cheddar, Cojack, Farmer’s Cheese and Pepper Jack, along with some assorted chocolates.
Check back in the coming weeks as we’ll share more reminders about our delicious Christmas gift boxes!
Cheese Glossary: The Letters V, W, X, Y and Z!
The time has come; we’ve reached the end of our cheese glossary! Read on to find the cheese terms you need to know from the letters V, W, X, Y, and Z.
Vegetable Rennets
These are rennets extracted from organic sources such as thistles, nettles, or fig leaves.
Washed Curd
A cheesemaking process in which the curds are drained of whey before being rinsed with water and then stirred to rinse off any lactose that natural bacteria might convert to acid. This raises the moisture level and can hasten the aging process for the curd. One example of a washed curd cheese is Colby.
Washed Rind
This refers to cheeses that have been washed in liquids such as brine, whey, beer, cider,
wine, brandy or oil during the ripening process. This keeps the rind moist and encourages growth of an orange bacteria, which can be scraped off, dried, or left to develop into a full rind. One example of a washed rind cheese is Limburger.
Waxed
A cheese covered in wax. This is done for preservation but also creates a distinctive look for cheeses. Many have a specific wax color.
Waxy
A classification of cheese texture.
Weeping
Swiss-type cheeses that release some moisture from their ‘eyes’ may be said to be ‘weeping’.
Whey
The thin, watery part of milk. It separates from the curds when heated and is usually drained away, although some cheeses use the whey in the production of the cheese.
Xynomizithra
A Greek sheep and/or goat whey cheese that is made on the island of Crete. It is a soft, white and creamy cheese that has a sour taste. It is commonly served with honey as a dessert.
Yaroslavsky
A Russian hard cow’s milk cheese with a slightly sour taste.
Yeast
Yeast are single-celled fungi. There are currently 1,500 discovered species. Yeast can be used to change the flavor and texture of cheeses during surface ripening, as well as affecting the aroma of cheese.
Zakusochny
A Russian soft, blue, cow’s milk cheese.
Zufi
An Italian cow’s milk cheese similar to ricotta that is made in Piedmont.
What was your favorite term from the cheese glossary? Let us know in the comments below! What would you like to learn about next?