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What is Bonfire Night? How to Celebrate the British Tradition
We love to explore traditions from around the world here at Shisler’s Cheese House. Today we’re taking you over the pond to find out all about how the British celebrate Bonfire Night.
What is Bonfire Night?
The traditional phrase goes “Remember, remember, the fifth of November, Gunpowder Treason and Plot”.
Bonfire Night, sometimes also known as Guy Fawkes’ Night, falls on November 5th, and celebrates the night that Guy Fawkes failed in his Gunpowder Plot to assassinate King James I of England and VI of Scotland in 1605.
Guy Fawkes and a group of others tried to blow up the Houses of Parliament in London with barrels of gunpowder. They hid them in the basement of the building and Guy Fawkes was left to guard them but he was discovered before the plot could take place.
A year later in 1606 the Thanksgiving Act was passed stating that November 5th would be a day of celebration. Fireworks and bonfires were chosen as a suitable way to celebrate.
How is it celebrated?
Bonfires are often lit and fireworks display light up the night sky with bring colors.
Some people will put on displays at home but it is more common for families to go to large displays together with their community. There are sometimes fairground rides and food stalls for everyone to enjoy.
It used to be traditional to burn an effigy of Guy Fawkes on the bonfire, but this has now ceased in many places. There are still some other traditional activities, however, such as in Ottery St Mary, Devon, where people chase each other through the streets with flaming tar barrels!
Which foods are enjoyed on Bonfire Night?
The night is all about enjoying cozy, warming foods that help you to enjoy the cold evening. Soups and baked potatoes are some of the most classic foods that everyone can enjoy together. Lots of sweet treats are on offer, especially caramel apples and crunchy toffee. Hot dogs and burgers are quick and easy to eat off the fire and you can sometimes find people enjoying toasted marshmallows.
What about drinks?
A hot apple cider is a brilliant Bonfire Night drink that keeps everyone warm, but hot chocolate is also a popular choice. Sometimes the adults will indulge in a glass of mulled (spiced) wine.
Have you ever celebrated a traditional Bonfire Night? Let us know in the comments!
Fall Food: Try our Fall Harvest Collection
Now that we are really in fall, you might be looking for some fall foods to enjoy. That’s why we wanted to share our fantastic Fall Harvest Collection with you. It has everything you need for a cozy evening in with loved ones or a picnic under the trees as they change color.
Inside you will find:
2 Lb. Baby Swiss Cheese
Our Baby Swiss is made locally in Charm, Ohio by the original producer: Guggisberg Cheese. This is a young, semi-soft cheese with lots of small holes that you will recognize from Swiss cheese. Because water is substituted for the milk’s whey in Baby Swiss production, the bacterial action is slowed down creating smaller holes and a milder flavor. It is also made from whole milk, giving it an extra creamy, mild taste.
1 Lb. Streb Meats Smoked Sausage
Streb Meats is a third generation family-owned company that has been famous in our area for over 70 years. All of their meats are locally raised and hickory smoked in a real smokehouse, creating a quality product that you just can’t beat.
1 Lb. of our Cranberry Delight mix
This is one of our favorite mixes because it includes a great selection of both nuts and fruit which give it a true fall flavor. It contains dried cranberries, golden raisins, peanuts, almonds, pecans, dried cherries, pineapple dices, and papaya dices. A great healthy snack for your next hike or to keep you fuelled at your desk.
Pumpkin Muffin Mix
Our muffin mixes are ideal for those moments when you want to whip up something to share with guests without any fuss. They include all of the dry ingredients to make delicious muffins. What flavor could be better for fall food than pumpkin? If you have extra time, you could even make a cream cheese frosting to go with them.
Pumpkin Butter
A delicious way to add fall food flavors to lots of different dishes. This will be great with the pumpkin muffins that you make with the muffin mix. It’s also brilliant on toast in the mornings or even stirred into coffee with milk or cream for a pumpkin latte.
Popcorn on the Cob
Have some fun making popcorn with this quick way to a delicious snack. You can pop the corn right on the cob and then settle down to a cozy movie night with the family. Try adding your own flavorings such as salt, sugar, butter or even a sprinkle of cinnamon to keep the fall theme going.
We hope you’ve enjoyed our tour of the Fall Harvest Collection. This is available for a limited time only, so shop today to get yours! What’s your favorite fall food? Let us know in the comments!
Halloween Recipes for a Spooky Feast
We love creating spooky dishes for Halloween, so we’ve put together a list of some of our favorites for you to try at your parties!
Ghostly Mini Pizzas
Top mini pizza bases or even bagels with tomato sauce. Cut ghosts out of mozzarella and put them in the middle of the base. Bake until the cheese has slightly melted. Add small pieces of black olive for eyes. Make lots of these as they’re sure to be eaten up quickly!
Witch’s Hats
Cut puff pastry or pre-made crescent rolls into the shape of witch’s hats. Decorate with a strip of Colby cheese as a ribbon. You could even use sweet or savory filling to make them into pies. Try pumpkin, cream cheese or melted chocolate for fun seasonal flavors.
Hot Dog Mummies
Cook your hot dogs as per the instructions, then wrap them in strips of crescent rolls. Add dots of mustard for eyes. Bake in a hot oven for around 10 minutes, until the pastry is golden and flaky. Serve with more mustard and ketchup on the side for dipping.
Snake Infested Jelly
Make your favorite jelly according to its instructions. When it is around a quarter of the way to being set, push gummy snakes into the jelly. This way they will be suspended throughout the jelly ready for your party! You can try this with other candy too – let your imagination run wild!
Spider Cookies
This recipe is lots of fun to make. Get the whole family involved to create a fantastic treat. Use your favorite cookie recipe or even pre-bought dough to make a big batch of cookies. Melt white chocolate and use it to pipe a web onto the cookies. The easiest way to do this is to pipe on concentric circles and then use a cocktail stick to pull the circles into a web shape. Leave this to set. Then melt milk chocolate and pipe on your creepy spiders. You could even add icing eyes or create your own using candy.
Pumpkin soup with Ghoulish Shapes
Cut a 2lb pumpkin into small chunks. In a large pan, gently cook a diced onion in olive oil, then add in your pumpkin and cook for around 10 minutes. Pour in 25 fl oz of vegetable or chicken stock. Bring to a boil and then simmer until the pumpkin is thoroughly cooked through and soft. Blend the soup and add 5fl oz cream to create a perfectly smooth texture.
Keep the soup warm and make some toast to have alongside it. Using cookie cutters or a small knife, cut the toast into Halloween shapes like ghosts, pumpkins or bats. See what shapes you can come up with!
What do you like to make for your Halloween feasts? Let us know your favorite recipes in the comments!
Halloween Decoration Ideas For a Spooky Home
With Halloween fast approaching, we have put together some decoration ideas to help you make your house as spooky as possible!
Carved Pumpkins
Of course, pumpkin carving is the classic decoration for Halloween. Make sure that you don’t waste the actual pumpkin flesh. It’s delicious roasted as a side dish or cooked into a warming soup for cold evenings. You can even roast the seeds with different flavors for a quick crunchy snack.
Traditional faces are easy to carve, but there are so many online tutorials that can help you to create intricate designs that are sure to impress trick or treaters!
Remember to be careful of any open flames when the pumpkins are lit.
Ghostly Lanterns
It’s easy to create ghostly lanterns out of old milk jugs. Simply draw on ghost faces and pop some battery powered fairy lights inside. Line them along your paths to create a spooky entrance way!
An Autumnal Wreath
If you’re looking for something to brighten your door rather than terrify your visitors then a lovely wreath is a great choice. They’re not just for Christmas! Create one with foliage from your yard or buy some fake leaves from a craft store. You can create a base from bendy branches but it is sometimes easier to buy them ready-made. Keep in mind whether your wreath will be exposed to the weather and choose your materials accordingly.
Rock Creatures
For a simple project that the whole family can take part in, collect some large rocks and paint them with monstrous faces. Googly eyes will add to the spooky feel. You could even hide them amongst other rocks in your garden to create a fun surprise!
A Halloween Tree
You can now find artificial Christmas trees in a huge range of colors, including black and white. Pick one of these up and decorate it as a Halloween tree. There are lots of spooky ornaments available in the shops and online. Add some cobwebs, skulls, and spiders for a truly creepy tree. You can even get orange tinsel or pull out any dark colored Christmas decorations to add some extra sparkle.
Candy Corn Banner
It’s easy to create candy corn bunting from some cardboard, paint, and string. You could even cut up paper plates to make the banner even more quickly. Hang it in your windows or over a mantelpiece for a fun, festive look. Make sure you have some candy corn to hand so that you don’t get hungry whilst looking at it!
Floating Witch’s Hats
Use fishing line to hang witch’s hats in your porch for a fun decoration that can be seen by your neighbors. You could even use battery powered fairy lights or glow sticks to make them light up so that they can be seen at night. Make sure that they are hung up high so that no-one walks into them!
How will you be decorating your home this Halloween? Let us know your spookiest tips and tricks in the comments!
4 in 1 Cheese: Everything You Need to Know
As you know, we stock lots of unusual cheeses here at Shisler’s Cheese House; today we are going to show you one of them: 4 in 1 cheese.
What is 4 in 1 cheese?
Our 4 in 1 cheese contains Colby, Orange Cheddar, Cojack and Monterey Jack Cheeses.
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.
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.
Cojack cheese is a blend of Monterey Jack and Colby cheese, marbled together to create a striking effect.
Orange Cheddar has Annatto, an extract from the tropical achiote tree, and oleoresin paprika added to give it a striking orange hue that will look fantastic on your cheeseboard.
How should I enjoy 4 in 1 cheese?
It is a brilliant table cheese because it caters to a variety of guests and looks fantastic amongst a cheeseboard. Serve it with crackers and fresh bread, as well as fruits, pickles, and charcuterie meats. For extra fun, your guests might like to guess which cheeses are being combined on their plate.
You could also grate this over dishes to add color and flavor, but our favorite way to serve it is simply as a block in the center of the table. If you are building a cheeseboard, then be sure to include stronger cheeses that will contrast this one such as a blue cheese or something spicy like pepper jack.
What should I drink it with?
Owing to the mild and smooth nature of most of the cheeses included, we would recommend a Riesling or even a light Pinot Grigio with 4 in 1 cheese. For red wine lovers, we suggest that you try a Zinfandel or Shiraz.
We hope you’ve enjoyed our exploration of 4 in 1 cheese. Have you tried it? Let us know how you like to eat it in the comments!
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?
Books About Cheese That You Need
If you love cheese, then we hope you’ll love our list of books about cheese.
The Book of Cheese: The Essential Guide to Discovering Cheeses You’ll Love by Liz Thorpe
This book is not organized by country, milk type, or other classifications. The Book of Cheese maps the world of cheese using nine familiar favorites so that you can explore based on the cheeses that you already know you love.The book is complete with flavor and aroma wheels, charts to show different intensities and photography that is sure to make you hungry.
World Cheese Book by Juliet Harbutt
The World Cheese Book includes tasting notes and serving tips for over 750 cheeses. It includes in-depth flavor profiles as well as lots of cheese facts for dairy lovers around the world. Check out local traditions from around the world as well as step-by-step techniques that will show you how to make cheese at home.
Reinventing the Wheel: Milk, Microbes, and the Fight for Real Cheese by Bronwen Percival
Reinventing the Wheel explores the many ways in which the cheesemaking process has changed over the last one hundred years. Through experiments as well as extensive research, they explore the techniques being used by cheesemakers around the world to return to small batch cheese production. There is still so much to learn about the role of microbes in cheese and this book begins to dig into this.
Tasting Wine and Cheese: An Insider’s Guide to Mastering the Principles of Pairing by Adam Centamore
If you love cheese, then you might love pairing it with wines. This book covers the curriculum developed through 350 classes and seminars at Formaggio Kitchen and Boston Wine School by professional wine and cheese educator Adam Centamore. You’ll be guided through flavor pairing and learn about your own palate.
The Beginner’s Guide to Cheese Making: Easy Recipes and Lessons to Make Your Own Handcrafted Cheeses by Elena R. Santogade
The next step for any cheese connoisseur is to have a go at making their own cheese. You’ll get an introduction to cheese making techniques and equipment, as well as having all of your difficult questions answered. Step-by-step make sheets help you to track your progress as you make each cheese. There are more than 45 recipes for you to choose from including both soft and hard cheeses.
One-Hour Cheese: Ricotta, Mozzarella, Chèvre, Paneer–Even Burrata. Fresh and Simple Cheeses You Can Make in an Hour or Less! by Claudia Lucero
If you want a less in-depth introduction to cheesemaking that will see delicious cheese appear on your table in just an hour, then this is one of the books about cheese for you. With easy to follow instructions and photographs, you’ll learn to make sixteen fresh cheeses that are sure to please a crowd. The book also includes recipes to show off your creations.
We hope you’ve enjoyed our list of books about cheese. Which would you like to see on your bookshelf? Do you have any recommendations? Let us know in the comments!
Wine Storage: How to Store Wine Properly
If you love wine, then you need to know about wine storage. The temperature, conditions, and position that you store wine in all depend on the type of wine and whether it is open. Read on to find out more and get all of your wine storage questions answered.
Wine Storage: Before the Wine is Open
Control the temperature of the unopened wine. It should not be stored above 70F/21C. Any heat above this may cause your wine to age more quickly or go bad. However, it’s also important that you avoid keeping your wine in the fridge for a long time. This can make the cork dry out, allowing air into the bottle, which could ruin the wine. If you can, make sure that the wine is kept at a consistent temperature.
As a general rule, lighter wines can be kept cooler with heavier wines kept at warmer temperatures.
Another way to preserve your wine is to keep it in the dark. UV rays from sunlight or fluorescent light can cause the wine to take on an unpleasant smell, known as the wine being ‘light struck’. Whilst dark bottles can protect the wine it won’t completely prevent light from entering the bottle. If you do not have a dark space to store wine, try wrapping the bottles in cloth or putting them into a closed box.
Unopened wine should be kept on its side to keep the cork moist and make any collected sediment visible.
Wine Storage: When the Wine is Opened
Replace the cork or screw cap and return the wine to a dark place. A wine that is open should not be kept on its side as you risk spillages and it increases the surface area that is exposed to oxygen.
You should be able to keep an opened red wine for several days. A white wine can be returned to the fridge and should keep for 5 to 7 days. Try to prevent drastic temperature changes as they can cause the wine to break down. If you do need to gradually warm a red wine or cool a white wine to return it to the fridge, use warm or cool water. This will help the wine to reach its temperature without a shock.
Another great way to preserve your wine is to replace the cork or cap between each glass pour.
Wine Storage: Solutions for Your Home
If you are storing lots of wine, then you may want to invest in a storage solution.
Building wine racks in an underground space to create a wine cellar is an easy way to control the temperature and humidity of the wine. If you do choose this option, you may need to develop a storage system so that you can quickly find your wines.
You could also select a wine cooler or cabinet. These will vary from single temperature to multiple temperature zones. They also protect the wine from light.
We hope that our exploration of wine storage has given you some hints and tips that will help you to keep your beloved wine fresh.
Gouda: Everything You Need to Know
We love to help you get to know our cheeses here at Shisler’s Cheese House. Today, we are taking a look at Gouda.
What is Gouda cheese?
Gouda is a yellow cow’s milk cheese. It usually has a red or yellow wax coating. Ours is imported from the Netherlands, where it originated.
How is Gouda made?
It is made by culturing and heating the milk until the curd separates from the whey. When some of it is drained, water is added, which is called “washing the curd”. This process gives a sweeter flavor to the cheese as the washing removes some of the lactic acid. It is aged in cellars for at least 4 weeks. Extra mature versions will have been aged for 7 to 8 months, although it may be left for over a year to become even more flavorful and crunchy.
What does it taste like?
As the cheese ages, it develops a caramel-like sweetness. It sometimes has a slight crunch from the tyrosine crystals that resemble salt. The longer it is aged, the more aromatic and flavored it becomes.
We also sell a Smoked Gouda which is infused with a lovely smoky flavor.
What should I eat it with?
For the simplest snack, serve cubes of Gouda with a dipping mustard as they would do in the Netherlands.
Gouda pairs very well with fruit such as apples and pears. It is also great with other sweet flavors including honey and syrup.
It melts deliciously, so try a slice in your favorite grilled cheese sandwich for extra flavor and that incredible melted cheese effect. Try adding some wholegrain mustard to a grilled cheese. The nuttiness of the cheese pairs really well with the spice of the mustard.
This is also a fantastic cheese to add to a cheese sauce as it will add an extra punch of flavor. Mix it into pasta dishes or grate it over roasted vegetables for a simple cheesy side dish.
If you like to make quick snacks for parties, then you can use this to make quick cheese straws with flaky pastry or layer it vegetables to stuff jalapeno peppers for a spicy treat.
What should I drink it with?
For a special occasion, this cheese is delicious with a glass of champagne or sparkling wine. Other white wines that work well are those that have fruit flavors such as a Sauvignon Blanc or Riesling. If you prefer red wine, we would recommend something light but fruity with a smoky undertone, such as a Beaujolais or a Pinot Noir. A Cabernet Sauvignon would go well with an aged Gouda, although it may overpower a younger cheese. A smoked Gouda is delicious with a glass of spicy Pinot Noir or a Chardonnay.
This cheese also goes very well with beer from light lagers and pale ales to a hearty porter or stout. You could even try it with spirits like Brandy or Calvados.
How do you like to eat your Gouda? Let us know in the comments!
Mustard: Our Favorites
Today we are exploring the world of mustard. Read on to find out more about how it is made and the great range that we have on offer for you to enjoy at Shisler’s Cheese House.
How is it made?
It is made from the seeds of the mustard plant. These are used whole, ground, cracked or slightly bruised. They are then mixed with a variety of liquids including vinegar, salt, and other flavorings or spices to create the delicious condiment that we know and love. The combination of ingredients is what helps them to range from sweet to spicy.
Are there any health benefits?
There is some evidence to show that the seeds could inhibit cancer cells, so you might well be improving your health when you spread some on a sandwich.
A whole range of different mustards
We know that each different occasion calls for a different condiment, which is why we stock a variety of options for you to try.
Bertman Ballpark Mustard is a classic spicy brown sauce. Of course, we recommend enjoying it with a hot dog.
Herlocher’s Dipping Mustard is sweet and tangy: perfect for dipping pretzels into it.
Try our own Shisler’s Private Label Sweet Mustard with ham, sausages, or in a sandwich.
For those who love spice, we created the Shisler’s Private Label Hot Jalapeno Mustard. This is a great accompaniment to creamy cheeses and pickles.
If you like to use lots of garlic in your cooking, then try the Shisler’s Private Label Roasted Garlic Mustard. This is great for stirring into sauces for an extra kick of flavor.
Dick’s Homemade Horseradish Mustard is made right here in Ohio. Eat it with hot dogs or hamburgers for that authentic flavor.
If you can’t get enough, then try our honey mustard pretzels. They make a great snack for movie night.
You’ll also find some along with some delicious treats to eat it with all wrapped up in our Football Season Special.
Tips for using mustard
- Add a spoonful to your cheese sauce. It will give that extra zing to your mac and cheese.
- Create a quick salad dressing with mustard, oil, honey, and vinegar.
- Make a glaze for ham or chicken by mixing it with brown sugar. Add it in the last hour of cooking for caramelization.
- Mix it with mayo. It’ll add an extra kick and you’ll love dipping fries in.
- Spice up potatoes. Add a little to scalloped potatoes or mash and you’re sure to have friends asking for the recipe.
- Add it to breakfast. A small amount can make breakfast potatoes extra exciting and they’ll be perfect to eat with sausages. You can even mix it into beans for added heat.
- Put it in your side veg. Sometimes sides don’t seem that exciting. Add a spoonful to cabbage or broccoli to bring some fun to the table.
- Stir it into your soup as it finishes cooking. You’ll definitely get flavor with your veggies then!
How do you like to eat mustard? Let us know in the comments!
