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Summer wines to enjoy this season
With the weather warming up, we’ve put together a list of summer wines that you’re sure to enjoy. Whether you’re choosing something to drink with a family meal or simply looking for a wine to sip on a sunny evening we hope this list will help you make your choice.
Summer Wines: Pinot Grigio
A white wine with citrus, apple and pear flavors. It’s fantastic with pasta dishes, particularly those with creamy sauces as the acidity of the wine will cut through them for a perfect pairing. You could also serve it with some perfectly grilled fish for a wonderful summer dinner.
Summer Wines: Albarino
Another citrusy white wine, this time hailing from Spain. Albarino is excellent with seafood. It has a high acidity as well as a light saltiness. You may not have encountered this wine but we really recommend seeking it out as it’s sure to surprise you.
Summer Wines: Pinot Noir Rose
This is a fruity rosé with hints of strawberry and cherries that almost feels like you are tasting the summer sun. It’s a great wine to drink if you’re serving salads, pasta, or even sushi.
It’s an absolute classic for the summer. Whilst we want robust reds when it’s cold outside, a lovely refreshing rosé in the sun is the perfect thing. We love a Pinot Noir based rosé because they’re packed with strawberry and cherry flavors.
Summer Wines: Prosecco
A sparkling wine from Italy that will make for a bubbly evening. We recommend looking for a Prosecco Conegliano Valdobbiadene Superiore DOCG to ensure the best quality and a wonderful, slightly sweet quality.
Summer Wines: Sparkling Rose
Combine two of our favorites and sip on a sparkling rosé! Sparkling rosé is great with smoked salmon and soft cheeses, and the pink color is sure to add a special touch to any of your celebrations. It’s also brilliant with spiced dishes, such as a spicy grilled chicken.
Sangria
Of course, this is a mixed drink rather than something that you can buy in a bottle, but we feel that it deserves a special mention for being so delicious! Sangria hails from Spain and can be with red wine or white wine. A traditional red wine sangria is made with bold red wine, orange juice, brandy or rum, sugar, ice and chopped fruit. It’s one of the best summer drinks to enjoy with small tapas dishes like patatas bravas or chorizo. Make a large jug of it to keep all of your guests refreshed.
Which wines do you like to enjoy in the summer? Let us know in the comments below!
What is a Master Cheesemaker?
Did you know that you can become a Master Cheesemaker?
Wisconsin is the only state with a Master Cheesemaker program outside of Europe. It has been running for 25 years. To qualify to take part, you must have held a cheesemaker’s license for a minimum of 10 years and be making cheese in Wisconsin. In fact, getting a license itself is a serious undertaking as you need to complete 240 hours of apprenticeship as well as five university modules. It can take between one and three years to get your cheesemaking license. The Master Cheesemaker Program takes 2 years and 8 months and consists of several modules as well as a final exam.
Each Master Cheesemaker learns about artisan cheese making and quality control, and can choose from modules on topics including Dairy Chemistry, Buttermakers, and Milk Pasteurization. Graduates earn the right to use the Master Mark on their products.
There are currently 90 master cheesemakers, all of whom have developed their skills to become masters. Each cheesemaker receives their certification for specific cheeses that they have worked hard to perfect.
Our Wisconsin cheeses
We stock several cheeses from Wisconsin, including Beer Cheese, Sharp American Cheese, and Limburger. Beer Cheese is a semi-soft combination of Limburger Cheese and Brick Cheese. It has a very strong smell and taste and is often enjoyed with raw onion and a glass of beer. Limburger cheese is a similarly acquired taste. The cheese is aged for at least three months when it becomes spreadable. Its salty taste is traditionally eaten with rye bread, slices of onion and strong black coffee or lager.
We also get our Brick Cheese from Wisconsin. The process for making Brick Cheese was derived from white American Cheddar, but it is cultured at a slightly higher temperature which results in a marginally higher fat content and a slightly altered protein structure. The resultant cheese has a slightly softer taste and a distinctly sharper finish. We love to use it in place of Cheddar in cooking or simply serve it on a cheeseboard.
Have you tried cheese from a Master Cheesemaker? Let us know in the comments!
Honey: Ideas for Using this Sweet Treat
We love honey here at Shisler’s Cheese House! We’re really proud to stock Tonn’s Pure Clover Honey as well as Tonn’s Pure Clover Honeycomb. Fat-free and cholesterol free, clover honey has been found to contain vitamins and minerals that could reduce the risk of illness. Honey is 25% sweeter than table sugar, whilst being an all-natural sweetener. It is a source of flavonoids, which may reduce the risk of some cancers and heart disease. It’s also the only food that contains the antioxidant pinocembrin, which has been linked to improved brain function.
We’ve put together a list of ideas for using honey in your cooking, so read on to find out how to get more of this superfood into your life.
Salad Dressings with Honey
Honey is a great ingredient for adding sweetness to a salad. It pairs really well with mustard and vinegars to create flavorful salads. For a really simple dressing, mix extra virgin olive oil, honey, lemon, sea salt and black pepper together. Shake it up in a jam jar for super speedy mixing. It’s also easy to take it to work with your lunch or out to the park for a picnic!
Of course, if you don’t want to make your own then you could pick up our Walden Farms Honey Dijon Dressing. It’s even calorie free!
As a Marinade
Honey makes an excellent addition to marinades for all sorts of foods. Try it with garlic, lemon juice, brown sugar, and cayenne pepper with chicken. Mix it with soy sauce, garlic, chopped spring onions, and lime juice to add flavor to your salmon. You can even use it to glaze vegetables before roasting.
Make honey butter
Mix 8oz salted butter with 4 tablespoons of honey. Add 1.5 teaspoons of ground cinnamon and 0.5 teaspoons of ground ginger to make a spiced honey butter. These both work really well on toast, with brioche, or melted over pancakes. Why not whip up a batch and keep it in the fridge for those breakfasts that need a little extra sweetness?
Honey on your face!
So this isn’t a recipe exactly, but did you know that honey is great for your skin? It can help you with acne, dry skin and even blemishes. You can simply apply a teaspoon of honey to your face, leave it for 15 – 30 minutes and then wash it off with lukewarm water. You should notice the difference right away!
Sweeten tea
Honey is a great choice for sweetening tea as it adds a little bit of flavor along with sweetness. We especially like it in chai tea as it pairs well with the spices. It’s also great for soothing a sore throat!
Baking with honey
Whether it’s cookies, cakes, or breads, honey makes a great addition to your baking. It’s an excellent source of sweetness and can also create a delicious caramelization in your dishes when used well. Honey does not raise blood sugar levels as quickly as sugar and is sweeter so less can be used making it an excellent alternative.
How do you like to use honey? Let us know in the comments!
June 16th is Father’s Day!
Father’s Day is coming up on June 16th, so we wanted to get you all ready with some suggestions for brilliant gifts.
We know that you will all want to show your Dads how much they mean to you. It’s certainly a special day to show them your appreciation for all that they do for you and our range of gifts is the perfect thing for the man who has everything. You’re sure to find something that will appeal to every taste, so read on to find out more about our fantastic range of gifts.
Our Gift Box for Dad contains Troyer’s Trail Bologna Ring, Ohio Swiss Cheese, Pepper Jack Cheese, Shisler’s Private Label Mustard, Shisler’s Private Label Hot Pepper Relish, and Carr’s Crackers. It’s everything that your Dad could need for a perfect Father’s Day. If you’re lucky he might even let you share some of his delicious treats!
Pepper Jack is a cow’s milk cheese that has been given a spicy intensity through the use of jalapeno, serrano, and habanero peppers. Troyer’s Trail Bologna Ring is a chunky, all-beef bologna with a smoky taste, created by the fourth generation of the Troyer family. Don’t be fooled by imitators.
You could add a bottle of wine, beer, or scotch if you want to impress Dad even more.
If our Gift Box for Dad doesn’t sound quite right, have no fear, we have a huge range of gift baskets that are perfect for showing him how much you care.
Our cheese lover’s box is extra cheesy! You’ll receive a 3/4Lb. wheel each of Cheddar, Cojack (Marble), Farmer’s Cheese and Pepper Jack. Just like our other boxes, you’ll find some assorted chocolates as well.
For a showstopping gift, our Baby Swiss Cheese Gift Box is certain to create a stir. It 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!
We also offer a Scotch Collection and Beer Collection for those Dads who like to pair cheese with their favorite drinks. Make sure you include a bottle so that they can enjoy their gift right away! If your Dad has more of a sweet tooth, then check out our chocolate section.
We can’t wait to get your Father’s Day gifts to you all and make it a great day for everyone. Please remember to check our shipping policy if you are ordering online to make sure that your gifts will arrive on time.
If you need some help to pick out a great gift, why not get in touch or pop into the store to see how we can help?
How will you be celebrating this Father’s Day? Let us know in the comments below!
Grilled Cheese: A Classic
Today we thought we would explore the history of one of our favorite comfort foods: the grilled cheese. Read on to find out about its origins and find some ideas for making yours extra delicious.
The modern American grilled cheese sandwich first originated in the 1920s, when inexpensive sliced bread and American cheese became widely available.
Around the world, people have different preferences for how to make their grilled cheese, be it in a pan, on the griddle, or in a panini maker or sandwich press. In the UK, they are often called toasties and made in a machine which seals the edges of the bread whilst melting the cheese. In Australia, they are often called jaffles!
We’ve put together some fun ideas for you to make an extra special grilled cheese at home today.
1. Add fruit
We absolutely love a sweet and savory combo! Try blueberries with mascarpone, peaches with gouda, apple butter with pepper jack, or strawberries with mozzarella. You could even create a Hawaiian pizza inspired grilled cheese with ham and pineapple. Something that we recently tried was a small amount of jam in a grilled cheese made with ricotta. It sounds strange, but trust us, it really works!
2. Go for different bread
Sometimes you can’t beat the classic sliced white bread, but if you’re feeling adventurous then try something new to sandwich your cheese between. Have you tried brioche bread for your grilled cheese? It gets an incredible caramelization from its high sugar content. Croissants also work really well. Donuts and pound cake are an extra decadent addition to a sweet grilled cheese, although you might want to leave these to the professionals!
3. Add pickles and relishes
Some of you will be purists who want the cheesiest sandwich that they can find, but we’re pretty partial to a good pickle in our sandwiches. It cuts through the richness and will pack a flavor punch at the same time. A spoonful of mustard can also work wonders with the right cheese.
4. Top it with a fried egg
Whether you like yours over easy or sunny side up, you won’t be sorry that you topped your grilled cheese with a fried egg. It does mean that you’ll have to use a knife and fork to dig in, rather than picking it up, but that’s a small sacrifice to make for the perfect combination of bread, melted cheese, and oozing egg yolks.
5. Go wild
We know that there’s a combination that you’ve dreamed of but haven’t dared to try. You’ll find all sorts of combinations work well, although maybe you’ll want to try them out before unleashing them on any unsuspecting guests.
How do you like your grilled cheese? Let us know in the comments below!
Amish Butter: The Best Butter
Sometimes, the simplest of products are the ones that should be of the highest quality. This is what we believe and that’s why we stock the very best Amish Butter.
Our fresh and delicious Amish butter is produced locally and, like our Amish cheeses, this Amish butter is generally produced using milk from hormone-free cows with no preservatives are added. This makes for a much better tasting butter than anything you might find in the supermarket. You will find that it has an enhanced, natural, milky flavor that is just as delicious in dishes as it is on its own.
Butterfat is one of the byproducts of cheese making. As there are abundant amounts available from the local cheese artisans, Northern Ohio has become quite the production hub for fresh Amish butter as well. The butterfat gives an incredibly creamy texture and extra flavor compared to bland normal butters. We stock it in both salted and unsalted, so that you can use it for a variety of different recipes.
Salted Amish Butter
You really cannot beat salted Amish butter spread onto fresh bread or a delicious piece of toast. Try it with our pure clover honey for a sweet treat. You could even have a go at making your own bread to really enhance the experience. We love making a simple meal like breakfast a real event with stunning ingredients.
It’s perfect for cooking vegetables to add seasoning and extra color. Pop some on your cheeseboard for those who like butter with their cheese and crackers. It’s also excellent for adding to sauces to create a smooth finish and add depth to your dishes.
Unsalted Amish Butter
This is perfect for all of your baking needs. Whether you’re whipping up a batch of brownies, some fun cupcakes or even a stack of pancakes, you’ll find that Amish Butter is the best ingredient to use. The high butterfat is ideal for making brilliant shortcrust pastry and cookies that melt in the mouth. Why not try making our favorite crepes recipe with our butter and taste the difference today?
Amish Products
If you’ve enjoyed our butter then we have a whole range of products that you’re sure to love. Start with our Amish Butter Cheese, made from the best butter. It is a rich, creamy cheese that works well in sandwiches and cooking. Several of our gift boxes showcase Amish flavors, including our Amish Cheese and Goodies Box and the Amish Country Sampler Box. We also offer a local Amish Peanut Butter that is great for baking with or enjoying in sandwiches. For snacking on movie nights or when you’re hiking, try our Amish Hot Mix. This includes hot Cajun sesame sticks, taco sesame corn sticks, redskin peanuts, pretzel twists, and chili bits for all of you spice lovers. Many of our cheeses are also locally produced using the Amish method and farm fresh milk. We’re proud to support our local community and provide our customers with the very best quality!
Bermuda Onion Cheese: Everything You Need to Know
We love stocking unusual cheeses for you to indulge in here at Shisler’s Cheese House! Today we are going to tell you everything that you need to know about one of our more unusual offerings: Bermuda Onion Cheese.
What is Bermuda Onion Cheese?
A delicious cheese with savory onion tones from the sweet Bermuda Onion. These onions do not have the harsh, pungent flavor of other onions and are instead sweet and delicious. Here they are incorporated into a classic Cheddar-style cheese that is slightly firm and creamy.
Our is an Amish Bermuda Onion Cheese, made with the highest quality farm fresh milk that is not subjected to artificial hormones. We’re passionate about stocking only the best quality here.
How should I eat it?
This cheese is great with pickles or chutney. Try it in a sandwich or add it to your cheeseboard for an interesting flavor combination. It has a fantastic color from the annatto seed, so it’s excellent for adding variety to a cheeseboard. After all, we eat with the eyes as well as the mouth so it is worth thinking about your presentation! A variety of colors will also help your guests to distinguish between the different cheeses on your plate and go back for more of their favorites.
Bermuda Onion Cheese could also be an excellent addition to a fondue if you want to make it extra flavorful. Try combining it with Swiss cheese or Gruyere and dipping in crudites, crusty bread or smoked meats.
Try it melted onto toast with a bowl of soup or in a grilled cheese. This is another great place to combine it with other cheeses that offer amazing melted textures. Why not try it with mozzarella? We also love it grated over dishes such as pasta or potatoes. A little goes a long way here to combine flavors naturally.
For the summer season, this works well on burgers or even grated into salads. This cheese really is very diverse and will keep your guests intrigued as to how you manage to pack such great taste into your cooking.
What should I drink with it?
If you like red wine, then a Beaujolais or Pinot Noir would be a good choice with the sweetness of the onions. For white wine lovers, we recommend trying a Viognier or Gewürztraminer for the same effect. This would even go nicely with a good beer.
This is certainly a uniquely flavored cheese. If you want to try it for yourself, why not pop into the store soon? We would be happy to help you sample it along with any of our other excellent flavored cheeses. If you like onion cheese, then you might also like our Garlic Cheddar or Green Onion Cheese. These also offer great flavor for salads as we head into summer. Check out our post on Flavored Cheeses for more ideas.
Have you tried Amish Bermuda Onion Cheese? How do you like to eat it? Let us know in the comments below!
Jumping Jack Cheese: Everything You Need to Know
What is Jumping Jack Cheese?
Jumping Jack Cheese is a marble-based cheese with the perfect mix of jalapeno and habanero peppers added. It is a spicy cheese that looks beautiful on a cheese board or melted over dishes. It has a two tone color because it is made by taking the curds from Colby and Monterey Jack cheeses or white and orange Cheddar curds and pressing them together into a long horn.
How should I eat it?
We particularly like spicy cheeses with barbecued meats or mixed into creamy dishes for contrast.
Try it in mac and cheese with fresh slices of jalapeño to create a spicy side dish or a simple comforting meal. Take it along to a pot luck dinner and surprise people with the spicy twist!
This is a great cheese to use in Mexican food. Pop it in a quesadilla or grate it into a burrito for extra creaminess and spice.
Use it to spice up potato dishes such as gratins or hasselback potatoes. You can even use it in pastry to add spice to pies and quiches.
What should I drink Jumping Jack Cheese with?
Jumping Jack Cheese goes best with slightly sweet white wines as these are the best choice to complement the spicy and creamy cheese. Choose wines like Chardonnay, Riesling, or sweet dessert wines. You could also enjoy it with a light lager or ale, as long as it isn’t overly hopped.
Spicy cheeses
If you already love Jumping Jack Cheese and you’re looking to get even more spicy cheese into your life then we stock a huge range in the cheese shop and online. Check out our Carolina Reaper Cheese, Scorpion Cheddar, Ghost Pepper Cheese, Smoked Habanero Cheddar, Super Hot Pepper Cheese, Hot Pepper Cheese, Smoked Hot Pepper Cheese, Smoked Horseradish Cheese, Yogurt Cheese with Jalapenos, Hot Pepper Cheese Curds and Buffalo Wing Cheese Curds.
Some of these are super hot whilst others combine chili spice with creamy cheese flavors.
Have you tried Jumping Jack Cheese? Let us know how you enjoy it in the comments!
The importance of Memorial Day
Memorial Day is approaching and while some turn their thoughts to barbecues and a long weekend, we prefer to think about where the day came from and its importance.
There is a considerable amount of research surrounding the origin of Memorial Day. Placing flowers on soldier’s graves has been a long standing tradition. Annual decoration days at cemeteries often included meals together and a small service. This could be where our love of eating with family and friends on this day comes from.
There are several significant days that could have led to the introduction of Memorial Day. On June 3rd 1861, a soldier’s grave was decorated in Warrenton, Virginia. In 1863, a dedication was held at Gettysburg. On July 4, 1864, ladies decorated soldiers’ graves according to local historians in Boalsburg, Pennsylvania. There were many other instances, until 1871, when Michigan made Decoration Day a state holiday. The other northern states quickly followed.
Speeches became a traditional part of the day, with people wishing to offer words of hope and gratitude in honor of those who had died.
The name Memorial Day was first used in 1882, but didn’t become more commonly used until after the Second World War. It was declared the official name in 1967.
On June 28, 1968, Congress passed the Uniform Monday Holiday Act, which moved Memorial Day from the 30th May to the last Monday in May. Whilst this made it a convenient three day weekend, it also confirmed the importance of having a day to remember those who gave their lives.
We do hope that you enjoy your Memorial Day weekend. It should be a time to spend with loved ones enjoying each others’ company, but it should also be a time to remember and reflect on the sacrifices that others have made for us. We are immensely grateful to those who have given their lives as well as the families they leave behind. Keep them in your thoughts this weekend.
Sharp Cheeses: Everything You Need to Know
We love teaching you about cheese at Shisler’s Cheese House, so today we are here to tell you all about sharp cheeses.
The term “Sharp” denotes a stronger flavor as a result of a longer aging process. Many cheese connoisseurs prefer sharper, more mature cheeses. Some of our more mature cheeses include Asiago, Canadian Cheddar, Manchego, Parmesan, Romano, Sharp American and Sharp Swiss. Our Orange and White cheddars are both medium sharp cheeses.
Sharp American Cheese
Our Sharp American Cheese is produced in Wisconsin along with our Muenster, Brick, Limburger, and Beer Cheeses. American Cheese is orange, yellow, or white in color and mild in flavor, with a medium-firm consistency, and melts easily. It has traditionally been made from a blend of cheeses, most often Colby and Cheddar. This is particularly great on cheeseburgers, in grilled cheese sandwiches, and in macaroni and cheese.
It originated when British colonists began making cheddar after they arrived in America. By 1790, American cheddars were being exported back to England and the British referred to them as “American cheese” or “Yankee cheese”. Post-Revolution Americans promoted this usage to distinguish the exports of their proud new nation from European cheese.
Sharp Swiss Cheese
Sharp Swiss cheese is a more mature version of our locally made Swiss cheese that has been aged for approximately 12. The time honored process for making swiss cheese was brought over from Switzerland by the local population of Amish and Mennonite people. We have selected what we believe to be the best locally made swiss cheese. Our Amish swiss cheese is made locally in Pearl Valley, Ohio.
Canadian Aged Cheddar
Our Canadian Fine Aged Cheddar is aged for four years. This gives it a sharp, pungent flavor, that is often slightly earthy. Its texture is firm whilst being slightly crumbly. This works well in sandwiches or grated over dishes as it melts well and will impart lots of flavor to your meal.
Sharp Cheese Wine Pairings
The best red wines to pair with sharp cheeses are intensely fruity in flavor so that they stand up to the tangy cheese. We recommend a Cabernet Sauvignon. Choose a bottle from two or three years ago to avoid an overly tannin-heavy wine.
Even better than a red wine is a glass of vintage port. This will have both fruitiness and sweetness to pair with your cheese. You could even try a hard cider or a strong ale as these are robust enough too.
These cheeses are all great choices if you are looking for punchy flavors, rather than simply a texture from your cheese. It’s a great idea to include one of these cheeses on any cheeseboard that you serve up as they are sure to satisfy true cheese lovers. They pair particularly well with pickles and chutneys as the taste won’t be overpowered.
If you’re not sure about strong cheeses, why not pop into store to try them soon?
Do you like sharp cheese? Let us know how you like to eat it in the comments!
