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Pumpkin Rolls Will Leave You “Fall”ing For More
As we begin turning the page on the final week of October, we are surely at the heart and splendor of Fall. With Fall, especially as we head through the last week of October and the great, mysterious and trick-filled holiday, that is Halloween, come pumpkins, scarecrows, jack-o-lanterns, costumes, trick-or-treat, Halloween parties, hayrides and many other festivities representative of the holiday also known as “All Hallow’s Eve”.
Before we delve into a fantastic and delicious holiday recipe I’ll share with you, I wanted to take a moment to divulge some of the lesser known history of Halloween. or as it originally was termed, “All Hallow’s Eve”. As we all know, Halloween has become holiday where people of all ages dress up in costume, go around their neighborhoods, and ring the doorbell of any house whose porch light is on and say “trick-or-treat”. The door would then open (hopefully) and the trick-or-treater would be greeted with candy or chocolate or any other kind of Halloween treat. People of all ages would do this on Halloween night until their hearts were content with the amount of Halloween goodies that had aggregated over the entirety of the night. Because of this tradition of going from house-to-house, saying trick-or-treat, and receiving treats on Halloween night, this night also became known as “Beggers’ Night”.
Now for the untold story of Halloween, and while many are versed in this story or are familiar with bits and pieces of the story, allow me to divulge the history of Halloween, in a nutshell, of course. Halloween was original called, “All Hallow’s Eve” and had more religious and spiritual meaning than it does today, as commercialism has taken over the holiday, as it does with most. The original intent of “All Hallow’s Eve” which still is observed today, for the most part, was to wear costumes and masks to disguise oneself in order to thwart off and frighten the evil or “malignant” spirits that, according to legend, roamed the world of the living for one night, “All Hallow’s Eve”. This night had a connection to the Christian Holy Day of “All Saints Day” which falls the day after Halloween. So, for all intents and purposes, All Hallow’s Eve was a night in which people dressed up to disguise themselves in mask and garb in order to scare off any evil spirits that may “stain” the purity of the Holy Day of All Saints Day. Through the years and centuries to come, as you can see, All Hallow’s Eve garnered much attention, especially through commercialism and transpired into what is known today as Halloween.
To celebrate the spirit of the holiday, here is a famous recipe for Pumpkin Rolls. A recipe that will have you begging for more!
Photo: http://foodnetwork.sndimg.com/content/dam/images/food/fullset/2012/11/19/1/YW0202H_pumpkin-roll-recipe_s4x3.jpg
What You’ll Need:
- 3/4 cup all-purpose flour
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- 2 teaspoons pumpkin pie spice
- 1 cup pumpkin puree
- 3 eggs
- 1 cup plus 2 tablespoons confectioners’ sugar, divided
- 1 (8-ounce) package cream cheese, softened
- 1/2 stick butter
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
What To Do:
- Preheat oven to 375° F. Coat a rimmed 10″ x 15″ baking sheet with cooking spray.
- In a large bowl, combine flour, granulated sugar, baking soda, and pumpkin pie spice.
- Stir in pumpkin and eggs. Pour mixture onto prepared baking sheet, spreading evenly.
- Bake 12 to 15 minutes, or until a wooden toothpick inserted in center comes out clean.
- Remove from oven and invert onto a clean kitchen towel that has been sprinkled with 2 tablespoons confectioners’ sugar.
- While cake is still hot, roll it up in the towel jelly roll-style from the narrow end; cool on a wire rack.
- When cool, unroll cake and remove towel.
- In a small bowl with an electric mixer on medium speed, beat cream cheese, butter, vanilla, and remaining confectioners’ sugar.
- Spread onto cooled cake and immediately re-roll (without towel).
- Place on serving platter and refrigerate until ready to serve. Cut into slices just before serving.
- To give this the final touch, sprinkle on some confectioners’ sugar just before serving.
Recipe Source: http://www.mrfood.com/Cakes/Pumpkin-Spice-Roll
Best Cheeses To Eat As The Weather Turns Colder
Source: http://www.dairyinstitute.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/02/cheese2.jpg
Cheese is great anytime of the year, but as with many foods out there, cheeses can be different in taste, texture, and quality with the changing of the seasons. For example, a number of cheeses will exhibit their peak flavor and texture during the cooler/colder months of the year. These types of cheese are classified into two groups, that is (1) cheeses made from the milk of animals that is produced during peak spring and summer months, usually falling between May and October and (2) cheeses made from the milk of animals produced during peak fall and winter months, usually falling between November and March).
Not only do cheeses themselves vary fundamentally from season to season, but they can also exhibit distinct seasonal variability from region to region. This revolves around when the temperatures turn too cold for animals to remain outside. During peak spring and summer months, animals producing dairy products consume fresh grass, wild flowers, herbs and any other plants, shrubs or grasses that nature may sprout up. On the contrary, as the weather turns colder, these animals remain in sheltered environments and their diets consist mainly of dried hay or silage (grasses which are harvested and gathered at their peak state and preserved for the winter by fermentation processes). With this change in seasonal diets, particularly during the winter months, the animal still produces milk, albeit, the volume and flavors are not at their peak as they would be in spring and summer dairy production; during the spring and summer months, the milk has a distinct sweet, herbal flavor from the grasses and wild flowers the animals consume from the mountain side.
While a number of cheeses are best when aged, this is not the case for all cheeses. Non-aged cheeses are at their peak during the spring and summer months. This would include cheeses such as mozzarella, feta and chevre. Cheeses which are aged, however, can take a longer time to reach their peak flavor and texture. This means that cheeses made from animals’ milk during the spring and summer months may have to wait until the following year to be able to enjoy the full value of the cheese.
Cheeses made from animals’ milk in the spring and summer months which are at their peak flavor and texture by the following winter are:
- Appenzeller
- Comte
- Gruyere
- Colston Basset Stilton
- Cabrales
- Morbier
- Raclette
- Rogue River Blue
- Uplands Cheese Pleasant Ridge Reserve
With the colder months of winter, come cheeses that are produced from the milk of animals whose diet consists mainly of dried hay. These cheeses will be void of many of the distinct, vibrant flavors of cheeses produced from milk produced in spring and summer. However, cheese produced from milk during winter months have a higher fat content which yields very rich cheeses. One of the most highly touted cheeses on the planet comes from winter milk from the same breed of cows that produce summer milk that makes Gruyere called, Vacherin Mont d’Or.
Because of the overall decrease in the overall production of milk during the winter months, winter milk cheeses are generally on the smaller end of the size spectrum while the aging process is over a much shorter time period.
How to Make Delicious Banana Bread
While historians and banana bread “experts”, if there is even such a thing, claim knowledge to the origin and primitive creations of banana bread, the true origins and historical beginnings of this delicious dessert-style bread is not entirely known, albeit large doses of speculation exist at the forefront. What we do know is that banana bread is a a moist and delicious after-meal eat.
One thing we do know is that history of bananas gives us insight that bananas have been around and a mainstay of agriculture for about the last 200+ years.With the birth and inception of such ingredients as baking powder ad baking soda, came the invention of banana bread. When baking banana bread, the ideal bananas are not the green ones that came in just hours ago, but the ones that are soft, yellow and much more ripened and appear golden-yellow in color. Bananas tend to ripen very quickly. A good practice is when you have very green (not yet ripe) bananas, place them in a brown paper bag and they will nearly-instantly begin turning ripe, albeit, by “instantly”, we’re looking at about 12 hours in a brown bag, rather than 12 minutes.
Essentially, a banana muffin recipe nearly parallels banana bread as it exhorts a very similar texture and flavor. A critical component to both recipes (banana muffin and banana bread) is to mix the ingredients when dry with wet ingredients only until they become blended with each other. Of both recipes, banana muffins seem to be the easier recipe. Banana bread and banana muffins are a great breakfast item and a very easy to grab, on-the-go food. Both recipes are taken to an entirely different level when nuts are added, increasing the moisture and sweetness of the bread and muffins.
Here is some recipes for banana bread, banana muffins and all-bran banana bread:
HOW TO MAKE BANANA BREAD
- 2 bananas (ripened, yellow-look)
- 1 cup of sugar
- ½ cup of oil
- 2 eggs
- 2 cups of flour
- 3 teaspoons of baking powder
- 1/8 Teaspoon salt
- 1 Cup chopped nuts
- Preheat oven to 350°F degrees.
- Grease and lightly flour bread loaf pan.
- Mash ripe bananas in a bowl; add sugar, oil, and eggs and beat until smooth.
- Sift together the flour, baking powder and salt; stir in the nuts
- Combine the dry mixture with the banana mixture and stir in until blended.
- Pour batter into prepared pan and bake for 60 minutes or until pick comes out clean.
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BANANA MUFFIN RECIPE
When I learned how to make banana bread, here is my muffin recipe.
- 1/3 cup of sugar
- 1 ¾ cups of flour
- 2 teaspoons of baking powder
- ¼ teaspoon of salt
- 1 beaten egg
- ½ cup of milk
- ¼ cup of cooking oil
- ¾ cup of mashed ripe bananas
- ½ cup of chopped nuts
- Preheat oven to 400°F degrees.
- Line muffin tins with paper liners.
- Combine in a mixing bowl flour, sugar, baking powder, salt and nuts; Blend and make a well in the center.
- Combine in another bowl the milk, egg, oil and bananas; blend well.
- Add the banana mixture all at once in the well of the dry ingredients; stir just until moist.
- Fill prepared muffin tins 2/3 full and bake about 20 minutes or until pick comes out clean.
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ALL BRAN BANANA BREAD RECIPE
- ¼ Cup solid shortening
- ½ Cup sugar
- 1 Egg
- 1 Cup All Bran Cereal
- 1 ½ Cups mashed bananas
- 1 Teaspoon vanilla
- 1 ½ Cups flour
- 2 Teaspoons baking powder
- ½ Teaspoon salt
- ½ Teaspoon baking soda
- ½ Cup chopped nuts
- Preheat oven to 350°F degrees; grease loaf pan.
- Sift together flour, baking powder, salt, baking soda; stir in the bran and nuts and set aside.
- Cream shortening and sugar; ad egg and beat well.
- Add mashed bananas and vanilla; beat until well blended.
- Add dry ingredients and mix with a spoon until well blended.
- Spoon batter into prepared loaf pan and bake about 1 hour or until the pick comes out clean.
Source: Recipes/photo from http://www.painlesscooking.com/how-to-make-banana-bread.html
Shisler’s Fine Line of Products can help you bring in Fall and Winter
As we delve further into the heart of Fall, with Winter to follow, moods get dull and that spice of life seems to dissipate over the course of time through the year’s last few months and the through the handful of months to start a new year. This is what we sometimes call the Fall and Winter Blues. But, it does not have to be this way. We can always enjoy the finer things Fall and Winter has to offer. For example, waking up on a Fall morning to a nice cup of coffee or tea, throwing on a hoodie and hiking the open trails painted with Fall colors, or, waking up on a winter morning with nowhere to go and wrapping that extra blanket around you for just another hour of sleep. While Fall and Winter can bring out the blues in many a number, I prefer to think the spice of life can still be found over these two seasons, if we just try to look hard enough.
Speaking of the spice of life, Shisler’s can help you bring out the best of Fall and Winter with our line of products that can add that extra zest to any blues-infested mood.
Who doesn’t love a good piece of cheese, complimented with a glass of fine wine. To see our line of fine, aged (or not aged) imported and domestic cheeses, please visit HERE.
Source: https://douglasgreen.files.wordpress.com/2011/10/wine-and-cheese.jpg
Chocolates are amazing anytime of the year. However, they become increasingly desirable and irresistible as the seasons change, especially as colder weather becomes the trend. Shisler’s is well-known for the chocolates we carry, and we are proud to carry signature chocolates from Heggy’s and Stefanelli’s. Our selection of Heggy’s Chocolates is a vast one featuring everything from assorted milk chocolates to maple walnut creams. With such a vast selection to choose from, there is an option for almost everyone. Our selection of Stefanelli’s includes their signature “Sponge Candy” which a combination of sea-foam toffee covered in chocolate. From experience, let me tell you this… once you have one, it is essentially game over as you’ve fallen victim to the domino effect. Once you have one, that turns to two, two turns to three… and so on. Trust me when I tell you this, the effect is real. To see our selection of chocolates, please visit HERE.
Source: http://www.laurascandy.com/images/chocolate.jpg
Finally, if all this were not enough to cure the Fall and Winter blues, let our selection of gourmet foods help rejuvenate, not only your mood, but your taste buds. Wake up on a cold Winter morning to a buttered roll, and instead of using “Land O’ Lakes” butter, try some of our locally, homemade Rolled Amish Butter. If you’re in an undeniable mood for pancakes or waffles, choose from our selection of locally, homemade maple syrups and try them in our wide selection of flavors including: Blackberry Pecan, Blueberry, Cinnamon Sticky Bun, Lavender, Red Raspberry and Shagbark Hickory. With such a selection of incredible flavors, you really cannot go wrong. And, if you are up for a delicious, hot cup of tea, we some fantastic honey that will compliment any cup of tea. To see our selection of specialty foods, please visit HERE.
Photo Credit: Stephen Hamilton
The Cinnamon Roll: A Heavenly Encounter
When you think cinnamon, you think sweet, you might think of a spice, you might think of bread, pancakes, coffee or even cereal. But the quintessential creation involving cinnamon is none other than the Cinnamon Roll. The ooey, gooey, warm taste of a cinnamon roll on a cold, winter day with a cup of hot cocoa or coffee simply cannot be beat. Cinnamon, sugar and butter, on their own, are relatively mundane ingredients. When they come together, though, is when the fireworks shoot off and we can clearly see the marriage of these ingredients present in every cinnamon roll made on this planet, albeit, different variations of this sweet treat exist.
Source: https://www.leaf.tv/articles/the-history-of-cinnamon-rolls/
Cinnamon Rolls, while not having been around since the beginning of time, although sometimes its seems very hard to fathom our world every having lived without them, the ingredients used in making cinnamon rolls have been around for millenniums… literally. Bread, cinnamon, sugar and butter have all been around since before the time of Christ. Yeast bread dates back to around the year 1,000 BC and was first discovered in ancient Egypt. Cinnamon is nearly double in age as it dates back to around the time of the birth of Christ, circa 2,000 BC. Cinnamon was often imported from Egypt to China and was very highly regarded to where it was actually passed off as a gift for monarchs of the day. Butter, similarly, dates back to a similar period as cinnamon. Around the middle of the 19th century, machines began taking place of manual labor often done by farmers’ wives when it came to making mass quantities of butter. Finally, sugarcane was first discovered in a region, now called New Guinea. First cultivated in the US sometime in the 1700s, the first sugarcane refinery was built in the late 17th century in New York.
The Birth of the Cinnamon Roll
The very first cinnamon roll was created in Sweden. Cinnamon rolls are so well-acclaimed that it has its own national day, October 4th, National Cinnamon Bun Day. In Sweden, cinnamon rolls are not nearly as sweet and heavy as they are in the US. In Swedish practice, cinnamon rolls are made from dough that contains a hint of cardamom, a ginger-based spice. The cinnamon rolls are baked into muffin wrappers to make a more enjoyable and not so-messy treat.
Behind the Name
In Swedish lingua, “kanelbulle” is the coined term for cinnamon rolls, which literally means, no surprise, “cinnamon bun”. Other names that cinnamon rolls have adapted over its rich history is “sticky rolls” and “sticky buns”. However, with these various names comes various renditions of the original cinnamon roll. Some of these may not even contain cinnamon, but either more of a sugar-based glaze or a honey-based glaze.
Cinnamon Rolls hit the US
They say cinnamon rolls are a very popular commodity for breakfast in the US, but I say they’re great any time of the day. They don’t have to be restricted for breakfast only. One type of cinnamon rolls dating back to the 18th century called the Philadelphia-style cinnamon rolls, containing honey, sugar, cinnamon and raisins. Since the rise of the Philadelphia version, a number of renditions of the famed cinnamon treat have taken the nation by storm in the centuries since.
Source: https://www.leaf.tv/articles/the-history-of-cinnamon-rolls/
It’s That Hoodie, Campfire and Fall Colors Time of the Year!
Source: http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/technology-science/science/talking-around-campfire-led-cultural-4305135
The time of the year is quick upon us where the air gets cooler and crisper, the leaves begin to gradually change colors and it is a tad too chilly to go to your car in the morning with shorts and a tee-shirt, as you did seemingly weeks ago. You go into your closet, and in the box in the far corner of your closet, it is that time to retrieve that “warmer-layered” clothing as Fall presses onward, and the terrible “W” is soon to follow. Fall is a beautiful time of the year. It is almost like the passing of one age to another. You go outside and you notice the fog beginning to settle in more across low-lying areas and the dew becomes slightly thicker on surfaces. You find yourself adding an extra blanket to your sleeping repertoire and drinking more coffee, tea and hot cocoa to keep you just a little warmer to combat the cooler days.
I love every season of the year, and each for their own reasons. I love Fall because of the changing leaves making for beautiful Fall foliage photography, or just taking in the scenes during a Fall afternoon hike. If there is something just as peaceful and serene as the turning of leaves to a myriad of Fall colors, is having a classic campfire with family and friends on a weekend night, or during a night of the week, just to escape from the daily demands of work and life, just even for an hour or two. Roasting marshmallows or eating delicious sweet treats makes the scenes and campfires of Fall that much more enjoyable and refreshing.
One of my favorite things to do as the weather gets cooler, and this gets as mundane as mundane can get, but for me, it’s the simpler things in life. I love the feeling of putting on a fresh hoodie. Just something about the softness and the warmth as it combats the cooler Fall air with cup of coffee or hot cocoa in hand, perhaps sitting alongside a campfire exchanging stories and laughs with family and friends.
Not to thwart these wonderful Fall feelings, but it appears as though this Fall could bring some milder air that Falls of years past. Grant it, we will probably see some cooler snaps, throughout October and November, like this past week for example, but the overall trend appears warmer through November and even into early parts of December before the cold and snow of winter take over. And, yes, it does like we will be getting our share of cold and snow this year, so get the shovels out and have the coats, scarves, hats, mittens and boots on standby.
In the mean time, be sure to stop by Shisler’s Cheese House for your own supply of cheese, sweets and other goodies that will enjoy the cool, but beautiful Fall months.
The Best Ways to Eat Cheese: Part 2
This will continue part two of our “The Best Ways to Eat Cheese” miniseries. Who doesn’t like cheese? Who doesn’t like a good miniseries? If you didn’t raise your hand for either of these critical questions, you’re again, in the right place. In the first part of this miniseries, we discussed some of the tantalizing ways that we can infuse cheese in a number of dishes, and even desserts. From cheese-stuffed meatballs to cheese-infused pie crust to a ham and cheese bread bowl, there was something from just about everyone’s taste buds. And, the best part, there were all relatively easy to make and didn’t really break the bank, which is always a great thing!
In part two of this miniseries, we will divulge a number of other foods that we can secretly infuse with cheese that will create a pronounced flavor to an already delicious culinary masterpiece.
Stuffed Peppers… with Cheese!
We’ve all had or even made stuffed peppers at some point in our lives, and if you haven’t, what on Earth are you waiting for? For as delicious as stuffed peppers can be if made with that added touch of TLC, a remarkable version of this dish can created by infusing the meat with your favorite cheese!
Apples and Oats… don’t forget about the Cheese!
When making apples and oats, alone, it is a pretty awesome and dynamic flavor of tart and sweet. Adding cheese to this will create a far more dynamic concoction that will leave your taste buds begging for more. This treat becomes a masterpiece when using Brie as your cheese of choice, infused within the apple and oats, and you actually get that cheese pulling effect every time when using Brie!
Cheese Soup
One of the simplest recipes on Earth is making soup. This recipe can be complex depending on what kind of soup you’re making. Easily heighten the flavor of the soup by either adding cheese to it or making the broth of the soup cheese-based. Here is a great recipe for Beer and Cheese soup
Ingredients
- 2 cups (450g) wheat beer or pale ale
- 3 tbs (30g) cornstarch
- 16 ounces (450g) sharp white cheddar, grated
- 1 cup (240g) broth (vegetable or chicken)
- ½ cup (120g) heavy cream
- 1 tsp (4g) red pepper sauce
- salt and pepper to taste
- ¼ cup chopped chives
- 2 cup (200g) tater tots, cooked according to package directions*
Instructions
- Add the beer, cornstarch, cheddar, broth, heavy cream, and red pepper sauce to a blender. Blend on high until very well combined, about 5 minutes.
- Add to a pot over medium high heat, simmer until warmed and slightly thickened.
- Season with salt and pepper to taste, stir in chives.
- Ladle into serving bowls, top with tater tots, serve immediately.
Source: http://thebeeroness.com/2015/09/23/10-minute-tater-tot-beer-cheese-and-chives-soup/
Cheese with Salad… That Simple!
Take you favorite salad, and add cheese to it. It can be any kind of salad… vegetable salad, green salad, fruit salad, antipasto salad. Just add some of your favorite cheese as a topping or add the cheese another “main ingredient” to the salad. Here is a unique recipe for making Watermelon, Radish, Orange and Goat Cheese Salad
- 1 shallot or half of a small red onion
- 2 to 3 tablespoons white balsamic vinegar
- kosher salt
- 2 to 3 watermelon radishes
- 2 to 3 oranges, clementines, grapefruit, etc.
- a handful of walnuts, toasted and chopped (see notes)
- goat cheese to taste
- chives, minced, optional, but they add some nice color
- olive oil to taste
- Mince shallot. Place in small bowl. Cover with 2 to 3 tablespoons of the vinegar depending on how big of a salad you are making. Add a pinch of salt. Set aside.
- Cut off one end of the radish. Leave the other intact so you have a handle when you run the radish down your mandoline. Peel the radishes if you wish, though it is by no means necessary. Thinly slice on a mandoline. (Note: I ate one slice unpeeled and thought it tasted fine but went ahead and peeled them anyway because I thought the salad might look prettier if they were peeled, but I don’t think it actually really matters.) Arrange radish slices on a platter. I try to fold some of them so they’re not all squished down in one flat layer, but arrange however you wish. Season all over with salt.
- Cut off each end of each orange. Squeeze each end over the radishes, then discard. Use a sharp knife to remove the skin from the orange. Cut in between membranes to remove each slice. Squeeze remaining membrane all over the radishes to extract any juice. Scatter oranges over the radishes.
- Scatter walnuts and goat cheese to taste over the radishes and oranges. Pour macerated shallots and vinegar over top. Drizzle olive oil to taste (one to two tablespoons) over top. Scatter chives over top if using.
- Let sit a few minutes (or longer — it benefits from a brief rest) before serving.
Source: http://www.alexandracooks.com/2014/12/24/watermelon-radish-orange-goat-cheese-salad/
Simply Fry It!
Cheese, in and of itself, is a delicious staple of food. It can come in various sizes, shapes, colors, textures, tastes, ages, among many other variations. Cheese takes on an entirely new level of taste when you decide to fry it. While it may not be the healthiest sound option, it sure is delicious. Sometimes its good to be a little bad, ha! Here is a recipe for Fried Goat Cheese with Honey. That sounds delicious just thinking about it!
- 4 oz goat cheese, cut into eights
- 1 egg
- ½ cup rice flour
- ½ cup club soda
- 1½ cup panko
- Honey, for drizzling
Instructions
- Heat oil in a cast iron pan to 1″ depth over medium heat to a temperature of 375.
- Take each piece of goat cheese and roll in a ball.
- In a shallow bowl, whisk together the rice flour, egg and club soda. Place the panko in another bowl.
- Roll each ball in the egg mixture, then coat with the panko. Repeat the process and then place the coated ball on a piece of wax paper. Repeat with the remaining seven balls. Place in freezer for 10 minutes until firm.
- Drop each ball in the oil, turning until they are golden brown, about 3-4 minutes. Remove to a paper towel to drain, then place on serving plate and drizzle with honey
- Serve immediately.
Source: http://www.gogogogourmet.com/fried-goat-cheese-balls-with-drizzled-honey/
The Best Ways To Each Cheese: Part 1
Who doesn’t like eating cheese? As a culture with a strong, burning passion for food, at or near the top of this list, we often find cheese. Cheese is an overlooked, and often underappreciated food. In can be integrated into countless dishes, or it can be used as a topper for so many more dishes, salads and even desserts. We, as a civilization, never seem to run out of ideas for our uses of cheese. Every day, it seems that culinary experts and chefs around the world are experimenting with different cheeses and dishes in their efforts to create new dishes whose main attraction is cheese, in some way, shape or form.
Let’s taker a gander at some of the more ingenious creations in which cheese is used, or hidden, for that matter. Now, keep in mind, some of these dishes or cheese concealments require a “think outside of the box” approach…
Cheese-stuffed Meatballs
When making meatballs, add some “umpf” to it by integrated some of your favorite cheese when rolling the meat to form meatballs. As the cheese meets the heat when cooking, the cheese will expand and will add an extraordinary flavor to an already delicious meatball.
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Ham, Egg and Cheese Crepe
- Make your pancake, as you normally would… the thinner, the better in the case of this recipe.
- When the underside is nearly cooked, place a slice of ham on top, topped off with some of your favorite cheese.
- Fold the sides into to make a square, or as close as you can get to one.
- Break your egg into the space left… leave sunny-side up.
- Squish the sides down with your spatula to seal as the cheese melts.
- Cook for 3 or 4 minutes until the egg is turning white.
- Pop under the grill for a further 2 or 3 minutes until the yolk is just starting to cook, or however you like it. (Although, if you like it any way other than runny you’re way crazy.)
Source: http://www.tamingtwins.com/ham-egg-and-cheese-crepes/
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A Cheesy Pie Crust… literally
Making a pie crust with cheddar cheese baked directly into the crust gives it an entirely new dimension of flavor. Try baking an Apple Pie with a cheddar cheese infused crust. Goodness, that sounds absolutely amazing just thinking about it.
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For the Gluten-Free
For those who are in search of gluten-free foods, try using cheese as bread crumbs over zucchini. If this peaks your interest, try this recipe for starters… Parmesan Baked Zucchini.
INGREDIENTS:
- 4 zucchini, quartered lengthwise
- 1/2 cup freshly grated Parmesan
- 1/2 teaspoon dried Thyme
- 1/2 teaspoon dried Oregano
- 1/2 teaspoon dried Basil
- 1/4 teaspoon Garlic Powder
- Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste
- 2 tablespoons Olive Oil
- 2 tablespoon chopped fresh Parsley leaves
DIRECTIONS:
- Preheat oven to 350°F. Coat a cooling rack with a nonstick spray such as Crisco and place on a baking sheet.
- In a bowl, combine the following: Parmesan, Thyme, Oregano, Basil, Garlic Powder, salt and pepper. Taste to determine if this meets desired taste.
- Place the quartered zucchini onto prepared baking sheet. Sprinkle olive oil and as well as Parmesan mixture.
- Place into oven and bake until tender. This usually takes ~ 15 minutes. Then broil for around 2-3 minutes, or until crisp and golden brown.
- Serve immediately. Garnished if that is your thing…
Source: http://damndelicious.net/2014/06/21/baked-parmesan-zucchini/
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Cheese-Infused Loaf of Bread
This is quite the old-fashioned move, but as they say, “an oldie but goodie” and this no doubt falls in this league. When baking a loaf of bread, step up your culinary game and inject a concoction into the center of the bread; a concoction of your favorite cheese, spices, herbs, etc. Bake and enjoy!
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More Cheese… More Bread
With the Cheese-Infused Bread in the back of your mind, try this cheese creation on for size. The Bread Bowl of Cheese is another cheese creation, or should I say, masterpiece, that is in yet another league of its own. Try this recipe…
INGREDIENTS
- 4 bread rolls (soft or crusty)
- 4 small slices of ham, or 2 big ones cut in half
- 4 eggs, at room temperature
- ½ cup shredded mozzarella cheese
- 1 tbsp fresh parsley, finely chopped (optional)
INSTRUCTIONS
- Preheat oven to 350°F.
- Cut tops off the bread rolls.
- Scoop out the center of each bread roll and reserve. Although this can be quite an intricate step in the overall recipe, try to keep your cuts and scoops nice and neat.
- Line the bread bowl with a layer of ham, using a single slice or multiple slices as needed.
- Crack in an egg. This is the part of the recipe where Humpty Dumpty came to mind with me.
- Top each with 2 tablespoons of Mozzarella and a sprinkle of parsley, if desired.
- Put the tops back on each roll. Wrap with foil and place in oven to bake for ~10 to 15 minutes, making certain to check periodically, ideally, in 10 minute intervals.
- 10 minutes = very runny yolks. 15 minutes = firm just cooked yolks. 15 minutes + = very cooked yolks.
- Remove from oven, unwrap, serve immediately and enjoy heaven in a bowl.
Revolutionary Uses for Chocolate That Could Change Your Life and Love of Chocolate
Let me start out by premising this article with this question… who loves chocolate? Wait… scratch that… who “doesn’t” love chocolate? If you are not a lover of one of the greatest inventions on this planet, then this read will not be for you. Chocolate has been around. seemingly, since the begin of the world, in a galaxy far, far away… sorry, was waiting for the day I could use a Star Wars reference (I’m sure even Yoda loves chocolate). Chocolate used to be a decadent treat, or dessert, but over the years, has since taken the thrown as a “superfood”, reaching the echelon of culinary supremacy in countless ways and forms.
Is chocolate a food or a dessert? Well, call it a food to someone baking chocolate chip cookies and call it a dessert to someone who is sprinkling chocolate shavings in their salad or dish, and see how far you get. Chocolate is a revolutionizing culinary food, errr… dessert. You get it, I hope. It is multi-functioning, multi-purposed and loved by so many. And, to top it off, chocolate can be healthy for you! No, seriously, it does have health benefits. Don’t believe it? Keep reading!
Here are a number of things you may or may not have known about Chocolate…
Cash Crop – Yes, at one point in history, chocolate was used as a form of currency. In the day of the Mayans, chocolate grew on trees in the form of cocoa beans. These cocoa beans were extracted from trees and used directly as forms of currency. The Aztecs followed suit.
As Body Paint – Don’t think I need to go into much further detail… use your imagination, and please, keep it to yourself.
With Cheese – Nothing too new or bold here, but adding a sweetness to cheese, even chocolate, can heighten the flavor of both the cheese and the chocolate. And, as old school as it may be, chocolate-swirled cheese cake is an incredible dessert.
Chocolate and Bacon – If you are not aware of this amazing culinary marriage, it’s about time to familiarize yourself with the existence of this fine creation. Bacon coated in chocolate might be the best thing ever created by the people, and for the people.
Dental Health – You’ve got to be kidding, right? Actually, not so much. A cocoa extract has recently been found to be more effective than fluoride in maintaining a healthy set of teeth.
A Happy Heart – Dark chocolate, studies have shown, actually improved coronary circulation. If that isn’t incentive to eat chocolate, I’m not sure what is.
Happy Skin – Cocoa Butter is said to improve the rich, smooth qualities of your skin with an added aroma that will make you the center of attention, in a good way, of course!
Put an End to Hypertension – Studies have shown that consuming dark chocolate can actually lower your blood pressure due to its link with polyphenol-rich chocolate.
Increasing your IQ – Yes, dark chocolate contains higher levels of flavanols that are known to improve blood circulation throughout your body and even your brain. This helps combat mental fatigue, making you more alert and responsive.
Putting that Smile on Your Face – Feeling a bit down? It’s almost natural and a cultural habit to go for that box of chocolates to make you feel better. But it there merit to this? Studies have shown that eating chocolate has similar physiological effects as that of kissing. Chocolate improves bodily circulation and serves as a mild stimulant, making you become more euphoric, which essentially, turns that frown upside down!
Shelf Life: A Key Component to Cheese
You walk into your kitchen and notice that piece of cheese on the far end of your counter that you purchased weeks ago. Being entirely weary, you go over to this hunk of cheese and pick it up to examine it. You turn it over, analyzing every corner and then you take the great leap of faith to sniff it, and as you do, you’re nostrils take in this distinct and pronounced smell. Is the cheese still good and this smell is due to aging or is this just a smell of plain ol’ spoiled cheese?
A rule of thumb when purchasing cheese is to, essentially, not bite off more than you can chew, literally. When making a purchase, buy enough for a day or a week’s worth of consumption that will put you in a comfortable position. Worried about purchasing cheese from a store in fear that it might be spoiled or not entirely as fresh as possible? Not to worry. Buying cheese from a specialty foods store, such as Shisler’s Cheese House, will ensure the best cheese buying experience as their storage facilities are better conditions that what can be replicated in your own home. Where a cheese is kept weighs heavily on its quality.
Here are a few “best practices” for cheese storage and shelf life:
When smelling a cheese and it turns out carry a pungent aroma with it, that does not mean this will always be a case of it being spoiled (i.e., Limburger). Smell the cheese you want to purchase and decide if the aroma is bearable and simply aged or if it is not your “cup of tea”, or in this case not your “slice of cheese”.
Taste the cheese. If, by now, you haven’t decided whether the smell is desirable or off-putting, try a piece and see if the taste if what you’re looking for.
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Fresh, soft cheeses as you would find in a grocery store, have a shorter shelf life than aged, harder textured cheeses. Fresh, younger types of cheese such as Ricotta, Mozzarella and Goat cheese generally have a shelf life lasting up to a week or week and a half, from the date of purchase. If you taste the cheese and its taste has hints of spoiled milk, well, I don’t think much more must be said.
Brie and Camembert tend to have a longer shelf life than fresh, young cheese as well, and other similar cheeses with a bloomy rind, yet still have an ample content of moisture to where it could still spoil. Overall, these types of cheese can last for weeks to perhaps a month and half, depending on the date of purchase. If the cheese rind on these types of cheeses appears to have a pink mold with a slimier coating, best to toss it. If an ammonia-type smell develops, this is not bad thing, as this is a byproduct of the aging process.
Cheese such as Taleggio, Limburger and Epoisses are best eaten straight after purchase. These cheeses carry an especially pungent aroma, so you could imagine the work they could do stored in the far ends of your refrigerator. The rinds on these cheese will dry out and crack over time which becomes a paradise for bacteria to live and thrive, a potential death sentence if consumed under these conditions. Best to eat these cheese as soon as they are purchased, but try not to let these cheese spend more than a week in your fridge if even that long before consumption.
Lightly aged goat cheeses such as Crottin, Chevrot and Chabichou du Poitou and other French-origin goat cheeses are virtually indestructible. Enough said…
Aged cheeses such as Cheddar, Gouda, Gruyere, Parmigiano Reggiano and Fontina have gone through a lengthy aging process that ensures their durability over the test of time. With such minimal moisture within these cheeses, there is nothing too much to be worried about with these cheeses. In many cases, the more aged these cheeses are, the better they taste.
As Blue Cheeses age, they become more intolerable to those not accustomed to this type of cheese. The moment you try a blue cheese, you will know whether or not the taste has become to overwhelming for your liking. While it will never put your health at stake, the age of a blue cheese may take a toll on your taste buds. The higher the moisture content in a blue cheese, the quicker it develops a more pungent taste. Wrapping these cheeses in foil will maintain their moisture content.
Source: http://www.thekitchn.com/the-cheesemongers-top-ten-rule-47335
