Category: Holidays
Happy Valentine’s Day!
We wanted to wish all of our customers a very Happy Valentine’s Day!
Whether you’re celebrating love this week or taking some time to celebrate yourself, we wanted to share some ideas for making the day extra special.
We’ve created two fabulous gift boxes that are sure to hit the right note on February 14th.
Our Valentine’s Day All Chocolate Gift Box is perfect for those with a sweet tooth. Inside you’ll find a Heggy’s Solid Milk Chocolate Heart, Chocolate Cheese, Heggy’s Milk Chocolate Turtles, and two kinds of chocolate covered fruit!
With this much chocolate packed in, your loved ones will be thinking of you for a long time.
Our Valentine’s Day Gift Box combines some of our favorite treats. Inside you’ll find Havarti Cheese, a Heggy’s Milk Chocolate Heart, Strawberry Cheesecake Swirl Fudge, Strawberry Caramel Creams and Yogurt Covered Cranberries.
This is the ideal gift if you’re preparing a special dinner and want to have cheese and sweet treats to complete the evening.
If these selections aren’t quite right for your loved ones, check out our huge range of gift boxes. You’re sure to find something that will help you demonstrate your love.
Now all that’s left to do is plan the perfect date night. Here are some ideas that we love!
1. Movie night
Whether you head out to the cinema or stay in with lots of blankets curled up on the sofa, watching a movie together is always fun. Choose a classic that you’ve seen before so that you two can reminisce about your first dates and make sure that you’ve got plenty of popcorn!
2. Hiking
Grab some trail mix and head out for a hike. This is a great way to get to know your partner better, as you support each other to get to your destination. Take along a picnic for an even more romantic day.
3. Take a brewery or winery tour
This is a super fun way to spend an evening. Find a local brewery or winery that holds tours and head along. You’ll learn something new about how your favorite tipple is made and you might even get to try some samples along the way!
4. Take a cooking class
Instead of putting the pressure on one person to cook a stunning meal this Valentine’s Day, or booking a busy restaurant, why not head to a cooking class? You’ll be sure to have fun goofing around and you should get a great meal out of it at the end. If it’s a disaster, you can always grab a takeaway and file it away in your funny stories to tell the kids.
5. Go to a spa
The ultimate in relaxing dates, if you are both in need of some time out then book into a spa. Whether you try out the treatments on offer or simply sip champagne in the hot tub is up to you, but it’s always good to find time to relax.
However you are spending your Valentine’s Day, we hope that it is one filled with love!
Happy New Year!
We wanted to wish all of our customers, both near and far, a very Happy New Year!
We hope that 2019 will bring you everything that you are hoping for. If you’re setting New Years’ resolutions then we wish you well with them. If they are to try new things or taste new flavors then pop in and let us help you out!
Whether you’re getting straight back into work or taking some well-earned rest, we wish you a very happy start to the year.
Thank you to all of the wonderful customers who have supported us in 2018, we look forward to helping you in 2019!
Introducing our new Deluxe Gift Box!
We’re super excited to share our new Deluxe Gift Box with you today here at Shisler’s Cheese House.
It contains more of our favorite Amish products than ever:
- Troyer’s Trail Bologna Ring 1 Lb.
- Shisler’s Gift Mug with 1/2 Pound of Heggy’s Chocolates
- Shisler’s Private Label Apple Butter
- Shisler’s Private Label Hot Mustard
- Wheel of Colby 3/4 Lb.
- Wheel of Cojack (Marble) 3/4 Lb.
- Block of Swiss Cheese
- Baby Swiss Cheese Wedge
- Summer Sausage Link
- Crackers
- Muffin mix
- Shisler’s Cheese House T-Shirt
The Troyer’s Trail Bologna Ring is a chunky, all-beef bologna with a smoky taste, created by the fourth generation of the Troyer family.
Our gift mug is a new edition to the range so that lovers of Shisler’s Cheese House can share their pride as they drink their morning coffee. We’ve filled it with 1/2 a pound of Heggy’s Chocolates. We are super proud to include Heggy’s Chocolates in our boxes. They match our tradition of excellence in hand-crafted chocolates.
Shisler’s Private Label Apple Butter is made from the best locally grown Apples and locally produced Amish Butter, perfect for spreading on toast or stirring into your recipes. We also love our Private Label Mustard, which can be used as a dipping mustard or spread into sandwiches.
Colby cheese is a semi-hard cow’s milk cheese native to the United States. It is very mild and creamy. 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.
Cojack cheese is a blend of Monterey Jack and Colby cheese, marbled together to create a striking effect. Monterey Jack is a buttery, semi-firm cheese which originated in California. It is usually only aged for around a month, making it a fresh, fairly soft cheese to enjoy.
Swiss Cheese is a holey, semi-hard cheese with a creamy color. It has a nutty, slightly piquant flavor whilst simultaneously being somewhat creamy. It’s delicious in a sandwich or served cut into cubes alongside salads and hams. It works well with most meats and is particularly good with a beef burger.
You’ll also get a wedge of Baby Swiss Cheese, which substitutes water for the milk’s whey to slow the bacterial action. This creates smaller holes and a milder flavor. With all of this cheese, we’ve given you crackers so that you have something to enjoy it with!
Summer Sausage can be kept without refrigeration, which is how it gained its name. Ours is smoked, rather than dried, with a tangy taste. It’s certainly too good to be kept for only the Summer season.
We know this is going to make an amazing gift for some of your loved ones during the holiday season. Snap one up today!
Get Prepared with Our Thanksgiving Checklist
We know that you will all be excited for Thursday, so we’ve put together a Thanksgiving Checklist to make sure that you’re completely ready for the festivities.
1. The Turkey
You need a turkey! Now is also the time to make sure that you have a big enough dish to cook your turkey in. If you’re brining your turkey, then check that you have a large receptacle to keep it in. You’ll want to start this process up to 24 hours before you are ready to roast.
2. The Sides
You’ll know which sides are family favorites, but you might also be trying to branch out a little, especially if it’s your first time hosting. Make sure that you have all the vegetables in advance. You can also start prepping and storing them ahead of time so that everything is simple on the day. If you are making stuffing, stock up on ingredients and dry out your bread.
3. The Sauces
Cranberry sauce and gravy are absolute essentials that can both be made ahead.
4. Dessert
Whether you’re buying your desserts or making them, no Thanksgiving meal is complete without a sweet treat.
5. Drinks
Make sure that you have stocked up on a range of wines and beers. You might want spirits to make cocktails and you’ll also need non-alcoholic options for little ones and those who are driving. Put anything that needs to be chilled into the refrigerator ahead of time.
6. Snacks
For those moments when you get last-minute guests or you all need a snack as you settle down in front of the TV. Make this even easier by picking up our Thanksgiving Menu Collection. It includes Troyer’s Trail Bologna Ring, Cheddar Cheese, Cranberry Delight Mix, Shisler’s Private Label Apple Butter, Pumpkin Muffin Mix, and Uncle Ozgood’s Popcorn on the Cob. It’ll tick this straight off your Thanksgiving checklist without any stress at all.
7. Table settings
Whether you prefer a minimalist or plentiful style, it makes the day seem like an occasion if you set a table. Use your best dishes and flatware, light candles and create a centerpiece that will welcome your guests.
8. Prepare for house guests
If you are having house guests, prepare for their arrival. Make sure the beds have clean linens and that you’ve collected together any supplies that will be needed. Providing the WiFi password written down somewhere will stop people asking you for it when you are preparing dinner, although you might want to take the opposite approach and ask people to put their phones away at the door!
9. Prepare for leftovers
Make sure that you have bread in the house for turkey sandwiches! Collect some boxes ready for guests to take away leftover treats to enjoy in the days after Thanksgiving.
10. Entertain the kids
If you’ve got kids coming to your celebration, collect together a few activities to keep them happy whilst the adults are chatting.
We hope that our Thanksgiving checklist has helped you to prepare for a wonderful day. We’re wishing you all a brilliant Thanksgiving, whether you’re celebrating with family or friends.
Thanksgiving Make-Ahead Recipes
Relieve the stress of entertaining over the holiday season with our selection of Thanksgiving make-ahead recipes that will keep the whole family happy.
Thanksgiving Make-Ahead: Mashed Potatoes
You can make your mashed potatoes up to two days ahead of time. Cool them and then simply store in an airtight container in the fridge. When you are ready to serve, put the mashed potatoes in a pan with a small amount of milk or cream. Warm up over a low heat, continually stirring to avoid any of the potatoes becoming burnt.
Thanksgiving Make-Ahead: Cranberry Sauce
If you like to make cranberry sauce, you can cool, cover and chill it for up to a week before serving. This is great if you want to get everything prepared the weekend before Thanksgiving. It also means that you have cranberry sauce on hand if it is required as an ingredient for any of the other cooking preparations. Of course, you can buy cranberry sauce, but it is a nice relaxing activity to make your own and can be a great task for kids as long as they are careful about the heat.
Thanksgiving Make-Ahead: Dinner Rolls
When making bread, there are several ways to make it ahead to reduce the amount that you need to do on the day. You can make and shape the dough into rolls, or even a loaf if that’s what you prefer, and then cover it and chill. This will stop the dough from rising. You can then take them from the fridge when you are ready to let them rise. This can take around 3 hours, and then they will be ready to bake.
Alternatively, prove and bake your dough ahead of time and freeze the rolls. Then you’ll simply need to remove them from the freezer the evening before ready to eat for Thanksgiving.
Thanksgiving Make-Ahead: Pie!
Whatever pie your family holds dear as their favorite, there are ways to make them ahead so that you can take your time over the sweet treats. You can make the crust ahead of time and chill it for 2 days before use. You could also make the filling and store it in an airtight container, ready for assembly the night before. Making your pies the day before means that they can simply sit in the refrigerator ready to be warmed when the time comes to eat them.
We hope that you’ve enjoyed our selection of Thanksgiving make-ahead recipes and they have given you some inspiration to help you prepare over the next week. Let us know how you get ahead in the comments!
We’ve made entertaining a crowd easier than ever this year with our Thanksgiving Menu Collection. It contains a Troyer’s Trail Bologna Ring, Cheddar Cheese, Cranberry Delight Mix, Shisler’s Private Label Apple Butter, Pumpkin Muffin Mix, and Uncle Ozgood’s Popcorn on the Cob. There’s something for everyone to enjoy and you can use the pumpkin muffin mix for another great Thanksgiving make-ahead that will save you time when your guests arrive.
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!
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!
Have a Fun Labor Day Weekend!
We want to wish you all a really fun Labor Day weekend.
For many of us, this weekend marks the end of summer and the beginning of school or work.
If you’re barbecuing this weekend, check out our barbecue checklist or post on great marinades. For summer drinks inspiration, read our list of fun options that you can whip up easily at home or take to the beach. Create a charcuterie board or cheeseboard to impress your guests.
You could add extra cheese to your party with one of our gift boxes, perfect for sharing with family and friends. Our White Wine Collection and Beer Collection are ideal boxes for a great party. Check our gourmet foods section for snacks to keep you going whilst you go for a hike or simply explore your local area. There are so many options, we know that you’ll find something delicious.
It’s the perfect time to make the most of your yard before fall sets in. Celebrating outside also reduces the need for clean up time and means that you can cook out on the grill.
Involve the kids in the celebration. After all, they will be enjoying this time with you before they head back to school. You could let them pick some of the dishes for the table and even let them help you to create them in the kitchen. For younger children, they can still help with decorations or with simple creations such as a cheeseboard. Getting everyone involved has the added benefit of reducing everyone’s workload. As it’s supposed to be a holiday for us all, everyone pitching in is helpful in making sure everyone gets to enjoy some down time.
For this special occasion, you might want to consider your table settings. Even if you’re not having a sit-down meal, you will probably be creating some kind of buffet spread to share. Adding fresh flowers will bring summer right into the party and a little bit of sparkle in the form of some glitter or confetti would also look great. If you want to stick to a theme, why not go for white table settings? You could even have guests take the last chance to wear summery, white outfits. Just be careful that whatever food you are serving doesn’t have too much potential to stain.
We also love fireworks for a celebration. Stock up for your own display or find out where you can see them in your city. Get a big group together to watch and enjoy a moment of childlike wonder under the bright lights.
However you’re celebrating, let’s also remember that this is a day to celebrate the contribution that workers make to our country and our economy. It’s a moment to be grateful for that and for our family and friends around us. As we say goodbye to summer, remember the good memories of the season and cherish them.
How will you be spending your Labor Day weekend? Let us know in the comments!
Get ready for the 4th July!
4th July is here again! We’ve put together a few tips for you to help prepare for tomorrow’s festivities.
Food
Food is, of course, one of the most important parts of any 4th July celebration!
Take a look at our barbecue checklist if you’re going to be grilling with your family. If you’re holding more of a formal dinner, read all about how to create a beautiful table setting. We know you might be serving beer, so if you’re looking for some cheese to enjoy we recommend our beer collection. It contains Brick Cheese, Gouda, Gruyere and Ohio Premium Swiss Cheese, so you’ll have a great selection to share. Add a few pickles and some ham and you’ve got a board that will keep even the hungriest guests happy.
Make it easy with a great selection of salads, grilled meats, and cheeses. Stock up on snacks to keep energy levels high and you’ll be partying into the night.
Drinks
You’ll need something to wash down all the fabulous. Check out our list of perfect summer drinks to get inspiration. It’s the perfect time to make a pitcher of something refreshing and allow everyone to help themselves. Remember that everyone needs a chance to celebrate so you don’t want to be stuck in the kitchen making food and mixing drinks!
For true simplicity, fill a cooler with beer and soft drinks and you won’t even have to worry about preparing anything.
Festivities
It’s time to set off some fireworks! Stock up and put on a real display for your family and friends. Make sure to stay safe and take all necessary precautions. You’re sure to be able to find local parties if you can’t host at home.
We love to play some games when we get together as a family. Whether it’s running around with super soakers, playing bingo or taking part in a scavenger hunt, creating a simple activity can elevate your party to the next level.
We want to wish all of our customers a happy and healthy Independence Day. We hope it means time spent with family or friends, but if it doesn’t we hope that you get to take a moment for your own personal celebration.
Let us know how you’ll be celebrating this 4th July in the comments.
