Category: Meats
Smoked Meats: Recipe Ideas
We know that you are always looking for new recipe ideas and we always want to make sure that you have them. We also love to help you find new products that you can enjoy from Shisler’s Cheese House. Today we’re exploring our range of smoked meats from Streb Meats to show you how you might use them.
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. Their American made quality has always been a proud addition to our top quality product lineup. Pop in today and you’ll find us ready to serve you up some of their delicious creations with plenty of ideas for how to enjoy them at home.
Streb Meats Boneless Smoked Ham
We love Streb Meats’ fresh cut, fully cooked, and locally raised Boneless Smoked Ham. It’s great in sandwiches, with or without cheese, and we particularly recommend adding some pickle or relish.
It’s also brilliant shredded into casseroles or mixed into pasta dishes. This is one of our favorite smoked meats because it’s can be used in so many different ways. You can allow it to add subtle flavor or be the star of the show.
Streb Meats Fresh Smoked Sausage
Our fresh smoked sausage is another firm favorite from Streb Meats.
It’s great in a fresh tomato sauce with pasta and a good grating of Parmesan. We also recommend making a breakfast skillet with potatoes, onions, garlic, and smoked sausage. This is especially delicious with a poached egg on top!
Add excitement to baked beans with some smoked sausage and a good dose of barbecue sauce. It’s also delicious in lots of rice and pasta dishes.
Streb Meats Smoked Bacon
Our final choice in today’s list of smoked meats is smoked bacon. Of course, there are so many ways to use bacon.
Cook up the classics like spaghetti carbonara or a quiche lorraine to get a full hit of bacon flavor. Fry up some bacon with pancakes for a weekend breakfast treat.
We also love to use it as a quick flavor boost for salads. Simply fry some slices of bacon and crumble them over your dish.
For a surprising addition to your dishes, try making bacon butter. Finely chop cooked bacon, in a food processor if you have one. Mix the pieces into some butter, add freshly ground black pepper, and then blend again until combined. Pop this in a dish or wrap it and chill for up to 3 days. Try serving it with greens, corn on the cob, or rustic stews.
To complement smoked meats, look for bold wines with spice and oakiness. A Zinfandel would work well, or for something more unusual pick up a bottle of white Rioja. For beer lovers, try an India Pale Ale.
How do you like to use smoked meats in your cooking? Let us know your ideas in the comments below!
Troyer’s Trail Bologna: Try it Today!
For three generations we at Shisler’s Cheese House have prided ourselves on providing the best examples of local fare to tourists and locals alike. Troyer’s Trail Bologna is one of the best examples of local fare we can recommend. Our Trail Bologna comes from the fourth generation of the Troyer family, so don’t be fooled by imitators!
What is Troyer’s Trail Bologna?
Chunky bologna, made with coarse cuts of meat. Trail Bologna originates from the Troyer family in the tiny town of Trail, Ohio. One of the best flavors of Amish Country! Enjoy the smoky taste of Trail Bologna.
Trail Bologna was named after Trail, a village in Ohio that is too small to have a zip code of its own! The Troyer family has been making their quality wood-smoked Trail Bologna here for four generations, starting in 1912, when Michael Troyer created a unique blend of special seasonings to make his now famous all-beef Trail Bologna. The family continues the tradition of excellence to this day by making literally tons of savory treats daily.
How should I eat it?
Troyer’s Trail Bologna great served as part of a cheese and charcuterie board. It is usually thinly sliced and served with cubes of cheese. We recommend that it is best enjoyed with Swiss Cheese, Baby Swiss Cheese, Cheddar Cheese, or Hot Pepper Cheese for those with a more daring palate. You can, of course, enjoy it in sandwiches or wraps as well. If you want a real treat, make a Swiss cheese and bologna sandwich and pour yourself a glass of Malbec! Troyer’s themselves recommend a salad of lettuce, spinach, plenty of tomatoes, onions, and croutons along with some shredded Swiss and Troyer’s, paired with French dressing. A brilliant lunch!
Troyer’s recently added Trail Bologna infused with cheddar cheese or with hot pepper cheese to their product offering. We are proud to carry both. When warmed, the cheese melts, creating an extra delicious treat.
Can I give it as a gift?
Yes! We think this is a great gift for someone that you want to share some local flavor with or anyone who has lived in Ohio. As it’s so popular, we offer it in several of our gift boxes.
Our classic combination box includes a 2 Lb. Baby Swiss Wheel, Troyer’s Trail Bologna Ring, 8 Oz. Colby Cheese, Shisler’s Private Label Mustard, Carr’s Crackers, and Assorted Chocolates.
You can also try it with a simple cheese selection, which includes a 1 Lb. Troyer’s Trail Bologna Ring, 3/4 Lb. Wheel of Colby, 3/4 Lb. Wheel of Farmers, and Assorted Chocolates.
For more extravagant gifts that include Troyer’s Trail Bologna, try the Amish Country Sampler Gift Box or our recent addition, the Shisler’s Cheese House Deluxe Gift Box. If you would like to create a hamper of your own choosing, simply get in touch and we’ll do what we can to help.
Have you tried Troyer’s Trail Bologna? How do you like to eat it? Let us know in the comments below!
How to Create a Charcuterie Board
We’ve shown you how to create a balanced cheeseboard before, but today we want to help you create a great charcuterie board. Add a bottle of wine, and you’ve got a party! Read on to find out about all of our tips. We hope that it will inspire you to host your family or friends and treat them to a selection of your favorites.
- Think about colors and textures
You want to make your charcuterie board as vibrant and interesting as possible. Try to include a variety of colors and textures that will entice your guests. After all, they do say that we eat with our eyes first. Arrange the board so that the colors create contrast and draw you in.
- Create abundance
Try to make your board look as full as possible so that it seems like there is a real abundance of fantastic food on offer. If you’re serving a small group, use a smaller board so that you can still pile the produce high. Try layering each item up so that there is enough for all of your guests. You want them to be able to try everything instead of holding back.
- Include a variety of flavors
This is probably the easiest part of the process. Select some of your favorite meats, but try to think about your guests as well. Include both smoked and non-smoked meats, as well as sausage styles. Check out our selection – you’re sure to find something for every palate.
4. Add seasonal fruit
This is a great way to add color and flavor to your board. It will also give your guests a chance to experiment with different flavors. Classics would be apples or figs, but we know that you’ll find something original to try.
5. Find great jams, pickles, and preserves
We love adding pots of delicious preserves to a charcuterie board. Simply serve the jar and a spoon to encourage your guests not to be shy to try them. This will look much more elegant than trying to spoon it onto the board. Check out our Jams & Jellies and Pickles & Peppers sections.
6. Try something unexpected
Everyone has seen a charcuterie board with some simple cheeses and meats, so try to add an element of surprise. You could try nuts, crackers in unusual flavors or other snacks to add crunch to the board. You could even serve some chocolate for your guests to try. Experiment with your own ideas and see what your guests love.
We hope that you have enjoyed our charcuterie board tips. As always, try out different things to find the ones that you and your family love. Remember, if you pop into the store we are always on hand to help you pick out brilliant pairings. We can also recommend wine to drink with your charcuterie and cheese.
What would be on your perfect charcuterie board? Let us know in the comments!
Enjoy These WonderFALL Treats At Shisler’s Cheese House!
Fall is such a refreshing time of the year, the kids are back at school, the weather is cooling down, Halloween is just around the corner and most importantly, the Football Season has begun!
Come on down to Shisler’s Cheese House and check out these amazing gift boxes packed with dreamy treats for our Fall occasions!
If you are out of state, you can always visit our website and order your goodies online to be delivered straight to your door.
Going back to college this Fall? Come down and get yourself our ‘Back To School Care Package‘!
This gift box is perfect for students going back to college as it contains a selection of popular foods amongst young adults. If you are feeling homesick, these home comforts will help with that. You can share these treats with your friends and dorm mates, make a night of it! The good thing about this care package is that the items do not require refrigeration and are not very perishable.
This gift box is also rather good for military service men and women. Sending them a piece of home overseas is a perfect gesture.
The gift box contains generous amounts of the following items:
– Banana Split Mix
– Blue Raspberry Licorice
– Buggy Trail Mix
– Cinnamon Graham Pretzels
– Mikey’s Mix
– Peanut Butter Pretzels
– Shisler’s Private Label Raspberry Pretzel Dip
Taste the most amazing flavors of Fall in Amish Country without ‘Fall Harvest Collection‘ gift box!
What better way to welcome Fall into your home than enjoying our Fall Harvest Collection fresh from Amish Country. Not only will you be tasting the flavors of Fall, you will be supporting the local Amish community with their fresh and high-quality products.
This package is only available for a limited time.
The gift box includes:
– Baby Swiss Cheese (2 Lbs.)
– Streb Meats Smoked Sausage (1 Lb.)
– Cranberry Delight (1 Lb.)
– Pumpkin Muffin Mix
– Pumpkin Butter (Not Pictured)
– Popcorn on the Cob
Enjoy Football Sunday’s with a ‘Football Season Special‘!
What’s better than cheese and bologna while watching your favorite team win? Nothing is better than that! Order your Football Season gift box today ready for the weekend and all things Football. Our gift box is tailored for sport’s fans, containing a custom spread of cheese and trail bologna!
The gift box includes:
– Swiss Cheese
– Troyer’s Trail Bologna
– Pepper Jack Cheese
– Shisler’s Private Label Mustard
– Shisler’s Private Label Hot Pepper Relish
– Carr’s Crackers
Traditional Easter Sunday Dinner
Enjoy this Easter Sunday with a delicious, traditional Easter meal. A sweet-hot plum-glazed traditionally baked ham. Classic creamy casserole of scalloped potatoes and tender Asparagus Amandine to round out this deliciously pleasing family meal. Sliced strawberries and spiced pecans to create a wonderfully colorful Baby Blue Salad- a holiday favorite! Hope you’re not too full for dessert because you would not want to miss out on this irresistible coconut cake!
Image Source: thespruce.com/
Is your mouth watering? Find out how to create this perfect Easter meal for your family, below! (Serves 8)
Sweet-Hot Plum-Glazed Ham
Image Source: pinterest.com/pin/547468898422365369/
What You Need
1 cup plum preserves
1/2 cup orange juice
2 tablespoons lime juice
1 tablespoon yellow mustardH
1 tablespoon honey
2 teaspoons minced fresh ginger
1/2 teaspoon dried crushed red pepper
1 (7-lb.) smoked fully cooked, bone-in ham
Garnishes: pineapple, kiwifruit, green onions, black sesame seeds
What To Do
1. Firstly, stir together the first 7 ingredients on the list, in a saucepan over medium-high heat, bring them to a boil, while stirring constantly. After bringing to a boil, reduce heat to medium-low, continuing to stir. After preserves are melted and the mixture is blended, pour half of mixture into a microwave-safe bowl.
2. Trim excess fat on ham to 1/8- inch thickness. Place ham on a wire rack in aluminum foil-lined roasting pan. Brush ham with a portion of plum preserve mixture from the saucepan.
3. Bake ham uncovered at 350 degrees on lower oven rack for 1 hour and 30 minutes, basting with remaining plum preserve mixture in saucepan, every 30 minutes. Loosely cover with aluminum foil, and bake for 1 hour and 45 minutes or until thermometer registers 140 degrees, basting every 30 minutes. Let stand for 15 minutes before slicing. Garnish as desired.
4. Microwave the other plum preserve in the bowl on high for 1 minute and serve ham in with the warm mixture.
Classic Parmesan Scalloped Potatoes
Image Source: oprah.com/food/scalloped-potatoes
What You Need
1/4 cup butter
2 pounds Yukon gold potatoes, peeled and thinly sliced
3 cups whipping cream
2 garlic cloves, chopped
1 1/2 teaspoons salt
1/4 teaspoon freshly ground pepper
1/4 cup fresh flat-leaf parsley, chopped
1/2 cup (2 oz.) grated Parmesan cheese
What To Do
1. Melt butter in a large dutch oven over medium-high heat. Stir in potatoes and the next 5 ingredients on the list and bring to a boil. Reduce heat to medium- low, and cook, stirring gently for 15 minutes.
2. Spoon mixture into a lightly greased 13 x 9-inch baking dish and sprinkle with cheese.
3. Bake at 400 degrees for 25 to 30 minutes. Remove to a wire rack and let stand for 10 minutes before serving.
Asparagus Amandine
Image Source: closetcooking.com/2007/06/asparagus-amandine.html
What You Need
2 pounds fresh asparagus
2 tablespoons butter
1/4 cup sliced almonds
2 tablespoons diced red bell pepper
1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon pepper
What To Do
1. Snap off tough ends of asparagus. Cook in boiling salted water to cover in a large skillet for 3 minutes or until crisp and tender. Then drain.
2. Plunge asparagus into ice water to stop cooking, then drain.
3. Melt butter in a large skillet over medium heat, add almonds and saute for 2 to 3 minutes. Add asparagus and red bell pepper and cook for 3 to 5 minutes. Toss in lemon juice, salt, and pepper.
Baby Blue Salad With Fresh Pears
Image Source: showmetheyummy.com/pear-blue-cheese-candied-pecan-salad/
What You Need
2 (5-oz.) packages gourmet mixed salad greens, thoroughly washed
2 large Bartlett pears, cut into thin slices
1 qt. strawberries, quartered
4 ounces blue cheese, crumbled
What To Do
Place greens on 8 individual serving plates. Top evenly with pears and strawberries. Sprinkle with cheese and pecans. Serve with Balsamic Vinaigrette.
Lemon-Coconut Cake
Image Source: sallysbakingaddiction.com/2016/03/05/lemon-coconut-cake/
What You Need
1 cup butter, softened
2 cups sugar
4 large eggs, separated
3 cups all-purpose flour
1 tablespoon baking powder
1 cup milk
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Lemon Filling
Cream Cheese Frosting
2 cups sweetened flaked coconut
Garnishes: fresh rosemary sprigs, gumdrops
What To Do
1. Beat butter at medium speed with an electric mixer until fluffy; gradually add sugar, beating well. Add egg yolks, 1 at a time, beating until blended after each addition.
2. Combine flour and baking powder; add to butter mixture alternately with milk, beginning and ending with flour mixture. Beat at low speed until blended after each addition. Stir in vanilla.
3. Beat egg whites at high speed with electric mixer until stiff peaks form; fold one-third of egg whites into batter. Gently fold in remaining beaten egg whites just until blended. Spoon batter into 3 greased and floured 9-inch round cake pans.
4. Bake at 350 degrees for 18 to 20 minutes or until a wooden pick inserted in center comes out clean. Cool in pans on wire racks 10 minutes; remove from pans, and cool completely on wire racks.
5. Spread Lemon Filling between layers. Spread Cream Cheese Frosting on top and sides of cake. Sprinkle top and sides with coconut. Garnish, if desired.
It’s Not Too Late To Get Your Easter Goodies From Shisler’s Cheese House!
Easter is a very important Christian festival in which we come together and celebrate the resurrection of Jesus Christ. While it has great religious significance, it can always be an exciting time of the year, celebrating by coloring and decorating Easter eggs, enjoying special Easter Baskets and eating our body weight in chocolate!
Here at Shisler’s Cheese house, we have the answers to all your Easter food needs! Be it a beautiful Easter basket unlike any other, or a tasty Chocolate Bunny, we have what you want!
Tired of the same old boring Easter gift baskets? Send unique Easter gift baskets from Shisler’s Cheese House this Easter Season and surprise those that are special to you. If you would like to use your own unique Easter Basket Ideas, we also have custom baskets available. Just give us a call or stop by at one of our Cheese Houses!
Standard Easter Baskets Include:
– Marble Cheese
– Dried Fruit Chips
– Yogurt Pretzels
– Heggy’s Chocolates
– Wild Maple Walnut Syrup
– Muddy Trail Mix
Custom Easter Baskets can include anything currently available on our website and in store!
Also available for Easter are a wide selection of chocolate including our extra special Solid Heggy’s Chocolate Bunnies!
They are available in either milk or white chocolate and are 20 Oz.
Get your Easter goodies now!
https://cheesehouse.com/
55 Kidron Road
Orrville, Ohio 44667
330-682-2105
The Answer Is Feta
Image Source: irepo.primecp.com/2016/03/257238/recipe-1641_Large500_ID-1435983.jpg?v=1435983
Soaking chicken overnight in brine is an age-old technique. Brining a chicken seasons it through and through, locking in the moisture for tender meat.
However, unless you work in a Greek restaurant, going through 600 pounds of feta cheese a month, you probably won’t think to use feta as brine instead of plain salt water. At the Greek restaurant Souvla in San Francisco, that’s exactly what they did!
Image Source: 476343dd60686491a262-192409bd95508847c5120d21ffc8ab86.ssl.cf2.rackcdn.com/admin/uploads/transforms/20151023095545_576_13_704x388.jpg
The process of creating a feta brine involves the actual salt water liquid that preserves the cheese during storage. With going through so much feta cheese a month, the restaurant also went through a lot of the salt water solution that was used to store their feta. They were simply tired of seeing so much brine go to waste.
The brine is a lot more complex than salt water and has a fermented pickled flavor, along with an umami character which the restaurant knew could be repurposed. With that, Mr. Cervone came up with the brilliant idea to use the brine on the rotisserie chickens, which were served at the restaurant and sold as takeout. Not only did it make the chicken even more plump and juicy, it also added a pleasant earthiness to the meat. It also sparked immense popularity at the restaurant with how delicious the chicken is and now every night they go on sale, they are sold out very quickly!
Now although you may not have the commercially used feta brine, you can actually purée feta cheese in water and use that in its place. You marinate your chicken in the mix and store it overnight in the fridge. The following day, pat the chicken dry, cover it with lots of grated lemon zest, freshly ground black pepper, and dried oregano. You then roast it how you would any chicken and let your senses burst with this juicy, feta infused chicken!
Image Source: finecooking.com/CMS/uploadedImages/Images/Cooking/Articles/Issues_91-100/051100074-03-how-to-make-feta_ld.jpg
A Traditional St. Patrick’s Day Meal
Whether you enjoy dressing up in all green, enjoying the family festivities or getting absolutely wasted until the early hours, the most central part of any holiday is a great dinner – and a hearty, Irish meal is so important on St. Patrick’s day.
Image Source: noexcusesbbq.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/IMG_1920.jpg
Corned Beef Brisket, Cabbage, Potatoes, And Carrots
This incredible dish takes a whopping 10 hours to cook- but is so worth it! Back when St. Patrick’s day became a tradition, you might’ve found families corning their own beef, but nowadays there is absolutely nothing wrong with a delicious store-bought corned beef brisket. Like any holiday, getting up super early just to start cooking is a tradition- and this beef brisket definitely follows through on that tradition, cooking for 10 hours to ensure mouthwatering, tender, moist meat. Not only does it need to cook for 10 hours, you ideally need to let it cool for a day in its cooking liquid to ensure even more amazing flavor. Carrots, cabbage, and potatoes compliment this delicious hunk of meat perfectly, making every juicy mouthful a delight.
Champ
These mashed potatoes are definitely a dish for ‘champs’. Unlike normal mashed potatoes, champs are much creamier and are scallion-studded. They are enriched with milk and butter and are seasoned with salt and pepper, with finely sliced scallions added. The flavor is rich and extra zesty.
Stout-Battered Onion Rings
Onion rings may not be traditional to Irish culture, but stout definitely rings it in. Stout-battered onion rings are rich in flavor, with hints of paprika, honey, and mustard for spice and sweetness. These aren’t your typical onion rings- they are a special type, bursting with flavor, perfect for the special day of St. Patrick’s Day.
Soda Bread
Soda bread is a very traditional bread of the Irish, so it makes sense to enjoy it on St. Patrick’s Day! Soda bread is so dense and crumby and uses baking soda for leavening. It is also enriched with buttermilk and sweetened with honey. As opposed to the more traditional soaked raisins, using cranberries can be refreshing, along with it being studded with whiskey. If you aren’t a fan of Soda Bread, another option could be nutty Irish brown bread to accompany the meal.
Irish Coffee Ice Cream With Dark Chocolate and Pecans
Image Source: seriouseats.com/recipes/assets_c/2010/12/20101221-129824-coffee-caramel-ice-cream-thumb-625xauto-129798.jpg
There’s nothing that tops off a meal better than some ice cream, but even better, Irish ice cream on St. Patrick’s Day! This delicious dessert is bursting with buttery caramel, roasted coffee grounds and not forgetting the generous portion of Irish Whiskey! Its flavor is creamy and sweet, with a slight bitterness and smokiness to it, really complementing the other flavors. The dessert is finished off with crunchy candied pecans and shaved dark chocolate- because who doesn’t like chocolate?
Bring Life To Any Party With A Cheese & Salami Plate!
Have you ever been invited to a party and upon arriving, you’ve noticed not only how mundane the crowd is but how “bleh” the food is? There is a solution for such a crisis! As the old adage goes, “Be the difference that makes the difference”. This could not be truer in such an instance. If you want to add life to a mundane party, be the life of the party and it all starts with great food! Here is an idea for making you a top-notch “life of the party” invitee!
Image source: Rose2carmel
A big key to building a cheese and salami plate is letting your palate be your guide. Filling your platter with tastes you like, while paying extra attention to variety, is a good place to start. Here are a few tips on how to assemble your own cheese and salami plate:
Choose a variety of Cheeses
Having a broad spectrum of different cheeses will really help your plate. Ranging from a firm, aged, Spanish Manchego cheese to a soft and robust Taleggio cheese will make it all the more enjoyable. Added to the variety could be a Venissimo cheese which adds boldness to the mix, with the smoky and porky flavors! If you’re unsure of what variety you should choose, it’s always good to ask for recommendations at your local cheese shop too!
Choose a variety of Salami
You may want to only select a variety of different salami from the same brand, but you could mix it up a little by trying flavors from different brands which sound interesting to you. Some may be aged, spicy, or even herb crusted. There are so many possibilities out there! There will always be a variety which matches your palate.
Add sweet and spicy condiments into the mix
A big part of your plate will be the condiments alongside. Honey comb and Marcona almonds are great to accompany cheese and salami. Hot mustard, olives, and roasted red peppers also really bring out the flavor of the cheese and salami and the contrast so well together. Bread is the biggest, most popular condiment to go along with cheese and salami. A grilled baguette slice with olive oil brushed on can make for mouth-watering salami and cheese topped bites.
Serve at room temperature: A simple, but an important rule for a cheese and salami plate is that they must be served at room temperature, for the best taste. Serve when the cheese and salami have been out the refrigerator for around 20-30 minutes and enjoy!
