Search Results for: syrup
Charcuterie and Snack Inspiration
Always looking for inspiration, we have been eyeing the Instagram accounts of some very creative charcuterie artists. We can see some of our products working themselves into these beautiful presentations quite nicely!
Celebrate National Hot Chocolate Day!
Today, January 31st is National Hot Chocolate Day!
We thought you’d like to read some of our fun ideas for creating delicious hot chocolates. Whether you’re looking for topping ideas or a way to celebrate the day we have got you covered.
The Best Hot Chocolate
One of our favorite ways to make hot chocolate is to grate real chocolate into hot milk. You can try this with lots of different types and flavors of chocolate to find the best one for you.
Otherwise, the best hot chocolate is the one that you love! Try a few to find one that works best for you. Do you prefer it with hot milk or mixed with water? You could even try plant-based milks for a different flavor.
Play with toppings and syrups
You name it, it could be delicious on top of a hot chocolate! We’re sure someone has even tried crispy bacon bits on top of their whipped cream! So this is the time to get creative and experiment with something new.
There are the classics: marshmallows, cream, chocolate sprinkles. But you could also add cinnamon, sauces, nuts, marshmallow fluff, dried fruits, coconut shavings, or cereals. For extra decadence, try popping a chocolate truffle on the top and letting it melt in. You could even put a scoop of ice cream on the top for extra creaminess. If you add marshmallow fluff, try crisping it with a kitchen blow torch for a s’mores effect!
For extra flavor with your chocolate, you can pour in something a little extra. There are so many syrups available now and loads of them would be delicious in a hot chocolate. Try classics like peppermint, salted caramel or vanilla. You could even try making your own syrups at home with your favorite flavors. We highly recommend trying a bay syrup with your hot chocolate for a grown up twist. add a little of your favorite spirit. Whiskey or brandy work well but our favorite would have to be Irish Cream. You could try even flavored vodkas instead of syrup.
Friday Night Celebrating National Hot Chocolate Day
It’s a Friday so we think tonight is the perfect chance to gather some friends together, get cozy with a mug of hot chocolate and even a movie or even some board games. Why not have a competition to see who can create the most delicious and inventive hot chocolate? If you’ve got little ones they’re sure to enjoy a little sweet treat. You could use lower sugar hot chocolate to include them without it being too unhealthy.
If you want to celebrate in true Shisler’s Cheese House style, you’ll need our signature mug to enjoy your hot chocolate in. We even sell it as a gift set with some chocolates if you are a true chocoholic!
How are you celebrating National Hot Chocolate Day? Let us know in the comments below.
National Hot Toddy Day: Make One Today
Did you know that January 11th is National Hot Toddy Day?
If you’ve never had one of these classic drinks, read on to find out more about where it originated and how to make one for yourself at home.
A hot toddy is a warm cocktail of liquor, honey, water, herbs and spices. It’s perfect for curling up with on a winter’s day and some regard it as the perfect cure for a cold!
National Hot Toddy Day: The History
The history of the drink, along with its recipe, is contested. The word toddy comes from India, where it meant a drink made from fermented palm tree sap. The British adopted the idea and began to combine hot water with scotch whisky to warm up cold pub goers. The other story goes that an Irish doctor named Robert Bentley Todd began ordering his patients to drink a combination of hot brandy, cinnamon and sugar water. It then made its way across to us in America, where variations with rum and brandy were all made.
National Hot Toddy Day: The Recipe
The Classic
Makes 2
50ml whisky
3 tsp honey
1 cinnamon stick
1 lemon
2 cloves
Whisk the honey and whisky together, split between two heatproof glasses or mugs. Add half of the cinnamon stick to each and then top each of the mugs with 100ml boiling water. Add a splash of lemon juice to each, then taste and add more honey or lemon to your taste. Finish each drink with a slice of lemon studded with a clove.
Variations
Some people like to add tea to their hot toddies. Try it with earl grey for a lovely addition. You could use a teabag but the best thing is loose leaf tea in an infuser. If you want to add a bit of Canadian flavor, try replacing the honey with maple syrup.
You can use almost any spirit you like, but the best are usually whisky, rum or brandy. Try varying your spices too to enjoy different flavors. Pop in a cardamom pod or some star anise. You could also swap the lemon for orange!
National Milk Day
Not to worry if hot toddies aren’t your thing because today is also National Milk Day! Without milk we wouldn’t have our delicious cheese, so it’s definitely a day that we’re going to celebrate (albeit it with a hot toddy!). If you need to warm up but don’t need the liquor then a mug of hot milk with a teaspoon of vanilla bean paste and a pinch of grated nutmeg is the perfect thing. Nutmeg is actually proven to make you drowsy so it’s excellent if you’re heading off to bed for a good sleep. If it’s the morning, leave it out and simply enjoy a cosy moment to yourself.
Will you be making one this National Hot Toddy Day? Let us know in the comments below!
Easter Gifts For The Whole Family!
The time of year for celebration is upon us again! With Easter coming up this weekend, we have put together a list of delicious Easter gifts that you can buy right here at Shisler’s Cheese House. Read on to find out all about our gift options and how to make this Easter extra special.
Our Easter gift baskets are perfect for sharing with loved ones. You can purchase them online or in store. We can even deliver them straight to your family and friends to make gift giving as easy as possible. Inside you will find Marble Cheese, Dried Fruit Chips, Yogurt Pretzels, Heggy’s Chocolates, Wild Maple Walnut Syrup, and Muddy Trail Mix.
We created this mix of treats to make sure that everyone will love our gift basket. There’s chocolate for those with a sweet tooth and marble cheese for savory lovers, with dried fruit and trail mix to keep your energy up after all of the Easter fun.
If you’re looking to give a chocolate gift, then you need to look no further than Heggy’s Solid Chocolate Bunnies. These are a real treat with 20 oz of chocolate. They are available in both milk and white chocolate, so you can pick one up for everyone in the family.
If you are looking for some more grown-up chocolate options, check out our whole chocolate section. You’ll find dozens of products that will cater to every taste. Grab some Brazilian coconut or chocolate truffles for those friends that always want to try something new. You could take some Heggy’s milk chocolate turtles into work and share some Easter joy with your colleagues, but they’re certainly popular with the children as well! We offer sugar-free treats for anyone with a restricted diet.
We also have a range of other gift baskets for every taste. Pick from a simple selection of cheeses all the way up to a huge selection of locally sourced delicious treats. If you have your own Easter gifts in mind, we can create a custom basket for you. Custom baskets can include anything currently available on the website. This is perfect if you know someone who would prefer cheese and pickles to chocolate, even at Easter. You could create a box full of dark chocolate treats or even pick our healthier options such as our sugar-free chocolates. Call us today for a quote!
If you are ordering online, please check our shipping policy to ensure that your gifts will reach you in time. If you can, pop into the store. We love to meet our customers face to face and help you find the perfect Easter gifts.
We want to wish all of you a fantastic Easter weekend. How will you be celebrating? Let us know in the comments!
Seeds: How to Eat More of these Superfoods
Did you know that seeds are incredibly good for you?
Seeds contain high levels of essential fatty acids as well as lots of vitamins and minerals that can help to keep us healthy. Because they are so nutrient-rich, you don’t need to eat a lot each day to get the health benefits of them. A tablespoon a day is more than enough.
We’ve put together a list of ideas to help you eat more and get the goodness into your diet. We stock both sunflower and pumpkin seeds which will both work well in any of the options below.
Seeds: On Cereal
Start your day with a spoonful of seeds sprinkled on top of your usual cereal. Even better, you could have seeds as part of a bowl of granola or muesli. You can easily make your own granola by choosing a selection of oats, nuts, and seeds and gently roasting them in the oven. Drizzle them with honey or maple syrup if you like them to be slightly sweet, or mix in a selection of dried fruit before storing the granola away.
On Yogurt
Yogurt can be a great healthy snack if you choose one that is low in sugar and fat. It is full of protein and when sprinkled with seeds will give you the energy to take you right through the day. If you find yourself experiencing a mid-afternoon moment of tiredness then why not pack a pot of yogurt and a small tub of them to enjoy wherever you happen to be?
Stir Fry
Next time you whip up a quick stir fry of your favorite meats and vegetables, add a spoonful towards the end of cooking. Not only will they add a crunchy texture, but they’ll toast beautifully and add plenty of nutty flavor to your dish. Just be careful not to burn them.
Salads
Of course, salads had to be on this list. You always want to be adding texture and protein to your salad and seeds are a quick and easy way to do this. If you are often making a quick lunch at the office, keep a pot of them at your desk or in your car so that you can quickly add them without any fuss.
Soups
Instead of a swirl of cream, try a smattering of seeds! They’re better for you and add both texture and flavor to your dish. Even if you haven’t made the soup from scratch yourself, you can make it seem like a put together meal.
Trail Mix
This is another option that you can make yourself with all of your favorite ingredients, but if you need a quick and easy option then our diet trail mix contains nuts, seeds, and fruits to give you a boost of energy.
We hope that these handy tips will help you to get some of those essential fatty acids and vitamins into your day to day meals. How do you like to eat seeds? Let us know in the comments!
A Guide to Wine Cocktails
Sometimes you want to throw a party that is a little out of the ordinary. Perhaps you have a special birthday or anniversary coming up? One way that we like to create a special atmosphere is to serve a signature drink. Today we are going to help you explore the unusual world of wine cocktails. First, we’ll explain two of the ingredients as they aren’t your usual red or white wine!
Ingredients for Wine Cocktails: Vermouth
Vermouth is flavoured with an infusion of herbs, spices and peels and is one of the most widely used aromatized wines. An aromatized wine is a fortified wine that has had flavours such as herbs, spices, and fruits added to it. It is made by using a base wine which has alcohol and dry ingredients added that will infuse flavor. It may then by sweetened with cane sugar or caramelized sugar. Red vermouths are usually sweeter, whilst pale vermouths will be dry.
Ingredients for Wine Cocktails: Sherry
Sherry is a fortified wine made from white grapes that have been air-dried. It has a sweet, spiced taste almost like a Christmas cake. There is a wide variety of different sherries from dry Manzanilla to sweet Pedro Ximenez. It works well with spirits such as whiskey and combines with citrus flavours.
Wine Cocktails
Sherry Cobbler
This is said to date back to the 1820s and 1830s. It’s a simple way of drinking sherry that allows the flavours to shine through. The ingredients are muddled and then shaken over ice. Garnish it with a lemon wheel, berries and mint.
- Amontillado Sherry
- Simple syrup
- Orange slices
French 75
A slightly sweet cocktail that is best served very cold. Make sure that you use a chilled glass and mix everything together well to keep it fresh. The gin, lemon juice and syrup are mixed and then topped up with champagne. Garnish with a lemon twist for extra flair.
- Gin
- Lemon juice
- Simple syrup
- Champagne
Sangria
This is a classic Spanish cocktail that combines wine with fruity flavours. It is usually garnished with plenty of fruit including slices of orange, lemon and apples.
- Wine – a dry red is usually best as you are adding sweetness
- Brandy
- Triple sec
- Fruit juice – usually orange
- Simple syrup
- Lemonade is sometimes used, especially in white wine sangrias
Martini
The classic cocktail, a martini can be made with vodka or gin. Served in a martini glass, it’s probably one of the most glamorous things that you can order at a bar. It is sometimes garnished with a lemon twist or an olive.
- 6 parts gin/vodka
- 1 part dry vermouth
Do you ever make wine cocktails? Which is your favorite? Let us know in the comments below!
Foods To Try If You’re Going Sugar Free
We know that more and more people are trying to cut sugar out of their diet. You might have some health concerns and be trying to combat them with a low sugar diet. You might simply want to explore alternatives. Today we’re going to share with you some of our products which can help you to reduce sugar cravings whilst still enjoying balanced, healthy meals.
The first thing we would recommend is going to our Skinny Alternatives section. Here, you’ll find healthy cheeses, sugar-free chocolates, calorie-free dressings and a wide range of snacks.
Sugar Free Chocolate
We stock a wide range of sugar free chocolates including the Cashew Praline, Mint Meltaway, and Peanut Clusters. All of these deliver great taste and texture without the sugar so that you can enjoy a treat without worrying about your health.
Walden Farms: Sugar Free Syrups and Dips
We’re proud to stock Walden Farms products here at Shisler’s Cheese House. We stock their syrup in Blueberry, Chocolate, and Strawberry, as well as their pancake syrup. You can enjoy delicious syrup with no calories, fat, carbs, gluten or sugars of any kind. They are made with concentrated fruit extract and natural flavor. Enjoy them in a glass of milk, over ice cream, with fresh fruit or in a smoothie. Make yourself some easy sugar free pancakes and drizzle them with pancake syrup for an amazing healthy breakfast or dessert.
Our favorite sugar free batter recipe is to mix:
2 mashed bananas
2 eggs
1/2 cup wholewheat flour
1/4 cup milk
1/2 tsp baking soda
1/4 tsp salt
Once you have a nice smooth batter, simply drop spoonfuls into a hot pan and then flip when you start to see air bubbles appearing. They’re quick and delicious!
Walden Farms also make calorie free dips in both chocolate and caramel flavor. The chocolate dip is made with premium natural cocoa beans, real chocolate, and other natural flavors, while the natural caramel flavor is great with slices of apple or pear.
As if that wasn’t enough, there is also a calorie free marshmallow dip! It is made with all natural vanilla flavor and is delicious with your favorite fruits, in a parfait, a smoothie, with yogurt, or as a topping on pudding or Jell-O. You’ll be spoilt for choice!
Walden Farms Calorie Free Salad Dressings
We’re also lucky enough to have a whole range of calorie free salad dressings, so you can avoid the hidden sugar that pops up even in savory dishes. Choose from a wide range of flavors including Ranch, Italian Sun Dried Tomato, and Honey Dijon. Just like the syrups, they have no calories, fat, carbs, gluten or sugars of any kind.
Try them drizzled over salads, as flavor in your sandwiches or as a marinade for grilled meats, fish or vegetables.
We hope you’ve enjoyed our exploration of our sugar free range. Hopefully, you found something to try this week. What are your favorite ways to reduce the sugar in your diet? Let us know in the comments below!
Gouda: Everything You Need to Know
We love to help you get to know our cheeses here at Shisler’s Cheese House. Today, we are taking a look at Gouda.
What is Gouda cheese?
Gouda is a yellow cow’s milk cheese. It usually has a red or yellow wax coating. Ours is imported from the Netherlands, where it originated.
How is Gouda made?
It is made by culturing and heating the milk until the curd separates from the whey. When some of it is drained, water is added, which is called “washing the curd”. This process gives a sweeter flavor to the cheese as the washing removes some of the lactic acid. It is aged in cellars for at least 4 weeks. Extra mature versions will have been aged for 7 to 8 months, although it may be left for over a year to become even more flavorful and crunchy.
What does it taste like?
As the cheese ages, it develops a caramel-like sweetness. It sometimes has a slight crunch from the tyrosine crystals that resemble salt. The longer it is aged, the more aromatic and flavored it becomes.
We also sell a Smoked Gouda which is infused with a lovely smoky flavor.
What should I eat it with?
For the simplest snack, serve cubes of Gouda with a dipping mustard as they would do in the Netherlands.
Gouda pairs very well with fruit such as apples and pears. It is also great with other sweet flavors including honey and syrup.
It melts deliciously, so try a slice in your favorite grilled cheese sandwich for extra flavor and that incredible melted cheese effect. Try adding some wholegrain mustard to a grilled cheese. The nuttiness of the cheese pairs really well with the spice of the mustard.
This is also a fantastic cheese to add to a cheese sauce as it will add an extra punch of flavor. Mix it into pasta dishes or grate it over roasted vegetables for a simple cheesy side dish.
If you like to make quick snacks for parties, then you can use this to make quick cheese straws with flaky pastry or layer it vegetables to stuff jalapeno peppers for a spicy treat.
What should I drink it with?
For a special occasion, this cheese is delicious with a glass of champagne or sparkling wine. Other white wines that work well are those that have fruit flavors such as a Sauvignon Blanc or Riesling. If you prefer red wine, we would recommend something light but fruity with a smoky undertone, such as a Beaujolais or a Pinot Noir. A Cabernet Sauvignon would go well with an aged Gouda, although it may overpower a younger cheese. A smoked Gouda is delicious with a glass of spicy Pinot Noir or a Chardonnay.
This cheese also goes very well with beer from light lagers and pale ales to a hearty porter or stout. You could even try it with spirits like Brandy or Calvados.
How do you like to eat your Gouda? Let us know in the comments!
How to Make the Perfect Crepe
Do you love a crepe for breakfast? Perhaps you want to wow your guests with savory ones at a party? Look no further. Today we’ll tell you how to make the perfect crepe. We even have some topping suggestions!
History of the crepe
A crepe is a very thin pancake. Unlike American pancakes, they are very fragile in texture and can even appear lacy.
Crepes actually originate from the Greek Tiganitai, from tiganos meaning frying pan, which literally translates into English as pancakes. The French crêpe derives from the Latin crispa, meaning tiganitai with creases.
In France, crepes are traditionally served on Candlemas (February 2). If you toss a crepe in a frying pan in your right hand, whilst holding a gold coin in your left hand, it is said that you will become rich for the year ahead. The shape of the crepe is often also seen as symbolic of the sun.
Crepes are also popular across other parts of Europe and are referred to by many names. In Spain, they are traditionally served at carnivals, where they are sometimes made with pork blood instead of milk.
You will need:
1 cup all-purpose flour
1 tablespoon sugar
0.25 teaspoon salt
1.5 cups of milk
3 tablespoons of unsalted butter, melted
How to make the crepes:
- Mix all ingredients in a blender. This will create a puree and will ensure that all of the ingredients are mixed well. If you don’t have a blender you can do this by hand, but ensure that you mix thoroughly.
- Bubbles will form on the top when the batter is ready. Allow it to sit at room temperature for 15 minutes. If you are preparing ahead for a dinner party, it can be kept in the fridge for 1 day.
- Heat a non-stick 12inch skillet over a medium heat. Add a little butter and allow this to melt and coat the pan.
- Add 1/3 of a cup of batter, swirl it to evenly cover the pan, and cook until golden brown. This should take 2 to 3 minutes.
- Carefully flip the crepe using a silicone spatula. Cook for another minute and remove from the pan.
- Continue with the remaining batter, adding butter before each crepe.
Toppings
Now you can get creative! We like to fill our crepe and roll it up, but you can serve them open if you like.
Try sweet toppings like chocolate, maple syrup, marshmallows, cinnamon, baked apples, peaches and cream. We have a huge range of syrups for you to drizzle on.
If you prefer a savory crepe, then cheese is an excellent choice. We especially like ricotta with spinach or gruyere with ham.
The best thing is that you can experiment and find your favorite flavor combinations.
Enjoy your crepes!
Coffee Types and How to Make Them at Home
Do you love coffee? We do!
We stock Reach Coffee, speciality beans from the region of Chanchamayo, Peru roasted in Cleveland, Ohio.
Today we’re going to show you how to make a variety of different coffees so that you can get the coffee shop experience at home.
If you are using a machine or espresso maker, you will need a fine grind. If you use a press or another coffee brewing method, you can use a coarser grind, but be aware that you will need to give the coffee time to brew to your desired strength.
Americano
A shot of espresso topped up with hot water. This is probably the easiest of the coffees to make. You could add milk, but this is best drunk without.
Cappuccino
A cappuccino is a shot of espresso with an equal amount of steamed and frothed milk added. To make one you will need a fine grind of your beans so that you get a strong espresso. Make an espresso shot using your coffee maker of choice, then steam your milk. Froth it using an electric whisk or a milk frother, if you have one. You are looking for a lot of foam to get the true cappuccino experience. Pour the milk on top of the coffee. Top with a sprinkling of cinnamon, cocoa or nutmeg.
Latte
A latte is half steamed milk and half espresso. It is has a lot less froth than a cappuccino. Make the coffee shot first. Froth the milk slightly and then slowly pour it down the side of the cup so that it infuses with the coffee. If you’re feeling fancy, you can even try to pour it into some latte art!
Flat White
A flat white is simply a latte without the froth! Steam your milk and pour it over a shot of espresso
Mocha
A mocha is a mix of hot chocolate and coffee. Use the best quality hot chocolate that you can find. Make it with steamed milk and then add a shot of espresso. For an extra treat, top with whipped cream and a sprinkling of grated chocolate.
You can also make a mocha by making a latte and adding some chocolate syrup to it.
Espresso con Panna
A delicious morning treat. Simply make a shot of espresso. Top with a layer of whipped cream. Enjoy!
Macchiato
A small amount of frothed milk on top of a shot of espresso. This is really simple to make, but remember that this is the classic macchiato so it might not be like the ones in your favorite coffee shops!
We hope you’ve enjoyed our quick tutorial on some of the different drinks that you can make. It really is easy to make them at home when you understand the different types. Which coffee is your favorite? Let us know in the comments!
