Tag fondue

NATIONAL GRILLED CHEESE SANDWICH DAY

Jensperspectiveblog 4 Comments

Each year, National Grilled Cheese Sandwich Day on April 12th recognizes one of the top comfort foods in the United States. Why wouldn’t it be when we’re talking about bread grilled to perfection, and warm, gooey, melted cheese. 

According to food historians, many cultures around the world have enjoyed cooked bread and cheese since ancient times. The United States modern version of the grilled cheese sandwich originated in the 1920s. As sliced bread and American cheese became easily available, Americans began making open-faced grilled cheese sandwiches. 

United States government cookbooks describe Navy cooks broiling “American cheese filling sandwiches” during World War II. 

Grilled cheese sandwiches are versatile thanks to the ability to mix and match cheeses, bread, and seasonings. Adding sauteed vegetables or herb-infused oils can elevate this simple comfort food to a whole other level.  

More to explore….

HOW TO OBSERVE #GrilledCheeseSandwichDay

  • Make your favorite version of a grilled cheese sandwich.
  • Share the best cheeses to make grilled cheese. Do you use American cheese or do you prefer Swiss? What’s your favorite cheese?
  • Serve it with your favorite soup and sides, too.
  • Layer it and make a double-decker grilled cheese sandwich. Add ham or bacon for extra flavor and variety.
  • Share with us all the ways you make grilled cheese sandwiches or try a new recipe.
  • Families, take this day to the next level and make personalized sandwiches. Get creative with your grilled cheese by bringing out the cookie cutters. Imagine the fun the kids will have and everyone can make unique-shaped sandwiches. Don’t fret about the crusts because you can dip them in your favorite sauces or soups. Try adding ranch, siracha or a dill dip. How will you mix it up?
  • My mom taught me that the best way to capture the gooey goodness is to butter both sides of your slices of bread.  3 slices of cheese, or my favorite 1/4 inch slab of Velveeta (best choice in my opinion), and make the outside golden brown.  To this day we still practice these methods…
  • Use #GrilledCheeseSandwichDay to post on social media.
Aigostar Sandwich Maker with Non-stick Deep Grid Surface for Egg, Ham, Steaks Compact Electric Grill Tostadora de Pan Black, ETL Certificated, Roy#GrilledCheeseSandwichDay
Aigostar Sandwich Maker with Non-stick Deep Grid Surface for Egg, Ham, Steaks Compact Electric Grill Tostadora de Pan Black, ETL Certificated, Roy
OVENTE 3 in 1 Electric Sandwich Maker, Panini Press Grill and Waffle Iron Set with Removable Non-Stick Plates, Perfect for Cooking Grilled Cheese, Tuna Melts, Burgers, Steaks and Snacks#GrilledCheeseSandwichDay
OVENTE 3 in 1 Electric Sandwich Maker, Panini Press Grill and Waffle Iron Set with Removable Non-Stick Plates, Perfect for Cooking Grilled Cheese, Tuna Melts, Burgers, Steaks and Snacks
Velveeta Original Melting Cheese #GrilledCheeseSandwichDay
Velveeta Original Melting Cheese
Zulay Kitchen Stainless Steel Wire Cheese Slicer - Adjustable Hand Held Cheese Cutter with 2 Extra Wires - Premium Cheese Shaver for Mozzarella, Cheddar, Gruyere - Cheese Cutter with Wire #GrilledCheeseSandwichDay
Zulay Kitchen Stainless Steel Wire Cheese Slicer – Adjustable Hand Held Cheese Cutter with 2 Extra Wires – Premium Cheese Shaver for Mozzarella, Cheddar, Gruyere – Cheese Cutter with Wire

NATIONAL CHEDDAR DAY

Jensperspectiveblog 3 Comments

National Cheddar Day adds some cheesy goodness on February 13th!

Grilled cheese would be buttered bread without melt-able slices piled high; burgers would be lackluster without a perfect ooze; mac & cheese would just be…mac, to be frank. So many of our iconic American dishes simply wouldn’t be the same without a slice of cheddar’s deliciousness.

CHEDDAR HISTORY

There’s some history to this love of cheddar as well. How exactly did cheddar become a staple in so many of our favorite foods? Let us tell you!

Cheddar first rolled into being in the village of Cheddar in Somerset, England in the 12th century. While cheddar accounts for more than a third of all the cheese sold in the United States, it is a royal hit in the United Kingdom where it was created. In fact, more than half of the cheese sales in the UK go to cheddar.

In 1894, renowned cheesemaker Peter McIntosh brought his cheese-making skills to Tillamook County, Oregon where it rains a lot and the grass was always green. He taught the locals all he knew, and in due time he earned himself the nickname “Cheese King of the Coast.” Today, there are more cows than people in Tillamook, and those local farmers have since formed the farmer-owned cooperative we know today as the Tillamook County Creamery Association.

No wonder cheddar finds its way into so many recipes or a simple snack. That rich, creamy and sometimes crumbly flavor is what keeps us coming back for more, bite after delicious bite.

Whisps Cheese Crisps Variety Pack | Protein Chips | Healthy Snacks | Protein Snacks, Gluten Free, High Protein, Low Carb Keto Food | Parmesan, Cheddar, Asiago, Garlic Herb, Ranch (2.12 Oz, 5 Pack)#NationalCheddarDay
Whisps Cheese Crisps Variety Pack | Protein Chips | Healthy Snacks | Protein Snacks, Gluten Free, High Protein, Low Carb Keto Food | Parmesan, Cheddar, Asiago, Garlic Herb, Ranch (2.12 Oz, 5 Pack)
Moon Cheese Cheddar Believe It, 10 Ounce, 2-Pack, Crunchy, Protein-Rich Cheese Snack, Keto Friendly, 100% Real Cheese#NationalCheddarDay
Moon Cheese Cheddar Believe It, 10 Ounce, 2-Pack, Crunchy, Protein-Rich Cheese Snack, Keto Friendly, 100% Real Cheese
Cheddar Cheese Powder by Medley Hills Farm - 1 Lb Reusable Container - For Popcorn, Pasta, Potatoes #NationalCheddarDay
Cheddar Cheese Powder by Medley Hills Farm – 1 Lb Reusable Container – For Popcorn, Pasta, Potatoes
Utz Cheese Balls Barrel, Tasty Snack Baked with Real Cheddar Cheese, Delightfully Poppable Party Snack, Gluten, Cholesterol and Trans-Fat Free, Kosher Certified, 36.5 Oz#NationalCheddarDay
Utz Cheese Balls Barrel, Tasty Snack Baked with Real Cheddar Cheese, Delightfully Poppable Party Snack, Gluten, Cholesterol and Trans-Fat Free, Kosher Certified, 36.5 Oz

NATIONAL CHEDDAR DAY HISTORY

After over a century spent perfecting its award-winning cheddar recipe, Tillamook founded National Cheddar Day on February 13, 2019, to celebrate its 110th birthday and share a passion for cheddar with cheese-lovers nationwide, giving cheddar a day to shine on its own. ( You have to try thier ice cream!)

Founded on the coast of Oregon this farmer-owned cooperative continues to produce the most consistent, best tasting, high-quality dairy products made the most natural way possible. Guided by its values and the belief that everyone deserves real food that makes them feel good every day, Tillamook has earned top awards for their cheese, ice cream, sour cream, butter, and yogurt products made the Tillamook Way. Committed to unwavering values that never sacrifice quality for profit, Tillamook is excited to share National Cheddar Day with cheddar lovers everywhere for years to come.

Want more cheese…

HOW TO OBSERVE #NationalCheddarDay

If you’re local to Tillamook or traveling to the Pacific Northwest, add the Tillamook Creamery as a destination to see just how cheddar is made; sampling a thing or two as well. Today, nearly one million visitors make the trip to the Creamery each year! That’s a whole lotta chedda.

Hashtag it! Show the world just how much you love cheddar by sharing your favorite creation with #NationalCheddarDay on social media.

Tillamook Medium Cheddar Cheese Slices, 8 oz #NationalCheddarDay
Tillamook Medium Cheddar Cheese Slices, 8 oz
TILLAMOOK Medium Cheddar#NationalCheddarDay
TILLAMOOK Medium Cheddar
Tillamook Vintage Extra Sharp White Cheddar Cheese, 8oz #NationalCheddarDay
Tillamook Vintage Extra Sharp White Cheddar Cheese, 8oz
Cheddar Cheese Powder by Hoosier Hill Farm, 1 lb #NationalCheddarDay
Cheddar Cheese Powder by Hoosier Hill Farm, 1 lb

NATIONAL CHEESE LOVER’S DAY

Jensperspectiveblog 5 Comments

On National Cheese Lover’s Day, don’t feel bleu, throw a feta or act capricious. January 20th is a gouda day to kummin over and have some sharp cheddar, munster, or fontina! 

There is no firm evidence of how cheese making was discovered. but legend tells us it was likely by chance that someone created the first cheese. Thousands of years ago, people transported milk and stored it in sheep’s stomachs. Left to sit a few days, the proteins would separate into curds and whey. From there, preserving the solids with salt may have seemed a logical next step. Salt was a highly valued preservative in ancient times.

The earliest record of cheese making dates back to 5,500 BCE in what is now Poland. Today there are over 1,400 varieties of cheese.

Basic Cheese Making

The basic principles behind making cheese are quite simple. Let the milk sour (or scientifically, coagulating the casein protein). Then separate the curds (solids) from the whey (liquid). The curds are then salted and left to age.

Bacteria, enzymes or fungi may be added at various stages. These along with the type of milk, temperature, time, and moisture are all controlled to produced the desired taste, color, and texture. Herbs and spices may also be added.

The nutritional value of cheese varies depending on the variety. Cottage and mozzarella cheese are at the lower end of fat and calories per serving while mascarpone and cream cheese pack it on. Marscapone makes desserts like tiramisu rich and creamy. 

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igourmet Cheese Lover’s Sampler Gift Basket – Includes Spanish Manchego, Italian Mountain Gorgonzola, Red Dragon Cheese, Montasio, English Cheddar, Prima Donna Red, Dorothea, Gruyere and Camembert
WISCONSIN CHEESE COMPANY'S - Specialty Cheese Blocks, Assortment Sampler of Wisconsin Cheeses, (7-4 oz. Blocks) Cheddar, Pepper Jack, Swiss, Gouda, Cheddar Salami, Smoked Cheddar and Tomato Basil. Cheese for Crackers. Great Birthday Gift, Thank you Gift Cheese Assortment for Gift Baskets. Make Your Own Gift Basket Cheese. Great Valentine's Cheese Gift.#CheeseLoversDay
WISCONSIN CHEESE COMPANY’S – Specialty Cheese Blocks, Assortment Sampler of Wisconsin Cheeses, (7-4 oz. Blocks) Cheddar, Pepper Jack, Swiss, Gouda, Cheddar Salami, Smoked Cheddar and Tomato Basil. Cheese for Crackers. Great Birthday Gift, Thank you Gift Cheese Assortment for Gift Baskets. Make Your Own Gift Basket Cheese. Great Valentine’s Cheese Gift.
Spanish Cheese Assortment + Free Iberico Ham 2 oz #CheeseLoversDay
Spanish Cheese Assortment + Free Iberico Ham 2 oz
Mozzarella & Ricotta Cheese Making Kit | 5 Piece DIY Kit Includes Cheesecloth, Vegetable Rennet, Citric Acid, Cheese Salt, & Cooking Thermometer | Great Gift Ideas | Italian Cheese Making Supplies#CheeseLoversDay
Mozzarella & Ricotta Cheese Making Kit | 5 Piece DIY Kit Includes Cheesecloth, Vegetable Rennet, Citric Acid, Cheese Salt, & Cooking Thermometer | Great Gift Ideas | Italian Cheese Making Supplies

For the Love of Cheese

For cheese lovers who think one day is just not enough to celebrate cheese, the calendar is full of cheesy celebrations. Check out this shortlist of tasty cheese-based celebrations:

HOW TO OBSERVE #CheeseLoversDay

Enjoy some cheese with your lunch or as a snack. Share your favorite cheesy recipes or puns. Try a new cheese pairing. Visit your favorite cheesemonger and be sure to give a shout out, too. Use #CheeseLoversDay to post on social media.

The Swiss Colony 27 Favorites Food Gift Box - Assorted Cheeses, Chocolates, Candies, Petits Fours, and Summer Sausage Meats - Holiday Red Box#CheeseLoversDay
The Swiss Colony 27 Favorites Food Gift Box – Assorted Cheeses, Chocolates, Candies, Petits Fours, and Summer Sausage Meats – Holiday Red Box
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GiftWorld Cheese and Crackers Gift Basket, Charcuterie Cheese Gift Baskets, Cheese Assortment Gifts, Food Gift Basket for Christmas, Business, Sympathy#CheeseLoversDay
GiftWorld Cheese and Crackers Gift Basket, Charcuterie Cheese Gift Baskets, Cheese Assortment Gifts, Food Gift Basket for Christmas, Business, Sympathy
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GOLIN If You Can Read This Funny Saying Non-Slip Socks, Novelty Gifts for Men Women Teens Food Lover