What Drinks Pair With Cheese Other Than Wine

When it comes to pairing cheese with drinks, the first that comes to mind is wine. Wine is a great drink to have with cheese if you like wine, but not everyone does. That is why it becomes a necessity to look for other drinks that can make sense when you want to have a cheese tasting party or get together or you just want to spend some time at home tasting some of the best cheeses out there. Here are some of the best suggestions.

Beer

You do not have to have wine as the only alcoholic drink that can be served with cheese. Beers can make a great drink depending on what cheeses you are looking to have. Cheddar for example goes great with the average beer, but there are so many beer flavors now that you can choose from that will also help. Porters and bitter beer goes great with Cheshire and Cheddars while Belgian ales can be paired with Comte, Beaufort and Gruyere. Sweet and strong beers can be paired with washed-rind monster. There are enough beers in the market to choose from and they make amazing pairing choices for a lot of cheese.

Cocktails

For those who do not like the taste of beer, but still want alcoholic options there are several cocktails that will do the job. The good news is that it is not that difficult to pair cocktails with cheese as long as you know the flavors. If you have a rich alpine or blue cheese then try a Manhattan or something similar. Richer flavored cheeses can go really great with a dry martini a la James Bond. Sweeter and frozen cocktails are a bit more difficult to pair so try to stick to the cocktails that you already know.

Non Alcoholic Mixes

It is also possible to pair your cheese with non-alcoholic drinks or mixes. Club soda is a good base for mixing non-alcoholic drinks and there are several options. You can mix club soda with lemon and elder flower syrup. Adjust the amount of lemons so that it matches the cheeses that you want to taste. This mix looks a little classier than others and it is extremely easy to make.

Margaritas

The pairing that you choose all depends on the cheese that you are going to taste. If you have Spanish style cheeses then one good option would be to have a margarita on the side. Though the margarita is considered a cocktail it deserves its own category because it goes well with most Spanish style options. Grab your mixer and get the margaritas going; after a few of them the people you are serving them to will forget all about wine pairings.

What Can You Use Cheese Curds For?

Cheese curds have been a popular type of snack in certain areas, particularly Wisconsin, for years but they are beginning to spread out across the country. Because their texture is different from normal cheese, it can be confusing at first to know what exactly to use them for. The good news is that this squeaky cheese is just as versatile as any other type. Here are some of the most popular ways to eat these creamy treats.

Raw

The simplest way to enjoy your curds is to eat them by themselves when raw. If you are a bit hungry, they can be a delicious snack and help you get your daily portion of dairy as well. Just remember, the squeakier the cheese, the fresher it is, so opt for the squeakiest you can find.

Deep Fried

Another very popular option for cheese curds is to eat them deep fried. People say this idea may have started in Wisconsin but it has since spread throughout the Midwest as well as other areas of the United States. Simply batter them up and deep fry them much like you would to make mozzarella sticks. Just be careful because this is one of the most addictive ways to eat cheese curds and certainly not the healthiest.

Poutine

If you have ever been to the French speaking area of Canada, chances are you have encountered poutine. This is a very popular and simple way to use cheese curds and can make a great snack as well. Simply take some fries and add fresh cheese curds as well as gravy and you have a delicious snack.

In Salad

If you want a healthier option, try adding your favorite type to a salad. You can pick any salad you want and any type of curd (although plain tend to be the most versatile). Add them just like you would add shreddedcheese and you are all set to enjoy a great meal.

As An Appetizer

Cheese curds can be a great appetizer, both raw and in other forms. You can eat them alone or with crackers. If you are a fan of dips try mixing your favorite bites with some hot sauce and melting the combination. This can be a delicious alternative to store bought options.

In Soup

If you are in a cold climate (and most areas where cheese curds are plentiful happen to be cold), there is no better way to warm up than with soup. Of course, no soup is complete without cheese so try adding your favorite to the top. Because of the size of the curd, some will melt and some will stay solid, allowing you to enjoy both consistencies.

RESOURCE BOX: For more information on how to use cheese curds and to discover the varieties available, visit http://www.goldenagecheese.com. Check out our selection to decide which cheese curds and other cheeses are right for you.

What Can You Do With Gourmet Cheese?

Gourmet cheese is great not only because of flavor and quality, but also because it allows you the flexibility to do a lot of things with it. As long as you are a little creative you will be able to do things that people would think you went to culinary school for. There are some traditional recipes which can be enhanced to have a flavor and feel that you would have never expected. Gourmet cheeses can add a lot of class to your get together with friends just by serving it alone, but why not do a little bit more with it and impress everybody?

Simple Tray

The great thing about gourmet cheese is that though you could get really creative with it, the cheese can be the star of a simple serving tray. It is a good idea to mix up the types of cheese that you are serving so that people can have a different taste with every bite. You can place the tray as a snack during a get together or why not throw a wine tasting party and have it be the star of the get together. Throw in some crackers and that may be all that you need to have those in attendance raving about your get together every time they talk to each other.

Quesadillas

Quesadillas are something that is a lot easier than people make them out to be and you can add a touch of class to this traditional Mexican dish by adding gourmet cheese to the recipe. You can decide to use any other type of filling such as vegetables, duck, chicken, beef or pork and the cheese that you choose will make the dish just stand out. Fresh mozzarella cheese is perfect nut give it a bit of a different taste with naturally smoked mozzarella varieties.

Blue Cheese Salad

A salad is simple and it can be a lot better with gourmet blue cheese. To make your salad you will need the pasta shells, bacon sugar, mayo, sour cream, salt and pepper to taste and throw in a few caramelized onions. Such a salad is very easy to make and can be ready in less than an hour. The gourmet blue cheese gives it a different taste and the people you serve it to will notice the difference. Make sure that you chill the salad before serving as this is a cold pasta salad.

Stuffed Chicken Breasts

If you love stuffed chicken breasts then you will definitely love what it will taste when you use goat cheese. Believe it or not the recipes for stuffed chicken breasts are not that difficult and what you stuff the breasts with can be anything of your choice. Some will use solid vegetables like broccoli and onions while others will include fruits like raspberries. The tangy flavor of gourmet blue cheese is better countered with peaches or raspberries. You end up with chicken breasts that are sweet due to the fruit and tangy from the goat cheese.

How To Design A Perfect Cheese Basket

Most people like cheese as something they can snack on or something that can be a main ingredient of a meal. That is why it has become very popular to give the gift of a cheese basket. While it is possible to purchase an already made gift basket with different cheeses, you can make your own and give it a personal touch so that the person you are giving the basket to will know that you put some thought into it. Before you decide to create the cheese holder gift yourself, here are some things that should be kept in mind.

Variety

The main advantage of a designed gift is that you will be able to include variety. There are a lot of different cheeses including fresh cheddar cheese curds, special reserve super sharp cheddar, naturally smoked cheeses etc. If you are giving a gift basket to someone who loves different cheeses then you should think variety and get as many different types as possible. Try to make it a sampler so that the person can have products that they may have never had before so that they are surprised by the different flavors. Don’t settle for three or four types; really try to give some variety.

Size Of The Basket

The size of the basket is very important because you need to ensure that it does not look empty. A small to medium sized basket is usually enough to get the cheeses that you want to get in there. The size of the cheese products is also very important because that can help you make the basket seem fuller when the products are bigger. If you feel that the basket is looking a bit empty in some spots you can get smaller sized products to complete the look without spending much more money.

Colors

Cheese comes in different shapes and colors. Some will have the traditional yellow crust while others will go from blue to black, red and green. The more colors you include the better your basket will look. Try to be organized with the colors so that your basket looks festive. If you are able to organize the different cheeses in the basket you may notice that even without the bow it looks like a gift. There are other products besides cheese that you can include to give your basket the perfect look so do not be afraid to experiment with them.

Other Products To Include

When making a cheese basket you have the option to go with an all cheese basket or you can choose to include other products as well. There is no wrong or right way to choose between those two so if you want to get creative then this is a chance to do so. Some ideas would be to include meat products like old fashioned beef sticks or pepperoni. A person who does not want to include meat or who wants more variety in the basket could include a bottle of wine or even some beer as they are both great for paring. 

How To Create Your Own Cheese Cellar

For many centuries now cheese has been made in different cheese caves around the world. Customers of course have had to go to different places so that they can buy the products that come out of the caves, but you can make your own cheese cellar and make your own cheese right at home. You will need some patience and a little “know how”, but in the end you will be rewarded with your own homemade cheeses that you can experiment with to create new flavors. You will need a cool spot in the cellar to match the type of environment that you would get in a cave; it is possible to get it done and get great results.

What You Need

As mentioned earlier a cool temperature is essential, and those temperatures should always be somewhere between 45F and 58F. The moisture levels are also important and they depend on the cheese that you are trying to make. The ranges in moisture should be between 80 and 98%. Don’t forget that at least some fresh air is also necessary as the cheese will develop byproducts while it ages. The good thing about a cellar is that it can provide all those things year round. The temperatures and humidity are pretty similar and controlling them if they are not is actually easy.

Air Circulation

Air circulation is very important to the aging process. You need to get some air coming in, but if you were to use a fan or a steady strong breeze you would risk drying the cheese too much. A good option is a refrigerator fan as it will not be as strong and will provide good air flow. Using wood as a base for placing the cheese is also recommended as it will help with the air circulation and even moisture development. Make sure to also leave enough space between the shelves. You want to make sure that the quality is better and not necessarily the quantity. Without the proper airflow the entire process can be for nothing.

Should I Build It?

Making cheese is an art and if you have decided that you wish to be a part of it, then building your cheese cellar makes sense. If on the other hand you just want to save a few bucks then you may want to remain a customer of established cheese makers. The first few products that you make are not likely to be as good, but with patience and practice you will start making cheeses that are worth tasting. The process does take some time, so you need to ensure that you have the patience for it. Some people decide that the process takes too long and requires too much attention to detail to do at home.