Cheese Throughout History

The history of the first cheese maker are lost to time. The prevailing myth is that an Arab trader filled a sheep’s stomach pouch with milk for transport, and during his travels, the milk separated into curd and whey. Most historians believe the practice of cheese making predates even these tales, and is entwined with our earliest unrecorded histories. The first recorded evidence of cheese making dates back to five-thousand and five hundred BCE, though it is speculated that it was even earlier that is was discovered and a became a common practice. This ancient cheese is speculated to be more similar to feta than modern cheeses like cheddar.

Roman Cheeses

Cheeses were also a staple of Greek and Roman societies. By the time of the middle Roman years, it was a seasoned art, with cheese makers dominating a valuable professional title. Salted cheeses were often carried with other field rations starting during this time. Modern cheese still would not have been created, but they would have had a more similar form, probably hard, flaky, and very salty, not unlike a mixture between very aged cheddars and Gouda. Some cheese enthusiast have made representations of what they think these cheeses would taste like.

The Dark Age Of Cheese

During the Middle Ages, cheese fell out of favor with the noble classes, and was largely relegated to the peasant, or surf classes. Even soldiers eschewed this amazing food as beneath them. Thankfully the Dark Ages for cheese did not last long. As the Age of Enlightenment dawned, modern cheeses like Gouda, Swiss, mozzarella, and cheddar became common and were named as such. It is impossible to tell how close these cheeses were to their modern equivalents, but some historians have tried to do it with the tools likely available then. Cheese was largely unknown or uncommon in the Asiatic countries until the early eighteen-hundreds, when it became more industrialized.

Industrial Cheese Evolution

As with nearly every other product, with the dawn of North America, and the industrialized age, cheese started being made in an assembly line fashion. The modern example of cheese as we know it were becoming a reality, and it was a major staple in nearly every household in the Americas, and most European countries. In the eighteen sixties, microbial cultures and the controlled productions of cheeses became possible, so instead of reusing old cultures, the bacteria could be created in a closed environment where all factors could be controlled.

Five Ways To Serve Cheese Curds

Cheese curds are an amazingly versatile food, for both snacking and decorative plating. There are just so many ways to eat these amazing cheese bites, it is hard to decide! But if you are serving snacks or a meal to guests, family, or friends, you will want a game plan. Here are five awesome ways to serve your curds.

Fried

Fried cheese curds are one of the most common ways to serve them. They can either be breaded or fried on their own. Without breading, the outside tends to retract slightly, leaving a harder crust of its own. With breading they tend to melt slightly inside rather than curl. This is a great way to serve cheese curds to those who have never tried them before.

Pizza Curds

Some people like a little stretchiness to their pizza topping cheese. Curds are one of the best ways to do this. When melted they have more elasticity than many other cheeses. The best type for this would likely be mozzarella, but don’t let convention stop you from experimenting with your cheese curds. a cheddar topping for a pizza is just as tasty some days!

Curds & Salad

Another great way to serve your curds, is to chop them up and serve them in a salad. They often complement the textures of the dish better than cubes of cheese do. They also can easily be melted before you add them without losing their consistency, like a cube of cheese would. If you are going for a big salad, you may not even want to chop the curds up.

Dipping Curds

Cheese curds also taste amazing in many dipping sauces. You may want to consider just serving a platter of curds next to a favored sauce. Some favorites include barbecue, ranch, and marinara sauce, but again, don’t let convention weigh you down. Other salad dressings, mustard, or even your own specialty sauces could strike a guests fancy when the fantastic cheese curd is presented.

Toppings!

There are many dishes where you might add olives, chicken slices, or other garnishes. Even drinks like Bloody Marys and martinis have these embellishments. While it may seem strange right off, cheese curds are a perfect alternative, and can soak up, and complement the flavors found here very nicely. The beauty of cheese curds is just how versatile they are with any dish, and can defy most cheese stereotypes.

Health Benefits Of Quality Cheese

While many people state that cheese should be removed from your diet, quality cheese is something you should be eating more of, not less. Highly processed cheeses certainly have many properties that are not good for you, and this includes the most commonly consumed cheese type, sliced cheese. But eating fresh, quality cheeses can provide many health benefits. The biggest reason for the defamation of cheese is the proliferation of saturated fats and cholesterol myths. The saturated fats in cheese actually improve heart health, rather than put you at risk for a heart attack like some skewed marketing sources would like you to believe. In fact, studies show that Americans are

Minerals

Cheese is also an excellent source of minerals like calcium. Because it is a refined version of the pasteurized milks found in grazers, it contains more of these minerals than the milk itself! This is important, especially for women with common calcium deficiencies who are looking for an alternative to daily supplements. Zinc can also be found in good quantities in cheese, which is an important mineral for many digestion processes. The truly unique aspect of cheese that makes it stand out in mineral properties, is its phosphorus content, which is difficult to find in other common foods.

Vitamins

Vitamins also come in spades from eating a healthy amount of cheese. The most important of these, is the vitamin K2, which is uncommon in most foods American’s commonly consume. It is vital to digestive health, brain functions, bone, and muscle development. In your later years, this vitamin can make a difference between difficult movement and easy living. It also contains vitamin A, D, Riboflavin, and B12. This is a huge variety that many other commonly available foods in America simply do not compare to. It is an excellent source of all of these, as it is also easy for the body to absorb, unlike many other foods available.

Lactose Intolerance And Processed Cheeses

Even if you have a condition known as lactose intolerance, which makes lactose rich foods like milk and ice cream difficult to digest, you can still eat cheese. Pairing it with other foods, such as meats, helps break down the lactose quickly, and helps keep the strain off your stomach. Be sure to choose cheeses that are certified quality, and not processed heavily for artificial preservation. These contain additives that are known to cause and accelerate cancerous cells in the body, and are difficult for your body to digest.

7 Surprising Ways To Use Cheese

Cheese is a surprisingly versatile ingredient. You can make a stunning variety of foods with cheese as a base, or complement even more foods with a well-chosen cheese. Some of these dishes take some cheese manipulations skills, and others can be made by anyone. Here are seven of the most surprising ways to use cheese in dishes.

1) Cheese Scones

If baked correctly, cheese can be shaped into an almost doughy substance. From there they can be shaped into delicious scones. They can be filled with a variety of delicious ingredients, or even filled with even more cheese!

2) Au Gratin Potatoes

Everyone knows potatoes are better with cheese, but you need a little splash for these delicious take of your favorite spud. These are really easy to make, and are sometimes known as “funeral potatoes”. Despite their name they are good for any old meal and taste amazing!

3) Grits Additions

Grits by themselves are pretty plain. Most people use traditional breakfast toppings to mix it up with their morning meal. Cheese however, is just as good with grits, and makes a great addition to any meal. Melt the cheese evenly however, as this combination has a tendency to get rather clumpy.

4) Buckwheat Straws

By themselves, buckwheat strays are a healthy and delicious snack. With cheese, they are much easier to make, as they hold together better, and they taste a ton better. This is the perfect snack if you are looking for a healthy way to get some cheese into your diet.

5) Homemade Jalapeno Poppers

While it may seem like a hard recipe, making your own jalapeno poppers is super simple! All you need is bread crumbs and melted cheese, then dip the the pepper into the cheese then the breadcrumbs. Bake until the bread crumbs are crisp around the outside of the pepper and enjoy!

6) Quiche Squares

Quiche by itself is a great way to use cheese, but with a little imagination, you can take this recipe to the next level as a snack item. Both bacon and spinach are popular choices for this. Simple whip eggs, mix in melted cheese, add a small amount of bread crumb, and bake in a baking pan.

7) Cheese and Apple Pie

While it may not sound terribly appealing at first thought, cheese is an amazing compliment to apples. Simply add some cheddar to your apple pie and enjoy. Really, it is delicious!

4 Reasons To Try Cheese Curds

Cheese curds are really something you should not miss out on. They are fantastic, snackable, and come in many amazing shapes and flavors. If you have never tried cheese curds, they may sound a little weird, and you may need a little encouragement. They really are one of the best methods of eating cheese, and here are four clear reasons to try cheese curds.

Freshness

Cheese curds are made from “newborn” cheddar product making it the freshest variety of cheese you can eat! This is apparent in the flavor of the cheese. It is sharp, but it does not yet have the deeper, aged flavor. This is what gets many people hooked, it is truly an unadulterated flavor. It also does not have the slightly aged aftertaste that is associated with many cheeses. This is the biggest reason many people prefer cheese curds over other cheeses, which may have strongly aged flavors that are better for more refined palettes.

Large Snacking Selections

While most base cheese curds are made the same way as the next, there are some additional flavors and additions only available with some. Things like bacon bits, veggie chunks, and fried coatings are just a few of the alterations that can be added to cheese curds. This makes them an amazing snacking food, as you can even add these things to your curds yourself. The sheer variety makes them some of the best snacks for children too.

No Mess

Some of the softer cheeses, and many other snacking foods have a large chance for making a mess. Cheese curds are perfect for children or the accident prone, because there is nothing to make a mess with! They are easy to pop in the mouth as a snacking item, and do not melt in the same way many conventional cheeses do. If you are looking for a clean and easy snacking item, cheese curds are the best.

Diversity!

Cheese curds can be used more for just simple snacking, there are a ton of recipes that benefit from a few well-placed cheese curds. Even some melted curds (it takes longer to melt cheese curds than conventional cheese) are using in many dishes. The possibilities are only limited by your imagination, and cheese curd enthusiasts are coming up with new and inventive ways to use them every day. Try your own new and fun recipes with these amazing cheesy delights!