Tips For Making The Best Nachos

Nachos are a very popular dish as they can be a light snack or a meal. They are also great for larger gatherings, such as watching a movie or as an appetizer before a dinner party. Next time you want to make some nachos, don’t just settle for store-bought tortilla chips and processed cheese. Keep these tips in mind and you will have the best nachos possible.

Get Creative With Cheese

The most important part of any nachos is the cheese, but most people opt for boring American cheese or cheddar, which is a bit better. Instead of going with a processed cheese or just plain cheddar, try combining different cheeses. For the best results, use multiple cheeses. Throwing in Monterey Jack will add some ooziness, like most people prefer in nachos, but the sharp cheddar is perfect for some tang. Don’t ever buy pre-shredded cheese; instead, buy your own and grate it right beforehand so it is fresh and flavorful. Instead of sticking to traditional cheddar, try adding in some smoked Gouda, jalapeno jack, or even some Asiago. Just be sure to pick a cheese that melts well, such as Muenster or Gouda, as opposed to a non-melter like ricotta.

Make Your Own Chips

If you aren’t careful with the chips, your nachos could easily become a soggy mess and impossible to eat. Opt for the thickest tortilla chips you can find or make your own. All you have to do to make your own tortilla chips is buy some tortillas, cut them up, and fry them. You’ll be able to taste the difference.

Load On The Toppings

Everyone has a different idea of what goes well on nachos, but most people like to have at least some toppings. Meat is a popular choice, but be sure to season it while cooking. You can also use some onion, chopped cilantro, hot peppers, beans, guacamole, tomatoes, avocado, or even cubed mango.

Keep Some Things Separate

Ideally, you will bake your nachos in the oven, but you don’t want to add every ingredient before hand. In fact, the softer items should be added either right before you serve the dish or placed on the side. These last-minute items include guacamole, beans, tomatoes, avocado, and sour cream. They will all make your tortillas soggy if you add them too early, so be careful.

Layer The Dish

A final thing most people don’t think about is to layer your nachos. Instead of simply making one layer of tortilla chips and piling all the cheese and other items on top, repeat this process. Start with chips, then add cheese and toppings. Then repeat this process. This makes the dish much easier to eat and will increase the number of servings you can make at a time.

Reasons To Throw A Cheese Tasting Party

Next time you find yourself looking for an idea for your next party, consider a cheese tasting. This is actually one of the simplest types of parties to throw as you only need a few basic supplies. Not only is it easy to plan, but you will be able to try new things and eat as much delicious cheese as you want.Here are just some other reasons to consider throwing a cheese tasting party.

No Cooking Required

A big problem with many parties is all of the prep work involved, such as cooking and cleaning. While you will have to clean your house before a cheese party, you won’t have to cook a single thing unless you want to. It may be fun to serve baked Brie or a cheese-based dip, but this is completely optional. Instead, you only need to put the cheese on trays with the appropriate serving utensils and labels.

Try New Things

A cheese tasting party is also the perfect opportunity to try new things, particularly cheeses that are less common. If there is a cheese you’ve heard about, but never tried, throwing a tasting party may give you the motivation you need to buy it. The party is also the perfect opportunity to splurge on a fancier or artisan cheese you’ve always wanted. Best of all, you won’t be the only one trying new things; your guests will be doing so as well.

Learn About Cheese

A cheese tasting party isn’t just about enjoying the cheese, although that is a main component. It is also the perfect chance to learn about cheese. When you pick a variety, take some time to learn where it’s from, its common pairings, and its flavor and texture. You can even share this information with your guests on little labels by each cheese.

Limitless Combinations

Even if you have thrown a cheese tasting party in the past, you can easily do so again. There are at least hundreds of cheeses, meaning that you could host a tasting party every day of the year and never serve the same one twice!

Formal Or Casual

Don’t forget that you can make your cheese tasting party as casual or formal as you want. For a formal affair, serve the cheese in courses at a table, pairing each with wine. For a casual party, simply spread the cheese around the room on different trays, all which should be clearly labeled. You can do as much or as little as you want with the cheese party.

Fun Recipes With Muenster Cheese

Although many people like to say the name Muenster cheese, not everyone knows too much about it, or how to cook with it. This soft washed rind cheese is made using cow’s milk and the traditional cheese, which is name protected, comes from France. The name of the cheese, Muenster, comes from the town where it originated. You can expect a red coating on Muenster due to its washed rind and it has a savory, tangy flavor with a strong and stinky aroma. The texture can range from sticky to smooth to creamy. Whether you have true Muenster cheese from France or a similar product, these recipes take advantage of its texture and flavors.

Sandwiches

The easiest way to eat your Muenster cheese is in a sandwich of some kind. It makes for a delicious variation of the classic grilled cheese sandwich and works with a range of breads and fillings. Instead of melting the cheese, try combining it with turkey and your favorite vegetables. You can even use Muenster cheese on a tuna melt, cheeseburger, or bacon, egg, and cheese sandwich.

Potatoes

Cheese always makes potatoes better and Muenster is no exception to this rule. Next time you make a batch of scalloped potatoes, try swapping out your usual cheese for Muenster and be ready for a delicious combination of flavors. You can even melt Muenster on your next baked potato for additional calcium.

Italian

Most Italian dishes call for either mozzarella or Parmesan, depending on the type of dish and hardness of cheese needed. In many cases, however, you can swap one of these out for Muenster. Instead of making chicken parmesan, use Muenster cheese instead. This cheese also goes wonderfully in stuffed shells (particularly when mixed with other, more traditional options) and baked ziti. Although it’s not technically an Italian dish, even macaroni and cheese is delicious with Muenster instead of or in addition to your standard choice.

Fondue

Fondue is traditionally made with Emmental or Camembert cheese, but any good melter will do. For something you probably haven’t tried before, make it with a bit of Muenster next time. This dish is not only fun to make, but fun to eat as well.

Other Options

Because of its flavors and melting abilities, the sky is the limit when coming up with fun ways to use your Muenster cheese. You can make fried cheese sticks, quesadillas, or even a souffle. Simply let inspiration strike and your creativity flow.

Creative Ways To Use Colby Jack

While Colby and Monterey Jack are both fairly popular cheeses, Colby Jack is a bit less common. Colby Jack is essentially a combination of the other two cheeses. It was first created by blending Monterey Jack and Colby before the pressing process. This leads to a semi-soft cheese with a marbled orange and white surface. The cheese is made from cow’s milk and has smooth texture, with tangy, sweet, smooth, mild, and creamy flavors. This delicious cheese can be eaten by itself or with some crackers, but there are also plenty of creative options.

Sandwiches

When you are looking to spice up your favorite sandwich, Colby Jack is the perfect choice. The cheese goes especially well with darker breads such as rye and pumpernickel and a wide range of deli meats. Because Colby Jack melts well, you can use it to make a cold or a hot sandwich, depending on the texture you want from the cheese.

Casseroles

As mentioned, Colby Jack is considered a good melter. This means that it is the perfect addition to any casserole, particularly if you want to change the flavor of the dish or simply create something unique. In reality, you can swap out any cheese for Colby Jack in a casserole for delicious results. You will notice, however, that many casserole recipes with this cheese follow a western or Tex-Mex theme, such as a green chili and chicken casserole or a cowboy casserole.

Tex-Mex

Tex-Mex is actually a very popular theme when it comes to Colby Jack recipes. You can make almost any Tex-Mex dish with this delicious cheese, since it combines beautifully with spicy flavors. Try creating some yummy tacos, nachos, taco dip, bean dip, or even a southwestern style rice bowl.

Mac And Cheese Bacon Pie

If you would like to make a savory pie as opposed to a sweet one, then try using some Colby Jack cheese. One delicious option would be to make a pie crust using bacon (arranging it so there are no holes) and then bake macaroni and cheese with Colby Jack inside of it.

Soups

Whether you are looking for a cheese to cook into your next soup or one to sprinkle on top, Colby Jack can be the answer. Its melting properties let it to melt uniformly into your soup, but if you want to keep the dish’s texture more liquidy, simply sprinkle some grated Colby Jack on top before serving.

Getting To Know The American Cheese Society

When most people talk about cheese experts in the United States, they first think of the American Cheese Society (or ACS). Even if you are simply a cheese enthusiast, you will likely hear about the American Cheese Society at some point. This is the largest organized group of cheese professionals in the country and they are also responsible for certifying cheese experts. The ACS hosts annual cheese conferences and competitions and aims to increase cheese knowledge and appreciation and is an important part of the cheese community in the United States.

Their History

The ACS was founded by Dr. Frank Kosikowski from Cornell University in 1983, with the first annual meeting taking place that year. The society originally included cheesemakers, retailers, enthusiasts, and academics, a trend which continues today. The first ACS Competition took place in 1985. Although the organization started out small, the American Cheese Society has grown quickly, particularly within the last few years.

Becoming A Member

If you decide to join the American Cheese Society, you simply have to pay a fee. The only requirement is that you are interested in cheese and would like to learn more about this food. There are three different membership levels so whether or not you are a cheese professional, you can join the organization.

Certification Exams

One of the most popular parts of the ACS is their certification exams. They offer an exam known as the CCPE or Certified Cheese Professional Exam, which is actually the only exam of its kind. It is very challenging and requires experience, but passing the exam gives you the designation of an ACS CCP (ACS Certified Cheese Professional). This certification is well-respected throughout the cheese industry due to the high knowledge of anyone who earns it.

Conferences

The American Cheese Society hosts annual conferences, and although they are aimed at members, there are opportunities for non-members to attend specific events. You will typically find cheesemakers, cheesemongers, cheese experts, and more as well as specialty food and drink, including cheeses. There is always an Awards Ceremony where the society honors the top cultured products and cheeses of the year. Another event is the Festival of Cheese, with well over a thousand cheeses.

Competitions

The American Cheese Society also hosts an annual cheese competition for cheesemakers, whether they are part of a business or individuals. The competition is, however, limited only to cheeses that are currently available for sale, so home producers can only enter if they sell their artisan cheese. Before picking the winners, the judges rank them based on technique and aesthetic appeal.