Holiday meals can be very stressful, especially for those who have yet to master even the most basic of cooking skills. It would stand to reason that going to someone else’s home and having them do the cooking would be less of a burden, but then comes the age-old question of what to bring. The usual answer when asked is “Oh, nothing. Maybe a bottle of wine or a side, but we’re good. Thanks.” While I appreciate not having to enter Kitchen Stadium, which is what occurs in my boyfriend’s family kitchen every holiday, I still want to contribute to the meal. Thus begins the painstaking task of putting together a cheese board that will stand up to three kinds of turkey (smoked, roasted and confit) and side dishes fit for the cover of Food and Wine Magazine. Continue reading
Tag Archives: food
Have Cheese Will Travel! Moving with Cheese
The Mouse is packing up and moving to a new city. While a change of scene is exciting, thinking of safe transport of all the cheese in the fridge has been a bit nerve-wracking. The House Mouse is looking for suggestions for wrapping and transporting various varieties of cheese without stinking up the entire moving truck.
Filed under Cheese
Cheese snuffs out cigarettes at commissaries
An iconic early photos of one of our nation’s military men depicts a war-ridden soldier smirking at the camera with a cigarette dangling precariously from his lips. Soldiers like our tobacco-toting friend were the heroes of their day, America’s role models and protectors.
Fast-forward a couple of decades and the world’s view of smoking has changed dramatically. As it’s no longer cool to take that drag of smoke, soldiers have evidently turned to a new addiction – cheese! According to the government’s Defense Commissary Agency, cheese wedged out cigarettes by over one million dollars in sales over the past year, making it the number one item sold in military commissaries. Why the turn from smokes to Stilton? Good question.
For more on this cheesy victory, check out the article from Karen Jowers of the Navy Times here.
Filed under Cheese
Daniel Delaney answers the question “What is cheese?”

photo By Tammy Camp
It’s easy to take cheese for granted. To accept it at taste value, as it were, and not question where the whole idea of fermented milk products came from. Thanks to Daniel Delaney, creator and host of the weblog “WTF: What’s this Food” we have the answer.
Delaney began his food career in college, even doing an entire thesis on street food in New York City. From there, the independent food media producer and entrepreneur created VendrTV, a weekly weblog devoted to the street food of New York and gained national media attention. Continue reading
Filed under Cheese
Say What? Culture Magazine’s straight talk on cheese names
Ever fall in love with a cheese only to be completely stumped on how to pronounce the name? Well, rejoice fellow fromagophiles because Culture Magazine has created a brief and entertaining video to break it all down for us. Stay Cheesy!
Filed under Cheese
Happy Cheesy Valentine’s Day with Couer de Neufchatel
It’s Valentine’s Day! Do you have a gift for that special cheesy somebody? Flowers and candy are fine, but if an impression is what you seek, look no further than your local cheesemonger’s case for some Coeur de Neufchatel.
Almost as old as love itself, Coeur de Neufchatel has been around since the 6th century and got its heart shape from lovesick French farm maidens during the Hundred Year War who gave their hearts to the fighting soldiers.
This AOC French cheese comes from a Normandie breed of cow, which may not be all sexy and romantic, but it does aide to the unique flavor which any cheese lover will enjoy. Coeur de Neufchatel is crumbly than creamy with a mushroomy flavor that wafts in the mouth without being over powering, although it can be left to age for a more intense taste. Grab a crusty French baguette, some hearty Cabernet, and some tart berries and you have an appetizer for love.
Whatever your plans, have a Happy Cheesy Valentine’s Day!
Filed under Cheese
Panko Crusted Cheesy Risotto Balls Had Me At Hello
It is rare that I fall in love with food at first bite. Sure I have loved meals from time to time, raved about them to my friends and family, even made pals with the chef just so I could order a particular special dish off menu whenever I wanted. All that being said, only one item has ever brought me to the point of obsession and that is the Cheesy Risotto Balls from the Whole Foods in Ann Arbor, Michigan.
It’s crazy, I know, but these delectable delights had me at hello and never let go. The perfect balance of Parmesan cheese and creamy risotto would render me speechless. Then, to my horror, they were gone. Months went by with the same excuse that my food favorite had been a seasonal item and would possibly be back in the fall. What is seasonal about risotto, cheese, and panko breadcrumbs? I decided to do the unthinkable…make them myself. Continue reading