Wisconsin – land of so
many cheeses and so little time! With more than
600
varieties, types and styles of delicious Wisconsin
Cheese available, it's no wonder that many people
have sampled only a few. Shop, stop and taste
the cheese – special
varieties that is. This month's featured cheese
is Wisconsin Brie and Camembert Cheese.
 Descriptions
Featured Recipes
Handling Tips
Creating a Wisconsin Cheese Gift Basket
Find a Wisconsin
Retailer
Wisconsin Semi-Hard Cheeses
CHEDDAR: This popular Wisconsin
Cheese can be white, gold or marbled. As it ages,
its smooth, firm texture becomes more crumbly,
and its rich, nutty flavor becomes more sharp
and complex.
COLBY: Originally developed in Wisconsin, Colby
is a golden, Cheddar-like cheese that is softer,
more elastic and features tiny holes.
EDAM: A pale yellow cheese with a smooth texture
and slightly nutty flavor. Edam is typically
covered with wax or clear plastic wrap.
GOUDA: Smooth and buttery with a rich, slightly
sweet flavor, Gouda is pale yellow in color and
typically coated in wax.
SWISS: Noted for its large, dime-size eyes,
Swiss cheese is ivory with a firm texture and
mellow, nutty flavor.
GRUYÈRE: A nutty, sweet and full-bodied
cheese, Gruyère is pale yellow with a
natural brown washed-rind.
BABY SWISS: Made with whole milk, Baby Swiss
is creamier than regular Swiss and features much
smaller eyes.
Featured Recipes
Wisconsin Semi-Hard Cheese Handling Tips
Semi-hard cheeses come in many varieties, including
Cheddar, Colby, Gouda and Swiss. Some have wax
coatings, others have dry rinds and some have
no rind at all. Whatever the cheese, it is important
to store and serve them properly to experience
their peak flavor.
After purchasing cheese, store in its original
wrapping or rind in a refrigerator until ready
for cutting. Be sure to keep cheese away from
other aromatic foods to prevent the cheese from
absorbing their flavors.
Semi-hard cheeses are easiest to cut when they
are well-chilled. If the cheese has a rind or
wax coating, begin by scoring the cheese. Then
cut it with a sharp chef's knife.
Cover cheeses loosely and allow them to sit
for at least 30 minutes prior to serving. Semi-hard
cheeses taste best when they are at room temperature.
Rewrap any unused cheese in fresh plastic wrap
and return it to the refrigerator until ready
to cut. If stored properly, semi-hard cheeses
can last from 3 to 6 months.
Creating a Wisconsin Cheese
Gift Basket
 Cheeses
Included:
(1) Baby Swiss
(2) Cranberry Cheddar
(3) Aged Gouda
(4) Aged Cheddar
Other Items:
(5) Crackers
(6) Dried cranberries
(7) Mixed nuts
Other possible items to include:
Chutneys, chocolates, dried fruit and/or beverages |