Fall 2013 Co-Op Sign-up!

Welcome to the Cheese Co-Op blog! It's time for an exciting Fall semester filled with great cheese. Sign-ups for the Co-Op are now open, and will be until Wednesday, September 18. The gist:  

• You can sign up to receive one share yourself (100 points per semester), split a share between two people (50 points each per semester), or split a share between three people (34 points per semester). Every other week, you will get a delivery of delicious, local, organic cheeses. There are five deliveries throughout the semester.
• Members are responsible for picking up their cheeses themselves and for volunteering at least once doing cheese cutting, wrapping, or distribution. The Cheese Co-Op can't function unless everyone pitches in and is only as strong as its members want it to be. Bonding over cheese prep is a beautiful thing and often involves free cheese. 
• All the points for the semester will be deducted in the first week. 
• Enjoy delicious cheese! Tell your friends! 

Select an option:

   One person sign-up    -    Two person group sign-up   -   Three person group sign-up

Like us on Facebook for regular Cheese Co-Op updates. Contact wescheesecoop[at]gmail[dot]com if you have any questions. Get excited for the cheese.

Spring 2013 Cheese Co-Op Sign-ups

Welcome to the Cheese Co-Op blog! It's time for an exciting Spring semester filled with great cheese. Sign-ups for the Co-Op are now open, and will be until Tuesday, February 5. The gist:  

• You can sign up to receive one share yourself (100 points per semester), split a share between two people (50 points each per semester), or split a share between three people (34 points per semester). Every other week, you will get a delivery of delicious, local, organic cheeses. There are five deliveries throughout the semester.
• Members are responsible for picking up their cheeses themselves and for volunteering at least once doing cheese cutting, wrapping, or distribution. The Cheese Co-Op can't function unless everyone pitches in and is only as strong as its members want it to be. Bonding over cheese prep is a beautiful thing and often involves free cheese. 
• All the points for the semester will be deducted in the first week. 
• Enjoy delicious cheese! Tell your friends! 

Select an option:

   One person sign-up    -    Two person group sign-up    -   Three person group sign-up

Like us on Facebook for regular Cheese Co-Op updates. Contact wescheesecoop[at]gmail[dot]com if you have any questions. Get excited for the cheese.

Fall '12 Sign-Ups are OPEN

Hello and welcome to the co-op! Sign-ups for the fall semester are open from now until Friday, September 21st. Here's how the co-op works:

• You can sign up to receive one share yourself (100 points per semester), or split a share between two people (50 points each per semester), or split a share between three people (34 points per semester). Every other week, you will get a delivery of delicious, local, organic cheeses. 
• Members are responsible for picking up their cheeses themselves and for volunteering at least once doing cheese cutting, wrapping, or distribution. This is a co-op and cannot function unless everyone pitches in.
• All the points for the semester will be deducted in the first week.
• Get ready for some delicious cheese (and don't forget to tell your friends)!

Select an option:

One-person group sign-up    -    Two-person group sign-up    -    Three person group sign up

Second cheese of the week......Womanchego!

Womanchego
Inspired by the classic Spanish sheep milk cheese Manchego, our cows' milk Womanchego is aged 3 to 4 months, making it more similar to a young Manchego than the aged version most commonly found in cheese shops. The flavor is medium mild and a touch sweet with hints of fruit and nut. Moister than its Spanish cousin, our Womanchego is delicious on sandwiches, with wine, or melted. On limited occasions we will offer our Wise Womanchego, aged for at least 9 months. 


Try these recipes:


Arugula Salad with Manchego, Apples, and Carmelized


Manchego is a great addition to any salad--heres a new one to try! Also try adding Manchego, walnuts, and  craisins to any salad.


http://www.epicurious.com/recipes/food/views/Arugula-Salad-with-Manchego-Apples-and-Caramelized-Walnuts-108611


Honey glazed Fried Manchego Balls YUM


http://www.cookingchanneltv.com/recipes/honey-glazed-fried-manchego-cheese-recipe/index.html


Sun-Dried Tomato, Parsley, and Manchego Grilled Cheese


A new twist on Grilled cheese. It's healthier too :)


http://www.chow.com/recipes/11099-sun-dried-tomato-parsley-and-manchego-grilled-cheese

Get ready for another cheesy week.....Dutch Farmstead!!!

Dutch Farmstead
Creamy and mild with a slight nutty undertone and a rich, round, well-balanced flavor, the Dutch Farmstead is our variation on Gouda. Consistently one of our favorites, the Dutch was recognized by both Saveur magazine in 2005 and Slow Food USA in 2003 as one of the best American raw milk farmstead cheeses. Ideal for sandwiches or with crackers and wine, Dutch Farmstead is creamier and sweeter than Bridgid's Abbey. Melts well. Aged 2 - 3 months.

Try these recipes:


Gouda mashed potatoes! 
Super easy to make, just need potatoes, butter, cream/milk, and cheeeeeese


http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/emeril-lagasse/smoked-gouda-mashed-potatoes-recipe/index.html


Sandwich: Ham, Gouda, Carmelized onions, roasted tomato mayonnaise
This might be a bit complex to make completely by the book, but try a variation! Pair Gouda, ham or turkey, and grilled onions with some mayo to make a more simple, tasty sandwich.


http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/grilled-ham-gouda-cheese-with-caramelized-onions-and-roasted-tomato-mayonnaise-recipe/index.html


Apple Gouda Quesadillas!!
Impress your friends with your cooking skills using this unusual but tasty looking recipe.


http://allrecipes.com/Recipe/apple-gouda-quesadillas/detail.aspx


Gouda Spinach Quiche
A slightly more ambitious undertaking, but still completely doable!


http://allrecipes.com/Recipe/gouda-spinach-quiche/detail.aspx

Cheese of the Week: Bridgid's Abbey!!!

• 
  Bridgid's Abbey
  Our popular Trappist-style monastery cheese with a smooth, creamy consistency and a slightly acidic aftertaste. Bridgid's Abbey has been one of our best sellers for years - its irresistible rich, mild taste is ideal for all-day eating for breakfast, sandwiches, or snacking. It melts well, performing excellently in quiche, toasted cheese, or over vegetables. Bridgid's Abbey varies in consistency somewhat from summer to winter - the winter batches are quite creamy, while the summer milk yields a slightly firmer texture. Aged 2 - 3 months.

Try out these recipes: 

http://iledefrancecheese.com/index.php?option=com_rapidrecipe&page=viewrecipe&recipe_id=164&Itemid=56

Substitute the Chaumes with Bridgid's Abbey to make Hush puppies! Chaumes is also a Trappist-style cheese that comes from southwest France and is made of cows milk, so it should have a similar taste. 

http://iledefrancecheese.com/index.php?option=com_rapidrecipe&page=viewrecipe&recipe_id=499&Itemid=56

Tryout this easy cauliflower recipe (especially for those of you who received cauliflower from the fruit & veggie co-op). Again, substitute the Chaumes with Bridgid's Abbey.

Happy cheesing!

Cheese of the week: Vivace Bambino!!!

Hey cheese co-op! One of our first cheeses of the week is Vivace Bambino. Here is a little more info on the delicious first taste:

Vivace Bambino
Our young Vivace is sweet, chewy and moist, a medium mild cheese with a flavor like Swiss Emmental. It is excellent for sandwiches, antipasto, or melting. Made with vegetarian marzyme rennet, Vivace Bambino is aged 2 to 3 months.


Personally, the texture and taste even reminds me a bit of a young gouda. I'm including some recipes for you all to try out!

http://macaroniandcheese.mydailyrecipe.com/tag/emmental-cheese/

A simple and more gourmet twist to mac and cheese. Substitute the Emmental/Gouda with the Vivace Bambino, and then pair with feta if you can get it!

http://paninihappy.com/emmental-honey-ham-panini-recipe/

I bet you've never thought of this before....next time you want a quick fix for lunch try out this Honey, ham and Emmental panini. Subsitute the Emmental with Vivace Bambino and tell us what you think!

http://allrecipes.com/recipe/bacon-gouda-patties/detail.aspx

Try substituting Vivace for the Gouda on these bacon-gouda burgers!

xo,
The Cheese Co-op