Happy Cheese Lover's Day! Celebrate with cheeses from the PA Wilds

Happy Cheese Lover's Day! Celebrate with cheeses from the PA Wilds
January 15, 2024 73 view(s)
Happy Cheese Lover's Day! Celebrate with cheeses from the PA Wilds

Happy National Cheese Lover's Day! Celebrated on January 20th each year, National Cheese Lover's Day is a time to incorporate some cheesy goodness into your life and "havarti" a "gouda" time. Our PA Wilds Marketplace makers, particularly Goot Essa, can help you celebrate this year in a delicious way.

The history of cheese

When did humans first begin our love affair with cheese? Although it's unclear when people first began making cheese, the earliest known record of someone pasteurizing cheese dates back to 5500 B.C. in what we now know as Poland. By the time of the Roman Empire in 100 BC, cheese and cheesemaking had become popular throughout Europe and the Middle East. In the 17th century as people came to what would become the United States, dairy farmers brought their knowledge and love of cheese with them to the English colonies. Cheese continued to grow in popularity, especially as refrigerators became more common in the mid-1900s, allowing families to store fresh cheese.

Some cheesy facts

There are more than 1,800 varieties of cheeses around the world! That's a lot! In fact, if you wanted to try them all and decided to try just one new cheese each day, it would take you about 5 years to taste them all. We have several varieties of cheese available on the PA Wilds Marketplace... but not quite 1,800 types.

Cheese seems to make everything better. If you prefer cheese on your burger, you're not alone. 70 percent of Americans prefer cheeseburgers over plain hamburgers.

Americans love their cheese! We eat an average of 33 pounds of cheese per American adult each year. The most popular cheese is cheddar, and the most beloved cheesy recipe in the United States is macaroni and cheese.

How to celebrate National Cheese Lover's Day

Here are some fun ideas for celebrating this quirky holiday:

  • Find a new favorite
    • Although American or mozzarella might be familiar, it's time to expand your palate. With all of the types of cheese that Goot Essa makes locally in the Bellefonte area within the PA Wilds, you're bound to find something that you'll love. Consider the Emanuel Vom Tal Kase cheese (an award winner!) or the full-flavored Der Edel Bleu Kase cheese. Be sure to read Goot Essa's detailed descriptions of each cheese, which will help lead you to the one that is perfect for your tastebuds. For example, looking for something lush and buttery with hints of butterscotch and mushroom? Try their Alt Medisher Goat cheese! Craving some spice in your life? Kick it up a notch with Goot Essa's Garden Pepper Jack.
  • Make a treasured recipe
    • Elevate your favorite cheesy recipes with a richer, better cheese. If you're used to using the same old and tired cheese that you pick up from a big box store, your tastebuds will be astounded when you use a creamy cheese from a local farm. Want to add a new twist on an old favorite? Try a cheddar that is enhanced with garlic or oregano.
  • Make a fondue or a dip
    • Your family and dinner guests will beg you to "make that fondue you do" after tasting a fondue made with Goot Essa's cheese. Creamy and melty cheeses are perfect for dipping into with crackers, crusty bread, and even veggies. Make sure to choose a cheese that melts easily, such one that is a goude, brie, camembert, gruyere, fontina, or even cheddar.
  • Share a charcuterie board
    • Although the cheese is a big highlight of any charcuterie board, your display should ideally follow the 3-3-3-3 rule: three meats, three cheeses, three starches (like crackers or bread), and three fun extras (like jam, fruit, nuts, veggies, or even chocolate). Don't forget to put something sweet to pair with the meats and cheeses. Goot Essa's product descriptions even make suggestions for what tastes best together. And remember... you eat with your eyes! Presentation matters, so make sure you have a pretty cheese board to display the charcuterie on.

Looking for more inspiration and ways to celebrate National Cheese Lover's Day? Check out the Goot Essa storefront on the PA Wilds Marketplace, or browse the PA Wilds Marketplace food section.