American Cheese Month

Did you know that this month is National American Cheese Month?

It’s true! Kind of amazing, right?

I don’t know about you, but when I think of American cheese, I just think of the plain yellow/orange sliced cheese. Or, I guess I should say, that’s what I USED to think until I started really getting into cheese these last few years.

My friends over at Whole Foods hooked me up with a boat load of fun and interesting American made cheeses to celebrate this awesome food related monthly holiday. I mean, it’s a tough job, but I was happy to take it on and sample each and every one of them. So now I feel like it’s my cheese civic duty to tell you all about them. So here they are! I highly recommend grabbing a handful of your favorite cheeses, a simple selection of crackers that really let the cheese flavors shine, a bottle of wine and inviting some friends over for a cheese party. And when you do that, be sure to call me, because I will totally come over and help taste test!

Rogue Creamery Oregon Blue – Blue, sweet, buttery and hand selected for Whole Foods Market. We had this a few weeks back in Oregon too – and it’s awesome! I’d serve it on a crostini with a thinly sliced pear and call it a meal!

Cabot Clothbound Cheddar – aged at the Cellars of Jasper Hill, it’s sweet and crumbly. Totes obsessed. I turned it into a mac and cheese after the tasting!

BeeHive Cheese IPANEMA-exclusive to Whole Foods Market and from Utah, this cheese is rubbed in butter and rolled in organic chocolate. Loved this!

Cypress Grove Humboldt Fog- a layer of ash makes this California, soft-ripened, aged goat cheese distinctive. Humboldt fog has been a fav of mine for the past 2 years since a trip to Northern CA! I like to toss this one into salads with roasted chicken and fresh figs!

Bonne Bouche Vermont Creamery – a goat cheese with yeasty and nutty overtones. Ok, I’ll be honest, I was super intimidated by this cheese. It’s super gooey and runny and the outer layer was a bit off looking… but holy moly was this cheese delicious. Hand me a spoon and some crackers and don’t bother me until it’s gone 🙂

Cowgirl Creamery Red Hawk – washed rind organic wonder from a single sourced herd in California and man oh man is this one delicious!! We went to town on this one… but I used the leftovers to whip up a batch of this pasta!