My family has been discussing what we were going to have for dinner this evening since last night. When I found out February 13th is National Cheddar Day #NationalCheddarDay I figured I would ask Charlie if he want’s his Dad’s Famous Nacho’s which is actually the Nacho’s I taught David to make. Would you want to join us for dinner this evening? We can celebrate Valentines Day early.
National Cheddar Day is celebrated annually on February 13th making Gallentine’s a very Cheesy day. National Cheddar Day was created by the Tillamook County Creamery Cooperation, National Cheddar Day celebrates the amazing Cheese we all know as Cheddar, and all its edible products. Did you know Cheddar Cheese hails from the actual City of Cheddar in Somerset, South England.
Cid you know Cheddar Cheese accounts for more than a third of all the Cheese sold in the United States? Cheddar is a top choice in most Cheese selections. Cheddar is unique for the peculiar way it’s made and hails from England.
Cheddar Gorge on the edge of the Village, Cheddar in Somerset, England, is home to the origin of Cheddar Cheese. The Gorge has several Caves that provide the perfect humidity and steady temperature for maturing the Cheese. The popular Cheese was first bought by the royal family and is said to have been brought to Britain by the Romans from the Cantal region of France.
The 19th-Century father of Cheddar Cheese, Joseph Harding, was central to the modernization and standardization of Cheddar Cheese. He encouraged Dairy hygiene and modern Cheese-making techniques. The ‘Joseph Harding method’ was the first Cheddar production method based upon scientific principles.
The process called Cheddaring is what separates this Cheese from others. Cheddaring is an additional step in the production of Cheddar Cheese which is done after heating. The Curd is kneaded with Salt, cut into cubes to drain the Whey, and then stacked and turned. The result you get from this step is a denser, crumbly texture.
In 1894, renowned Cheesemaker Peter McIntosh brought his Cheese-making skills to Tillamook County, Oregon, and in due time was dubbed the Cheese King of the Coast. The local farmers have since formed the farmer-owned cooperative we know today as the Tillamook County Creamery Association. In 2019, the association founded National Cheddar Day on February 13th. The purpose was to celebrate Tillamook’s 110th birthday and share a passion for Cheddar with cheese-lovers nationwide.
National Cheddar Day Activities
- There are many meals containing Cheddar Cheese we can now enjoy. Have a nice Cheesy Burger, Grilled Cheese, or a nice plate of Mac and Cheese, or any other meal you enjoy that contains Cheddar Cheese.
- Today would be the perfect time to rally friends and family for a road trip. Go to your local-renowned Cheesemaker to watch in person how this Cheese is made. If you are in Tillamook County, you are even more fortunate, head over to the inventors of National Cheddar Day and see how they make their Cheddar.
- Cheddar Cheese is a great ingredient for adding flavor and drama into meals. Look for a recipe containing Cheddar Cheese, and try it out. Make it more fun by hosting loved ones for lunch or dinner.
Facts About Cheddar Cheese
- Did you know Macaroni and Cheese is a popular recipe that uses Cheddar Cheese?
- Here is a fun tip for you. Queen Victoria was given a giant wheel of Cheese weighing 992 pounds as a Wedding Gift.
- Cheddar Cheese is the second most popular Cheese, falling right under Mozzarella.
- Cheddar Cheese ages for a minimum of three to six months, preferably one-and-a-half to two years.
- In 1851, the first Cheese factory in the United States opened in upstate New York and specialized in Cheddar Cheese.
Why We Love National Cheddar Day
National Cheddar Day provides the perfect opportunity to sharpen your cooking skills by making recipes that contain Cheddar Cheese and there are numerous recipes online for you to choose from. take time today to pick out a recipe to try out. Or make the recipe I’ve shared with you below.
If you are a lover of Cheese, what’s not to love about National Cheddar Day? Cheese adds drama to most of our basic dishes, and we cannot get enough of Cheese. Can we?
People tend to shy away from Cheddar Cheese because of the fat content, but on National Cheddar Day, it’s only right to have Cheddar Cheese and have lots of it so forget the fat today, and have Cheddar Cheese for every meal.
Recipe for Baked Ham and Cheddar Cheese Slices
Ingredients
Original recipe yields 24 servings
- ¾ cup melted Butter
- 1 ½ tablespoons Dijon Mustard
- 1 ½ teaspoons Worcestershire Sauce
- 1 ½ tablespoons Poppy Seeds (Optional)
- 1 tablespoon dried minced Onion (Optional)
- 24 mini Sandwich Rolls or 12 large
- 1 pound thinly sliced cooked Deli Ham
- 1 pound thinly sliced Cheddar Cheese
Directions
- Gather all ingredients. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Grease a 9×13-inch baking dish.
- Mix Butter, Dijon Mustard, Worcestershire Sauce, Optional Poppy Seeds, and dried Onion in a bowl.
- Separate the tops from the bottoms of the Rolls; arrange the bottom pieces in a layer in the prepared baking dish. Layer about 1/2 of the Ham onto the Rolls; add a layer of Cheddar Cheese and top with remaining Ham Slices.
- Place the tops of the Rolls onto the Sandwiches. Pour Mustard mixture evenly over the Rolls
- Bake in the preheated oven until the Rolls are lightly browned and the Chedder Cheese has melted, about 20 minutes. Slice into individual Rolls through the Ham and Chedder Cheese layers to serve.
Thank you,
Glenda, Charlie and David Cates
