Good morning welcome back to our series sharing Food Holidays: April 17th is National Cheeseball Day. I don’t care for these but I know a lot of people do. Do you like Cheeseballs if so plain or something you create?
April 17
National Cheeseball Day
Facts about Cheese Ball
National Cheeseball Day, recognizes a party food that can sometimes be the centerpiece of a spread. You can choose different varieties of Cheeseballs to serve.
- A cheese spread comes in the shape of a ball served with crackers, most often around Christmas in the U.S. This cheeseball is commonly made with softened cream cheese, Pecans and other ingredients.
- Cheese puffs are a puffed corn snack coated with a mixture of cheese or cheese flavored powders. Cheese puffs are manufactured by extruding heated corn dough through a die that forms the particular shape, most likely a ball shape.
No matter which one you celebrate, both make for terrific snacking.
- Cheese is a generic term for a diverse group of milk-based food products. Produced throughout the world in wide-ranging flavors, textures, and forms. There are over 2000 varieties of Cheeses.
- Cheddar cheese is dyed orange to give it an appealing color and White cheddar is closer to its natural color.
- Cheese is one of the oldest foods in history. Dating back 4000 years to the ancient Egyptians.
- Cheese takes up about 1/10 the volume of the milk it was made from.
- The terms “Big Wheel” and “Big Cheese” referred to those who were wealthy enough to purchase a whole wheel of cheese.
HOW TO OBSERVE #NationalCheeseballDay
A day with choices, so how can you go wrong? Pick your favorite Cheese ball and share a snack with your family. Create your favorite Cheese ball recipe or snack on the Cheese Puff variety.
If you’re looking for a recipe, we’ve found one for you to try, too. Be sure to share your favorite recipes with us as well. There many Cheeseball recipes to choose from, too!
Celebrate the day by making a Cheese ball for friends and family. They even make fantastic leftovers. Remember to share a picture of your Cheese ball on Social Media using #NationalCheeseballDay
Fun Fact:
Did you know the term “Cheese Ball” can also refer to the puffed air orange snack that can be purchased in the snack aisle. Charlie and I knew this and had fun researching why there called the same thing.
The earliest mention was found in a 1944 cookbook called “Food of My Friends”. The recipe came from a Minnesota housewife.
Don’t forget a “cheeseball” could refer to someone trying to be funny or corny. Which could fit Charlie or David as well as myself at times. Have you or someone you know ever been a cheeseball?
Ingredients
- 16 ounces cream cheese , softened but still slightly firm
- 1/3 cup sour cream
- 8 ounces medium cheddar cheese , shredded
- 1/2 tsp garlic powder
- 1/2 tsp onion powder
- pepper , to taste
- 1 cup pecans , chopped small
- In a large bowl add the cream cheese, sour cream, cheddar cheese, garlic powder and onion powder and black pepper until smooth.
- Put this mixture in the refrigerator for 1 hour to chill.
- Lay a large plastic wrap square on your counter and put the mixture on it, gather the sides and bunch them up to help shape the mixture into a ball.
- Add the chopped pecans to a large bowl and roll the cheese ball into the chopped pecans then serve with crackers.
An annual observance celebrated on April 17, to commemorate the day on which President Domingo Faustino Sarmiento of Argentina officially made it his mission to transform Argentina’s wine industry
Five thing to know about Malbec
- Malbec is a purple grape variety. This is used in making red wine.
- Malbec is one of Argentine favorites.
- On April 17, 1853, the President of Argentina put legislature in place for the foundation of an agricultural school in Argentina. With this goal of transforming the country’s Wine industry. Vines were brought over from France, including Malbec, which flourished in Argentina.
- Terrazas de los Andes an Argentine Winemaker that embodies the best of Malbec by combining Argentinian terroir with French know-how to ensure quality grapes.
- Argentina’s most highly rated wines originate from Mendoza’s high altitude wine regions of Luján de Cuyo and the Uco Valley.
Celebrate World Malbec Day with Terrazas de los Andes!
