Cheese making was invented more than 800 years ago. And ever since this wonderful product strongly occupies its place on our tables and we cannot imagine our life without this prefect snack, ingredient for a deal of dishes and as a separate meal, good with wine, crackers and salads. And though Cheddar cheese is very popular and produced in different countries of the world nowadays, it is hard to protect the very this sort from quality standards violation. Thus, the European Economic Community decided to give the status of the product of the designated origin to the authentic English farmhouse Cheddar cheese. And if you buy the product with such a label be sure it meets all the standards and is really good and useful for everyday diet.
Definite requirements shall be met to get the EEC status. First, the cheese is to be made of local milk, by hand, its age being no less than six months. Besides, the aroma, texture and flavor are equally important. You will never get the status of the product of the designated origin if the texture of your Cheddar cheese is not rich, sometimes even buttery, and in case its aroma is not nutty or grassy. As for the flavor, it may vary from fruitiness to oakiness. The natural color of Cheddar cheese is yellow to beige. And if you see some suspicious white spots it means this piece was stored in plastic too long. Perhaps, it doesn't make an influence on the quality of the cheese itself, but you pay for a perfect one, don't you?
As the flavor of any other cheese, that of Cheddar changes with time. When it is young its texture is smooth and the flavor soft; and it tastes sharper when matured. Besides, if the texture is a little crumbly it was properly cured. The aging time of Cheddar cheese is from nine to twenty four months. If you are curious about what to do with your cheese after purchasing and if you have never experienced cooking with this product as an ingredient look through one of cookbooks. You will be pleasantly surprised with a number of recipes of pies, biscuits, soups, salads and pastas, all of which cannot be even imagined without cheese. And if you start trying these recipes it is impossible to stop, as the dishes are really delicious.
As an option, you may cook a Cheddar cheese soup. First, you need to heat four cups of chicken broth, then melt three tablespoons of butter and put two peeled and diced carrots and four diced onions into this butter. When carrots and onions are soft add them to the broth. Hereafter, you are to make small balls from two tablespoons of butter and four tablespoons of flour and put these balls into the stock. It is time to add grated Cheddar cheese, parsley and ham, salt and pepper to taste and then heat until cheese is melted. Can you imagine anything tastier? And it is only one recipe of a long list, which will make your dinner unforgettable. We get used to use cheese only in sandwiches, but it is not a limit. This product is so tasty that it should take a suitable place in the process of cooking in each family. Just try - and you will certainly like it.