You've heard the phrase, "when it rains, it pours. "  But what about "when it snows, it_____?" Because we just got a boatload of snow, and the next storm may bring even more before the weekend.  It's breathtakingly beautiful outside, and temps are just right for playing in the snow.  If you're coming up, please stop by for some cheesy nourishment.

Here in Vermont, as you may have guessed, we have a whole lot of cows.  Who wouldn't love these sweet, gentle animals?  Our logistics manager, Nina, has a darling boy named Braydon who turned 2 last weekend and more than anything, he wanted a cake shaped like one of the cows he sees all over our fine state.  Well, Nina, while a whiz at expediting trucks in and out of our facility, is not the world's greatest baker and it seemed that baby Braydon's bovine birthday bash might be without a cow cake!

  Well, thank goodness for Janet!  Janet, it turns out, not only excels at taking care of assembling and shipping all of our retail orders, she is also a baker and cake decorator par excellence!  She showed up at Nina's house to present this masterwork to young Braydon on his special day.

  Braydon loved the cake so much that Nina had to stop the birthday boy from hugging and kissing his "moo-moo" too aggressively.   As Nina began to cut into the cow cake, Braydon, forgetting that this cow was actually a cake,  exclaimed in protective urgency "Mama!! My moo-moo!"   At the end of the day, the desire for cake won out over protecting the moo-moo and the cake was enjoyed by all.

That's how much time you have until the Super Bowl kick-off. Are you ready? I'm not. First of all, I'm still disappointed by the last interception of the Vikings/Saints game. Maybe once in my lifetime, the Vikings will make the Super Bowl. Maybe. Regardless, we'll be watching the game, enjoying some drinks and eating a lot of good food (of which, I haven't planned yet - Yikes!). Of course there will be some Grafton Cheese involved, since that is what consumes most of my refrigerator. Any tips will be greatly accepted from you readers.

Second of all, it's my husbands birthday. Not only do I need to plan snacks for the game, but a birthday cake and a gift. Usually I'm very organized and good at planning these things, but for some reason I am really struggling this year.
Help me. Please. What is the ultimate gift on a guy's birthday, AND what are some of the ultimate foods to serve during the Super Bowl? I'm waiting... only 5 days, 4 hours and 28 minutes left!

One of my most favorite events in the Midwest is the Minnesota State Fair. Where else can you get all of your favorite foods on a stick - or deep-fried? No where else.  Let's not forget the excellent 4-Her's who work their butts of exhibiting their animals - or the All-You-Can-Drink Milk Stand.  I'm getting carried away, back to the point.

Stuart Watson, a photographer from Delware, was snacking with our cheese the other day, when he surprised himself by breaking off a piece into the shape of Vermont.  He kindly shared with us: 

Ice fishing.

It’s really a big oximoron of a sport. I enjoy ice fishing the most when I am in a warm, heated ice house. So to think that I’m out there freezing my butt off just isn’t true. Plus, we catch a lot of Walleye where I am from — its delicious. 

One of my best friends writes: "A few years ago while ice fishing over college winter break with a neighbor (yes, his name REALLY is Ole) I was informed of a delicious recipe for cooking walleye. After it is boned and cleaned, simply boil it in a small pot of lemon-lime soda (7-up, Sprite, or Sierra Mist.) When the fish is cooked, drain and serve it with melted butter. As Ole’s wife Barb would say "It tastes just like lobster!"" -YUM!

Luckily, ice fishing is common in Vermont too, so I feel at home every time I drive in to work - only to see about a dozen fish houses on the ice to my right.  Are you guys catching anything out there? I also feel fortunate to be experiencing 22*F weather instead of the -2*F in Minnesota today. Just thought I'd throw that out there.

Minnesota Ice Fishing. Notice the large mountains in the landscape? Probably not.

There's a great article in the St. Petersburg Times called "Cheese a Good Choice for New Year's Celebrations."  Well, we knew that.  But in Laura Reiley's interview with Max McCalman, America's first restaurant-based maitre fromager (master of cheese), who has just released his fourth book on the subject, Mastering Cheese: Lessons for True Connoisseurship From a Maitre Fromager (Clarkson Potter, $40), he mentions the most common misconceptions about cheese.  Granted, we knew this stuff, too, but maybe you didn't.  Here's an excerpt:  Most people have this idea that cheese is fattening and that unpasteurized cheese is dangerous. Cheese is not fattening, and in fact it can lower bad cholesterol and elevate good cholesterol levels. Unpasteurized cheese is perfectly safe — and perfectly legal — if it is aged at a cool temperature for 60 days. Also, people are concerned when they see mold. Cheese is a living food and the mold is extracting excess moisture while adding flavor. And I hear from lots of people that they can't eat cheese because they are lactose intolerant. There is almost no lactose in cheese. It's drained off with the whey, and remaining lactose is converted to lactic acid in the souring of the milk.  And here's the full link: http://www.tampabay.com/features/food/general/cheese-a-good-choice-for-new-years-celebrations/1060411.  Happy New Year!

Some annual traditions make sense.  They're rooted in family, like opening Christmas stockings on Mom and Dad's bed, with the dog, even when the kids are in their twenties; or community, like buying mystery casserole from the 6th grade on Town Meeting Day as a fundraiser for their class trip; or fun, like getting together with the same friends to watch the All-Star Game with ice cream and strawberries.  Some traditions are obligatory, like giving flowers on Valentine's Day (I'd rather get flowers on some random day.  But I'll take them on Valentine's Day, too...don't get me wrong.)  And some make no sense at all, in my humble opinion.
 
One of those that seems senseless to me is getting all dressed up to go bar- or party-hopping on New Year's Eve, probably imbibing a bit too much, driving on roads with other people doing the same thing, and spending the next day swapping hangover cures on Facebook.   Hence the name "Amateur Night." It's especially senseless in a good chunk of Vermont, because you can't exactly walk around the neighborhood, mostly because there are no neighborhoods.  And a lot of southerners are here for the holidays, and winter driving is not exactly their forté (southerners are people who live below the Vermont/Massachusetts border.)
 
So here's a New Year's tradition that I like:  stay home, put out a bunch of small dishes (eating a big dinner could cause one to miss the ball drop entirely), and make fun of the hosts and guests on the various television specials.  And certainly, one of the best small dish options is a cheese plate.  And don't scrimp here.  It's New Year's Eve.  Only the best will do.

Happy Holidays! From Adam

We have less than a week until Christmas which means our mail-order and shipping  departments are going strong.  Endless days, cardboard paper-cuts, holiday tunes blaring and choosing which gift baskets are the worst/best to package - we can't wait for you to enjoy Grafton Village Cheese at home for the Holidays. 

We love to be part of traditions all over the country and the world! Speaking of traditions, I'm starting a new one this year - each member of my immediate family is going to bring their favorite bottle of wine and some new cheese to share.  We will then choose our favorites to enjoy all year long and come up with new favorites every year. I'll of course bring some Grafton cheddar. I was already asked to bring some Duet, 5 Star and Cave Aged.  

The wine I'm going to bring is called The Black Chook, Sparkling Shiraz.  Nick told me to try it and it has been a favorite of mine ever since! It has blackberry, plum, cocoa powder and licorice flavors with a little fizz to make it interesting.  I prefer it chilled even though it is a red wine. Can't find it? Check out our retail store in Brattleboro.

My family also plays a lot of broomball - hockey with boots and brooms instead of skates and hockey sticks. We usually come out with some bruises, but a good time is had by all.

What are your favorite holiday traditions?

Though the holidays are coming fast, remember to soak it all in and enjoy the time you share with family and friends.  I know I'm looking forward to flying back to Minnesota - so be safe, have fun and eat lots of good cheese!