More Cheese, Please.

The day I realized I had opposable thumbs, I could be found gripping my feta cheese. Growing up, my mom often said that I chose my friends on whether or not they also liked feta, and looking back, I suppose that wasn't all that untrue. Although, perhaps it was just a by product of the fact that I wasn't giving up my smelly feta (no matter what the kids in the lunch room said), so you had better like it if you were going to be my friend.

In years to come, I learned my cheese options were seemingly endless and that everything was better with a little (and by a little, I mean a lot of) cheese on top. It wasn't until later that I realized there was a heavy (pun intended) truth to the saying "a moment on the lips, forever on the hips," but by that time my love affair with cheese was cemented. Life would never be the same if I said goodbye.

With a chef for a dad, I had fairly easy access to my Kryptonite as a kid; however these days, I have to search it out myself. I've found that in most local grocery stores, the "international section" has a pretty good selection. Boring.

When feeling more adventuresome, it is fun to seek out local farms either close to home or on road trips. One of my family's favorites is Sweet Home Farm in Elberta, Alabama. The cheese is to die for (I think Gouda might be my favorite).

If you're in the south, The Southern Cheesemakers Guild is a good place to find a local farm in your area.  But that being said, I'm totally pumped about a new service called Gilt Taste, created by Gilt (which if you don't know, is named appropriately for its amazing apparel that you can't help but buy because of the great price... then the guilt ensues.)

I haven't tried it just yet, but Gilt Taste is an online market where you "can connect with the farmers and artisans who make and grow the products, discover where the food comes from, learn how to prepare it for the best results and buy it with a single click." (My wallet is crying in the corner.) I, of course, am particularly interested in this section.  I'll let you know how it goes once I indulge. And maybe include some of my favorite recipes too!

I could go on and on, but perhaps I'll spare you and go eat some cheese instead!

One of my favorite, simple Brie Recipes: baked with pecans on top. Enjoy with apple slices or water crackers!