Life
9 Holiday Cheeses You Need On Your List To Make The Season Bright For Everyone
Steaming pots of hot chocolate, Baileys with coffee, chestnuts roasted over open fires, festive plates of cheese... if there was ever one thing worth celebrating during the holiday season, it'd be the food. Gifts aside, the holiday season draws us all inside, out of the cold and into each other's arms. So what better way to mark all that togetherness than with heaping plates of all your favorite comfort food?
Cakes and cookies may draw a crowd, but if you truly want to talk about what makes the Yuletide gay, you need to talk about cheese. It's the real bringer-togetherer of families, distant relatives, and friends. It not only makes the perfect centerpiece for any table setting, it's also the world's most heavenly stocking stuffer and gift. Some people ask for iTunes gift cards, clothes, movie tickets, and certificates they can use toward their favorite stores — but not you.
You're a real cheese lover. You're a real cheese diehard. You know what to put on your list for Santa — and you put it twice so he (and Aunt Ethel) won't just gloss over it. These nine satisfyingly sweet, savory, and delicious cheeses need to make an appearance on your list — for giving and receiving.
Make the people around you better by giving the gift of good cheese this year.
Goat Cheese
You know what GOAT also stands for? Greatest Of All Time. Pretty sure you don’t need to know more than that.
Image: Elena’s Pantry/Flickr
Brie
A little Brie, some honey, cranberry sauce, and walnuts… and you’ve got the recipe for holiday happiness. (Just remember to share, OK?)
Image: Fotolia
Honey Walnut Fig Cream Cheese
For a twist on basic CC, this sweetened up cream cheese has a little taste of everything you love. Plus, you can spread it on just about anything, and it’ll still taste good.
Image: Trader Joe’s
Colby Jack
Feeling a little dangerous this holiday season? Kick things up a notch with a little Colby Jack. It’s best served with sweets, like cherries and grapes and apple slices.
Image: Fotolia
Mahon
Not for amateur cheese aficionados, Mahon packs a salty punch. If you’re not sure you’ll love it, pair it with your chutney of choice.
Image: Fotolia
Midnight Moon
Want something creamy and cheesy without spreading a little cream cheese on everything? Midnight moon is the answer to your cheese-filled prayers.
Image: Fotolia
Sharp Cheddar
It’ll be the one cheese that everybody is excited to see, so make sure to buy in bulk. You can pair it with anything, but we kinda love it most on crackers.
Muenster
A true crowd pleaser, Muenster made its way on to the list because you won’t ever go wrong adding a little to any dish. To make a good thing better, add it to your baked mac and cheese.
Image: Fotolia
Asiago
Last on the list, but forever first in my heart, Asiago cheese is the Italian gift to the world. Eat it fresh or buy it aged, and you can serve it with deep red wines, salty meats, and sweet grapes.
Image: Fotolia
