Edible Antics - Having Fun With Food

Wisconsin Meat Processors Recognized as Master Meat Crafters

Wisconsin meat processors can now earn the title of Master Meat Crafter thanks to a new program at the University of Wisconsin. Participants of the program often already have their own meat business, and join the program in order to learn the science behind meat processing. The first class of Master Meat Crafters graduated last week. If you've ever tasted Wisconsin summer sausage or an artisan bratwurst, you know Wisconsin meat matches the quality of Wisconsin cheese.

Why Master Meat Crafters in Wisconsin?

Earning the title of Master Meat Crafter is a perk of completing the two year program that involves homework assignments, workshops and mentoring. Wisconsin already boasts a Master Cheesemaker program, the only program of it's kind in the country. With over 289 meat processing plants, the highest number of any state, it makes sense for Wisconsin to provide education and a special distinction for meat producers as well. 

Ben Barcel of the Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade, and Consumer Protection says “These meat processors are breaking ground as the very first class of Master Meat Crafters,” said DATCP Secretary Ben Brancel. “The graduates have taken the next step, moving their interest into action, to create high-quality products that will increase consumer interest in specialty meats.”

Wisconsin Meats from Master Meat Crafter Ship Nationwide

One of those ground breaking meat processors is Master Meat Crafter Jeff Roberts, an artisan on Wisconsinmade.com.  He creates a variety of bratwurst, from the traditional Sheboygan bratwurst to the wild flavors like pizza and cherry bratwurst.  My personal favorite is the mushroom and swiss bratwurst. If you're outside of Wisconsin while you're reading this, don't cry, since Glenn's bratwurst (made by Master Meat Crafter Jeff Roberts) are available for shipment nationwide at Wisconsinmade.com, along with a wide variety of gourmet Wisconsin meats including summer sausage, snack sticks and more. 

Source:

Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection Press Release

 

Top Chef Contestant Hails from Wisconsin

Top Chef contestant Grayson Schmitz is the latest Wisconsinite to make an appearance on a reality cooking show. You might remember my posts about Food Network Star contestant Jyll Everman.  Like Jyll, Grayson moved away from America's Dairyland to study culinary arts and pursue a cooking career. In her casting video, Grayson says that if she makes it on the show, "everyone in New Holstien will freak out!".  The residents of New Holstien must be having a cow right now because not only did Grayson make it on the show, but she's one of only six remaining contestants.  Could the next Top Chef be from Wisconsin? Tune in to Top Chef on Bravo on Wednesdays at 10/9c to find out. 

Image from BravoTV.com

Not Your Average Quesadilla Recipe

 Quesadilla recipes usually involve tortillas, cheese, maybe some chicken, but this isn't your average quesadilla recipe. Sure, it has the tortillas and some cheese, but you'll never guess what kind of cheese. Wisconsin cheese of course but it is Monteray Jack? Cheddar? Colby?  Nope, it's not the usual suspect- it's blue cheese. That's right, I'm sharing a quesadilla recipe that includes blue cheese, beef and spinach. It might sound unusual but it tastes amazing, and it's not too bad for your wasteline since the blue cheese has a strong flavor and you don't need a lot of it. So what are you waiting for? Fire up your skillet and make yourself a dang quesadilla!  

 

Traditional Cookies from Around the World Unite in Wisconsin

Traditional cookies from Germany, Italy, Switzerland, Scotland and Denmark are lovingly baked and decorated right here in Wisconsin. 

 

 

Springerle Cookies - Germany

Beautiful Springerle cookies are baked in molds and hand-painted with intricate designs.The history of Springerle cookies can be traced back to the 1400s to the areas of Europe that are now Germany and Switzerland.The bakers at Embossed Edibles here in Wisconsin take pride in continuing this artistic tradition.

Biscotti - Italy

Biscotti are crunchy Italian cookies designed for dunking in your coffee, so you have an excuse to have cookies for breakfast! The Wisconsin bakery K-Delights bakes them up and covers them with chocolate, nuts, berries and more.They are available online at Wisconsinmade.com.

Bratzeli - Switzerland

These buttery cookies are handmade in the town known as Wisconsin's "Little Swizterland" - New Glarus. The New Glarus Bakery bakes these thin, wafer-like cookies in an iron and flavor them with almond.

Shortbread - Scotland

The history of Shortbread cookies dates back to the middle ages in Scotland. They were considered a luxury and enjoyed at Christmas celebrations and weddings.Today, they are still a Christmas favorite but visitors to the Wisconsin Dells enjoy them by the thousands at Cheesecake Heaven Cafe. If you aren't near the Dells, you can still taste this famous cookie by shopping at Wisconsinmade.com.

Nut Horns - Denmark

A Danish tradition, light and flakey Nut Rolls are handmade in Racine, Wisconsin. Each roll is filled with ground walnuts, cream cheese and topped with icing.They have been a customer favorite for over 20 years and were even featured on the Food Network.

Cheesemaker Sid Cook Reveals Source of Cheese Inspiration

A cheesemaker, like most artists, can take inspiration from anywhere. In a recent article in the Wall Street Journal, Master Cheesemaker and Wisconsinmade.com artisan Sid Cook reveals the inspiration behind two of his award winning varieties- Cranberry Chipotle and Cocoa Cardona. 

                                                                                   Cranberry Chipotle

A grocery shopper told Sid she would love some cranberry chipotle flavored cheese. Sid was skeptical that the flavors work, but since the shopper was willing to buy a large quantity he decided to give it a try. The key in perfecting this strange combo was allowing the sweet flavor on the cranberries to come out first, followed by the smokiness of the chipotle peppers. A grocery store suggestion turned into an award winning cheese when Cranberry Chipotle Cheddar took 3rd Place at the 2007 U.S. Championship Cheese Contest and 3rd Place at the 2007 American Cheese Society.*

 

 

 

 

Cocoa Cardona

If you think getting cheese flavor ideas from random grocery store shoppers is odd, the story behind Coca Cardona is even weirder. Sid says that during a busy day of cheesemaking, he would put a chocolate bar on his Swiss cheese sandwich. The busy day sandwich inspired Cocoa Cardona Cheese took 1st Place at the 2004 and 2nd in 2006 American Cheese Society Competition and Best of Class & Overall Second Runner-Up out of 1,000 entries in the 2005 U.S. Championship Cheese Contest.*

Find these Carr Valley cheeses and more creations from Master Cheesemaker Sid Cook on Wisconsinmade.com.

*Source: Wisconsinmade.com

5 Wisconsin Food New Years Resolutions: No Dieting Required

Try a new Wisconsin cheese at least once a month in 2012.

With so many artisan cheeses to choose from, you could try a new Wisconsin cheese every week in 2012 if you wanted to.  An affordable way to do this is to "adopt a cheese orphan"- buy the leftover pieces from big wheels of cheese that are sold at fancy cheese shops and nicer grocery stores. If you don't live in Wisconsin, and therefore don't have a mind-blowing abundance of amazing cheese, you can visit Wisconsinmade.com, and pick out a cheese assortment to stasify your cheese sampling needs.  

 Keep a cheese journal.  

Trying new cheese can be fun, but not without risk. Once I picked up a super funky goat cheese from the cheese orphan box and it took me days to get that sweaty gym sock taste out of my mouth. This is where the cheese journal comes in.  My cheese journal is a pocket sized spiral notebook where I write down the names of the good cheeses as well as the "NEVER AGAIN!!" cheeses so I don't accidently buy the gym sock cheese for a dinner party.

Plan out your meals for the week.

Making last minute food decisions results in impulse eating, impulse buying and wasted time going back and forth to the store, so a little food planning can go a long way in making 2012 an awesome food year. On Sunday afternoon, sit down and make a rough outline of what you will eat for the week.  Make a grocery list that includes all the food you will need for breakfast, lunch and dinner that week and get your shopping done all at once. I like to make a big pot of soup or a casserole on Sunday night that I can eat leftovers from all week. The planning and advanced cooking takes some time, but you'll be glad you did when those hectic weeknights role around.

Learn how to make a classic Wisconsin recipe. 

A warm bowl of beer cheese soup is a nice way to welcome out-of-town guests visiting Wisconsin.  Don't live in Wisconsin? Make some homemade fried cheese curds to impress your friends at your next Packer game party (see next resolution). You can ship curds nationwide from Wisconsinmade.com, and visit the recipe section of the blog for more Wisconsin recipes.

Make a Wisconsin food spread for your next Packer game day party.

Enjoy beer and bratwursts as your main course and check out these tasty recipes from around the blogosphere for appetizer ideas:

Jalapeno Bacon Mac and Cheese

 Football Cheese and Sausage Bites

Packer Pretzel Hugs

Swedish Meatballs

 Do you have any food related New Years Resolutions?