{nibble} drunk manchego spread

Yea - We have successfully had our second summer sunday supper!

I LOVE cheese. All kinds, all textures, love it. Lately I have been taken with Manchego. I just love saying it. I feel like I should be in spain walking on a cobble stone street. I might stop in the local dive and order some wine, manchego and chorizo. Doesn't that sound fun?

here is a fun fact: Did you know that Manchego is named for the Spanish region of La Mancha, which is also the home of Don Quixote!

drunk manchego spread by ann west

1-2 wedges of an aged manchego. Ask for one with a nice bite to it!

olive oil

roasted garlic

salt

pepper

red pepper flakes

italian seasonings, basil, oregano etc...

paprika

a squeeze of lemon

chunk your cheese and cover with olive oil. Add your spices as you like and let sit for at least 8 hours. A day would even be better. Serve with a sturdy cracker or some nice bread. enjoy!

ps. i could also see adding a little more lemon and drizzling this over grilled asparagus - yum!

{just for you} j'adore

as the title says... i simply adore these!

La Tur is a beautiful creamy (goat, sheep and cow milk blended) cheese. It has a light rind, a very creamy center and a wonderful punch. You will love it. The honey I discovered a couple of years ago and I still go back to it. It is thick and so sweet but mellow too. It is great warmed slightly and paired with a cheese like La Tur with some delicious almonds and prosecco. Yum!

toodle-oo!

{field trip} oh i love cheese!

Just this past week Amy and I left the chaos of our homes for a fun night out discovering cheese and enjoying a night off. We left our husbands in charge of getting the kids to practices, making sure homework was done and off to bed at a decent time... It was the "cheesemongers birthday surprise!"

If you love cheese then, Scardello's Artisan Cheese Shop is a must see. This is little place has a warm atmosphere with an endless array of cheeses and wines and a fun and knowledgeable staff. We tasted all kinds of wonderful cheese - the cheesemonger, Rich Roger's birthday picks paired with some yummy wine. I so appreciated Rich's enthusiasm for cheese, wine, friends and food.

My personal favorites from the night were a wonderful creamy cows milk cheese called, Seastack from the Mt. Townsend Creamery. It was served with a great little champagne, Deutz Brut. My second favorite was the Appenzeller from the Beeler, Switzerland. It was a cheese that Amy and I both agreed you could eat over and over again. A nutty flavor, mild and smooth. Yum. That one was served with Torii Mor Pinot Noir from Oregon.

I love field trips ... it was a fun night with Amy!!!