Parmigiano Reggiano

Country of Origin: Italy
Make no mistake, this is not Kraft parmesan cheese. Like mozzarella, the real thing is nothing like that bottled powder you find on the shelf. Parmigiano Reggiano is the original parmesan cheese made in the Parma and surrounding regions of Italy. Only cheese made in this region is allowed to bear this name. If it says parmesan, be assured it did not come from Parma! This cheese is classified as a hard cheese. It is dry and crumbly in texture, and it's flavor is full, rich, nutty, and earthy all at once. It is very complex, perhaps due to it's long aging time- at least 15-18 months. It is made in huge wheels. If you are lucky enough to find the real thing in your store (I actually found it in the deli section at Wal-mart), it will probably be a small wedge with the name stamped on the outer rind. It is fabulous!
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Jarlsberg

Country of Origin: Norway
This is a sharp and flavorful cheese. It is quite similar to Swiss cheese, but it has some sweet, wild notes to it that make it a little different. It would be excellent in any recipe using Swiss cheese, and is also very tasty on it's own. Dustin's other favorite, the kids liked it.
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Havarti

Country of Origin: Denmark

Havarti is a semi-soft cheese which is very creamy and rich in flavor.It is a great cheese for grilled cheese sandwiches- it pairs equally well with ham or turkey. It also works well on a cheese platter served with crackers and apples or pears. It is one of Dustin's favorites, we all liked it a lot.

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Applewood-smoked Provolone

Country of Origin: Italy (provolone itself, the smoked variety came from Wisconsin)

Have you ever noticed what great cheese those Italians make? This was our favorite cheese thus far. It was very smoky with great depth of flavor. It's smell and flavor brought back memories of a campfire. We loved it- including the kids. Lauren and Matthew's favorite.

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Mascarpone

Country of Origin: Italy
Mmmm...fresh, sweet, so creamy, delicious! A bit like cream cheese, except sweeter, creamier, and way better! Mascarpone is one of those cheeses that I've often seen in recipes and forever wanted to try. It is the cheese used in tiramisu, as well. It is a fabulous dessert cheese, with a taste like very thick cream. We mixed it with a little honey and ate it with pears, and it's also delicious spread on toast with a little jam. The adults and Matthew loved it, the little kids didn't.
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