Cheese brings flavor and flair to your holiday gatherings

It’s a special time of year centered on family. From Thanksgiving through Christmas, our most important relationships take top priority. Free from our everyday distractions, we laugh, share, exchange gifts and maybe watch a little football. There are no warmer feelings than our gratitude when gathered at a table brimming with hearty, delicious foods prepared with attention and love.

While tradition is an important part of our holiday celebrations, the most memorable family dinners carry some unique touches. When planning your shopping lists, aim to give your loved ones some tastes outside of the ordinary. Wholesome, delicious cheese is the perfect element from which to create something special. Here are five ways cheese can elevate your offerings throughout the holiday season.

Assemble a cheese board: Cheese boards bring a touch of class to any gathering. At the holidays, it’s an excellent addition for reasons of aesthetics, flavor and practicality. It’s visually alluring, bringing an array of colors to your table. It’s a place to show your creativity: Perhaps give it an autumn theme with miniature pumpkins.  As for the best reason for a cheese board? It doesn’t require any of your valuable oven space. They also make great appetizers, freeing up some additional minutes for meal preparation. Go for a variety of tastes and textures when choosing your cheeses. Include a mild muenster, a sharp aged cheddar or a rich and nutty gouda. Finish your board with honey, nuts, fruits and crackers. It’s a distinctive flourish your diners will be certain to appreciate.

Give them a flavorful dinner roll: Crusty, buttery and piping hot, bread is an essential part of any family meal. It isn’t difficult to bring your dinner rolls from good to great: just choose your cheese. Mozzarella, cheddar and parmesan all work wonderfully with garlic and herbs to create dinner rolls that’ll disappear quickly from the bread basket.

Bake a butternut squash mac and cheese: Holidays are all about warmth and familiarity. Macaroni and cheese is the quintessential American comfort food and would fit well on any holiday table, particularly when adjusted to include some rich fall flavor. Butternut squash brings a nutty sweetness to the dish that stands in delicious contrast to the sharpness of a quality, aged cheddar. Its taste and texture will delight your younger guests while also earning fans among older diners.

Prepare tastier mashed potatoes: Mashed potatoes are an expectation at any holiday feat. Though on their own, it’s a dish that offers little to get excited about. Cheese can turn a humdrum side into one that’s certain to be passed for seconds. Bring your mashed potatoes to the next level with cheddar, parmesan, garlic and chives. Grated gouda is another flavorful option that can give mashed potatoes a starring role on your holiday menu. Food Network recently posted a delicious feta mashed potato recipe.

Serve up some cheddar with your apple pie: Though it might sound peculiar to some, cheddar cheese and apple pie is a delicious combination and prevalent in New England and parts of the upper Midwest. The pairing provides that satisfying meld of sweet and savory. There’s no wrong way to present it. Some offer cheddar on the side. Others will put a cold slice on top of a warm piece of pie. There’s also the option of baking some cheddar into the crust.

Cheese is a simple way to bring the best from a wide variety of foods and can liven every course through your holiday season.

Agropur is the cheesemaker of choice and capable of producing more than 20 varieties. Crafted with a dedication to quality, we specialize in mozzarella, cheddar, provolone and feta. Click here to learn more about Agropur’s wholesome and award-winning cheeses.