Celebrating the Holidays with Wisconsin Cheese
by Alice Choi, Hip Foodie Mom
If there was ever a time to take a trip to the craft store and get a little creative, it’s the holiday season! One of my favorite parts about the holidays is gift giving. I love getting a little creative with my gifts and food is almost always involved.
Last year I made a few food gift baskets for fun and they were a big hit. My friends loved them so much that I decided to make some again this year, but this time I’m making a few more. With just a visit to your local craft store for baskets or wooden crate boxes which also make great containers, and holiday supplies, you can really put something together beautiful and stunning.
I kept the decorating to a minimum, and used holiday ornaments and cinnamon scented pine cones, things that can be re-used around your house during the holidays, but you can certainly decorate the baskets more and wrap thick holiday ribbon around the basket handles. It’s up to you and how you want to decorate the baskets.
And that’s the special thing about giving gift baskets. You’re making them on your own, with someone special in mind. You can customize and personalize each one!
For me, no holiday is complete without cheese. We always have some out on a platter with crackers, salami and fruit. Cheese is the perfect gift to give over the holidays. And you can pair the cheese with so many things! Chocolate, wine, beer, crackers, cranberry relish, nuts and more!
I’ve partnered together with Wisconsin Cheese and have put together three gift basket ideas for you:
My first basket focuses on some limited edition seasonal cheeses from Sartori. Sartori is one of my favorite local cheese makers here in Wisconsin. I immediately fell in love with Sartori after trying their BellaVitano cheeses. My favorites are the Merlot, Espresso, Balsamic and the Citrus Ginger . . these cheeses are so good! For the holidays, Sartori has made a cinnamon-spiked Cannella BellaVitano, ChaiBellaVitano and Peppermint Bellavitano! These cheeses have hints of seasonal flavors and would make such a great gift for the holidays! You guys have to try these cheeses!
My second basket is for the cheddar cheese lovers in your life. We all have friends and family who love cheddar, right? Cheddar cheese is one of my favorites and Hook’s Cheddar from here in Wisconsin makes the most phenomenal cheddar cheese. I have never tasted cheddar like this before. It’s so good and creamy!! Tony and Julie Hook have been making cheddar cheese since 1976 and they have an entire line of different aged cheddar. It was Hook’s that made the 20 year aged cheese, which I actually tried at a dinner with Wisconsin Cheese, after we shot the Harvest Issue of Grate. Pair. Share. It was like butter. So creamy and smooth. Amazing!
I put a few of my favorites from Hook’s cheddar into this basket because, if you have a friend and family member who likes cheddar, they absolutely have to try this cheese.
And since I live here in Wisconsin, I had to create a gift basket that celebrates some of my favorite cheeses, because after all, I am in America’s Dairyland. I have Dunbarton Blue from Roelli Cheese, Marieke Gouda from Holland’s Family cheese, and Pleasant Ridge Reserve from Uplands Cheese.
These cheeses are really popular here in Wisconsin and they are all really delicious and pair beautifully with crackers, wine, dried fruit and nuts. All of these cheeses can be ordered online. So, what are you waiting for? If you’re interested in ordering any of these cheeses visit EatWisconsinCheese.com.
And, if you don’t have the time to create your own cheese basket and still want to give some as gifts, the Wisconsin Milk Marketing Board has compiled a list of cheese companies, creameries and specialty stores offering mail order cheese and gift baskets.
I hope you now have some holiday gift basket inspiration. Happy Holidays!
GIVEAWAY!
Win your own Wisconsin Cheese Holiday Gift Basket from Wisconsin Cheese. Enter at EatWisconsinCheese.com.
These would be great gifts for cheese-lovers!
I just love cheese!!! My dad is from Wisconsin, maybe that’s it, lol!
I am 5th generation Wis… need I say more?
Nothing better than a hand packed basket of lovely cheeses A Lovely gift for anyone
Beautiful gift baskets. I love this idea. Our local grocery store carries some great cheeses from Wisconsin and recently did a demo of the Peppermint Bellavitano during a Holiday open house. I would love to try the other kinds listed here. We can’t get enough of the peppermint! Yum!! We love to share our fabulous cheese finds with friends and family!!
I love making baskets like this for my loved ones! And Sartori cheese is definitely a top favorite of mine. Thanks for the inspiration!
Love gourmet cheeses!! <3
My father in law is impossible to buy presents for …. but he does love cheese! I think you have turned me on to a new annual gift idea! (Smacks head) thanks!
I would love love love to win this!!!!
Thank you for the giveaway this would be so awesome
Everyone loves cheese, so I keep it on hand for last minute gatherings. It is also handy to have for snacks when you are running late in getting dinner ready.
I love getting and giving Food baskets and this one looks so delicious and my sister and her family would love to try out the cheeses. I would love to try out these cheeses too!
Wow! Your cheeses look wonderful! I’m going to have to check them out at EatWisconsinCheese.com
These baskets are awesome! So yummy looking too!
Would L❤️VE to #Win this basket to use at one of our family gatherings! Thanks for the chance. 😀🎄🎄🎄🎄
grew up eating good cheese and i still love it maybe even more. great to live in a cheese state
I love the idea of a food gift basket… I see them all the time at silent auctions/sweepstakes. I don’t know why I’ve never thought about making one myself!
Great baskets! Food, especially cheese, is always a great gift!
Who doesn’t like cheese? Great gift ideas.
Mmmmm the power of cheese!! Best campaign ever!!
If i am lucky enough to win, this will be for my mother
I can’t wait to win and try all of these awesome looking products.
Such a beautiful prize and great for the holidays
This gift basket would make for a lovely spread at my Christmas this year! My family would love it!
What are the best cheeses to use for grilled cheese sandwich ?
I am a cheesehead at heart transplanted to the state of Iowa. Miss the fresh cheeses of Wisconsin so much.
Your cheese curds are the best, I can’t wait to try other cheeses you make!
Great giveaway!
Wisconsin cheese is the best, I know because I lived there the majority of my life…Sartori, all varieties are my absolute favorites.
I love this and I love cheese! lol
Your boxes look amazing. I love Wisconsin Cheese. It has become a holiday tradition in my house.
amazing gift with a selection that would allow us to invite friends over during the holidays and enjoy
love to try different types of cheese.
Wisconsin Cheese is just wonderful cheese. The gift baskets are so special and winning one would add so much to our family holiday dinner.
Nothing better then Wisconsin cheese to share!
I hope I win!! Cuz I love cheese! especially Wisconsin Cheese!
We love cheese at our house, my son and his girlfriend just gave us some wonderful Wisconsin cheese from their recent visit to the state. Delicious!! Wish I had some now!
Wisconsin Cheese is always a welcomed and enjoyable gift. It’s always a part of the Holiday’s
I love all the selections available from Wisconsin Cheese!
Wisconsin Cheese baskets look amazing! I am definitely going to try one.
I love Wisconsin Cheeses!
Can’t go wrong with wine and lots of cheese.
Who wouldn’t want a basket of Wisconsin cheese?
This gift Basket is perfect for everyone!
I would love to win this for my hubby, thanks for the chance to
Would have to say that this would be great for sure
These cheese baskets are really nice! They make great gifts for all the cheese lovers on my list
These are great prizes! I love Cheese!
I love cheese of all kinds, great giveaway!!
[…] partnered together with Wisconsin Cheese and have put together three gift basket ideas!! And I made a video you guys! I hope you watch it […]