Ooey, Gooey Weissbier Grilled Cheese + more Castello Moments

This is a sponsored post written by me on behalf of Castello Cheese. All opinions are 100% my own.

So, a couple of weeks ago, I shared my girlish-giddiness with you when I talked gushed on and on about receiving a giant box of Castello Alps Selection Cheeses on my doorstep.  Do you remember?  Well, if you missed it, I hope you'll drop back by to get a feel for these three amazing varieties of cheese - each stellar in their own rite.

Now, if it were up to me, I'd hold (or at least attend) some variety of cheese tasting party weekly.  Cheese + Wine?  Yes, please.  Cheese + Beer.  Oh, yes.  Cheese + perfect food pairings?  You know it!  But I will also happily munch on cheese for no other reason than I can't get enough.  Fortunately, I still have a fair amount of cheese left over after my cheese tasting and pairing.

We've been using it for pretty much anything.  The Hirten is being used like Parmesan...on hot, buttered noodles, in pestos, shaved over baked apples.  The classic has been sliced for sammies, but also eaten alongside fresh fruit and nuts as the perfect snack.  And the Weissbier has gone into bread, used in mac and cheese, and shredded to use in sandwich-after-melty-sandwich!

Basically, I'll butter one side of a slice of bread and set it butter side down in a pan over medium-low heat.  Add a handful of shredded Weissbier to cover well.  Add a few slices of juicy homegrown tomato, sprinkled with a smattering of smoked sea salt and freshly ground pepper.  Place another slice of bread, buttered side up on top.  Grill until outside is golden, and cheese is ooey, gooey.  Shake a very light dusting of garlic powder on both sides of the sandwich.  Enjoy!

Now, can I just tell you that I am not the only one who's been sharing my Castello Moments love!  Check out these other amazing uses for Castello Alps Selection Cheese around the web...

Tastings & Pairings

• Castello Moments Cheese Tasting & Pairing from girlichef 
• Wine and Cheese Pairing 101: Castello Moments from The Roasted Root 
• I Throw a CheeseFest! from The Colors of Indian Cooking 
• Castello Moments: Cheese Platter Perfection from Cooking With Books 
• Castello Moments - The Gooey Affair from The B*Critic 
• Castello Moments: Beer & Cheese Pairing from kitchenette 
• Castello Moments Wine Tasting from Where and What in the World 

Recipes using Castello Alps Selection Cheeses

• Castello Moments: Potato Gratin from Lemon Sugar 
• Savory Cheese Crackers with Castello Moments Hirten from An Edible Mosaic 
• Castello Moments Spinach and Cheese Bake from The Domestic Mama & The Village Cook 
• Castello Moments Cheese Inspiration and Recipes from TasteFood 
• Cauliflower Au Gratin with Castello Moments from Foodie Fiasco 
• Cheese & Jam Cookies from Fun & Food Cafe 
• Castello Moments Alps Selection Three Cheese Flat Bread from Itsy Bitsy Foodies 
• German Picnic Salad + My "Castello Moment" from The Daring Gourmet 
• Roasted Sausages and Summer Vegetables with Garden Fresh Pesto from My Humble Kitchen 
• Castello Moments Four Creative Crostini Recipes from Shared Appetite 
• Hirten Cheese Ice Cream and Stout Caramel from The Colors of Indian Cooking 
• Poached Salmon over Hirten Cheese Grits w/ Summer Succotash from 30A Eats 
• Gulf Coast Shrimp Tacos w/ Classic Castello & Florida Avocado from 30A Eats 
• Roasted Tomato Crostinin w/ Weissbier Cheese & Fresh Basil from 30A Eats 
• Lemon Artichoke Pesto Pasta from Anecdotes and Applecores 
• Chive, Chili + Cheese Souffle from Camille 
• Broccoli and Red Onion Quesadillas from Cooking in Westchester 
• Castello Moments Paignets from From Brazil to You 
• Castello Moments- Triple Alps Cheese Souffle from Homemade Delish 
• Alpine Pizza - Inspired by Castello Moments from Fritos and Foi Gras 
• Triple Alps Cheese Gougeres from Blogging Over Thyme 
• Baked 2 Cheese Dhokla (Indian Gram Flour Cakes) from Twenty Nine Calories 
• Braised Short Rib French Onion Soup from Seaweed & Sassafras 
• Alpine Cheese and Caramelized Onion Biscuits from Nourish Your Life 
• Castello Moments with a Toas-Tite Grilled Cheese from Where and What in the World 
• Castello Chicken Couscous from Where and What in the World 
• Truffle Mac 'n Cheese and Classic, Hirten and Weissbier Cheese from Where and What in the World 
• Roasted Garlic, Beer and Cheese Dip from Lizzy Pancakes 

So many amazing ways to use Castello Alps Selection Cheeses, wouldn't you say!?  Which selection would you like to try the most - and what do you think you would use it for?

Or maybe you would go the route of the cheese tasting or pairing...if that's the case, why not click on the photo below so that you can have a chance to win a private cheese tasting right in your own home!?

Win a Private Cheese Tasting in your own home - enter by clicking on the banner below. Castello Moments and this post is a collaboration between the blogger and Arla Foods USA.

Castello Moments Cheese Tasting & Pairing

This is a sponsored post written by me on behalf of Castello Cheese.  All opinions are 100% my own.

What does a girl who is totally obsessed with all-things-cheese do when three quarter-wheels of gorgeous Castello Alps Selection cheeses show up at her door?  She squeals like a teenager at a New Kids on the Block (okay, my age is showing - who is it now, One Direction?) concert.  Her heart races.  Tears threaten to spill from her eyes.  Cohesive thoughts elude her, and instead she babbles on about love and marriage and best-day-of-her-life.

She then composes herself as she sees the Fed-Ex man slowly backing away, the desperate look of a trapped animal in his eyes.  The cold, harsh hand of reality grabs her by the arms and shakes her.  Or maybe it's her husband.  Either way, back to being 37 years old.

Her brain carefully starts doing what any mature, sane brain would do.  It formulates a plan to pair those glorious cheeses with food and adult beverages.  She decides to use every day items foods, not specialty items that will cost a lot of money.  Menus and recipes and visions of table settings vie for a front row seat until everything comes together just right.  She invites over a few friends to join in the fruit of her labors.  She enjoys herself thoroughly.

She decides to stop referring to herself in the third person and tell you all about it.

Course One

cheese selection: Castello Classic - firm texture, smooth dry consistency, slightly smoky aroma with hints of spicy mountain herbs.  I found Castello Classic to taste very grassy and musky, similar to the flavor of raw milk.

food pairings: Slow-Roasted Tomatoes, thinly sliced Prosciutto, freshly baked bread

beverage pairing: Michelob Amber Boch (or another dark lager)

notes: I wanted to cry when I bit into the combination of these items, they were perfection...especially when accompanied by the dark lager.  I can't really elaborate, because perfection doesn't need further explanation.

Course Two

cheese selection: Castello Weissbier - very soft and creamy with a smooth buttery consistency, a hint of nuttiness with an almost sweet finish, and a whisper of beer at the end.

food pairings: Two sandwich options...
1. Grilled Veggies: Zucchini, Yellow Squash, Eggplant, Red Bell Pepper, and Red Onion with a thick slice of creamy Weissbier on a Sourdough Roll.
2. Smoked Ham, creamy Weissbier, and a thick, ripe, juicy tomato slice seasoned with sea salt and black pepper on a Sourdough Roll.

beverage pairing: Barefoot Riesling, chilled (or another Riesling or Gewurztraminer)

notes: Though I served Castello Weissbier on room temperature sandwiches, I think that its creaminess would lend perfectly to a melty, grilled sandwich.  Weissbier is very understated, so I think simple, delicious ingredients like the grilled veggies (simply brushed with olive oil and sprinkled with salt and pepper before grilling), as well as a basic ham and tomato were just right.  The crisp, sweet Riesling on a hot summer's evening washed the whole thing down like an old friend (comfortably).

Course Three

cheese selection: Castello Hirten - crumbly texture that reaveals beautiful crystals when shaved, sweet overtones with hints of caramel and pine, rich and strong.

food pairings: Hershey's Symphony Milk Chocolate Bar, Cadbury Fruit & Nut Bar, thinly sliced pear.

beverage pairing: 10 Year Old Laphroaig Scotch Whisky (or choose your favorite "good & peaty" Scotch)

notes: While I usually opt for a bit of dark chocolate, especially after dinner or as a snack, I really recommend trying a good, creamy milk chocolate with Hirten.  The creaminess is the perfect foil for the rich salty shards.  Hirten reminds me a bit of Parmesan in its texture and flavor.  Thin shavings atop a warm apple pie would be bliss.

Wrap-Up: Really, I couldn't ask for a better way to spend an evening.  The cheese-lover in me enjoyed each and every single bite.  If forced to rank the three in terms of what I, personally, enjoyed best, I would choose "Classic" as my favorite.  I don't know if it was just that perfect combination of flavors and textures that surrounded the first course or what...and I don't want to think about it.  I only want to remember the glory that it was.

My second favorite is the "Hirten".  Sure, you could eat it with any meal, but I tend to lean towards desserts with this style of cheese. I love challenging its richness with a bold Scotch, but you could easily pair it with a bold red wine.  Also, try it with bolder savory ingredients like raw onions or chiles!

Rounding it out at number three is the "Weissbier".  Don't get me wrong, I loved ALL THREE of the varieties...so last place doesn't equal a lose here.  I can't wait to make some melty grilled cheese sammies with it this week.  Oh, and mac and cheese is in my very near future, as well.

So yeah, that's what this girl (who is totally obsessed with all-things-cheese) did when three quarter-wheels of gorgeous Castello Alps Selection cheeses showed up at her door.  What would you have done?

Win a Private Cheese Tasting in your own home - enter by clicking on the banner below. Castello Moments and this post is a collaboration between the blogger and Arla Foods USA.