Our cheese buddy, Crave Brothers, got some props for their awesome Jalapeno Cheddar Cheese Curds. They won First Place at the 2020 World Championship Cheese Contest.
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Let’s celebrate with this recipe using those winning curds.

Ingredients:
4 pounds russet potatoes (skin-on, washed and dried)
4 tablespoons unsalted butter
1/4 cup flour
1 shallot (minced)
1 clove garlic (minced)
4 cups beef stock
2 tablespoons ketchup
1 tablespoon cider vinegar
1 tablespoon green peppercorns (whole)
1/2 teaspoon worcestershire sauce
ground black pepper
kosher salt
canola oil (for frying)
2 cups Crave Brothers Jalapeno Cheddar Cheese Curds

Directions:
Cut potatoes into lengths of about 1⁄4" x 1⁄4" x 4". Place in a large bowl, cover with cold water, and refrigerate for about 2 hours.

Meanwhile, heat butter in a 2-qt. saucepan over medium-high heat. Add flour, and cook, stirring, until smooth, about 2 minutes. Add shallot and garlic, and cook, until soft, about 2 minutes. Add stock, ketchup, vinegar, peppercorns, Worcestershire, and salt and pepper, and bring to a boil; cook, stirring, until thickened, about 6 minutes. Remove from heat, and keep gravy warm. 

Pour oil to a depth of 3" in a 6-qt. Dutch oven, and heat over medium heat until a deep-fry thermometer reads 325°. Drain potatoes, and dry thoroughly with paper towels. Working in small batches, add potatoes and fry, tossing occasionally, until tender and slightly crisp, about 4 minutes.

Drain on paper towels, and let cool for 20 minutes. Increase temperature to medium-high, and heat oil until it reads 375°. Working in small batches, return potatoes to oil, and fry, tossing occasionally, until crisp and golden brown, about 2 minutes. Transfer fries to paper towels to drain briefly, and then divide among serving bowls. Pour gravy over each serving of fries, and top with jalapeno cheese curds; serve immediately.

You can get sauced. Or you can get souped. (Some do both, but we won't judge...) Nothing takes the edge off the bitter cold than a nice bowl of soup. And since we are perpetual cheese lovers, this hits the spot. Easy to make. Easier to devour. Thanks, Crave Brothers-- for making us run another 10 minutes on the treadmill.
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​Ingredients:
5 T. butter
1 bunch green onions, chopped (use some green part)
2 lbs. assorted wild mushrooms (shiitake, portabella, cremini, white button), leave some whole for garnish, slice remainder
5 cups chicken broth
¾ cup port
¼ t. dried thyme
1½ cups heavy cream
2 T. lemon juice
1/8 t. ground black pepper
8 oz. Crave Brothers Farmstead Classics Mascarpone
Crusty bread or breadsticks
 
Directions:
Put butter in 5-quart saucepan; melt. Add onion; sauté. Cook about 5 minutes until soft, stirring frequently. Stir in mushrooms; cook about 8 minutes until tender. Add chicken broth, port and thyme; heat to boiling. Reduce heat. Ladle mushroom/broth mixture into blender; blend until puréed. Pour into large bowl. When all mixture puréed, return to saucepan. Add cream, lemon juice, black pepper and mascarpone. Heat soup over low heat just until heated through. Ladle into soup bowls; garnish with whole mushrooms. Serve with crusty bread or breadsticks.