The votes are in, and our winning Tillamama & Me look-alike pair is… Tillamama and her Tillacutie! Congrats to Tara and her daughter, who won a $300 shopping spree in the Tillamook Online Shop. Thank you to everyone who helped us celebrate Mother’s Day by sharing their fantastic photos!

By Callie

To celebrate National Something on a Stick Day (yes, there really is a holiday for it), we’re sharing our favorite tasty snacks on sticks!

Fig Vanilla & Sour Cream Popsicles
These sweet and tart Sour Cream Popsicles are the perfect treat to kick-start Spring. The trickiest part is waiting patiently while they freeze!

Photo courtesy of BayAreaBites.com

Cheese Dipped Apples
Cheese, fruit, and chocolate are some of our favorite things to eat, and with this recipe you can have them all in one with help from a handy stick!

Sweet & Savory Kabobs
If you’re looking for a fun way to serve sandwiches, these creative, colorful kabobs make a great after school snack.

Photo courtesy of GlitterGuide.com

Cheesy Chocolate Fondue
Treat you taste buds to a cheesy, chocolaty fondue.

Cheese Sticks
All out of sticks? Make your own for a yummy late night snack!

Photo courtesy of SmittenKitchen.com

By Callie

We’re so proud of our Dairy Products Quality Manager, Jill Allen, who had the incredible honor of judging at the 2013 United States Championship Cheese Contest®. At Tillamook, Jill and her team taste test hundreds of cheese samples every day to make sure each little loaf delivers the consistent quality our fans love. Although Jill didn’t judge any Tillamook Cheese at the competition, she put her fine-tuned taste buds to good use by grading several cheeses from across the country. Jill wasn’t the only one to receive recognition at the championship; check out the awards our own Tillamook cheeses took home! I had the opportunity to chat with Jill about her exciting experience.

Q: Was this your first time judging a cheese competition?
A: Yes, this was my first professional judging competition. I was very excited to judge at a National Level.

Q: How were you selected to be a judge?
A: I obtained my Wisconsin Cheese Graders License, and then was nominated to judge by other grading professionals.

Q: Which types of cheese did you taste?
A: I graded Flavored Semi-Soft Cheeses, Smoked Hard Cheeses, Reduced Fat Soft and Semi-Soft Cheeses, and Reduced Fat Hard Cheese.

Q: What were you looking for in each category?
A: We judged the cheese based on flavor; body and texture; makeup and appearance; color; and rind development.

Q: How many samples do you think you tasted altogether?
A: Probably around 100.

Q: Can you talk a little bit about the judging process? Did you eat or drink anything to cleanse your palette in between samples?
A: I was partnered with another judge and we worked as a pair. Each judge had to be precise and assess the cheeses individually, but also collaborate as a team. After each tasting we cleansed our pallets with tart green apples and water.

Q: Did you learn anything surprising during the competition?
A: It was great being able to experience the excitement of judging at the US National Cheese Contest®. Judges came from all corners of the country. It was an experience like no other; to be part of an elite judging team that gets to experience and choose the best cheese in the United States.

Q: How much cheese do you taste each day at Tillamook, and do you ever get tired of eating it?
A: Tillamook has a grading team of 6 members, and together we probably grade around 400 pieces of cheese a day. My team loves what we do and loves Tillamook cheese!

Q: What’s your favorite type of Tillamook Cheese?
A: My favorite Tillamook Cheese is any of our Cheddars, Yellow or White.

Q: What is the weirdest type of cheese you have ever tried?
A: At the 2010 World Championship Cheese Contest, I tasted a semi soft cheese, wrapped in seaweed!

By Callie

Celebrate our 104^th birthday with us by munching on Squeaky Cheese Curds fresh from the Tillamook Cheese Factory. For today only, we’re opening the vats and releasing Squeaky Cheese Curds on the Online Shop. Supplies are limited, so get ‘em while they squeak! Funds raised will benefit the Oregon Food Bank to support hunger relief.

Order your tasty curds here!

By Callie