A Tillamook Cheese fan at the Tillamook Cheese Factory!

Happy National Cheese Day… not to be confused with National Cheese Lover’s Day! But who needs an official holiday to tell them when to eat cheese, right? It’s not like I only eat jelly beans on Easter or Apple Pie on the 4th of July. Regardless, I do plan on eating one of my favorite cheeses today and celebrating the fact that Tillamook has been making it for over 100 years.

By Loafy

Photo by Cafe Mama

Whenever I eat Tillamook Rocky Road Ice Cream I think, “Rocky Road is so underrated!” Rarely do you hear someone (besides Weird Al) say it’s their favorite ice cream flavor of all time… but it’s so delicious! Chocolate ice cream, almonds, and mini marshmallows (the best part!) – what’s not to love?

I’ve always wondered where this traditional flavor got its name, so I asked some magic fairies (a.k.a Google & Wikipedia) to help me out. Turns out, Rocky Road has a pretty cool American history lesson behind its name. Although there’s some discrepancy about who first invented the ice cream flavor, the story goes that William Dreyer was among the first in 1929. He gave the ice cream its name “to give folks something to smile about in the midst of the Great Depression” when times were, well, rocky for most Americans. Pretty interesting, huh?

I don’t care who invented Rocky Road ice cream; I’m just glad they did. And I’m glad that Tillamook makes such an amazing version of it. I’ll be enjoying it tonight. And why not? Today is National Rocky Road Ice Cream Day!

Photo courtesy of Cafe Mama. Thanks, Cafe Mama for adding this to our Tillamook Cheese Fans group on Flickr! We love this photo and all your other ice cream photos!

By Loafy

There are so many national holidays that it’s hard to keep track of them all. National Picnic Day, however, comes at just the right time. The sun is sneaking through the clouds and flowers and vegetables are coming out (my peas have sprouted!). There’s no better time to have a picnic! My favorite picnic food is a classic turkey sandwich with an iced tea. And I never forget Tilla-Moos! These little guys are just the right size for any picnic basket.

What’s your favorite picnic food?

By Laura

Add lettuce and cilantro for a slightly different take on the below Nacho Frio recipe.

It’s time to bust out the chip ‘n dip! Today is another one of those frivalous food holidays that reminds us to pig out on delicious foods (that’s my kind of holiday!). Today, we will be celebrating the flavorful friendship of the chip and the dip.

There are sooo many possible combos – potato chips & onion dip, tortilla chips & salsa, pita chips & hummus… the list goes on! My favorite dip is a party classic called Nacho Frio (or 7 Layer Dip). My mom always used to make this for family gatherings and bunco nights. It’s simple, delicious, and includes two tasty Tillamook products – cheese and sour cream. There are many variations of this recipe, but here’s the one my mom got from The Oregonian many years ago:

Nacho Frio  (or 7 Layer Dip)

Ingredients:

1 can (10 oz) regular or jalapeno bean dip
3 mashed avocados
1 Tablespoon lemon juice
Salt & pepper to taste
1 1/2 cups Tillamook Sour Cream (my favorite is the Tillamook Natural Sour Cream)
2 Tablespoons dry taco seasoning
3 cups Tillamook Medium Cheddar Cheese, shredded (or try one of our Shredded Mexican Blends)
3 chopped tomatoes
2 cans (4.2 oz) sliced olives
1 bunch chopped green onions

Instructions:

1. In a large serving plate spread the bean dip.
2. Mash avocados and mix well with lemon juice, salt, and pepper. Spread over bean dip.
3. Combine Tillamook Sour Cream and taco seasoning and mix well. Spread over avocados.
4. Layer Tillamook Cheese, chopped tomatoes, sliced olives, and chopped green onions.

Serve with chips. May be refrigerated for later use.

What’s your favorite chip/dip combo? Have any recipes you’d like to share?

Photo by cuttlefish

By Tara

St. Patrick's Day - the only day to drink green beer without looking totally weird.

Green Beer… 5 reasons why you should drink it today:
1. It’s Saint Patrick’s Day!
2. It beats drinking sour beer
3. It’s easy to make and looks festive and fun
4. It might turn your tongue green
5. It’s the same color as the University of Oregon Ducks!

Green Beer… 5 reasons why you should pair it with Tillamook Cheddar Cheese today:
1. Cheddar cheese is popular in Ireland – today everyone’s Irish
2. Green (beer), white (Tillamook Vintage White Extra Sharp Cheddar), and orange (Tillamook Medium Cheddar) are colors in the Irish flag
3. The distinct kick of Tillamook Cheddar is the perfect contrast to the hop in the beer
4. Beer without cheese is like wheels without tires… what’s the point?
5. It’s just simply delicious!

If you really want to make some friends this St. Patrick’s Day, dress like a leprechaun, fill a cauldron with Tillamook Cheddar Cheese (some say it’s better than gold!), and offer your tasty treasure to everyone you meet. Have a fun and safe St. Patty’s Day, everyone!

Photo from the651.com

By Matt

Today just might be the very best day of the whole year… National Sticky Bun Day! I have a true weakness for these cinnamony-sugary sweets. When I first learned that Tillamook makes a Sticky Bun Ice Cream, I think I shrieked in excitment – cinnamon-flavored ice cream, chunks of real sticky bun dough… eeek! It is honestly my favorite ice cream ever. I can’t help but sneak a few tiny bites every night before I go to bed. But tonight, in honor of National Sticky Bun Day, I’m going to indulge in a big ol’ bowlfull. I think I pretty much have to.

By Loafy

Tillamook Cheese Facebook fan Dawna W. was excited to receive a cheese-filled gift box in the mail.

It’s your day… how will you mark the occasion? 

I’ll be celebrating National Cheese Lover’s Day the only way I know how – cheesy omelet for breakfast, grilled cheese for lunch, and mac & cheese for dinner! (Don’t worry, I’ll throw in some veggies for a balanced diet, too).

By Loafy