Our team had such a great time at The American Grilled Cheese Kitchen in San Francisco, giving free grilled cheese to our fans in the area! Thanks to everyone who visited, and to everyone who entered our #Cheeseaholic Instagram photo contest. The winner is this ultra-cheesy, grilled cheese photo from @ob_ces_sivetraveler!

We wish we could have chosen every photo to win! Here are a few more of our favorites:

Follow @Tillamook on Instagram and share the #LoafLove with us!

By Katie

Tesha and her family!

We’re so happy to announce Tesha K. and her sister Laron as the Mookover winners! With over 800 nominations, it was incredibly hard to choose just one. Laron submitted the winning nomination, which describes her sister Tesha’s generosity and dedication to helping others. Tesha is a Tillamook-loving single mom who, in addition to raising two biological daughters and two adopted special needs children, also provides respite foster care for kids in Spokane. She also sponsors orphanages and families from around the world, because, as Laron says, “She felt she had more to give.” Inspired by her sister’s kindness, Laron is donating her prize pack to families in her area. Congratulations to Tesha and Laron!

Tesha’s adopted daughters, Ruby and Anna, with their foster sister

Tesha and Anna meeting Ruby for the first time at an orphanage in Vietnam

Tesha’s daughters Haley, Sophie and Anna, with Mica, a foster daughter

By Tillamook

Yay! That was fun! I’ve got some super talented winners of our Till-La-La-La-Mook Holiday Song Video Contest to share with you. Remember our winning song and video challenge?

These videos definitely got us in the holiday spirit here at Tillamook HQ. And the winners are:

First place: Valerie Johnson

Second place: Shannon Winkle

Third place: Lauren Hasenoehrl (our honorary winner for submitting her own Till-La-La-La-Mook Holiday Song and video)

Enjoy your prizes winners! And don’t forget, you also get to gift the same prize to a favorite friend or family member. Choose wisely…it IS Tillamook ya know! Enjoy!

By Loafy

Tillaween Winners: First to Third Place, left to right

Congratulations to all of the winners of our Tillaween Photo Contest!

First Place: Baby Loaf Sophia (submitted by Mom, Melissa)
Prize: Year’s supply (12 coupons) of Tillamook Cheese

Second Place: Susan’s Tillamook dairy cow and ranch hand
Prize: Tillamook sweatshirt

Third Place: Iliyana’s Baby Loaf
Prize: Tillamook t-shirt

Thank you to everyone who entered, and all who voted!

By Loafy

Congratulations to Crissy Durst of Pennsylvania for winning our #cheesymomMother’s Day Twitter contest! Crissy won two Tillamook Cheese gift boxes – one for her mom Judy and one for herself. Here is Crissy’s winning tweet about her mom:

Happy Mother’s Day to you and your mom, Crissy! Thanks again for sharing your #cheesymom memories with us!

By Loafy

Congratulations to MacKenzie Smith for winning a Trip for 2 to The Grilled Cheese Invitational! MacKenzie and her grilled cheese – fried green tomatoes, candied bacon cornbread, butter, and Tillamook Sharp Cheddar – will compete at the Grilld Cheese Invitational this Saturday, April 23 in Los Angeles. Good luck, MacKenzie! Tillamook Cheese and the Loaf Love Tour will be there cheering you on!

Watch McKenzie’s winning video:

By Loafy

Here’s a recap of all the Scavenger Hunt questions and answers:

Day 11) Who owns Tillamook?
Answer: Farmers (or: farmer-owners, Tillamook County Creamery Association, TCCA)

2) How many pounds of cheese does Tillamook make each day?
Answer: 167,000

3) Partner chef Tommy Habetz of Bunk Bar has a preferred way to eat the Bacon, Egg, and Cheese Sandwich – what’s his method?
Answer: Squeeze the yolk out to soak up all the goodness!

Day 21) Tillamook products are made from milk from cows not treated with ____ ____ ____ (3 words).
Answer: Artificial growth hormones*

2) What comes atop the 38 Flavor Ice Cream Tour at the Tillamook Cheese Factory?
Answer: A flag

3) Freezing Tillamook Cheese prolongs its life, but it also changes the texture, making it ____ and ____.
Answer: Dry and crumbly

Day 31) What are the 5 values of Tillamook?
Answer: Quality, Cooperation, Integrity, Stewardship, Responsiveness

2) Which Tillamook Cheese has a “New Taste”?
Answer: Monterey Jack

3) What does partner chef Heidi Gibson from The AMERICAN Grilled Cheese Kitchen use to mince rosemary for the Piglet Sandwich?
Answer: A coffee grinder

Day 41) What is our current Featured Flavor Ice Cream?
Answer: Cinnamon Banana Bliss

2) What is a Cheddarmaster?
Answer: A machine that separates curd from whey

3) Can you find Tillamook Ice Cream in Southern California? If so, where?
Answer: Yes, at Winco

Day 51) Which two Tillamook Yogurt flavors are now available in larger 32 oz containers?
Answer: Vanilla Bean and Naturally Plain

2) A historical Tillamook Cheese Advertisement from February 23, 1928 claims that “Tillamook cheese increases ____ _____ ____” (3 words).
Answer: Resistance against illness

3) What ingredient does partner chef Dave Danhi of the Grilled Cheese Truck put on the bread used in the Pepperbelly Melt to “cut the heat for sandwiches that cook longer” (i.e., might easily burn).
Answer: Mayonnaise (or: a mix of mayonnaise and butter, but mayonnaise is key)

*Please note that the FDA has stated that no significant difference has been shown between milk derived from rBST treated and non-rBST treated cows.

Image courtesy of dougwoods

By Loafy

1) Cinnamon Banana Bliss
2) A machine that separates curd from whey
3) Yes, at WinCo

Now for the final round of questions!

1) Which two Tillamook Yogurt flavors are now available in larger 32 oz containers?

2) A historical Tillamook Cheese Advertisement from February 23, 1928 claims that “Tillamook cheese increases ____ _____ ____” (3 words).

3) What ingredient does partner chef Dave Danhi of the Grilled Cheese Truck put on the bread used in the Pepperbelly Melt to “cut the heat for sandwiches that cook longer” (i.e., might easily burn). (Hint – you may have to watch a video!)

Please note that your comment won’t be immediately visible to the public – only to Tillamook staff – until today’s Scavenger Hunt has ended. If you need a reminder on how to participate, see this blog post.

Good luck!

By Loafy

Congratulations to Kimberly James, winner of our Tillamook Yum Bowl Cook-Off Contest! Kimberly’s Creamiest-Cheesiest Spinach Artichoke Recipe competed against 7 other game day recipes to win the title of “Tillamook Yum Bowl Cook-Off Champion.” For submitting the winning recipe, she’ll receive up to $150 worth of Tillamook goodies to use at her own Super Bowl party! Here’s Kimberly’s recipe for those of you who are planning your Super Bowl menus:

The Creamiest-Cheesiest Spinach Artichoke Dip
By Kimberly James

Ingredients:
1 pkg frozen spinach, thawed
1 small jar marinated artichoke hearts
1/2 cup mayonnaise
1/2 cup Tillamook Sour Cream
2 cups Tillamook Vintage White Extra Sharp Cheddar Cheese, grated
1 teaspoon garlic salt (optional)
Corn chips, for serving

Instructions:
Squeeze all the water out of the spinach, chop the artichoke hearts, and set aside.

In a big pot over medium heat, mix the mayonnaise, sour cream, and cheese. Stir about 3-5 minutes or until everything melts together (don’t heat too long or the mayonnaise will separate).  Add the spinach, artichoke hearts, and garlic salt; stir to combine.  Serve immediately in bowls, while still quite hot, with corn chips.

What else is on your game day menu? Are you a true sports fan, or are you more interested in game day snacking like me?

By Loafy

Two brothers agree: Tillamook Cheese is the yummiest!

Congratulations to Bill Barry of Washington for winning the 2010 Loaf Love Tour Photo Contest. Bill and his family will receive a year’s supply of Tillamook Cheese!

By Loafy