tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22651201189590658162024-02-19T00:16:32.641-08:00This Squeak in HistoryC. D. Davishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06182913655958716755noreply@blogger.comBlogger41125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2265120118959065816.post-58094559950364760462013-07-03T18:55:00.000-07:002013-07-03T18:56:48.668-07:00Nighttide... at last!Welcome to Prudence Dapperling's "Mouse in a Million" BIG CHEESE Blog!<br />
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I know it's been a while since last I wrote. I've been waiting for just the right moment to make this very important announcement!<br />
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[drum roll please]<br />
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Now available on Amazon<br />
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****** <i>Darklings II: Nighttide ******</i><br />
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by my good friend and colleague, C. D. Davis<br />
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Buy it here<br />
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<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Nighttide-Darklings-Volume-2-Davis/dp/0985432861/ref=sr_1_6?ie=UTF8&qid=1372900597&sr=8-6&keywords=nighttide"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTw-k-Ig02JWUnYVuQANzyeOCz1kIIAl1FYVFeWVnFYPVfIFbhBSDh066EjBE6416WncJop5r51RJVpNAu68_LEaLW2lgm1LZiBfN6ieg4vGVn4xLsfX2MNbpDENTIsc_vASSP_glISgN8/s200/Nighttide_cover_2.jpg" width="135" /></a></div>
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And don't miss the story that started it all!<br />
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<i>****** Darklings ******</i><br />
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Buy it here</div>
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<br />C. D. Davishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06182913655958716755noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2265120118959065816.post-53639122844698697862013-05-29T19:20:00.000-07:002013-05-29T19:30:20.909-07:00It's a long, long way to Tipperary, etc.Welcome to Prudence Dapperling's "Mouse in a Million" BIG CHEESE Blog!<br />
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No cheese tour of my native islands would be complete without a look at the delights produced in Ireland.<br />
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When I think of the Emerald Isle, five exquisite farmhouse cheeses come to mind: Cashel Blue, Crozier Blue, Coolea, Milleens, and Croghan.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgW3CNdVFmjU137H8YAAcUmoeRX1h9wxDtD5qhgwPjgztt19_7JEbPj8_1Hgerfre1CYF0g64YD7SDWRbZMAJkhcmGLXdvN_8vufKC5zkhdYrPoXqZVUadzn4Cyu2caGBV5geXkpckbsYgh/s1600/Flag_of_Ireland.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="100" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgW3CNdVFmjU137H8YAAcUmoeRX1h9wxDtD5qhgwPjgztt19_7JEbPj8_1Hgerfre1CYF0g64YD7SDWRbZMAJkhcmGLXdvN_8vufKC5zkhdYrPoXqZVUadzn4Cyu2caGBV5geXkpckbsYgh/s200/Flag_of_Ireland.png" width="200" /></a><b><span style="color: blue;">Cashel Blue and Crozier Blue</span></b><br />
As their names suggest, these are blue cheeses--two of the very few produced in the British Isles. Cashel Blue is made of raw cow's milk. Crozier Blue is the product of raw sheep's milk (and, by the way, is the <i>only </i>sheep's milk blue cheese made in Ireland). Both are the creations of the Grubb Family and are made on their farm at Beechmount (near Cashel) in County Tipperary.<br />
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The youngest cheeses (aged 2 to 3 months) have a white paste, are firm, creamy around the edges, and delightfully tangy, but never strong. As they mature (aging up to 6 months), the cheeses resolve themselves to a rounder, richer flavor and achieve a buttery yellow paste and a luxurious creaminess. Throughout the paste is the marbled bluing for which the cheeses are known. The rind is untreated and, as such, is edible. The cheeses are foil-wrapped, weigh 4 pounds, and are 5 inches high and 6 inches in diameter.<br />
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Serve Cashel Blue and Crozier Blue at room temperature and as a accompaniment to fruit (e.g., figs, pears, grapes, or apples), nuts (walnuts, pecans), and your favorite crackers or crusty bread. Sweeter wines go best with the more mature cheeses. For the younger ones, wines with some acidity make the best accompaniment. Gewurtzraminer is a good wine for a young Cashel Blue, Reisling Trocken (dry) for a young Crozier Blue.<br />
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For the blue cheese lover (Me! Me!), both Cashel Blue and Crozier Blue are absolute ambrosia.<br />
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<b><span style="color: red;">Coolea</span></b><br />
This Gouda-style, raw cow's milk cheese has been made by the Willems Family in Coolea, West County Cork, since 1979. Coolea comes in wheels 9 to 12 inches in diameter, weighing 900g, 5.5 kg, or 9 kg, and has a firm light yellow paste and rich, smooth, carmel-like flavor. Younger cheeses are aged 6 to 12 months, the more mature ones 14 to 18 months. Like Gouda, Coolea comes wrapped in a solid wax rind that helps to preserve its flavor and texture. The cheese goes well with fruit, good bread, and most wines and beers.<br />
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<b><span style="color: #6aa84f;">Milleens</span></b><br />
This remarkable raw cow's milk cheese is made by Veronica and Norman Steele on their farm on the Beara Peninsula in County Cork. Milleen is a soft, washed-rind cheese, which matures within 4 to 10 weeks. It's fragrant, rich, and hugely flavorful, with a sweet, creamy taste and texture, and a gorgeous salmon pink rind.<br />
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<b><span style="color: orange;">Croghan</span></b><br />
Croghan is a semi-soft, raw goat's milk cheese made at Croghan's Goat Farm by its creators Luc and Anne Van Kampen in Blackwater, County Wexford.<br />
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The rind, brine-washed and pinkish tan, covers a vaguely disk-shaped, 2-month old cheese, weighing 2 to 3 pounds. Full, rich, slightly goaty, with nuts, herbs, and garlic abounding in a paste that is smooth and silky, this cheese is absolutely glorious. Serve Croghan with fruit, crusty bread, sparkling white wine and pale ale.<br />
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What does all this mean? When you visit Ireland, for heaven's sake, <i>try the cheese</i>!<br />
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Like Cheese? Check out America's <i>Chevalier du Taste-Fromage</i> Steven Jenkins' blog <a href="http://fairwaymarket-jenkins.blogspot.com/2010/07/cheese-event.html?m=1">here</a>.<br />
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And don't miss the latest installment from that wise and worthy cheese-loving feline, <a href="http://www.marcellathecheesemonger.com/">Spaulding Gray</a>.</div>
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Like mice and bats and other critters of the night? Then you'll love <i>Darklings</i>! Buy it here...</div>
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<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Darklings-C-D-Davis/dp/0985432810/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1347733734&sr=8-1&keywords=darklings+by+c.d.+davis"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixSxFuh3mqMFDLTowDulwC7FX3KMsGcYmNv2sMMuaL6XbTAnVlWH5Kl2J9_TNfN4YSpdbmg1_E0jG6SpKYeG3r40W_OtwcH-R53PmPl8onxPRpvtTYtodCaNQVatWYSPo3NFJeg9FTTWkH/s200/Darklings+front+cover.jpg" width="138" /></a></div>
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<br />C. D. Davishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06182913655958716755noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2265120118959065816.post-48721988719591354132013-04-28T18:49:00.000-07:002013-04-28T18:49:05.057-07:00Very CaerphillyWelcome to Prudence Dapperling's "Mouse in a Million" BIG CHEESE Blog!<br />
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For this installment, our lactose-based delight hails from a land of great beauty in the western part of the British mainland... Wales. The cheese? A raw cow's milk variety with a heavenly buttery flavor and varied texture called--<br />
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Caerphilly<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIlTWEUGWh9MeK6LBKcoD3o5e0qtf89yGgZex7IE7pFLV-FB3bVjH9wboO51zD7Iw62NbLn4a31jUZ_73pRFlgi2pwz5Ei8tX2wcEGdFXbbFnwKmpkHcp2Xu49fjoO9ijR3toBcDrlgESC/s1600/Flag_of_Wales_2.svg.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="120" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIlTWEUGWh9MeK6LBKcoD3o5e0qtf89yGgZex7IE7pFLV-FB3bVjH9wboO51zD7Iw62NbLn4a31jUZ_73pRFlgi2pwz5Ei8tX2wcEGdFXbbFnwKmpkHcp2Xu49fjoO9ijR3toBcDrlgESC/s200/Flag_of_Wales_2.svg.png" width="200" /></a>--named after the town in South Wales near which it was originally produced.<br />
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Caerphilly has an interesting history. A simple cheese--mild, semi-firm, with a slight squishiness around the edges--Caerphilly was a staple of the diet of Welsh coal miners, who wrapped it in cabbage leaves to take down with them into the mine for their mid-day meal.<br />
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In the early 20th century, demand for this popular cheese in England overwhelmed supply in Wales, so cheesemakers across the Bristol Channel in Somerset, England, started producing it, as well. Between the World Wars and for years after the Second, traditional farm production of Caerphilly ceased entirely. A manufactured variety replaced it and, although called "Caerphilly," this mass produced cheese bore little resemblance to the original.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCdApY3Vwg9Sa4VdHWDXQfQX-rcO6KrF76GthjvF9iF9CO9b__CMuw8CXw14xUwn09b03fEXR2Azh9gAItmgDLFXv0SEREpF-r_7mVD91V4cAhzXym3gcv-UxdloH6Y5SOkxzxv0m5W4kl/s1600/Caerphilly.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCdApY3Vwg9Sa4VdHWDXQfQX-rcO6KrF76GthjvF9iF9CO9b__CMuw8CXw14xUwn09b03fEXR2Azh9gAItmgDLFXv0SEREpF-r_7mVD91V4cAhzXym3gcv-UxdloH6Y5SOkxzxv0m5W4kl/s200/Caerphilly.jpg" width="200" /></a>Since then, however, traditional farmhouse Caerphilly, with the same delightful creamy flavor and texture, has made a comeback, both in South Wales and Somerset.<br />
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The cheese comes in 8-to-9 pound wheels, 3 inches thick and 12 inches in diameter, has a natural gray rind and a paste that is creamy beige to yellow in color, and is slightly runny in the center. When buying Caerphilly, avoid any with paste that looks dry or is moldy. The rind should be dry and gray, never black, moist, or mushy. Because Caerphilly is not a particularly dense cheese, it will dry out and go stale after about a week. So, buy just enough to last that long, and you'll enjoy every bite.<br />
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Caerphilly is a lovely snack cheese, good with bread, fruit, chutney, or preserves. It's also a great melter and works well sliced or shredded for a <i>fantastic </i>toasted cheese sandwich!<br />
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****And now for this important announcement***<br />
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Now available on Amazon, 3-Mice Production's latest release....<br />
<i>Family Matters, A Gracie Andersen Cozy Mystery </i>by Laurinda Wallace! Buy it <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Family-Matters-Gracie-Andersen-Mystery/dp/0985432853/ref=sr_1_2?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1367191036&sr=1-2&keywords=family+matters">here</a><br />
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**********<br />
<br />
Like Cheese? Check out America's <i>Chevalier du Taste-Fromage</i> Steven Jenkins' blog <a href="http://fairwaymarket-jenkins.blogspot.com/2010/07/cheese-event.html?m=1">here</a>.<br />
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And don't miss the latest installment from that wise and worthy cheese-loving feline, <a href="http://www.marcellathecheesemonger.com/">Spaulding Gray</a>.</div>
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<br /></div>
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Like mice and bats and other critters of the night? Then you'll love <i>Darklings</i>! Buy it here...</div>
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<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Darklings-C-D-Davis/dp/0985432810/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1347733734&sr=8-1&keywords=darklings+by+c.d.+davis"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixSxFuh3mqMFDLTowDulwC7FX3KMsGcYmNv2sMMuaL6XbTAnVlWH5Kl2J9_TNfN4YSpdbmg1_E0jG6SpKYeG3r40W_OtwcH-R53PmPl8onxPRpvtTYtodCaNQVatWYSPo3NFJeg9FTTWkH/s200/Darklings+front+cover.jpg" width="138" /></a></div>
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<br />C. D. Davishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06182913655958716755noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2265120118959065816.post-91795470446720228022013-03-24T21:25:00.000-07:002013-03-24T21:25:06.126-07:00Shropshire Blues<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<!--StartFragment-->
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
Welcome to Prudence Dapperling’s “Mouse in a Million” BIG
CHEESE Blog!<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhw562zR1dfTqwAgFBNkMKbL4xcqfigKMPvPLgKDI1p9hM01R1t7nNbr5h1hh0NUFZCsWVoscSxHOtjNecJsqnS6pAyYiQ1lVhStMrdyMv8d_CXIYEpIEt9SNfZbwBgKw8DWxWbWCZtoRFK/s1600/Prudence+Passport+Photo+.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhw562zR1dfTqwAgFBNkMKbL4xcqfigKMPvPLgKDI1p9hM01R1t7nNbr5h1hh0NUFZCsWVoscSxHOtjNecJsqnS6pAyYiQ1lVhStMrdyMv8d_CXIYEpIEt9SNfZbwBgKw8DWxWbWCZtoRFK/s200/Prudence+Passport+Photo+.jpg" width="198" /></a></div>
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Long time, no write. Sorry about that. I’ve been up to my whiskers
in research and nibbles as part of my quest for the best in cheesy lore.<br />
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Today’s featured delight is another marvelous offering from
my native land—<br />
<br />
Shropshire Blue.</div>
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<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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Shropshire Blue is a “new” cheese, which means it’s been in
existence less than 25 years. Originally produced in Scotland, it was marketed
in England as having come from the County of Shropshire, near Wales. This wondrous Blue is now actually produced in Shropshire and in Melton
Mowbray in the County of Leicestershire. <o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0NdV-1bClszjca1Irl3urtnOdxrQ5pqxCH20XOrey12_xSihjw-dmks2YefrsrZtLbVVSEVMAJduH9bTVz0KfcvdXMaeZzaScDis2PNKBkgVDIj6EI_1ZPuTRBV7TJ5vXMqrh3sawfq3p/s1600/320px-Shropshire_Blue.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0NdV-1bClszjca1Irl3urtnOdxrQ5pqxCH20XOrey12_xSihjw-dmks2YefrsrZtLbVVSEVMAJduH9bTVz0KfcvdXMaeZzaScDis2PNKBkgVDIj6EI_1ZPuTRBV7TJ5vXMqrh3sawfq3p/s1600/320px-Shropshire_Blue.jpg" /></a></div>
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Shropshire Blue is like Stilton in that it has a creamy texture,
a rough, brown rind, and the same dimensions:
cylindrical shape, 11 to 12 inches in height, 7 inches in diameter, and
weighing 14 to 16 pounds. Its similarity to its venerable and much esteemed counterpart ends there, however; its paste is bright orange, its blues are bluer, and its flavor is
considerably sharper than Stilton's. <o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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When buying Shropshire Blue, the most important
consideration is its freshness. A fresh cheese has that bright orange hue I
mentioned, with veins of vibrant blue/green running through it. Its texture
should be creamy. No cracks, no crumbling, no slimy or powdery rind. The flavor
should be quite sharp and tangy with a lasting, piquant aftertaste. <o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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Shropshire Blue is a great cheese to serve after dinner with
sweet fruit, crusty bread, and a robust red wine, sweet dessert wine, port, Madeira, or sherry. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Buy yourself a hunk today and enjoy!<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br />
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<div class="MsoNormal">
Like Cheese? Check out Steven Jenkins' blog <a href="http://fairwaymarket-jenkins.blogspot.com/2010/07/cheese-event.html?m=1">here</a>. </div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
And don't miss the latest installment from that wise and worthy cheese-loving feline, <a href="http://www.marcellathecheesemonger.com/">Spaulding Gray</a>.</div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Like mice and bats and other critters of the night? Then you'll love <i>Darklings</i>! Buy it here...</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Darklings-C-D-Davis/dp/0985432810/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1347733734&sr=8-1&keywords=darklings+by+c.d.+davis"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixSxFuh3mqMFDLTowDulwC7FX3KMsGcYmNv2sMMuaL6XbTAnVlWH5Kl2J9_TNfN4YSpdbmg1_E0jG6SpKYeG3r40W_OtwcH-R53PmPl8onxPRpvtTYtodCaNQVatWYSPo3NFJeg9FTTWkH/s200/Darklings+front+cover.jpg" width="138" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Source: <i>Cheese Primer</i>, Steven Jenkins, Workman Publishing Company, Inc., 1996</div>
</div>
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<br /></div>
<!--EndFragment-->C. D. Davishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06182913655958716755noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2265120118959065816.post-58315339409451913742013-02-20T07:15:00.000-08:002013-02-20T07:20:37.385-08:00Spectacular Stilton!<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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Welcome to Prudence Dapperling’s “Mouse in a Million” BIG
CHEESE Blog!<o:p></o:p></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaGNHypUS-PB_FFNdFdXdAzhGcMu5KmTOp7mlVxzF16Z2wOp5lXPQi1NQ-racoyzVE7YKaOvbi2aEddgkqdN-Rmsg2j98Dkzg8bLk-L9U-5ckoS4bslA4qWfSVdnQv8iD47GPbJQ1K_yRQ/s1600/Prudence+Passport+Photo+.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaGNHypUS-PB_FFNdFdXdAzhGcMu5KmTOp7mlVxzF16Z2wOp5lXPQi1NQ-racoyzVE7YKaOvbi2aEddgkqdN-Rmsg2j98Dkzg8bLk-L9U-5ckoS4bslA4qWfSVdnQv8iD47GPbJQ1K_yRQ/s200/Prudence+Passport+Photo+.jpg" width="198" /></a></div>
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Today, I share the wonders of England’s one and only
name-protected cheese (and arguably our most famous)--</div>
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Stilton.<o:p></o:p></div>
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The person credited with pioneering the production of
Stilton was Elizabeth Scarbrow, housekeeper to the Ashby family at Quenby Hall,
Hungarton, Leicestershire, around 1720. Most of the local cheese of that time, called Quenby, was
sold at the Bell Inn at Stilton, a coach house on the Great North Road in
Huntingdonshire. Though no cheese was ever made in Stilton, that’s where the
cheese became famous and from whence it eventually took its name. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> Elizabeth took Quenby, which she'd taught herself to make, and turned into the delightful stuff that Stilton became. </span>Through her daughter and granddaughter, to whom
she passed her magical skills, Elizabeth Scarbrow established a Stilton-making
monopoly that lasted about 50 years. By the 1790s, Stilton was being made and
sold at great profit in almost every village in the area. <o:p></o:p></div>
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikSGO-vTDPP2iXFYK60JY1dw7h3Jrrnr5fujwGAGUIzcydi7TdjoPE7Z5N0MsTRd3YHu2al5-C3lgDPcoxFOHBF06zGS5YX2UNbcE-UpCWKNmadmZHc3aPVpL-pmpxJzbJoHMDp0vUfnmV/s1600/County_Flag_of_Leicestershire.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="120" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikSGO-vTDPP2iXFYK60JY1dw7h3Jrrnr5fujwGAGUIzcydi7TdjoPE7Z5N0MsTRd3YHu2al5-C3lgDPcoxFOHBF06zGS5YX2UNbcE-UpCWKNmadmZHc3aPVpL-pmpxJzbJoHMDp0vUfnmV/s200/County_Flag_of_Leicestershire.png" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Flag of County Leicestershire</td></tr>
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There are three places where this cheese can be made and
legally be called “Stilton”—Leicestershire, Nottinghamshire, and The Dale of
the Dove just west of Derbyshire in the Midlands of England. The Shires are known for having rich
deposits of coal and iron. Many believe it’s the iron in the soil that
contributes to the blueness of Stilton. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The
name-control law requires that the milk and manufacture occur in these
areas and nowhere else, and that the recipe and aging guidelines be those
established by the Stilton Cheese Makers’ Association. <o:p></o:p></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBZ30qb9oQQDvBSPlCYfMjRmDNPekExdE4rVeXb_EK0VGYHlORR7pOONXn712-xE5TANJB0rcsq4lDLREISizGi1hOL3FWTfEdYALIGcRPHzmMDnT1BfuYCa2itzaqujoITINOY8lEIjNJ/s1600/County_Flag_of_Nottinghamshire.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="110" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBZ30qb9oQQDvBSPlCYfMjRmDNPekExdE4rVeXb_EK0VGYHlORR7pOONXn712-xE5TANJB0rcsq4lDLREISizGi1hOL3FWTfEdYALIGcRPHzmMDnT1BfuYCa2itzaqujoITINOY8lEIjNJ/s200/County_Flag_of_Nottinghamshire.png" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Flag of County Nottinghamshire</td></tr>
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The best cheeses are made from the highest quality milk, aged properly, turned often, and “ironed.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Ironing is how careful cheese makers determine a cheese’s readiness for
eating. A cylindrical auger is inserted into the cheese to remove a “plug,”
which is then sniffed, examined for proper texture and bluing, tasted, and then
reinserted into the cheese. Depending on the cheese’s development, a Stilton
can be aged for as little as 6 months or as long as 18. Most Stiltons weigh 14
to 16 pounds, are 10 or 11 inches high, and 8 or 9 inches in diameter.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<o:p></o:p><br />
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiiKUHYhBWLs6eCOt49iV8_CvmKyqB5ay9yeU9nka-BYg2Uo8yqbcwSOT52sPUf0KjWtgRQULgaHTcX5VLP8bKy9QhFxQzYICz94Zc2zhR-cb-e1JLIMZO9Y2eLjNw3dfA0fZZPpj5YPDi/s1600/Blue_Stilton_Quarter_Front.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="background-color: white; clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="155" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiiKUHYhBWLs6eCOt49iV8_CvmKyqB5ay9yeU9nka-BYg2Uo8yqbcwSOT52sPUf0KjWtgRQULgaHTcX5VLP8bKy9QhFxQzYICz94Zc2zhR-cb-e1JLIMZO9Y2eLjNw3dfA0fZZPpj5YPDi/s200/Blue_Stilton_Quarter_Front.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: xx-small;">Blue Stilton Cheese<br />Image by Dominik Hundhammer, 20 January 2005</span></td></tr>
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The texture of a well-aged Stilton should be moist and
creamy, with a slight crumble factor. The aroma should be large and piquant at
room temperature, mild and pleasant when cold.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>The flavor is full-bodied, rich, and creamy.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When buying Stilton, look for a dry, brown,
rough rind and an ivory paste with abundant bluing uniformly throughout. <o:p></o:p></div>
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Stilton is one of those cheeses that can be enjoyed any
time, either by itself as a snack or after a fine meal with Port or a good red
wine, crusty bread, and sweet fruit.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></div>
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For me, it’s a treat that has no rival!</div>
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Like Cheese? Check out Steven Jenkins' blog <a href="http://fairwaymarket-jenkins.blogspot.com/2010/07/cheese-event.html?m=1">here</a>. </div>
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And don't miss the latest installment from that wise and worthy cheese-loving feline, <a href="http://www.marcellathecheesemonger.com/">Spaulding Gray</a>.</div>
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Like mice and bats and other critters of the night? Then you'll love <i>Darklings</i>! Buy it here...</div>
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<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Darklings-C-D-Davis/dp/0985432810/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1347733734&sr=8-1&keywords=darklings+by+c.d.+davis"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixSxFuh3mqMFDLTowDulwC7FX3KMsGcYmNv2sMMuaL6XbTAnVlWH5Kl2J9_TNfN4YSpdbmg1_E0jG6SpKYeG3r40W_OtwcH-R53PmPl8onxPRpvtTYtodCaNQVatWYSPo3NFJeg9FTTWkH/s200/Darklings+front+cover.jpg" width="138" /></a></div>
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Source: <i>Cheese Primer</i>, Steven Jenkins, Workman Publishing Company, Inc., 1996</div>
<!--EndFragment-->C. D. Davishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06182913655958716755noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2265120118959065816.post-64699947929853307642013-01-29T18:20:00.000-08:002013-02-20T07:18:43.456-08:00Wonderful WensleydaleWelcome to another installment of Prudence Dapperling's "Mouse in a Million" BIG CHEESE Blog!<br />
<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9olnwmTbhmDSqG4sb4N-OvAR7jhCgXMA_3055Edt6kNfqPf901Zdaqa7t8-6RLeODfQpPJmY9QIEaQggl4wbw_gWxl5MQ_d3HMhHTrb0apGBLFXxNPMyhJ9rZtIlowWACVcbW7d5rZacI/s1600/Prudence+Passport+Photo+.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9olnwmTbhmDSqG4sb4N-OvAR7jhCgXMA_3055Edt6kNfqPf901Zdaqa7t8-6RLeODfQpPJmY9QIEaQggl4wbw_gWxl5MQ_d3HMhHTrb0apGBLFXxNPMyhJ9rZtIlowWACVcbW7d5rZacI/s200/Prudence+Passport+Photo+.jpg" width="198" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
"Rule Brittania! Britannia rules the waves!"<br />
<br />
Yes, I'm feeling patriotic these days. As such, tonight I begin a series on the virtues of cheese from my beloved island home---England.<br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTyc5lQbopbOqiHyyxrZDQS3B7aCmi-klu3P7hIoK1rMS_-7VJmgdSFIjbYQqWnUOf_LmjF6GsBo8TQWnFKtR9n16MRicJXqzcBOqSYrvrG_rF_z7HQ7e15QT2dPU7AnFbtNLpeKNLk446/s1600/Flag_of_England.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="120" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTyc5lQbopbOqiHyyxrZDQS3B7aCmi-klu3P7hIoK1rMS_-7VJmgdSFIjbYQqWnUOf_LmjF6GsBo8TQWnFKtR9n16MRicJXqzcBOqSYrvrG_rF_z7HQ7e15QT2dPU7AnFbtNLpeKNLk446/s200/Flag_of_England.png" width="200" /></a>And the best cheese to start with is one of my all-time favorites...<br />
<br />
Wensleydale<br />
<br />
What lovely pup-hood memories I have of sitting around the dinner table with my 10 brothers and sisters, doing battle over the last crumbs of this delightful cheese. Oh, the flying fur, the howls, the bite marks! And were they worth it? You bet!<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOUJi9LISAhhtjRpEL4rsrZqfeGEYwohnaFLpfzcMuCKf77tQ0THaOBfbLsaC9Su01uINqE0fm7OlBHObYVgsFOcucDu2nW3cF7V-Z3acpiAFI2nCjt1X2Ce04mx4MXp9ryc3tkwSjsyHB/s1600/Wensleydale.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOUJi9LISAhhtjRpEL4rsrZqfeGEYwohnaFLpfzcMuCKf77tQ0THaOBfbLsaC9Su01uINqE0fm7OlBHObYVgsFOcucDu2nW3cF7V-Z3acpiAFI2nCjt1X2Ce04mx4MXp9ryc3tkwSjsyHB/s200/Wensleydale.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
Made from either cow's or sheep's milk, I believe the best Wensleydale comes from Yorkshire in northern England. This cheese is tangy, yet delicate, with a crumbly texture and pure white color.<br />
<br />
Sometimes you find it mixed with cranberries or other fruit. Personally, I like mine unembellished. I love to eat it all by itself, with only a humble cracker to convey it to the lips.<br />
<br />
But Wensleydale is worthwhile no matter how it comes--plain or fancy. So, should you come across it while foraging in the aisles of your favorite grocery store or cheese shop, grab some. You won't regret it.<br />
<br />
For more exciting cheese lore, check out the latest offering from that fabulous cheese-loving feline, Spaulding Gray, <a href="http://www.marcellathecheesemonger.com/">here</a>.<br />
<br />
And now for this important commercial message.<br />
<i><br /></i>
<i>Darklings... </i>If you haven't yet read this<i> </i>funny, suspenseful romp set in 1912 Venice, click on the book below<br />
<br />
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<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Darklings-C-D-Davis/dp/0985432810/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1347733734&sr=8-1&keywords=darklings+by+c.d.+davis"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7FK4KqBn0Ut0WZRaGLJo6QvbIwIHmKcmlaayb7s9edkSBjLG7wAdm665tkO51TCjXM_RTjoDYoU5T8xN_TqmHe83NwdXb0SuQH2mA3wiDiBKws5u2rqVjS_iH5NmzcSTjLItyA7clG-bb/s200/Darklings+front+cover.jpg" width="138" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />C. D. Davishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06182913655958716755noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2265120118959065816.post-10672758963152125992013-01-13T13:12:00.000-08:002013-01-15T19:28:09.188-08:00Of Mice and the Isle of Man<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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Happy New Year!<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhE6FV_eOKMKs_PcUWlO4gKISRQi6kiw6WgBjXpYY35MTiC5TYpW7zSYcIGx8CVUuxOzk0ZNyxLL05L1B6nEzb-3D2io3xBtx-K2mmBE8LjXQrbeKV7xwkbPEJKMNog_R-ppitZov_uIOOG/s1600/Prudence+Passport+Photo+.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhE6FV_eOKMKs_PcUWlO4gKISRQi6kiw6WgBjXpYY35MTiC5TYpW7zSYcIGx8CVUuxOzk0ZNyxLL05L1B6nEzb-3D2io3xBtx-K2mmBE8LjXQrbeKV7xwkbPEJKMNog_R-ppitZov_uIOOG/s200/Prudence+Passport+Photo+.jpg" width="198" /></a></div>
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Welcome to Prudence Dapperling’s “Mouse in a Million” BIG
CHEESE Blog!<o:p></o:p></div>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGcsJO1zvs_2UZ0tKdidQu12SAGjuHGQlDIe-Li7gl8U8wjeWXiHUjcR-gwSZMa2VBgfn22mvmoIjaBWtQhoao7ia9Bzxhj3CUKAARgA9GsNIObSEP36632Rwaz1E2bynxXnAzpbTekGOG/s1600/500px-Flag_of_the_Isle_of_Man.svg.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="100" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGcsJO1zvs_2UZ0tKdidQu12SAGjuHGQlDIe-Li7gl8U8wjeWXiHUjcR-gwSZMa2VBgfn22mvmoIjaBWtQhoao7ia9Bzxhj3CUKAARgA9GsNIObSEP36632Rwaz1E2bynxXnAzpbTekGOG/s200/500px-Flag_of_the_Isle_of_Man.svg.png" width="200" /></a></div>
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Whew! Just back from my holiday and what a time it was! For
this season’s year-end extravaganza, I booked passage on a shipment of
high-fiber breakfast biscuits, got loaded onto a lorry in outer London, then a
ferry in Liverpool, and set out for fun and adventure on the Isle of Man. Stayed
in the lovely Hotel Caigneyder-St. Patrick, run by some friendly and very
hospitable church mice. <o:p></o:p></div>
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The Isle of Man is located in the middle of the Manx (aka Irish)
Sea, plopped amongst Northern Ireland, Scotland, and England. Despite it's being the home of the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Manx_(cat)">Manx Cat</a>, it's a most
attractive and interesting place, boasting sea, sun (sometimes), green rolling
hills, and the best thing of all—cheese! <o:p></o:p></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0coTM4gixsXwRZpR3FYdeIly8TXlqn0hlzVuIv9lNBsNIZLZL36T-HTopNGt9AsZuTOh_FTn_MFJggHXttmDNsmCfTupLoqU8GBrVxSKPTVzpoXskzZU6U15mVeV8FhyphenhyphenuqkIQFuuAhzNR/s1600/The_Isle_of_Man+map_ex.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0coTM4gixsXwRZpR3FYdeIly8TXlqn0hlzVuIv9lNBsNIZLZL36T-HTopNGt9AsZuTOh_FTn_MFJggHXttmDNsmCfTupLoqU8GBrVxSKPTVzpoXskzZU6U15mVeV8FhyphenhyphenuqkIQFuuAhzNR/s200/The_Isle_of_Man+map_ex.jpg" width="145" /></a></div>
Namely, the Manx Cheddar. I first heard about it from a
friend on Facebook and, became so intrigued, I just had to go and check it out
for myself. <o:p></o:p></div>
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In 1934, a group of Manx dairy farmers formed a cooperative
that to this day produces this outstanding cheese from the creamy, rich milk of
Holstein-Friesian cows, grazed year-round in the abundant grasses in the
valleys and on the hills of the island. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The
Manx Cheddar is aged 12-14 months, producing a nutty, sweet, slightly salty
flavor with a nice sharp finish. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The
cheese won the Silver Medal at the 2009 World Cheese Awards and with good
reason. Never before have I had a more delightful cheddar experience!</div>
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<o:p></o:p></div>
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If you ever have the chance to try Manx Cheddar, I highly
recommend you take it.<o:p></o:p></div>
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One more thing… Though this may get me drummed out of the
British Rodent Bloggers Society. While doing my usual web surfing, I came
across the blog of a certain cheese-loving feline, Spaulding Gray. Despite the
cat thing, I’ve gotten into Spaulding and find his blog both delightful and
informative. Spaulding blogs through the fingers of his “Lady,” Marcella the
Cheesemonger. Check him and Marcella out <a href="http://www.marcellathecheesemonger.com/">here</a>. <o:p></o:p></div>
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And now for this important message. <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Darklings</i>… Mice and bats and rats, oh my! <o:p></o:p></div>
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Buy it here<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Darklings-C-D-Davis/dp/0985432810/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1347733734&sr=8-1&keywords=darklings+by+c.d.+davis"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnC4wc8KX5DiRvxGM2rnYR0mX6-tAI3YHeFSoStnzEcxNVx8q3rXVRTCQ5klzqjRb8Le3q1di5QMDOmKbXda2YxrT8QprQsF4guc8uc3F9WIpqnW7TQKggr0ZWCliqffSQkPhI6cxGTDXe/s200/Darklings+front+cover.jpg" width="138" /></a></div>
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<!--EndFragment--><br />
<!--EndFragment-->C. D. Davishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06182913655958716755noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2265120118959065816.post-18363225655689193002012-12-24T15:21:00.001-08:002012-12-25T07:03:56.503-08:00Buon Natale!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLshCfnTOxOuPS42k4quabQrFhdBPgAo9Nr0uQNAASbSK-H7RZewGuy_tsn3Ljn_b4ML1oOmVfswfgoX4tp8Ko0K2rQr_0DUmr9DDEdgPSf2tYNMhGdg0Af73d1Ape9NBoqwye8BpltLFx/s1600/wreath.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLshCfnTOxOuPS42k4quabQrFhdBPgAo9Nr0uQNAASbSK-H7RZewGuy_tsn3Ljn_b4ML1oOmVfswfgoX4tp8Ko0K2rQr_0DUmr9DDEdgPSf2tYNMhGdg0Af73d1Ape9NBoqwye8BpltLFx/s200/wreath.png" width="198" /></a></div>
Merry Christmas!<br />
<br />
Welcome to Prudence Dapperling's "Mouse in a Million" BIG CHEESE Blog!<br />
<br />
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<span style="font-family: Times;">For my final entry of 2012, I'm going to write on
something I probably should have weeks ago.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times;">Why has <i>Italian</i> cheese been my preoccupation
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<span style="font-family: Times;">But, of course. And they shall receive my undivided
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<span style="font-family: Times;">Italy, you see, has a special place in my heart. And
not only is it the wondrous variety of lactose-based ambrosia the nation
produces that enthralls me.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="font-family: Times;">Italy’s geography and culture are a smorgasbord of enchanting
and sometimes befuddling disparity. Each region, distinct and unique, has its
own marvelous thing going on, as seen in its loyalties (regional identification
is fierce), dialect, cuisine…You name it. This banquet for the senses is
embodied in the singular character of each region's cheeses. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="font-family: Times;">When you shop for cheese in Italy, you'll find only
the cheeses produced in the region you're in. Each locale is passionate
regarding their own. With rare exceptions, a shop keeper wouldn't dream of
selling a cheese from anywhere else.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="font-family: Times;">Italians take their cheese very, very seriously. So
much so, that a whole raft of laws have been put in place to ensure that a
cheese bearing a particular name is made in its proper region, according to
time-honored processes with traditional ingredients, and that it achieves a
consistent standard of flavor and quality. These laws are referred to as <i>Denominazione
di Origine Controllata </i>(D.O.C. for short). To date, 26 cheeses have been
granted the coveted D.O.C. status. These (and their regions of origin) are as
follows:</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="font-family: Times;">•<span style="font: normal normal normal 7pt/normal 'Times New Roman';">
</span></span><span style="font-family: Times;">Asiago: <span style="color: green;">Veneto</span>, <span style="color: #ffd507;">Friuli-Venezia Giulia</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">•<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><span style="font-family: Times;">Bra: <span style="color: red;">Piedmont</span></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8LaIqUomAHd4hmyAhW6R3DPaImn1Egjcw8CLVjzN34hIBkSdw00vFt1HBj_9Bpfo4wqFRBMPx7AwGL32CCzNQhLb2wOnmlqds-V3SbQXREkYDcsnVOiJCuXeP7vdVMIAsJnbZmT_5j8I6/s1600/Italy+DOC+regions.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8LaIqUomAHd4hmyAhW6R3DPaImn1Egjcw8CLVjzN34hIBkSdw00vFt1HBj_9Bpfo4wqFRBMPx7AwGL32CCzNQhLb2wOnmlqds-V3SbQXREkYDcsnVOiJCuXeP7vdVMIAsJnbZmT_5j8I6/s400/Italy+DOC+regions.jpg" width="277" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="font-family: Times;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">•<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><span style="font-family: Times;">Caciovacallo: <span style="color: #35e57a;">Apulia</span>,
<span style="color: grey; mso-themecolor: background1; mso-themeshade: 128;">Basilicata</span>,
<span style="color: #114c0b;">Calabria</span>, <span style="color: #4135ad;">Campania</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="font-family: Times;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">•<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><span style="font-family: Times;">Canestrato Pugliese: <span style="color: #35e57a;">Apulia</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="font-family: Times;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">•<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><span style="font-family: Times;">Casciotta d'Urbino: <span style="color: #31849b; mso-themecolor: accent5; mso-themeshade: 191;">The Marches</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="font-family: Times;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">•<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><span style="font-family: Times;">Castelmagno: <span style="color: red;">Piedmont</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="font-family: Times;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">•<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><span style="font-family: Times;">Fiore Sardo: <span style="color: #a90806;">Sardinia</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="font-family: Times;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">•<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><span style="font-family: Times;">Fontina d'Aosta: <span style="color: red;">Piedmont</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="font-family: Times;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">•<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
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<span style="font-family: Times;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">•<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><span style="font-family: Times;">Gorgonzola: <span style="color: #3366ff;">Lombardy</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="font-family: Times;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">•<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><span style="font-family: Times;">Grana Padano: <span style="color: #ff6600;">Emilia-Romagna</span>,
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="font-family: Times;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">•<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><span style="font-family: Times;">Montasio: <span style="color: #ffd507;">Friuli-Venezia
Giulia</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="font-family: Times;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">•<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><span style="font-family: Times;">Mozzarella di bufala: <span style="color: #4135ad;">Campania</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="font-family: Times;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">•<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><span style="font-family: Times;">Murazzano: <span style="color: red;">Piedmont</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="font-family: Times;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">•<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><span style="font-family: Times;">Parmigiano-Reggiano: <span style="color: #ff6600;">Emilia-Romagna</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="font-family: Times;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">•<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="font-family: Times;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">•<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><span style="font-family: Times;">Pecorino Siciliano: <span style="color: #3ddbf1;">Sicily</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="font-family: Times;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">•<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><span style="font-family: Times;">Pecorino Toscano: <span style="color: #8064a2; mso-themecolor: accent4;">Tuscany</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="font-family: Times;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">•<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><span style="font-family: Times;">Pressato: <span style="color: green;">Veneto</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="font-family: Times;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">•<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><span style="font-family: Times;">Provolone: All regions</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="font-family: Times;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">•<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><span style="font-family: Times;">Ragusano: <span style="color: #3ddbf1;">Sicily</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="font-family: Times;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">•<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><span style="font-family: Times;">Raschera: <span style="color: #3366ff;">Lombardy</span>,
<span style="color: #ff6600;">Emilia-Romagna</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="font-family: Times;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">•<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><span style="font-family: Times;">Robiola di Roccaverano: <span style="color: red;">Piedmont</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="font-family: Times;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">•<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><span style="font-family: Times;">Tallegio: <span style="color: #3366ff;">Lombardy</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="font-family: Times;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">•<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><span style="font-family: Times;">Toma: <span style="color: red;">Piedmont</span></span></div>
<br />
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<span style="font-family: Times;">When you visit your favorite cheese shop, look for
the D.O.C. stamp on the rind or wrapper of the goods on display. Although a
name-controlled cheese may vary a little in flavor and appearance due to
various factors (e.g., different cheese makers, ripening times, season in which
the cheese was produced, etc.), nonetheless you can be confident that it's the real deal.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times;">Treat yourself this holiday season to a selection
of some of the finest cheeses on earth. It's a treat that will make your
Christmas and New Year's feasts memorable ones, indeed!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="font-family: Times;">For the latest and greatest on everything CHEESE,
follow the blog of America’s #1 Cheese Maestro, Steven Jenkins, at <a href="http://www.fairwaymarket-jenkins.blogspot.com/">www.fairwaymarket-jenkins.blogspot.com</a>
and get the ultimate cheese "bible"--his <i>Cheese Primer </i><a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/0894807625">here</a>.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times;">One more time this year...<i> Darklings </i> Get
it here, curl up in front of a fireplace, and enjoy a good after-Christmas feed
read!<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 16pt;"></span></span></div>
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<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Darklings-C-D-Davis/dp/0985432810/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1347733734&sr=8-1&keywords=darklings+by+c.d.+davis"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgq4zRu1pAjt_2AoOZmxGwCQ2bvLI8yooDItmT6bNvUix9ALT9edkU_iHMNvzIhkacyFrXMRJgho1Yv4Suj3arni8ypDS6tkzfeHwsb4jF-8PmdMCsqgdal8YSBQf99MtDq0cF_a2YQNrEg/s200/Darklings+front+cover.jpg" width="138" /></a></div>
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<br />C. D. Davishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06182913655958716755noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2265120118959065816.post-65833037626884874542012-12-12T19:11:00.001-08:002012-12-13T16:13:57.189-08:00Some Holiday Cheese<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqMaz5u4AbM33thELivC4dC36W1qfHu9JqDYsnNdylMnHBsG4UIf5m7Oqx9WyPVEijBHuLmvrcwjgpWnpXhTu10g9lV1ShJ0NcBi4Y9GxLbIPA08gvyat5n0dM7ltbGNs_SPqtXI3mDoS_/s1600/holly.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="81" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqMaz5u4AbM33thELivC4dC36W1qfHu9JqDYsnNdylMnHBsG4UIf5m7Oqx9WyPVEijBHuLmvrcwjgpWnpXhTu10g9lV1ShJ0NcBi4Y9GxLbIPA08gvyat5n0dM7ltbGNs_SPqtXI3mDoS_/s200/holly.png" width="200" /></a></div>
Merry Christmas!<br />
Welcome to Prudence Dapperling's "Mouse in a Million" BIG CHEESE Blog!<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipVTvTB_5gC8Tzk8rn5VZUI1Pkt_MoG3aFQKOfhB-KPUMR3r7dFm_Vy-brvT1jVHvkN5MqcelZA0wXwT-dALKe6T9REyu3PUolf7Ty49h2FmfpZCmXxW9iQFRhKuKTgPWZKOCwfBS7ljX8/s1600/Prudence+Passport+Photo+.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipVTvTB_5gC8Tzk8rn5VZUI1Pkt_MoG3aFQKOfhB-KPUMR3r7dFm_Vy-brvT1jVHvkN5MqcelZA0wXwT-dALKe6T9REyu3PUolf7Ty49h2FmfpZCmXxW9iQFRhKuKTgPWZKOCwfBS7ljX8/s200/Prudence+Passport+Photo+.jpg" width="198" /></a></div>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_KQmy8nJwLqa92zGDkjLn7G86L4LpKNKFoX5WS8O-fKrqCpe0IUdG52fP5RgIGEHiEMD-VbJ0dg1SAoTMODgZpIN72bABlcvqvbHZQzeZSwFnRhL_s-zkXrr_KvVNT7kfpUvNrpCLyOFe/s1600/wreath.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_KQmy8nJwLqa92zGDkjLn7G86L4LpKNKFoX5WS8O-fKrqCpe0IUdG52fP5RgIGEHiEMD-VbJ0dg1SAoTMODgZpIN72bABlcvqvbHZQzeZSwFnRhL_s-zkXrr_KvVNT7kfpUvNrpCLyOFe/s200/wreath.png" width="198" /></a><br />
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Today's delectable offering is one well known to many of us --<br />
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Provolone (pro-voh-LOH-neh)<br />
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Provolone, a cheese originating in the province of Basilicata in southern Italy, is what you get when you rub a Mozzarella in brine, tie it up with a rope, and hang it out to dry in a room at the right humidity and temperature. Provolone, a spun or pulled curd cheese (<i>pasta filata</i> in Italian) made of cow's milk, is now produced in just about every region of Italy. In southern Italy, Provolone is even more popular than Mozzarella or Romano.<br />
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The origins of the name Provolone come from the Campanian word "prova," which means "spherical." Provolone comes in a variety of shapes and sizes, from balls weighing 8 ounces to 200-pound "torpedoes."<br />
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With age, Provolone attains a marvelous intensity of flavor. At three months, the cheese is gently piquant. At one year, it becomes decidedly sharp. At a year and a half, it's both very sharp and spicy. Cheeses aged one year or more are often called Provolone <i>piccante</i>.<br />
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Far from the bland stuff we buy at the local grocery store for sandwich filling, real Provolone is fragrant and firm, with a light yellow exterior and a yellowish rind. Provolone is wonderful by itself or accompanied by veggies, salami, crusty bread, and hearty red wine.<br />
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It's true. Provolone is not just for your favorite submarine sandwich any more. Get yourself a slab, ball, loaf, torpedo, or whatever shape you can find and chow down!<br />
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Just in time for Christmas! <i>Darklings</i>... Buy it here!<br />
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<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Darklings-C-D-Davis/dp/0985432810/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1347733734&sr=8-1&keywords=darklings+by+c.d.+davis"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7NvQW_nXoL5OdDuMjKydqv5bSgdSF_zf0Q9OF50YHHzQXrVnEiqN5zGgI5i8-7q_VUNL77lwpdD3d23svIfRRnCUXEnU9pjQYwe1kObA7ldZm8ArDoI4xNLbLBjX4dBB6xskI3wUGlQkl/s200/Darklings+front+cover.jpg" width="138" /></a></div>
<br />C. D. Davishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06182913655958716755noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2265120118959065816.post-89480564344870642502012-11-28T21:57:00.000-08:002012-12-12T06:07:45.762-08:00Beautiful BleatWelcome again to Prudence Dapperling's "Mouse in a Million" BIG CHEESE Blog!<br />
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Sheep. What do they remind you of? Wooly socks? Insomnia? Docility? Mutton? Lamb chops?<br />
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In Italy, sheep mostly mean CHEESE! (Just the thing I'm reminded of. Quite a lot actually.)<br />
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The milk of sheep is used to make a wonderfully flavorful cheese generally known in Italy by the name Pecorino (pen-koh-REE-noh), from the word "pecora" (sheep).<br />
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Pecorinos tend to be oily, as characteristic of sheep's milk cheeses. Sheep's milk has a very high butter fat content, which is why the cheeses made from it taste so good.<br />
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The best Pecorinos are produced in the regions of Tuscany, Umbria, the Marches, and Lazio in central and south central Italy; and the islands of Sicily and Sardinia off Italy's west coast.<br />
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Of all the heavenly Pecorinos these regions have to offer, my personal favorite hails from Tuscany. Called Pecorino Toscano (ton-SKAH-noh), it can be young and un-aged, creamy and smooth and bursting with flavor. If it comes from Siena, it's most likely rubbed with tomato paste and aged for about six months, making it firm, off-white in color, sort of flaky, and rich with the flavor of nuts and herbs. From the town of Pienza, it can be a Peperino infused with dried, hot peppers for a more piquant cheese experience. Or it might be rubbed with olive oil to yield a very nutty, rich flavor of herbs and grasses and wild flowers. Yum!<br />
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Pecorinos are hardly ever used as an ingredient in other dishes, so intense and assertive is their flavor. The cheese is a lovely accompaniment to other foods, such as salami, prosciutto, olive, fruit, crusty bread, or grated in salads. <br />
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Wherever the origin of your Pecorino, enjoy it with your antipasto favorites. You'll be sure to love it!<br />
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And now for this commercial break... <i>Darklings </i>Buy it here!<br />
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<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Darklings-C-D-Davis/dp/0985432810/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1347733734&sr=8-1&keywords=darklings+by+c.d.+davis"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUSjwe46ymoqtM6AtbJyYOJJbQyefVeH-P_q5niAPANOYgbaRTaLWclR6GudLv2V_CFi3OGRnZ2qp-71TspvE1yumYYbOhxh7JL9VixWZQLTUAkV7penu4KaRNS7vPaw5QOEhRFOCt2XE2/s200/Darklings+front+cover.jpg" width="138" /></a></div>
<br />C. D. Davishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06182913655958716755noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2265120118959065816.post-56592653506747634812012-11-15T21:42:00.000-08:002012-11-16T19:57:41.295-08:00A Fontina of Flavor!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Welcome to another installment of Prudence Dapperling's "Mouse in a Million" BIG CHEESE Blog!<br />
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Tonight, it's back to northern Italy and the province of Piedmont to explore another beautiful cheese--<br />
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Fontina d'Aosta (fawn-TEE-nah DAOW-stah)<br />
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True Fontina d'Aosta is an Italian semi-firm cheese with the deep, rich flavor found in cheeses made from top quality raw cow's milk. This Fontina is firm--never wobbly, shiny, or bulging, like some cheeses that are marketed as "Fontina" but are far from it. <br />
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Not to say that some Fontina-<i>style</i> cheeses can't be quite fine. Some Italian varieties, such as Galbani and Mauri (from Lombardy), and Carmognola (from Piedmont), are very good, indeed.<br />
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Fontina mixes beautifully for use in cooking. For example, Fontina is renowned as the main ingredient in <i>fonduta</i>, the Italian delicacy similar to Swiss or French cheese fondue. While fondue is eaten from a communal pot using bits of bread, meat, and vegetables stuck on the end of long-handled forks, fonduta is whipped and poured onto individual plates filled with rice, boiled potatoes, polenta (Italian corn meal mush), and cooked or raw vegetables. Fonduta combines Fontina with butter, eggs, and white truffles to produce a dish of unsurpassed deliciousness.<br />
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Because Fontina combines so well with other ingredients, it's easy to forget that it's also one of those "good for all occasions" cheeses that can stand alone or be eaten with a combination of meats and fruit. Try it for lunch sometime with a nice crusty loaf and a glass of red wine. And enjoy!<br />
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And now for this commercial break... <i>Darklings </i>Buy it here!</div>
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<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Darklings-C-D-Davis/dp/0985432810/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1347733734&sr=8-1&keywords=darklings+by+c.d.+davis"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTDtCpZ17DEO29_URmqFtbHtBWX0HRUVUXfIjuEPqfByM54O3k82zKw3FPIplPz2-nDfGafZSqftqfydtthTih5AR3S7dCUlVEthhBPRRQs1TjrwU3aDpLKtvfTGXQ4YJfQs2I0Lk4aciW/s200/Darklings+front+cover.jpg" style="cursor: move;" width="138" /></a></div>
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<br />C. D. Davishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06182913655958716755noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2265120118959065816.post-64831612526258951202012-11-06T14:16:00.001-08:002012-11-16T19:34:33.544-08:00Softly, Softly, Nice and Cheesy: Part LastYet again...Prudence Dapperling's "Mouse in a Million" BIG CHEESE Blog!<br />
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And for my final offering on Italy's "soft" side I bring you...<br />
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Mozzarella (moh-tsah-REH-lah).<br />
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Some of the best Mozzarella cheese comes from the milk of the water buffalo.<br />
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Water buffalo have lived in the region to the south and west of Naples (in the province of Campania) since the 2nd century A.D. Mozzarella was made from their milk in the hills near Salerno until the 1940s, when the animals were destroyed by Nazis retreating the region during the Second World War. After the war, Italy brought in more water buffalo from India. Since then, these herds have expanded, and now a thriving water-buffalo milk industry exists... which ensures a plentiful supply of Mozzarella <i>di bufala</i>.<br />
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While Mozzarella can also be made from cow's milk, Mozzarella <i>di bufala</i> is considered by many to be the better of the two. It's sweeter and has a greater depth of flavor than the cow variety. It also has a slightly different color... sort of a greenish-yellow shade. Whether it's made of cow's or water buffalo's milk, fresh Mozzarella is considered a pulled, or "spun", curd cheese.<br />
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If you want a Mozzarella with a longer shelf life (say a week or so), buy it salted. Salted not only keeps longer, it's good to eat all by itself with some crusty bread and a nice red wine. The unsalted version doesn't last nearly as long and is usually confined to use in cooking.<br />
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Mozzarella features prominently in a number of Italian delicacies, such as <i>caprese</i>--a lovely dish comprising slices of the cheese alternated with ripe tomato slices, fresh basil, freshly ground black pepper, and drizzled with extra-virgin oil--or as the main treat in an antipasto. Yum!<br />
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Now you know: Mozzarella is way beyond that rubbery, flavorless stuff found on pizzas. Moist, sweet, slightly salty, milky, buttery, and nutty, it's one truly marvelous cheese!C. D. Davishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06182913655958716755noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2265120118959065816.post-2914739112771312362012-10-28T19:45:00.000-07:002012-11-16T19:35:23.423-08:00Softly, Softly, Nice and Cheesy: Part MiddleHere again... Prudence Dapperling's "Mouse in a Million" BIG CHEESE Blog!<br />
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Another delightful Italian "softy" is Ricotta.<br />
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Primarily a product of Lombardy, Ricotta is made from the whey byproduct of cheese made of fresh sheep's and goat's milk. Like Mascarpone, Ricotta is actually more of a dairy product than a cheese.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTN930BZeLvvCkfzPHJJmCesxoKJbvIL8BjmFLp9gZ3b25WW7F2iaWD7T4m_lp2d_BdRZUJUNcR9_oLYqkPXO1VAr-Ck1FAd-qGhu45LRW_KArmJvYRcH6VodG_UNsgrbOMVbS76ulOeBM/s1600/Italy+Lazio.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTN930BZeLvvCkfzPHJJmCesxoKJbvIL8BjmFLp9gZ3b25WW7F2iaWD7T4m_lp2d_BdRZUJUNcR9_oLYqkPXO1VAr-Ck1FAd-qGhu45LRW_KArmJvYRcH6VodG_UNsgrbOMVbS76ulOeBM/s320/Italy+Lazio.jpg" width="230" /></a>Ricotta was originally made in Rome (in the province of Lazio) from whey that was the byproduct of Romano cheesemaking. The disposal of whey has always been a problem. You can't just throw it away because it fouls up sewers and waterways by promoting the growth of algae, which uses up the water's oxygen supply and kills the fish. In the last century, it was discovered that whey could be turned into "cheese" by heating it up to create a new curd that, when drained, could be turned into Ricotta.<br />
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Italian Ricotta is made mostly from the whey of sheep's milk or the milk of water buffaloes, though cow's or goat's milk can also be used. This Ricotta has a wonderful mild, sweet, and nutty flavor and a somewhat dry texture.<br />
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Ricotta, like Mascarpone, mixes well with other foods, enhancing their flavor and texture. You can eat it with fruit or vegetables, mixed in with dessert or pasta recipes, or just by itself.<br />
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Italian buffalo milk ricotta is a particularly wonderful taste experience. Look for it at your favorite specialty shop and pick some up. You'll be glad you did! </div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: red; font-size: large;">***And now for an important announcement***</span></div>
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<i>Gardens of the Heart </i>is a 30-day gardening journey to cultivate a heart that has deep roots in God's Word. Filled with beautiful nature photos, <i>Gardens </i>also contains daily flower and vegetable growing tips that will help you make your garden flourish. This inspiring devotional makes a great gift for yourself or anyone who loves the beauty and peace of the garden. </div>
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C. D. Davishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06182913655958716755noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2265120118959065816.post-50084387460204840352012-10-24T22:25:00.001-07:002012-11-16T19:27:07.229-08:00Softly, Softly, Nice and Cheesy: Part First<br />
Once again, it's Prudence Dapperling's "Big Cheese" Blog!<br />
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For the last few weeks, we've been looking at some of the big, brash, blue and crumbly cheeses of Italy. Piquant, captivating, and in your face (they're never shy about dominating the flavor palette on your plate), these brilliant morsels well reflect the bold character of their native country.<br />
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Not to say that Italy--that glorious Gucci boot lolling in the Mediterranean--doesn't have a soft and mellow side. No, indeed. Some of the most tender, gentlest cheeses come from there.<br />
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These "softies" play well with others (foods, that is), and are used in a variety of dishes.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpeRx98TeKNZ5RYG9Jl9j6uwgB79GkJAFJnpipKjZktI0KJFGdwP85hvmbKkZ8PSmtlXAr3ie7xNc2zzkZaHYKi74sCdzqXssZQ8GkEeTLD1F7vumub3peLWllSEZPEA6OhU8dhXN9hBFa/s1600/Italy+Lombardy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpeRx98TeKNZ5RYG9Jl9j6uwgB79GkJAFJnpipKjZktI0KJFGdwP85hvmbKkZ8PSmtlXAr3ie7xNc2zzkZaHYKi74sCdzqXssZQ8GkEeTLD1F7vumub3peLWllSEZPEA6OhU8dhXN9hBFa/s200/Italy+Lombardy.jpg" width="139" /></a>One such delight is Mascarpone (mahs-kar-POH-neh).<br />
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Mascarpone, from the province of Lombardy, dates from the sixteenth century. It's made from the cream of cow's milk and is rather more of a dairy product than a cheese; no starter culture (the bacteria that turns milk into cheese) is used, and no curds are involved. Pale yellow in color, Mascarpone is soft, sweet, and smooth (yum!) with a butterfat content of 70% to 75%--the highest it can be without turning into butter. It's very similar to English clotted cream or buttercream cake icing.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgvYXBH_fnL4nCU_J-M1WR6ZhKrmu_dXKkbT3a0QATiJr45XPPWq2er3uiAnR50bnJuyqdz6pBKaAy2dGMuGUv0MgfCTzU0RVIlOwj_GRieWk5m2RogG9t9I2O3RdGCQhCva92XvypxkU1/s1600/Italy+Friuli-Venezia+Giulia.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgvYXBH_fnL4nCU_J-M1WR6ZhKrmu_dXKkbT3a0QATiJr45XPPWq2er3uiAnR50bnJuyqdz6pBKaAy2dGMuGUv0MgfCTzU0RVIlOwj_GRieWk5m2RogG9t9I2O3RdGCQhCva92XvypxkU1/s200/Italy+Friuli-Venezia+Giulia.jpg" width="139" /></a>These qualities make Mascarpone an ingredient that adds richness and sparkle to many Italian dishes, both sweet and spicy. For example, it's the main ingredient of tiramisu, a dessert of northern Italy made of lady fingers soaked in espresso, Strega liqueur, cocoa, and sugar.<br />
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In the province of Friuli-Venezia Giulia, Mascarpone is sometimes combined with anchovies, mustard, and herbs to make a savory mixture for spreading on bread.<br />
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And, of course, Mascarpone can be enjoyed just as it is, sprinkled with sugar, cocoa, grated chocolate, finely ground coffee beans, or served with raspberries or strawberries.<br />
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Pick up some Mascarpone, toss it into your favorite dessert, whip it into a spread or a sauce for pasta, or just eat it by itself. You're sure to love it!<br />
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And now for this commercial break... <i>Darklings </i>Buy it here!<br />
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<br />C. D. Davishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06182913655958716755noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2265120118959065816.post-55177673623985693352012-10-22T07:13:00.001-07:002012-11-16T19:38:17.483-08:00The Greatest Cheese on Earth!Welcome to Prudence Dapperling's "Mouse in a Million" BIG CHEESE Blog!<br />
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You're probably asking yourself, "The 'greatest' cheese? Really? And how would Dapperling know?"<br />
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I'm a mouse, remember? (Says so on my passport. Right page, seventh line from the top.)<br />
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And mice know these things. <br />
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Anyway, the cheese I consider to be the greatest ever, in terms of history, shelf-life, and all-around awesomeness, is... drum roll, please...<br />
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Parmigiano-Reggiano!<br />
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If you want to talk "big cheese," this one, produced in the Italian province of Emilia-Romagna, is the biggest. Wheels of Parmigiano-Reggiano weigh in at 66 to 88 pounds!<br />
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This cheese was the stuff that powered the mighty Roman legions on their marches across Europe and most of the known world. Parmigiano travelled well. Needing no refrigeration, the cheese had (and has) a "shelf life" of several years.<br />
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And flavor? Wow! It's huge. Thick, delicious, bold. Parmigiano is a hard cheese (a "grana") that can be grated into fine grains for spreading around on other foods or chipped off for enjoying all by itself. The flavor is spicy (like cinnamon or nutmeg), salty, nutty... in short, just plain wonderful.<br />
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Get yourself a wedge and chow down. Once you do, I'm sure you'll agree: Parmigiano-Reggiano is the greatest cheese on earth!<br />
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<br />C. D. Davishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06182913655958716755noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2265120118959065816.post-81708366931704364602012-10-13T20:42:00.000-07:002012-11-16T19:40:47.296-08:00Glorious Gorgonzola!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Welcome back to Prudence Dapperling's "Mouse in a Million" BIG CHEESE Blog!<br />
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Today's "big cheese" is Gorgonzola (gor-gohn-ZOH-lah) from Lombardy in northern Italy.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiX2EwoUPcohWF8LhERR7YdeLLSZOtGOvkIQhL-N99uRxM8ofv7Y2RpTHw-fuyWbKnzd-DyiSdy7hUc0p1cjoN81hsDgxrbPgIom_4qEXwYqgIunWQHsMQHE6O8wVFKGG-LbCP3JMo6zG1p/s1600/Italy+Lombardy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiX2EwoUPcohWF8LhERR7YdeLLSZOtGOvkIQhL-N99uRxM8ofv7Y2RpTHw-fuyWbKnzd-DyiSdy7hUc0p1cjoN81hsDgxrbPgIom_4qEXwYqgIunWQHsMQHE6O8wVFKGG-LbCP3JMo6zG1p/s320/Italy+Lombardy.jpg" width="222" /></a><br />
Many years ago, tired cows, making their long and weary way to and from their seasonal pastures during the spring and fall, stopped to rest near the town of Stracchino, south of Milan (the capital of Lombardy). As a result, twice a year the residents of Stracchino and the surrounding area found themselves with more milk than they could possibly drink. So, what did they do with all that extra milk? They turned it into cheese. And one of those cheeses was Gorgonzola. <br />
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If you've ever seen Gorgonzola, you'll have noticed it has bluish streaks in it... much like blue cheese or Roquefort. This blueness originally came from the mold that clung to the walls of the damp and drafty caves in which the cheese was stored. This mold was found to grow not only on the outside of the cheese, but on the inside as well. Over the years, the recipe for Gorgonzola has been changed and worked to encourage this marvelous blue invasion. It's what gives the cheese its wonderful flavor.<br />
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A good specimen of this "pearl of cheeses" is off-white or yellowish in color, with a full, pronounced flavor; it should never be strong or sharp. Gorgonzola goes well with salami, smoked ham, prosciutto, fruit, crusty bread, and full-bodied red wine. It's also quite yummy sprinkled on salad greens or good lean steak.<br />
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Myself, I'll take it any way I can get it.<br />
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Try some Gorgonzola today. You'll love it!C. D. Davishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06182913655958716755noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2265120118959065816.post-65932392512105952042012-10-05T20:50:00.001-07:002012-11-16T19:44:03.003-08:00The Veneto, Venice.... and Asiago!Welcome to Prudence Dapperling's "Mouse in a Million" BIG CHEESE Blog!<br />
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The Veneto. It's a province in northeastern Italy. A lovely place. Venice is the capital.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgC-N3xojwGcDkv5VGf7W0qDh0K8jTePDjIoAEkHnZZTQJR_h528GnvT2vhRdqsgns6aNaIcYDeJVGSDXm5EymCc5TWMxMT8hfxJKXuJnrrSzG5-JEiWYd7kSyOAUfD1iRH-2PkCoWLT0nq/s1600/Chapter+9+Ponte+Rialto_bkg+50%25.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="197" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgC-N3xojwGcDkv5VGf7W0qDh0K8jTePDjIoAEkHnZZTQJR_h528GnvT2vhRdqsgns6aNaIcYDeJVGSDXm5EymCc5TWMxMT8hfxJKXuJnrrSzG5-JEiWYd7kSyOAUfD1iRH-2PkCoWLT0nq/s320/Chapter+9+Ponte+Rialto_bkg+50%25.jpg" width="320" /></a>Ahh, Venice! One hundred and eighteen islands -- laced with canals, joined by bridges, and festooned with fabulous palazzos and basilicas -- hanging like a bunch of beautiful grapes off the Veneto coast.<br />
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They eat a lot of cheese there. And the cheese they eat a lot of is... Asiago!<br />
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The most well-known and distinctive of Venetian cheeses, Asiago (ah-zee-AH-goh) is made in the village of the same name in the Dolomite Mountains. It comes in large, wide wheels 7-9 inches high, 14-16 inches in diameter, and weighing 18-24 pounds. There are two kinds of Asiago: Asiago<i> d'allevo</i> (day-LEH-voh), which is sold outside of Italy, and Asiago <i>pressato</i> (prey-SAH-toh), which isn't.<br />
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Asiago <i>d'allevo</i> is made of skimmed raw cow's milk. Light beige in color, inside and out, with small holes all through it, its flavor is mild and milky with a firm texture that can be sliced, shaved, shredded, or melted. Asiago d'allevo is sold in three stages of ripeness: fresh (<i>fresco</i>... aged 2-3 months); medium ripe (<i>mezzano</i>... aged 3-5 months); and slow ripened (<i>vecchio</i>... aged 9 months or longer).<br />
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Asiago is a hardy cheese, good with salami, crusty bread, and good red wine. It's used a lot in the cuisine of the region -- grated for pasta, cheese sauces, and soups, chunked for salads, and eaten all by itself. (Myself, I like it by its lonesome.)<br />
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Get yourself a hunk and enjoy a taste of Venice!<br />
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<i>The best source on the most heavenly of edibles comes from what I consider the "bible of cheese": </i>Cheese Primer<i>, by Steven Jenkins, Workman Publishing Company, Inc., copyright 1996.</i>C. D. Davishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06182913655958716755noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2265120118959065816.post-65960287654103329272012-09-26T19:14:00.002-07:002012-10-05T16:20:08.602-07:00Mouse in a Million<div style="text-align: center;">
Presenting (insert drum roll here)....</div>
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Prudence Dapperling's "Mouse in a Million" Big Cheese Blog!</div>
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That's right. I'm a mouse. This is me, Prudence Dapperling.</div>
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Why "Mouse in a Million"? Because, of the umpty bazillion mice in the world, I bet I'm one of the very few with a blog.<br />
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So, if I'm a mouse, why have I been going on and on about bats? I'd never given them much thought before. Didn't even like them really. Always thought they were kind of scary.<br />
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Then I learned the truth: A bat saved the life of someone very important to me. Essential even. Without her, I wouldn't be here. Neither would my family. I've mentioned her before. Her name is Gabriella Caprella.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYGAFTZOIaQP8UMqKfEvhsaFqs6ljPmPz-Jnx_QxDB4tudPR-7A0My7whb2bCNUtWdl1sRbcIvwSq2_4uM2BFDVi9DhbXP3TemDSSPTSuEwFTUCkWn0EhTO9hodgwzBlol8S6TptpMQD3O/s1600/Gabriella_profile+standing2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYGAFTZOIaQP8UMqKfEvhsaFqs6ljPmPz-Jnx_QxDB4tudPR-7A0My7whb2bCNUtWdl1sRbcIvwSq2_4uM2BFDVi9DhbXP3TemDSSPTSuEwFTUCkWn0EhTO9hodgwzBlol8S6TptpMQD3O/s400/Gabriella_profile+standing2.jpg" width="201" /></a></div>
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Her story is called <i><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Darklings-C-D-Davis/dp/0985432810/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1347733734&sr=8-1&keywords=darklings+by+c.d.+davis">Darklings</a>.</i><br />
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So concludes my tribute to the winged saviors of yours truly. I hope I've done them justice.<br />
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Next up: Heavenly nibblesC. D. Davishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06182913655958716755noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2265120118959065816.post-41974104595077609792012-09-23T16:57:00.001-07:002012-09-26T19:22:58.149-07:00And the Good<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Whew! Now that we've gotten <i>that</i> behind us, let's explore the good things about bats.<br />
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For starters, bats are the most numerous mammals on earth, comprising (as I've mentioned) over 900 species. They can be found in just about every place on earth (except for the North and South Poles and other really cold spots), and are considered exalted creatures in a number of human cultures.<br />
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The scientific name for bats is Chiroptera, which means "hand wing," referring to the structure of the bat's wings... long "fingers" with skin stretched between them.<br />
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Bats are further divided into two sub-orders: Microchiroptera and Megachiroptera.<br />
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The Micros are relatively small guys, who, with a few chilling exceptions<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAitUIj7bPjs9sdx5fKrO2kSXOOkz10bt_0pSIz8hLffiyf1newjTq2j3j-uql6jdJCvV15iRK8k9bComsQMlY52SgDndGYnBrWix4BPS9BFqfQpJVyDwR1j4sC8K6iY9sXqtpIQLc-4Ip/s1600/Bat+17+frog-eating+bat.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAitUIj7bPjs9sdx5fKrO2kSXOOkz10bt_0pSIz8hLffiyf1newjTq2j3j-uql6jdJCvV15iRK8k9bComsQMlY52SgDndGYnBrWix4BPS9BFqfQpJVyDwR1j4sC8K6iY9sXqtpIQLc-4Ip/s320/Bat+17+frog-eating+bat.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The frog-eating bat. It really <i>isn't</i> easy being green, is it?</td></tr>
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...prefer a diet of crawling and flying things, such as centipedes, cicadas, spiders, mosquitos, flies, June bugs, etc. I don't know about you, but I like that in a bat. Any critter who reduces the creepy, crawly, buzzy, pesky legions that plague us all is top hole with me! And these lads can be very appealing.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5wACnJkSD41uzVN-cMhJC18FpVRM1rEriCBJQgBhK92px8yZGLof_U6NcikTP_02RWK0C62yommthI9cIIymOfFtyv0KhZMIcysmMkmpanDl5wA08AMQYHWQMx8XHiJ-I_zJDBJi9oyDp/s1600/Bat+1+greater+mouse-eared+bat.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="193" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5wACnJkSD41uzVN-cMhJC18FpVRM1rEriCBJQgBhK92px8yZGLof_U6NcikTP_02RWK0C62yommthI9cIIymOfFtyv0KhZMIcysmMkmpanDl5wA08AMQYHWQMx8XHiJ-I_zJDBJi9oyDp/s320/Bat+1+greater+mouse-eared+bat.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The greater mouse-eared bat. What a charmer!</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The big brown bat. Just look at that smile!</td></tr>
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Megas are the biggies of the bat kingdom. So big, in fact, they're often called "flying foxes." Some, like the golden crowned flying fox<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Riveting!</td></tr>
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...can have wingspans up to 5 feet 7 inches. (More like a flying terrier, I'd say!) Anyway, these fellows really dig fruit, eating mass quantities of the stuff, spreading seeds all over the place in their droppings, and pollinating all sorts of fruit trees and shrubberies. All this eating, spreading, and pollinating make the Megas very important to the ecology of their habitats. And they're quite handsome critters with lots of personality.<br />
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What's not to like, right?<br />
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Next up: The Mouse in a Million says "farewell"C. D. Davishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06182913655958716755noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2265120118959065816.post-83239523776067093762012-09-18T16:09:00.001-07:002012-09-23T16:59:02.150-07:00The Bad and the UglyOK. Let's be honest. Not all bats are nice. (Remember: I said I'd share the <i>mostly </i>good news about bats. Well, here's the "not so good" news.)<br />
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I say, let's get it out of the way right off the bat (no pun intended) so we can concentrate on the good stuff. Dessert is always sweeter once you've endured the boiled veg... that sort of thing.<br />
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So here goes...<br />
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False vampires<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhn_15tY5GRgCAPEzIXEqFOxyT03sxZwfiriGMf9PNQNtWK3OoQz3EpPtHCTi5-4W5aKJnIM67DysVc3CiMvTgygoXizSB_aiKeh90fecpIo13DOJ21_vy8d5ZznwwZmryFxwi9ncahMDMc/s1600/Bat+16+false+vampire+with+mouse+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="281" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhn_15tY5GRgCAPEzIXEqFOxyT03sxZwfiriGMf9PNQNtWK3OoQz3EpPtHCTi5-4W5aKJnIM67DysVc3CiMvTgygoXizSB_aiKeh90fecpIo13DOJ21_vy8d5ZznwwZmryFxwi9ncahMDMc/s320/Bat+16+false+vampire+with+mouse+2.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Yikes!!!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Need I say more? Probably not, but I will anyway.<br />
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
This is <i>the </i>critter that comes to mind when I think "Bad bat!" This particular species of unpleasant chap can be found in the Americas (i.e., southern Mexico, Central America, Peru, Ecuador, northern Brazil, Suriname, Guyana, and Trinidad).</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
False vampires are the largest bats in the Americas and the largest carnivorous bats in the world. With a wingspan that usually ranges from 24 to 36 inches (and up to 39 inches in the largest of the species) and a body size of 4.9-5.3 inches, these guys are monsters!<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSwKEr4F44Mw_r17Q12Wb4PqhKSwTtNTcLlTsrc6wgekcemRECl4hSPCYI55ExD69TfoYrGxOmJUCJTlpMAr1eTp0UkvBftRb0ZQlUZBKu6tqp-82EVBkqQBI7vM1QNMX8jz6G0JbgeXhx/s1600/Bat+4+False+Vampire+ugh+face.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="190" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSwKEr4F44Mw_r17Q12Wb4PqhKSwTtNTcLlTsrc6wgekcemRECl4hSPCYI55ExD69TfoYrGxOmJUCJTlpMAr1eTp0UkvBftRb0ZQlUZBKu6tqp-82EVBkqQBI7vM1QNMX8jz6G0JbgeXhx/s200/Bat+4+False+Vampire+ugh+face.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">...with a face only a mother could love. Ugh!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br /></div>
<div>
In addition to sluicing down my kind with alacrity (gulp!), they hunt birds, frogs, reptiles, and even other bats! In a pinch, they'll make due with insects too (e.g., locusts, cicadas, etc.), like regular, non-friend-and-relative eating bats. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
But, in the spirit of fairness and full disclosure, I must say that false vampires are not all bad. For example, they have a strong sense of family. Males and females often mate for life and share in the upbringing of their (usually) single-pup litter every mating season. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Now, if they could just lose that habit of eating rodents...</div>
<div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRvNkSv15Y7H3Pya8DpIrigXpGfemBgWG7ZYwmg1004qkNVgi6MvHugLikLFAZkr4-pPmkno3c4_dIYbcLv_DnCG0JpYcYjygPdNSDwg-21uck1kb_Lt68Rhyphenhyphens7UYxyV_NkVR96CgIKSi4/s1600/Bat+13+false+vampire+with+mouse.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRvNkSv15Y7H3Pya8DpIrigXpGfemBgWG7ZYwmg1004qkNVgi6MvHugLikLFAZkr4-pPmkno3c4_dIYbcLv_DnCG0JpYcYjygPdNSDwg-21uck1kb_Lt68Rhyphenhyphens7UYxyV_NkVR96CgIKSi4/s320/Bat+13+false+vampire+with+mouse.jpg" width="205" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Arrrrgh!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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C. D. Davishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06182913655958716755noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2265120118959065816.post-4771896937624662222012-09-13T21:32:00.000-07:002012-09-13T21:32:32.756-07:00BatsBelieve it or not, although of a different order, we rodents really have a lot in common with bats.<br />
<br />
1) We share the same secret, mysterious nighty-night world, working, playing, eating, etc., while other critters sleep.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6QBIZRY_LX_oP6swATZIZItLBZjoEFFVLzMyQakQQtUSxeOpJ9a-SUl-le1okSYJNVZxbdlyNkiYQ9moXfhzuz02g8AkUMoMN_6oOnxAOzkP-y1Kg8KkXYtcP5nxFeycl2Z0p6CIaDvip/s1600/Bat+6+California+leaf-nosed+bat.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="198" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6QBIZRY_LX_oP6swATZIZItLBZjoEFFVLzMyQakQQtUSxeOpJ9a-SUl-le1okSYJNVZxbdlyNkiYQ9moXfhzuz02g8AkUMoMN_6oOnxAOzkP-y1Kg8KkXYtcP5nxFeycl2Z0p6CIaDvip/s200/Bat+6+California+leaf-nosed+bat.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
2) We're both cute and furry.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDvD3GFfLzoVrfvlXAWOXkVyyBPQ8Sx1cKxBCP50vidxSLy8STP7rRhfx4lJ0dMqwa1PVKHLGxnyU8U3uOt2fBK_5LW4FluGZrPGUpvDRXJro0DOPBeZ-7X_hoE8UTbDkORbGcRO-RAAzE/s1600/Bat+15+head-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="161" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDvD3GFfLzoVrfvlXAWOXkVyyBPQ8Sx1cKxBCP50vidxSLy8STP7rRhfx4lJ0dMqwa1PVKHLGxnyU8U3uOt2fBK_5LW4FluGZrPGUpvDRXJro0DOPBeZ-7X_hoE8UTbDkORbGcRO-RAAzE/s200/Bat+15+head-1.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcqMjJ2pM6I_q3n2-YS2bOd_Io-ale1yeonb6FJv4MZgw-HOz1cYvdRgd-BpM6GGag9DW2w32-lgjyDnSIwTw3rCiqGftwD5ODMeSPRKnGjNQynDEJbOS0f6xqminBK0pPU9H0SI51EBmS/s1600/Bat+4+False+Vampire+ugh+face.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="190" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcqMjJ2pM6I_q3n2-YS2bOd_Io-ale1yeonb6FJv4MZgw-HOz1cYvdRgd-BpM6GGag9DW2w32-lgjyDnSIwTw3rCiqGftwD5ODMeSPRKnGjNQynDEJbOS0f6xqminBK0pPU9H0SI51EBmS/s200/Bat+4+False+Vampire+ugh+face.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
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OK. Perhaps not always<i> </i>cute, but certainly furry.<br />
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3) We like a lot of the same things:<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_xixoJqV8yh_M2YwIXEAcStMFd1WOeo3bWQCrdj5EcODxw6LIbSFudjpLsfEVlUWRD3IhijtKQn6GSC-Kp57kZNUuF_8syXXIE5Frzt1-caacdZd6aaw_OYSG8XqVNtpBj4t80RiCkOOS/s1600/Bat+10+Wahlberg+epauletted+fruitbat+with+fruit.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_xixoJqV8yh_M2YwIXEAcStMFd1WOeo3bWQCrdj5EcODxw6LIbSFudjpLsfEVlUWRD3IhijtKQn6GSC-Kp57kZNUuF_8syXXIE5Frzt1-caacdZd6aaw_OYSG8XqVNtpBj4t80RiCkOOS/s320/Bat+10+Wahlberg+epauletted+fruitbat+with+fruit.jpg" width="160" /></a></div>
Yummy chow...<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgv8-7cIOmBSYO6KrooErx6eOFuy7073jr3K0WFb6LK0IQyvXmI9A6TCaHh465lPhi8XD90GWBxeNP-Yobrx4Z2VSOgFkzSkuZ_e4AXictdLyUULqFTTQxL-oCHyM2Jk5etBcpfxEBdWbrE/s1600/Bat+2+Wahlberg+epauletted+bat+licks.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgv8-7cIOmBSYO6KrooErx6eOFuy7073jr3K0WFb6LK0IQyvXmI9A6TCaHh465lPhi8XD90GWBxeNP-Yobrx4Z2VSOgFkzSkuZ_e4AXictdLyUULqFTTQxL-oCHyM2Jk5etBcpfxEBdWbrE/s200/Bat+2+Wahlberg+epauletted+bat+licks.jpg" width="148" /></a></div>
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Cooling drinks...<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCnbE-KB0LYn2HiCbBrATGeFrvCzXVDfquTmvsDWnb9X8SpTTPQbybLWl6WzMyj_noNp8Ba5-MyyBuTOZZakDrrBoxBV66Rc3enTozcVIMz_N7R2rM34Pi9iRpZ3uFxsuVc3parTqhTykN/s1600/Bat+18+frog-eating+bat+drinking.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="275" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCnbE-KB0LYn2HiCbBrATGeFrvCzXVDfquTmvsDWnb9X8SpTTPQbybLWl6WzMyj_noNp8Ba5-MyyBuTOZZakDrrBoxBV66Rc3enTozcVIMz_N7R2rM34Pi9iRpZ3uFxsuVc3parTqhTykN/s320/Bat+18+frog-eating+bat+drinking.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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A little boogie fever for laughs...</div>
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And just hanging out.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_ZgfWKHztM-D5mvv_q4Nzr_TOEStQ0S0XkAX3s8IivGRDrlaUU-bUJNtWbsWY4Hb9koNJFBp48nN_ifhZjqWGP6rcpWSEcv4UoiuImAO4X_1BQ8Hbub4w4krkg52EToWMgJE3dm8Xfjq8/s1600/Bat+19+black+flying+foxes+hanging.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_ZgfWKHztM-D5mvv_q4Nzr_TOEStQ0S0XkAX3s8IivGRDrlaUU-bUJNtWbsWY4Hb9koNJFBp48nN_ifhZjqWGP6rcpWSEcv4UoiuImAO4X_1BQ8Hbub4w4krkg52EToWMgJE3dm8Xfjq8/s320/Bat+19+black+flying+foxes+hanging.jpg" width="173" /></a></div>
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4) We are both <i>so </i>misunderstood! In fact, the press about us down through the ages has been quite outrageous.<br />
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Bats especially have gotten a bad rap.<br />
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They've been smeared by legends of blood sucking, sorcery, disease spreading, property damage, pet snatching, and dive-bombing ladies with big hair-dos.<br />
<br />
I confess that such misunderstanding has even existed between bats and rodents. I myself once had an aversion to these winged fellows of the night.<br />
<br />
But I've learned. Based on my reading of that delightful work <i>Darklings</i>, by my good friend and colleague C. D. Davis, I now consider myself enlightened regarding the admirable qualities of bats.<br />
<br />
In the coming weeks, I'll make it my mission to share the (mostly) good news about a few of the 900+ species of bats from around the world.<br />
<br />
Please stay tuned. And embrace the bat!C. D. Davishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06182913655958716755noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2265120118959065816.post-7627606887435791802012-09-02T17:19:00.001-07:002012-09-02T17:19:30.932-07:00Darklings As promised, <i>Darklings </i>is now available on Amazon in paperback!<br />
<br />
So, who or what <i>are </i>darklings? Anyone who goes about his or her business in the hours of darkness between dusk and dawn, and sleeps during the day. Rodents, bats, etc. We are all creatures of the night.<br />
<br />
<i>Darklings</i> is the captivating and very cool story of two such creatures: Gabriella Caprella Contessa d'Asiago and Prince Mercurio of Venice.<br />
<br />
How do I know? Because I've read it myself... and give it 2-claws-<i>way</i>-up for fun, suspense, and hilarity.<br />
<br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Order your copy now by clicking <a href="https://www.createspace.com/3849568">here</a>!</span><br />
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<br />C. D. Davishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06182913655958716755noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2265120118959065816.post-59672362095028647962012-07-29T22:13:00.000-07:002012-07-29T22:13:44.220-07:00Change of CourseDear Faithful Readers (all two of you),<br />
<br />
At the risk of dashing you on the rocks of disappointment, I have decided (albeit reluctantly) to leave the further telling of my story to another.<br />
<br />
Please. No tears. Really, I couldn't... Oh dear. Need a moment to myself.<br />
<br />
(Sounds of loud and comprehensive nose blowing off page)<br />
<br />
(sniff) I assure you that the full account of my enthralling adventure (titled <i>She How She Runs</i>, available in soft cover and for Kindle via Amazon in summer, 2013), as told by my first-rate friend and chronicler, C. D. Davis, will make you glad of my decision.<br />
<br />
You may well ask, "So, Dapperling, you bumptious little layabout, what do you intend to do with yourself now that you've given up your autobiographical ramblings?" <br />
<br />
I'm still pondering that, as a matter of fact.<br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWEgAhNTRqkQyrHh1Qkw-Vd-8M_sDBykXOaD3tSo_iODMnSXnif1XrxCmOlUlUw7AV2wjXuGZ8p5bXC5MnvteUec2MktXTEa4tjxlZALIX3yFLWJJgjrgwdQLBIAWvUPNHIY3UMJMMzWOs/s1600/Gabriella+Portrait.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWEgAhNTRqkQyrHh1Qkw-Vd-8M_sDBykXOaD3tSo_iODMnSXnif1XrxCmOlUlUw7AV2wjXuGZ8p5bXC5MnvteUec2MktXTEa4tjxlZALIX3yFLWJJgjrgwdQLBIAWvUPNHIY3UMJMMzWOs/s200/Gabriella+Portrait.jpg" width="198" /></a>Meanwhile, I'll tell you about another fascinating mouse: Gabriella Caprella.<br />
<br />
The year is 1912, and the orphaned Gabriella works as a char mouse, cleaning up around the Metropolitan Opera House in New York City. One day, her life changes forever when she learns that she's the heir of her late mother's uncle, Giancarlo Conte d'Asiago. Gabriella soon finds herself in beautiful, mysterious Venice, Italy, where she must fend off murderous relatives, persistent suitors, and bloodthirsty vampires to claim her title as Contessa d'Asiago and restore her family's honor. <br />
<br />
Wow! Now, <i>there's</i> a life almost as fraught with incident as mine.<br />
<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPFshWP5-OOGBZ3cNWbPZptLiyZl8NMAeF8Cx9X2mRSDaNsgZJF2DgeEqlVHG42mxUSNBq69DS_1erb_c-J2fKoWNgE9AGJkzivNwYSW1aTGhGUWQwr2Su3GtyZjFhoAGJ3VHqvWstplnl/s1600/Darklings+front+cover.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPFshWP5-OOGBZ3cNWbPZptLiyZl8NMAeF8Cx9X2mRSDaNsgZJF2DgeEqlVHG42mxUSNBq69DS_1erb_c-J2fKoWNgE9AGJkzivNwYSW1aTGhGUWQwr2Su3GtyZjFhoAGJ3VHqvWstplnl/s320/Darklings+front+cover.jpg" width="222" /></a></div>
Anyway, Gabriella's story is a pretty cool one. (And rather important to me, as I'll explain someday.) You can read all about her in <i>Darklings</i>, available in softcover and for Kindle via Amazon, 15 August.<br />
<br />
Hugs and kisses,<br />
Prudence<br />
<br />
<br />C. D. Davishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06182913655958716755noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2265120118959065816.post-25784279391368254952012-07-04T08:53:00.000-07:002012-07-04T08:53:31.351-07:00Funny MoneyInspector Dapperling jumps to his feet. "'Counterfeit money' did you say, Constable Pellet?"<br />
<br />
The large Guinea pig, clutching my collar, nods vigorously. "Yessir! This 'ere bit of a girl mouse tried to pay for this newspaper--" He waves Exhibit A over my head. "--with it. Go on. Show 'im!" he growls at my ear. He shoves me forward.<br />
<br />
"Steady on, Pellet," Felix admonishes, fighting a smirk at my indignation.<br />
<br />
I turn out my pinafore pockets and dump my remaining cash onto the Inspector's desk.
Both mouse and Guinea pig goggle at the dough... a whole £5 53p. Barely enough for a decent cheese sandwich and a soda in my time. A small fortune apparently by 1922 standards, telling by the looks on their faces.<br />
<br />
"You see, sir?" Pellet hoots in triumph, pointing at the boodle. "'Oo's face izzat on them coins and itty bitty bills, eh? Hepzibah XII? And 'oozzat when she's at 'ome, eh?"<br />
<br />
"Yes, yes, Constable," Felix mutters.<br />
<br />
"And whazzat year there? 2012? Gorblimey, that's 90 years from now." Pellet cuffs me upside the head. "You must think we're stupid or somethin'!" he snarls at me.<br />
<br />
"All right, Pellet. That's quite enough!" Felix has the decency to be angry. "I'll handle this. You may go!"<br />
<br />
The Constable turns to leave, grumbling.<br />
<br />
"Wait!" my ancestor calls at his back. He digs a coin out of his waistcoat pocket and gives it to him. "Pay for the newspaper, will you? Never fear. That one's genuine, I assure you," he snaps when the Constable hesitates, staring suspiciously at the money. "Now go!"<br />
<br />
Pellet starts to walk away. I snatch the newspaper tucked under his foreleg.<br />
<br />
"I'll take that. Thank you!" I say tartly.<br />
<br />
He gives me a final, silent snarl and departs.<br />
<br />
When the door closes, Felix collapses into his chair, glowering at me. "I won't ask you why you disobeyed my orders and snuck out of the flat," he says with barely controlled fury. "No explanation can possibly justify your outrageous behavior."<br />
<br />
"Felix--" I start.<br />
<br />
He throws up his paws in exasperation. "How can you be so ungrateful? Here I am trying my best to protect you while we sort out this bizarre situation--"<br />
<br />
"Felix!"<br />
<br />
"--putting my career and reputation at risk, and all based on some nonsense about monster rats from the future!"<br />
<br />
"FELIX!"<br />
<br />
"What?!"<br />
<br />
I thrust the newspaper, with its strange headline, at him. I peek around it, watching his eyes dart back and forth, reading. Finally, he sits back, folds his forelegs, and says, "Very interesting, I'm sure."<br />
<br />
I goggle at him in disbelief. "Is that all you have to say?"<br />
<br />
He nods. "That and so what? A bunch of odd bits of junk go missing from a naval yard. What is that supposed to mean?"<br />
<br />
I turn the paper around and read the inventory of missing items aloud. "'Large shell casings, wire, dud explosives, charges, torpedo fins, propellers, engine components--" I look at him in horror. "--bullets'!" I toss the newspaper onto his desk. "All these things are large and/or dangerous. Just the sort of stuff useful to 'monster rats from the future' plotting a major crime!"<br />
<br />
The Inspector shakes his head. "I don't know, Prudence," he says doubtfully.<br />
<br />
His phone rings. He answers it. "Inspector Dapperling here..."<br />
<br />
A muffled voice, stern and frantic, comes over the wire. Felix jumps to his feet. "Yessir, Commissioner." His face screws up in alarm. "Right. We'll be right there!"<br />
<br />
Felix replaces the earpiece on the gallows phone and clumps it onto the desktop. He runs around the desk, grabbing my paw as he sprints to the door.<br />
<br />
"Felix, what is it?" I ask breathlessly as he practically drags me from the office.<br />
<br />
"We're to go directly to the Commissioner's office," he pants. "Winona Wensleydale, the Prime Minister's daughter, has just been discovered kidnapped!"C. D. Davishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06182913655958716755noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2265120118959065816.post-20815593262882575312012-06-03T09:34:00.000-07:002012-06-04T18:08:07.433-07:00BustedEmerging through the "window" (a gap between a pair of crumbling bricks), I find myself in a trash-blown alley. A cautious scan of my surroundings...<br />
<br />
"No zealous policerodents or murderous, time-traveling rats. Good!"<br />
<br />
...and I'm off.<br />
<br />
A busy rodentway looms ahead.<br />
<br />
"Wow!" I gasp in wonder at what greets me there.<br />
<br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">****ATTENTION: We interrupt for this important announcement:</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><i>The Time Under Heaven</i>, by Laurinda Wallace, has just been published by<a href="http://www.3-mice.com/"> 3-Mice Productions</a> and is available at Amazon.com</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">You can purchase this inspiring story of faith, love, and relationships </span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">in soft cover <span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: red;"><a href="https://www.createspace.com/3826464">here</a> </span>and for Kindle <span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: red;"><a href="http://www.amazon.com/The-Time-Under-Heaven-ebook/dp/B0087KBNT2/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1338654659&sr=8-1">here</a></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">We now resume Prudence's usual bleat ****</span><br />
<br />
<i>Ahem... Thank you.</i><br />
<br />
Rodents surge past in gabardine suits, stiff collars narrow ties, and straw skimmers; dapper cutaways, pin-striped trousers, waistcoats, ascot ties, and toppers; and dresses long and old-fashioned, short and daring, either on foot or riding wind-up automobiles with big radiators, running boards, and headlights like bug's eyes, and beetle-drawn carriages and wagons. Overhead, colorful billboards loom on the walls of towering buildings, advertising everything from headfur oil to dyspepsia cures and clover cigars. The loud <i>clatter </i>of the autos, the <i>ka-HOOO-ga </i>and <i>blat </i>of their horns; the <i>clickety-skitter </i>of beetles' feet on the pavement, the shouts of cloth-clapped newsies, announcing headlines of the latest scandals and disasters, fill my ears.<br />
<br />
"This really <i>is </i>1922!" I murmur... as though I hadn't truly believed it before.<br />
<br />
I step into the stream of rushing rodents and am immediately swept down the rodentway. As I "float" down the avenue, I glimpse a newspaper headline, hear the newsy shout:<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: left;">
"Biz-<i>aare </i>Robbery at Shipyard!" </div>
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<div style="text-align: left;">
An alarm goes off in my head. Suddenly, I've got to have one of those newspapers to "read all about it."</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
I wrench myself loose from the flow and rush up to the newsy -- a young rat with a squint, a scowl, and bad teeth. I pass him a coin from my pinafore pocket. (Thanks, Felix. Geez!) He passes me a paper. I walk away, reading.</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
"Hoy!" a voice shouts after me. "Stop you! Police!" </div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
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Before I can even turn around, a pair of large, ham-fisted Guinea pig coppers grab me.</div>
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<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
"Hey! What the--?!" I yelp.</div>
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<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
"Quiet!" one of them snarls. "You can do yer explaining' down the station!"</div>
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http://www.3-mice.com<a href="http://www.amazon.com/The-Time-Under-Heaven-ebook/dp/B0087KBNT2/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1338654659&sr=8-1">http://www.amazon.com/The-Time-Under-Heaven-ebook/dp/B0087KBNT2/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1338654659&sr=8-1</a>C. D. Davishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06182913655958716755noreply@blogger.com0