Homemade Cheese Spread Gift Basket By Jim and Jena, Little Rusted Ladle
Gift baskets with real Wisconsin Cheese are becoming increasingly popular. Why wouldn't they? After all, with the multitude of award-winning cheese companies in the state and hundreds of varieties of cheese to choose from, it only seems natural that a Wisconsin Cheese gift basket would be a favorite. But what about the homemade aspect of gift giving? It’s more personal, and you can stretch your gift-giving dollar further. Start with a container to hold the items. It could be a basket, box or even an artsy element like a metal birdcage. Hobby and consignment stores can be great places to find interesting items to use for a gift basket. Using elements like moss, sticks and pine bows add color and texture, while creating a base to nestle the gift items into. Pages from old books make great wrappers or paper cones for gift items like nuts or crackers. Adding locally made liqueurs or wines create height that add dimension and interest. The star of this homemade gift basket is a homemade Wisconsin Five Cheese Spread, which can be eaten on its own with crackers, or topped with brandy simmered fruits spiced nuts for an elegant appetizer.
Wisconsin Five Cheese Spread Ingredients: 4 ounces Wisconsin cream cheese 4 ounces Wisconsin mascarpone cheese 2 cups (8 ounces) Wisconsin fontina or Havarti cheese 8 ounces Wisconsin brie cheese, rind removed 1/4 cup (2 ounces) Wisconsin smoked blue cheese Directions: Combine all ingredients in bowl of electric mixer. Mix until well combined. Spoon mixture into ceramic crocks or mason jars with decorative lids. Refrigerate until you give it away. The spread is made with real cheese, which is perishable.