Cabot Blog

We're moooo-ving

2009-03-20T20:34:16Z

Cabot Creamery is a 1,350 farm family dairy cooperative with members in New England and upstate New York. We value our roots as a cooperative ~ and as a way of doing business.

So we got to thinking. While we love blogging and it's been a blast and you've all been great, wouldn't it be super if we all worked as a....wait for it....

as a cooperative?

Isn't that what this crazy, social media-infused world is all about? Creating things together? So we are thrilled to announce our new coop page on Facebook.

You don't have to be a fan to see what everyone is posting. But please do become a fan! Now, remember. We're just starting out. We'll be adding lots of information and we hope you will too. Comment, add links. Join our coop! (and tell all your friends...)

And bonus? You can see our Twitter stream there too!

Say Cheese!

2009-03-18T08:04:43Z

Poppy Cedes posted this photo on her blog. I was excited reading the comments because one reader wrote: "How about a grilled cheese with Cabot cheddar. Since mine would be a virtual sandwich, we can pretend you're not lactose intolerant." We responded with information about our cheese..."Aged cheese (like cheddar) have no (or virtually no) lactose. Read this.

And then....Poppy wrote that Cabot is her "favorite cheese company in the universe." Wow, in the universe!

Turns out that she is a Vermont girl who moved to NYC last year and Cabot is her favorite reminder of home.

Four Leaf Clovers....

2009-03-16T08:38:00Z

St. Patrick's Day is tomorrow. And we have a free, whimsical little book that you can download!

Although ostensibly about how to search for four-leaf clovers, this guide quietly offers subtle instruction in another search: how to relax and sample what's really meaningful in life. Roberta MacDonald has written a pleasantly whimsical tract about the art of contemplation. Her advice is specific, and its implications are as much philosophical as horticultural.

She's correct on a pragmatic level, as well. You really will find more four-leaf clovers after reading her book. That's a nice extra bonus.

Eat your dairy - yet another reason.

2009-03-13T04:03:07Z

The American Heart Association released a report this week showing that low vitamin D levels are associated with several risk factors in teenagers.

Study highlights:

+ Low levels of vitamin D were associated with increased risk of high blood pressure, high blood sugar and metabolic syndrome in teenagers.
+ The highest levels of vitamin D were found in whites, the lowest levels in blacks and intermediate levels in Mexican-Americans.

You can hear the podcast or see the video release or if you want to read more details, you can find them on the American Heart Association website.

Say Cheese!

2009-03-11T12:07:27Z

I know! It's not cheese. But have you tried Cabot butter? At our house, we use a lot of butter. The kids really will eat any vegetable if I put a little butter on top. Seriously, they'll even eat brussel sprouts.

And we bake cookies (with butter, not margarine for us!) all the time. Last week, we made two batches of Toll House cookies - one with butter and one with margarine for a taste test. We took samples to several of our friends' families. By a huge margin, butter won the bake-off! If you're using margarine in your cookies, why not try the test? It's fun and a great way to engage the kids!

Women's Fitness: It's Better with a Little Help from Your Friends

2009-03-09T08:23:43Z

Candace Karu, our very own Consumer Lifestyle Commentator writes about health, fitness, lifestyle, and wellness issues as well as representing Cabot at health and fitness events around the country.

Most recently, her article Women's Fitness: It's Better with a Little Help from Your Friends was published at 50+ Fabulous. Here's a taste to whet your appetite. Then head over and read the whole thing!

We all know that fitness at any age is beneficial, but keeping fit after 50 can be even more significant. In addition to the obvious physical advantages, a consistent program of exercise works like an almost miraculous combination of the fountain of youth and the ultimate beauty treatment. As we age, the benefits of a vital, healthy body are overwhelmingly positive. Why, then, is it so hard for women to make exercise a priority in their busy lives?

We love good press!

2009-03-06T09:12:07Z

From the Chicago Daily Herald: A little high-quality cheese can go a long way

"If I can find it, farmer-owned Cabot 50 percent sharp cheddar cheese makes a good substitute for full-fat, higher calorie cheddar. The Vermont cheese maker has won numerous awards for high quality and Cook's Illustrated magazine selected this cheese..."

Hey, we can toot our own horn every once in a while, right?

Haiku winnner!

2009-03-04T05:46:03Z

We are very excited to say that we had a lot of great submissions to our haiku contest.

And we are pleased to announce the winning haiku, by Jody:

Only cabot can
Fondue, tongue tango, melt and
Inspire poems.

Nice, huh? We like it a lot! We'll be sending Jody the cheese of her choice....

There were two other really notable submissions that we want to acknowledge, as well.

O, bovine temptress,
Thy sultry cheese defines thee,
Lucious, full-bodied.

by DoubleD

Moo! You take my milk!
Crafting long-lasting cheeses
Make me immortal

by RichardA

Why is this cheese different from all other cheeses?

2009-03-02T09:48:07Z

Passover is only 5 weeks away.

Why would we plan already for a holiday that is that far away? I mean, how long does it take to prepare for a weeklong holiday?

Let me back up a minute. What is Passover, anyway? Passover is the Jewish celebration of the Exodus out of Egypt. It signifies freedom, hope, and opportunity.

For many families, Passover is a time for the extended family to get together to actively participate in the re-telling of the events and the stories surrounding them. Some families tie the themes into modern-day events and take the opportunity to reflect on how they can help make the world a better place with freedom for all people. Some families reenact the plagues with props and plays. As with many holidays, food plays an integral role.

The food of Passover is a particularly large part of the planning, as there are certain foods that are and aren't allowed to be eaten. There is no leavened bread (bread with yeast or other rising agents), pasta, and certain other foods eaten all week. And most of all many families eat only foods that are certified Kosher for Passover by Rabbis. You may have seen these in the stores - with a U inside an O with the word Passover or the Hebrew word, which is pronounced Pesach.

As with any tradition, there are many degrees to which these traditions are followed. Many of the Kosher for Passover items are readily available. Some are not as easy to find. And many brands do not make special items for the holiday.

But Cabot does! Our Kosher for Passover cheddar is scrumptious and available online. I have several friends who bought cases to share. (It's a great deal, trust me!) We're excited to see folks out there spreading the word. Like Kosher Blog and Marketing Daily. Thanks!

Say Cheese! (Greek Yogurt Style)

2009-02-27T05:10:03Z

Surfing the blogosphere, we came across the Peace and Peanut Butter blog, and were pleased to read that Erika was so excited to try Cabot Greek Yogurt so much that she took its picture!

She bought honey, vanilla, and blueberry-pomegranate flavors.

Yum!

Calcium - yet another reason....

2009-02-25T05:24:11Z

A new report published in the Archives of Internal Medicine provides yet another reason to get the recommended intake of daily calcium - reduced risk of cancer.

We all know that calcium is shown to benefit bone health. This new report shows that women with higher intake of calcium appear to have a lower risk of cancer and that in both men and women, higher calcium intake - in line with current recommendations of 3 cups of low-fat or fat free dairy products per day - is associated with a lower risk of cancers of the digestive system, especially colorectal cancer.

Read the full release at Science Daily.

Low-Fat Dairy is Heart Healthy

2009-02-23T10:26:59Z

Valentine's Day is now past, but that doesn't mean your heart has been forgotten!

February is American Heart Month, and for those of you who think that a heart-healthy diet means trading in foods that you love for twigs and rocks, we're happy to tell you that we have a tastier option for you: Cabot's reduced-fat dairy products, including cheese, yogurt, cottage cheese and more.

Heart disease is a serious concern as we age. Did you know that cardiovascular disease - including stroke - is the #1 killer of Americans, and that heart heart disease specifically is the #1 killer of women in this country? With scary stats like that, a proactive approach to heart health can be life-saving.

Reduced-fat dairy is part of a heart-healthy diet. Several studies show that low-fat dairy products can help prevent heart disease, reduce hypertension (high blood pressure) and lower the risk of developing cardiovascular disease - in conjunction with a well-balanced diet.

Our 50% and 75% Reduced Fat Cheddars actually taste good, too. And if you really want to soup up your heart health, try our 50% Reduced Fat Omega-3 DHA Cheddar! One ounce contains 20% of your recommended daily value of these heart-healthy EFAs.

The American Heart Association recommends 2-3 servings of fat-free or low-fat dairy products per day for adults for the most benefit. Children should have two or more servings; teenagers and older adults should have four per day.

Helpful Links:
American Heart Association
The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition

Tips for a Heart-Healthy diet:
The Mayo Clinic
Cabot's Healthy Heart page

Heart Health for Women & Kids

2009-02-23T10:00:13Z

http://www.medpagetoday.com/PrimaryCare/DietNutrition/9113
DASH diet good for women

http://www.norwichbulletin.com/lifestyles/x363580701/Healthy-Living-Prevent-adult-heart-problems-by-starting-with-children
Prevent heart adult heart problems by starting w/ children

http://www.americanheart.org/presenter.jhtml?identifier=851
AHA recommendations

http://www.nutraingredients-usa.com/Product-Categories/Dairy-based-ingredients/Low-fat-dairy-again-linked-to-healthier-hearts
low-fat dairy linked to healthier hearts

Support the farmers

2009-02-20T10:12:32Z

We tweeted this recently, but it bears repeating.

Drink your milk. Eat your cheese. Doesn't every mom say that?

Well, now there's another reason, too. Our farmers need our support!

According to the Times Argus article, economic slowdowns worldwide has affected the demand for dairy products. To bring it local, "Farmers that provide milk to Agri-Mark were getting $1.99 a gallon in August 2007, Wellington said. The amount will drop to a $1 a gallon by spring, he said. It costs Vermont farmers roughly $1.55 to produce a gallon of milk."

I'll be serving milk with dinner and sending cheese sandwiches for lunches. (I use the Cabot slices.) I hope you'll support our farmers, too!

Cheese & Wine Pairing - Horseradish Cheddar

2009-02-18T10:00:07Z

We are thrilled to have one of our favorite guest bloggers back for another cheese and wine review. This time, former wine critic for the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette Robert Neralich reviews our Horseradish Cheddar and devises food and wine pairings worthy of one of our customers' favorite flavors.

You can see the original post and his other writings at Food for the Spirit and the Soul.

Food & Wine

Though I am notoriously lactose-fickle, at the moment my favorite cheese is Cabot Horseradish Pasturized Process Cheddar Cheese, largely because of a discovery that I made concerning its affinity with wine. While the delectable tanginess of this cheese could overwhelm many wines, if thin slices of it are placed on just-grilled burgers - beef, turkey, or veggie, depending on your degree of hippiehood - and allowed to melt, they will amplify the pleasures of the meal considerably, especially if the burgers are paired with a stout Shiraz or robust Zinfandel. I suggest as side dishes sweet potato French fries and steamed broccoli, though I include this last item largely to silence any health nuts - I mean, of course, any wellness advocates - who might be present at the meal and who could compromise its pleasures by complaining about the richness of the fare. I promise that this wonderful cheese, if served as I have suggested, will help take the edge off the chill of even the bleakest winter day.