Canadian Reader told me about attending a cheese making class, which (no surprise) inspired a new trail for me! The first book to arrive was Milk Cow Kitchen, by MaryJane Butters (really!) Now, I don't cook, will not be making my own cheese, and, alas, will never own my own cow and still this was just a wonderful read! Mouth watering recipes, advice on selecting, housing, feeding, milking, breeding your own cow, marketing your product, as well as a chapter on 'cow decor', it all should keep you reading right to the end of the book. There are also many "fun facts" such as 'Did you know that two thirds of the world's eggplant is grown in New Jersey?' (!)

Here's a cheese related story: Edward Trencom's Nose: a Novel of History, Dark Intrigue, and Cheese, by Giles Milton. For generations at least one Trencom has the 'nose' for cheese ... but ... is that good or bad? Edward gets a surprise when he comes across a crate of past records of his family. Not bad! Made me hungry for a grilled cheese sandwich. Very ordinary, given the cheeses described here, but it was handy. ;-)

Although big city born and raised, Brad Kessler always felt the need to get away from all the noise and concrete of New York. He and his wife did so, moving to Vermont, raising goats and making cheese. Goat Song: a Seasonal Life, a Short History of Herding, and the Art of Making Cheese is both detailed and delightful. The sections on some of the specifics of raising goats and making cheese is certainly more than I'll ever need to know, but woven throughout ... the passages on taking the goats up the mountains to graze,for example, milking them, and making the cheese are almost lyrical. (Rather fitting, given the title). ;-)

Think Wisconsin is the only place to get wonderful cheese? Think again! While not as well known as those in the Dairy State, there are many incredible cheeses and cheese makers here in the northwest and Pacific Northwest Cheese: a History, by Tami Parr will tell you all about them. Many are only sold locally so it might be worth seeking the nearby ones out and trying them out. :-)

Reading Hermit With Dog