Chris and Marieke

Recently I took a drive up to Thorp, WI. to visit with the already legendary Marieke Penterman of Holland Family Farms Dairy. Yep, Thorp. Where is it you may ask? Well I’m not one to ask directions, but when you look it up on a map you’ll find it’s out there…wherever there is, it’s really out there by itself. Marieke and her husband Rolf moved there to dairy farm in 2002.

 In 2006, as a “hobby” Marieke started to make cheese and 4 years later that “hobby” has garnered her several major awards including Best of Class at both the U.S. Championships and the 2010 World Cheese Championships! Marieke’s dairy is a “farmstead” dairy which means they own their own cattle, milk them (milk comes from the milking parlor by pipe right into the cheesemaking room), make the cheese, and age it all on the premises. She controls every aspect from point A to Z. As I walked into the Holland Family Farm’s small retail room I instantly smiled at all the Dutch memorabilia and products for sale: clogs of course, imported condiments, pictures, and  puzzles.Marieke is proud of her heritage and that pride is easily manifested through her cheese. All of her unique flavorings (Foenugreek seed, dried nettle, black mustard seed…) are imported from Holland.

The most reverent sight was the cheese aging room. Rows and rows of cheese are set upon imported Dutch pine boards which are used to extract moisture and impart a flavor component. This room looked like an art museum full of artifacts set preciously out of reach and not to be disturbed. Marieke is passionate about her endeavor and vows that after her last expansion she does not plan to grow the operation any larger. She offers over a dozen varieties of gouda which are made out of raw milk and use animal rennet for an authentic Old World Dutch gouda flavor. Please stop in to pick up some of her cheese, what many people in the industry consider to be the best gouda in the U.S.A.!

What goes better than wine and cheese? Of course, some may argue beer and cheese or maybe chocolate and peanut butter, but they haven’t heard about our new promotion. After all, it is just starting today, so here it is… very simple really…

Buy $10 worth of our cheese and save 10% on your wine purchase*.  You may wonder, “Does this mean just one bottle or does it mean 4 bottles?” To answer, it means 10% off on however many bottles you buy. You’re likely thinking, “That’s a pretty sweet deal. Buying $10 in awesome cheese at Brennan’s is a snap. Not only is it a snap, it’s a weekly occurrence!”

Like all sweet deals, this one is only available for a limited time, so stop in and see our cheese gurus and wine selectors today!

*Excludes 1.5L wine and all wine priced under $7.00.

Can you believe Thanksgiving is THIS Thursday? Wasn’t it just Halloween last week? Though I should have realized because my Halloween candy is somehow all gone. Not that I’m not excited, because Thanksgiving is ultimate foodie holiday– a day filled with food, tradition and no stress about gifts. You can read the Black Friday ads and imagine that you will finish your Christmas shopping in one glorious day. Note, I did say imagine.

Well, anyone who knows me well knows that side dishes are my passion, so Thanksgiving is my dream day. In fact, I’m not sure if there will be room for turkey on my plate! Maybe on my 2nd. If you’re not following us on Facebook, check us out because we are doing a countdown to Thanksgiving with a new side dish recipe everyday or you can visit our recipe page for more ideas.  

Of course, if you are looking beyond side dishes. Jacobson’s is stocked with fresh turkeys. Contact the Jake’s nearest you to reserve your bird. And.. we are fully stocked on fresh baked pies. Choose from Pumpkin, Apple, Cherry, Strawberry Rhubarb and more!

Whether you’re hosting Thanksgiving or traveling, wine is a must. Our wine selectors are sampling wines perfect for your holiday feast, including New Zealand’s South Island Pinot Noir, a true crowd pleaser. If beer is your thing, then you are in luck because we are fully stocked on Winter brews including Hales Wee Winter, Scuttlbutt 10 Below and Tommy Knocker Cocoa Porter. Just to name a few. Mix and match a 6-pack with some Brennan’s Amber or Pils and you’ll have something for everyone.

Because this is Wisconsin, you cannot talk about any holiday without mentioning cheese. Besides traditional cheese and sausage platters to snack on when watching the Packers take on the Lions, I add cheese into my mashed potatoes and even to my green bean casserole. If you are looking for a hostess gift our cheese boxes are on display and ready to take or ship!

OK… clearly I could go on forever. I will wrap up and say, “Have a happy and safe Thanksgiving from all of us at Brennan’s!”

When you’re a kid, Easter food is all about the candy. Was there other food at Easter? It’s all about the sugar high and seeing who could hold out the longest, you or your brother, and still have some jelly beans around in June so you could say, “Ha, ha I still have Easter candy.”

When you’re a grown-up (at least on the outside), Easter food is all about the ham, turkey, lamb or brunch. Plus… wine… and maybe a micro brew, and… maybe a little candy, too.

Here Are Some Ideas to Help Make Your Easter Feast Memorable!

Super Sweet & Juicy Pineapple

A classic on baked ham, in cake and in fruit salad, our pineapple is hand-selected, twice as sweet as normal pineapple and has four times the vitamin C. It is available whole, cored or chunked.

If you’re looking to put a new twist on pineapple for Easter, try this fun dessert recipe. You can make it even easier by using Brennan’s Caramel Sauce, rather than making your own sauce and sipping some rum on the side!

 Grilled Pineapple with Pound Cake & Rum Caramel Sauce

Brennan’s Preserves and Mustards

Don’t just think of mustard as a condiment for sandwiches, though it is a must! Combined our Dusseldorf Mustard and Apricot Preserves make a great glaze for ham.

Apricot-Glazed Smoked Ham

 Easter Wine

Easter is usually all about lighter, spring wines; unless of course, you are having lamb or beef. Our wine experts are always on hand to help you select the perfect wine for your Easter, but here are a few ideas to get you started.

• South Island Riesling (New Zealand): A little sweet, a little dry. A great crowd pleaser to pair with ham, brunch or poultry.
• Cherry Wine (Wisconsin): Great with glazed ham! It sounds like an odd combo, but it’s good.
• Kiwi Red (New Zealand): This Pinot Noir/Merlot blend is delicious with turkey.

US Championship Cheese

Cheese is an an Easter must for trays, for sandwiches and in brunch favorites like strata, frittata and quiche. Here’s one of our favorite brunch recipes that uses Wisconsin Gouda and Sharp Cheddar. Your family will ask for this every year!

Ham and Cheese Strata

Also, now’s a great time to shop for cheese at Brennan’s because the United States Championship Cheese is in! A fantastic opportunity to try exciting and new cheeses from around the country and right here in Wisconsin.

Happy Easter from Brennan’s Market!

There’s delicious Wisconsin beer in our cheese spread, locally-made beer in our mustard, and our Milwaukee-made sausage is shaped like a beer bottle. Now I know I’m in Wisconsin! (As if the cold and snow weren’t big enough clues.) These are a few of the tasty and whimsical items available at Brennan’s right now.  I personally need a little “winter whimsy” to get over the hump of February! So as friends come over this week to play board games, I will treat them to a few of my favorite Brennan’s Beer/Food Combos.

I’ll make a killer nacho sauce made from Brennan’s Jalapeno Golden Pilsner Cheddar Spread.  (*See recipe below)   For my friends who don’t want the heat of jalapenos, Brennan’s Pilsner Cheddar Spread as a faux fondue for dipping broccoli, dark breads, or my favorite… Brennan’s Baby Dill pickles.  And of course I can’t leave out our most popular beer spread…the Dark Amber Lager Cheddar Spread.  This spread combined with Happy Herbert’s Organic Pretzel Sticks and a bottle of the Dark Amber Lager will hold us over until the snow finally melts in April or May or June! 

I’ll serve Brennan’s Whole Grain Amber Beer Mustard with our Summer Sausage: the perfect dipping partners!  Or… make Summer Sausage and Colby-Jack sandwiches on hearty pumpernickel. I like to treat friends of mine who stay the night to a Colby-Jack Quesadilla in the morning and my version of Wisconsin-Bacon… Brennan’s Summer Sausage fried in skillet like you would bacon. Delicious!

Be forewarned.  If plan on making these treats, make sure you invite friends over that you really like.  Chances are they will love the fun and flavorful combos so much that they will want to stay and stick out the dying days of winter no matter how long it takes! Enjoy!

*WISCONSIN NACHOS FIESTA

Ingredients:

For 6 servings:
2 1/4 cups (18 ounces) Brennan’s Jalapeño Cheddar Cold Pack cheese
1/2 cup milk, heated
1 tablespoon chili powder
1/4 cup sweet green peppers, chopped
1/4 cup sweet red peppers, chopped
1/4 cup scallions, chopped
24 ounces tortilla chips or tostada pieces

This year a lot more of us will be celebrating Valentine’s Day at home, rather than splurging at a restaurant. While Brennan’s may not be the first place that springs to mind as the “headquarters for love or romance” (we’ll let you use your imagination for those), we do have a few ideas. Since Valentine’s falls on a Saturday this year, here are some ways to make the entire day special for the whole family and that certain someone.

Breakfast-in-Bed for Your Someone Special

Rather than then the traditional mimosa, try our Blissini Cocktail made with Brennan’s Bubbly, a sparkling wine from California & Pomegranate juice. The vibrant pink color is just right to set the tone for Valentine’s Day.

You could make an elaborate breakfast or you could keep it simple by making a Brennan’s Granola Parfait. Simply layer Brennan’s Granola with yogurt and your favorite berries.

Family Fun Ideas

What kid doesn’t like a kiddy cocktail. Try Brennan’s Pomegranate Punch for a festive red drink. A variation on the breakfast recipe that’s family friendly, simply substitute lemon/lime soda for the Bubbly and garnish with orange slices.

For a treat, make Valentine’s Chocolate Cherry Sundaes with Brennan’s Cherry Ice Cream and Brennan’s Hot Fudge. Gooey and delicious!

A Romantic Evening for Kids: After the kids are at Grandma’s

Rather than an elaborate meal, keep in fun with fondue. There’s a ton of different recipes for fondue. Our cheese departments are featuring recipes including Classic Fondue with Swiss, Cheddar Tomato Fondue and Champagne Fondue. Besides just bread, dip in mini pickles, sausage and vegetables.

Chocolate Fondue is also a fun way to spend the evening. We’ve got some delicious recipes available, including on with mascarpone cheese. Dip strawberries, marshmallows, cake, dried fruit and nuts.

Stop in for more great ways to make your Valentine’s one to remember.

Happy Valentine’s!

Packed full of Pepperoni

In a recent, brainstorming session we were trying to come up with some new cheese spread ideas. Then it hit me… Pizza! Who doesn’t like pizza. I love pizza. If you do too, you’ll love our new dip. It’s packed full of all the stuff the makes pizza great: pepperoni, olives, tomatoes, mozzarella, Parmesan and more. It’s like our cheese spreads, but a little chunkier and definitely as tasty. Try it on crackers or on slices of French bread.

Just in time for football season, too! It’s an excellent addition to any party, tailgate or snack time!