I’ve been reading a lot of articles about how to have Passover or Easter feasts far away from family and friends. I don’t personally observe either holiday, but I do love being a part of the fun at other’s people’s celebrations. I enjoy joining in on my friends’ traditions, traditions that millions of people around the world also follow. And of course, I always love a good meal which both Passover and Easter provide! I miss getting together for these holidays and I’m just a hanger-on, so I can’t imagine how tough it is for those of you who always see your special people at this time.

While cheese won’t make you miss your family less, it will probably make you like your day more. Let’s get some cheese into your day. Maybe to brighten up your holiday, or just help you celebrate spring, which I complained about last week not being here yet and then BOOM two full days of sun!

My first choice for Passover, Easter, Spring, whatever your bag, celebration cheese is Garrotxa. Garrotxa is a firm, aged goat’s milk cheese from northern Spain that tastes like herbs and fresh grass and a trace of salt, like ocean air. It was actually almost lost to history, but a bunch of (self-described) hippies got a hold of the recipe in the 1980s and brought it back from the brink! The original recipe was for a young, fresh cheese, but the new cheesemakers aged it longer, and instead of cleaning of the grey, suede-like mold that grew on the outside of the cheese, they encouraged it. They found that the mold actually mellowed some of the acidity in the cheese and added a light touch of sweetness instead. This makes me think of spring because goats and kids and such and it basically tastes like a rocky mountain meadow about to pop into bloom.

The other cheese I want for celebrating is soft, like the downy feathers on a duckling or the velvety ears of a puppy. I’m thinking of the little Cremont, a goat and cow’s milk cheese from Vermont Creamery. It is one of those cheeses that have a lovely goopy layer surrounding a cakey center. The cow’s milk cheese adds sweetness and the goat’s milk brings the tang, cow’s milk brings the mellow, goat’s milk brings the party. It would pair really well with charoset if you have any extra lying around, or a salad of fresh spring peas. Cremont is easy to love and perfect for one or two people if your festivities are small this year.

Happy celebrating, friends! 

For the love of cheese and celebrating alone but together,

Kiri