Ivy’s Reserve Vintage Cheddar – Many foods are classified as comforting foods with feelings of nostalgia, satisfaction, and emotional well-being, for me personally, Cheddar Cheese happens to be one of them, with its rich and creamy texture, it evokes a sense of comfort and familiarity.
There are several other reasons why people love cheddar cheese:
Flavour: Many people find the distinct, rich flavour appealing. It can range from mild and creamy to sharp and tangy, offering a wide variety of taste profiles to suit different preferences.
Versatility: Cheese can be used in numerous dishes. It melts well, making it ideal for grilled cheese sandwiches, macaroni and cheese, or toppings for burgers and pizzas. It can also be enjoyed on its own or paired with other ingredients like fruits, crackers, or charcuterie.
Texture: With its firm yet smooth texture, which adds to its overall enjoyment. It can be sliced, grated, or crumbled, allowing for different culinary applications.
Nutritional value: It is pleasing to know that Cheddar cheese is a good source of calcium and protein, which are essential nutrients for bone health and muscle growth. It also contains vitamins, minerals, and healthy fats, making it a satisfying and nourishing food choice.
Following Wyke Farms launch of the UK’s first carbon-neutral butter; ‘Ivy’s Reserve, Salted Farmhouse Butter’ Women Talking were keen to try their existing Ivy’s Reserve Vintage Cheddar, launched one year ago as the world’s first carbon-neutral cheddar.
Based in the heart of the Somerset cheddar-making region, Wyke Farms Ltd is a family-run company. The art of traditional cheese making will never be lost on the Somerset farm where the Clothier family have been making cheddar since 1861. Today, Wyke Farms is the largest independent cheese maker and milk processor in the UK producing over 18,000 tonnes of cheddar per year to the same award-winning 160-year-old recipe.
Both Ivy’s cheddar and butter are recognised with the ‘reserve’ status as a historic nod to Grandmother Ivy who, over 100 years ago, created the recipe and kept it as a family secret. For many years her cheese and butter were only available as gifts for family and close friends at Christmas time, but demand for this outstanding cheese and butter has grown around the world.
Wyke Farms are committed to sustainable farming and are proud to be the UK’s first national cheddar brand to become 100% self-sufficient in green energy. Wyke Farms sources all its electricity and gas from both solar and biogas, generated from farm and dairy waste. The biogas energy is generated from its own anaerobic digester (AD) plant, which saves Wyke Farms over 20 million kilos of carbon dioxide per annum. The company are now Europe’s most sustainable business.
They have received national and international recognition for their ongoing commitment to sustainability, and have won numerous awards including:
- Family Business Top 100 2022
- Sustainability Initiative of the Year – Grocer Gold 2022 finalist
- Footprint Awards 2022 – finalist
We have been super impressed with the Ivy’s Reserve ethos as well as the cheese, and would love to share their Ultimate Cheese Toastie recipe for you to try at home:
Serves: 2
Cooking time: 15 minutes
Vegetarian
Ingredients
1 tsp olive oil
6 spring onions/scallions trimmed and finely sliced.
4 slices sourdough bread
30g/1.1oz (⅛ cup) Ivy’s Reserve Salted Butter, room temperature.
100g/3.5oz mix of Ivy’s Reserve Vintage Cheddar and Ivy’s Farm Somerset Red, both grated
A few dashes of Worcestershire sauce
Method
Heat the oil in a large frying pan and soften the spring onions/scallions for 2-3 minutes, until lightly golden. Transfer to a plate.
Lay the bread on a large board and lightly butter both sides of each slice. Evenly scatter the softened spring onions across 2 of the slices, top with the mixed grated cheese, and add a few dashes of Worcestershire sauce. Place the other slices of bread on top.
Place the frying pan back onto a medium heat. Add the sandwiches and, using a spatula or similar, press them down in the pan. Cook for 2-3 minutes before flipping over. Press down again and cook for a further 2 minutes, until the bread is dark golden, and the cheese is oozing out the sides.
Slice in half and eat immediately!
Poppy Watt