Steven Helmer Publications

I'm a big fan of cheese curds, mostly because I am somewhat lactose intolerant, and curds tend to be one of the few dairy products I can eat in a reasonable quantity without getting an upset stomach. I've tried quite a few brands, and Malcore's is easily one of my favorites. The first time I saw curds from this Appleton, Wisconsin-based company, I was admittedly a bit curious. Normally, you find a product like this in the grocery store's refrigerated dairy section. These, however, were displayed prominently on a table nowhere near the refrigerator. They were also a bit warm. As it turns out, that isn't the only thing different about these. For one, they are some of the freshest curds I have ever purchased. I can tell because they squeak when you eat them. Even in the dairy state, that's not always a given. In fact, I'd say the majority I've purchased over the years, even those made right here in Wisconsin, didn't squeak. Another thing I like about th...

  I honestly didn't even know Muenster cheese curds were a thing until I happened to notice them while at the grocery store last night. I was intrigued, mostly because this one of my favorite types of cheese, and picked up a bag ($3.49). I gave them a try last night and was glad I made the purchase. One thing that really stood out for me when it came to these cheese curds is they weren't as salty as some others I've purchased. The curds had a nice mild flavor that made them enjoyable to eat and, because they weren't salty, I didn't feel like I needed to have something to drink immediately after. In fact, I liked the flavor so much, I had to force myself to put them back in the fridge because I was afraid I would wind up accidentally finishing the bag in one sitting (I still wound up sneaking a few more before getting ready for bed). I also liked how these cheese curds were cut in cubes. It's something relatively simple but it makes the product more attractive fo...

  This was another one of my purchases when I stopped at the grocery store last night. I was in the mood for some string cheese as a work snack and, since I didn't want to raid my wife's supply, figured I would try this brand. I did have some concerns about this product when I purchased it ($5.99), mostly in regards to how salty it was. I have had other string cheeses that were way too salty for me and didn't know if this particular brand would fall into that category or not. As it turns out, however, it was a decent purchase. Yes, the cheese does have a bit of a salty flavor to it, as I think I would normally expect to be the case. However, unlike the other brands I've tried, it wasn't anything that was overpowering. In other words, I could taste the salt, but I could also still taste the cheese flavor. In fact, as far as string cheese goes, I thought this was a good product overall. The sticks are larger than some other brands, making them a more-filling snack, an...

  I first noticed this item at one of our local grocery stores a couple months ago, near the dairy section. It looked interesting but I always found an excuse not to give them a try. However, I was waiting for someone to pick out a gallon of milk yesterday evening (something that apparently required some serious thought on their behalf) and, since these were only 79 cents, I picked up a couple packs of them. I decided to try the Wisconsin Cheddar variety as a snack last night and, as much as I wanted to like this item, I found I really didn't. I will admit, it is an intriguing idea and the whole "low carb" thing would be appealing to several people I know. It's just I didn't enjoy the flavor as much as I thought I would. I could taste the Wisconsin cheddar, as promised, but the snacks left a dry aftertaste in my mouth, leaving me feeling more thirsty than satisfied. To be fair, this might have just been a matter of personal preference. Cheddar cheese tends to have...