One of our favorite cheesemakers at Classic Provisions is Milton Creamery. When the Musser family first introduced their Praire Breeze and Prarie Rose, we fell in love with their family's recipes for Cheddar and Alpine styled cheeses. In their first couple of years in production they've been piling up the blue ribbons in competition. We were delighted to learn of a new offering.
Like the “Breeze” and “Rose”, Milton Creamery Quark uses the same Amish milk source, paired with talented hands and loving dedication to the craft of cheesemaking.
Quark is a fresh cheese of East European origin. It is fresh and bright with a texture similar to that of cream cheese or fromage blanc and is enjoyed in vast quantities in Germany and Austria because of its tanginess, versatility and simplicity. It usually has a much lower fat content than cream cheeses and has very little salt added.
Located in Milton, IA, the family's European-American heritage is reflected in a quark that has a mild dairy flavor with sweet and tart overtones. The cheese has a grainy yet creamy mouth feel and a crumbly texture that is easy to roll or shape. Its neutral palate makes it extremely versitle; spread some on crusty bread, add fruit and other dessert-type toppings or use it to make a German-style cheesecake known as käsekuchen. Quark is also an excellent ingredient in more savory dishes. The addition of herbs, spices, chives or onions make inventive spreads and can be used as topping for a classic baked potato or crumbled on salads and soups.
Rufus Musser remembers how as a child his mother would stir in molassas and the family would eat the quark like pudding. Lori Cyrus, a cheesemonger at Seward Co-Op offers her customers a recipe for Zesty Mexican Cheesecake, an appetizer served with tortilla chips.
Classic Provisions stocks Milton Creamery Quark in five pound bags at a very attractive price. We'd love to hear feedback from our customers on their application. Enjoy.