Camembert goodness

Camembert and Caramelized Onion Dinner Rolls. My inspiration.

As we watched the UPS truck drive up the other day, Gus remarked, "They are bringing your cheese, Mom." Quickly I scanned my brain, wondering what kind of on-line purchase I had made lately and would be arriving soon. The driver handed the box to Gus and of course, with a kid's intuition, he was right. My latest shipment from Ile de France Cheese, a free sample to taste and review. How did he know? Or was he just hoping for another fun-filled box with cheese to make Mama happy and the bubble wrap for himself?
Inside the overnighted box was a lovely little round of Camembert cheese on an icepack, insulated to keep it the perfect temperature. I couldn't help but sneak a little slice before I placed it into the fridge. Mmmm... and they want me to review this delicious little morsel? I'm game.

Cheese is lovely, just as is, served in a little wedge or accompanied by a slice of apple or crackers. Cheese is elevated at times by a little preparation, the addition of a few perfect ingredients and a little time to meld the flavors. The Ile de France Camembert is mild, creamy, non-offensive to even a 3-year old's tender palate. It made a swell snack several evenings in a row after the children went to bed, happily reminding me of many-a-round of Camembert I consumed during my semester in Paris. How can a little morsel of preserved milk, a bit of artisan handling, and time... bring me back in an instant? Ile de France is a French cheese, that's why. Thank you, Ile de France, for the instant journey back to my days walking through Jardin de Luxembourg and down Rue Montparnasse, demi baguette in hand.

Of course, I couldn't just finish the cheese without a little bit of fun in the kitchen. As I've been playing around with bread in Artisan Bread in 5 Minutes a Day, I decided to take a peek, further back into the book and find a tasty way to incorporate the cheese. I settled on a recipe for rolls topped with herbs and caramelized onions, but incorporated the cheese. Melted camembert and caramelized onions, a winner indeed. The scent of lingering onions melded with warm cheese is still wafting aound my kitchen. Mmmm. Take a peek and see for yourself. Too bad I can't share them with all of you. You'd love them too.
Also, make sure to send in your favorite cheese recipe to Ile de France. They are featuring a contest with $1,000 for the top prize.

Two more days to post a comment for the cheese/bread giveaway! The winner will be selected on Saturday.