Is Their Cheese Too Tasty?

The other day my Mom decided that she wanted to make her famous quiche Loraine for some of our mates. So she went to the "Larry Lamour" (store) in search of her favorite cheese... french Gruyere. After she had a long "Captain Cook" (look) with no luck she finally flagged down a clerk and asked for some help. "Excuse me, do you carry Gruyere cheese?" The young man gave Mom a blank look. (This is a look we are quite familiar with since we apparently speak a foreign language here in Australia...) "I'm sorry, I don't undehstand 'ya. "(This is a phrase we are quite familiar with since we again, speak a foreign language here in Australia...) Anyway, Mom repeated very slowly in her best Aussie "accent," "I'm lookin' foh Gruyeah cheese, mate. " To this the polite young man replied, "Ahhh, cheese!" Follow me, dahlin!" So we followed the clerk for a bit and found ourselves standing in front of the cold cheese section of the store. "The bulk of the cheeses are he'a and we have the fancy cheese in another spot. Whad'ya say yur lookin' foh?" With that, Mom said again very, very slowly... "Gruuuuyehhh cheese. It's from France." The man with the apron studied the cheeses for a bit and said, "Okay, let's have a "squizz" (look)...

Here's how the rest of the conversation went...

Clerk:  "We have"Tasty" cheese..."

Mom:  "No thank you, I need Gruyere."

Clerk: "Ohhhhh, 'ow 'bout "Light n' Tasty" cheese?"

Mom: "No, it really needs to be a very strong cheese."

Clerk: "Oh, a strong cheese? Got the perfect one.. this "Extra Tasty" cheese will do the trick!"

Mom: "Nope, sorry, it's kind of important for this recipe to have Gruyere cheese."

Clerk: "Oh, oh, okay, sorry about that, I know... what about "Sharp and Tasty" cheese? It's a "you beaut" cheese!"

Mom: "I'm really looking for a cheese without the

word "Tasty" in it's title..."

Clerk: "Well, we have Parmesan cheese and Mozzarella, why don't make a pizza... the kiddies love pizza... especially when you use Tasty cheese!"

Mom: "Maaaate... I'm looking for Gruyere cheese! I'm sure that the cheese is very tasty! But, the recipe is very specific, Gruyere cheese."

Needless to say, Mom did not get her Gruyere cheese that day. We came home with an assortment of tasty cheeses and enjoyed a lovely pizza dinner, macaroni and cheese and veggie lasagna that week. And for the record, the cheese is really quite "more-ish" (wanting lots more of it.) In fact, we are all hooked on it now and Mom has finally learned to adapt and even uses it in all of her quiche recipes.

Speaking of strong cheese, maybe that explains all of the problems our neighbors have been having lately with clever and elusive mice. Here in the Aussie bush you have an assortment of mouse trapping gear that you can use. There is the glue trap, or glue board which is similar to a fly strip. You can also choose an electronic trap that leaves the mouse "up a creek without a paddle." My personal favorite is the humane approach that uses a live trap that you can then relocate the mouse back into the wild hopefully, far away from your home. Of course, there is also the traditional snap trap that you might be familiar with from movies or Tom & Jerry cartoons. I think this type of trap is "as weak as a wet whistle." (Click the link to see our Aussie Strong mouse is action... you may be compelled to turn it off after the little bloke seems doomed... but don't... it has a surprise ending!"

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RDwg-qgq1vk

Shocking isn't it? Even that little mouse bloke knew the benefits of a strong tasty cheese! Make sure you get your hands on some of that when you land "Down Undah!" Funny coincidence... we are having Mac and Cheese for tea tonight! Hoo Roo!