American Cheese Month Part 1 - Melt in your mouth Lasagna

*I am a Whole Foods Market Blogger Ambassador. I receive compensation for posts in product or gift cards to purchase product. All opinions are my own. All sources are notated as needed at the end of the post.

Kite Hill Vegan cheese

 October is American Cheese month. A time to recognize North America's diverse and delicious cheeses and all involved in getting it to your table and into your favorite recipes.

The American Cheese Society has named its annual winners for 2014, and it’s a short but distinguished list.  Avalanche Cheese (local to Colorado) was recognized as a winner by the American Cheese Society, and can be bought at Whole Foods Market.  Have any vegan or dairy-free requests? Try the brand new nut-based Kite Hill vegan cheese which is absolutely delicious and entirely dairy-free.

 Stop in Whole Foods Market, Wichita, and talk to a Certified Cheese Professional  (the cheese world’s designation for a “sommelier”) about how best to pair these winners with wines, spreads, and more. 

I spoke to the "on hand cheese man", on my visit to Whole Foods Market, to get the best choices for cheeses for my lasagna dish, and for his recommendation on a good "snacking cheese".  It can be overwhelming, as there are so many to choose from. Take time to meander, study and read the cheese descriptions, have some samples, and speak to their cheese professional before making your selections. 

Wendy with Avalanche Cheese

 You can also find tips for buying, storing, cooking, and wine and beer pairings for cheese at americancheesemonth.org.  

So my cheese adventure begins by incorporating some new flavors and a new richness into my family's favorite lasagna dish. I'm including some step by step photos in case you have never made lasagna, and included my recipe for you to try on your own. I will include the cheeses I purchased at Whole Foods Market in Wichita. 

Follow the jump and come along! 

Music Project you can be a part of

If you could change the world you live in, how would you do it?
Would you feed the hungry? Provide for the poor? Facilitate world peace?
There are game changers in this world, and then there are those that watch from the sidelines.
How do you want to be remembered?

I love to run across people who just "get it". They know they have a God -given gift and they yearn and hunger to use it to it's full. The Stemo family are just those people.

Jake Stemo is a worship pastor at my church, and I have gotten to know his family over the past few years since they arrived in Kansas. They love the Lord and look to fulfill His calling in their life.  Jake strives to do this through music.

There is no greater way to touch a persons' heart than through song. I personally feel God in my life through worship and praise with music that speaks to me personally and gives me the comfort of God's word. Jake is an up and coming Christian artist who writes and performs his own music and his now ready to share God saving messages to the world.

Take a glance at this link and watch the short video about Jake and his music project. He's looking for funding, and has plans to use the proceeds from his album to fight human traffiking. (Specifically within our community with the local outreach ICTsos.) Music that speaks God's love and truth can save someone from loneliness, despair and give someone the hope that only God's love can.

Check it out, and even consider just donating $1!
Thanks so much!

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Kidz Bop Kids ticket Giveaway

Kidz Bop Kids who sing and perform all the top 40 songs you and your kids are probably already singing along to, will be performing live in Wichita at the Orpheum.

Kidz Bop is the #1 music brand for kids. They sing the latest top hits in kid-friendly versions and are bringing their high-energy, interactive show to Wichita.

I have 4 tickets for this Sunday's October 5th, 7pm show.  Enter at the Rafflecopter, I will choose a winner on Saturday morning! Good luck!

See the ticket info and how to purchase at The Orpheum website, here. 

a Rafflecopter giveaway