Our Top Pick Of The Week is for pancake and waffle lovers who want some more excitement on their plates. Those who have only used store-bought mixes are in for a surprise with Southern Culture Artisan Foods: pancakes and waffles with such beautiful flavor that we couldn’t stop eating them—pancakes so flavorful that no maple syrup was required. (Of course, you can use it.)

And what flavor: There are 17 flavors, in fact. We’ve only tried a few of them, but we now plan to work our way through the line in alphabetical order, since each flavor calls out to us.

 
 
FLAVORED PANCAKE & WAFFLE MIXES

Where to begin?

 
The mixes are non-GMO, and made with organic flour, organic sugar, flavorings (banana, cocoa, pumpkin, etc.).
 
 
VEGAN FRIENDLY

All of the mixes except three are vegan (Banana Pudding, Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough, and Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip contain dairy ingredients).

There are conventional and vegan* preparation instructions for the pancakes and waffles on each package.

Vegans can:

 
 
WHAT TO MAKE FIRST?

Beyond a breakfast or brunch of pancakes or waffles, we suggest:

 
 
GET YOUR PANCAKE & WAFFLE MIXES NOW!

Individual 10-ounce cartons make great party favors and stocking stuffers. What a treat!

Head to SouthernCultureFoods.com

Plan ahead for these celebrations:

 
 
ABOUT SOUTHERN CLUTURE ARTISAN FOODS

Southern Culture is the creation of entrepreneur, chef, and restaurateur Erica Barrett. Her line of packaged foods includes the pancake and waffle mixes, plus bacon rubs,stone-ground grits and whole bean coffees.

Erica Barrett and her products have been featured on “The Profit” with Marcus Lemonis, and on Shark Tank. Both appearances resulted in offers. (The Sharks enjoyed Banana Pudding Pancake and Waffle Mix and Original Bacon Rub.)

Oprah chose Truffle & Sea Salt Stone Ground Grits as one of her favorite things.

She’s also cookbook author of Shuga & Seoul: A Collection of Sweet and Soulful Recipes Created from the Depths of the South.

Erica, we love your taste!
 
 
> PANCAKE HISTORY
 
> THE DIFFERENT TYPES OF PANCAKES
 
> WAFFLE HISTORY
 
>THE DIFFERENT TYPES OF WAFFLES

[1] The red velvet flavor is outstanding—and we say that as someone who describes most red velvet products as “eh.”

[2] Southern Culture improves the blueberry pancake with blueberry powder and blueberry bits. Feel free to top with fresh blueberries (all photos © Southern Culture Artisan Foods).

[1] Blue Winter Daiquiri, the perfect color for Hanukkah, rimmed with decorating sugar (both photos © Kōloa Rum).

[2] Kōloa white rum is one of seven rum expressions, plus three bottled rum cocktails.

Spell it Hanukkah or Chanukah, the Festival of Lights began last night. You don’t have to be Jewish to enjoy this eye-catching blue and white cocktail (blue and white are the colors of the flag of Israel).

The recipe was developed by The Rogue Brussel Sprout for Koloa Rum.

It tastes as good as it looks…and it actually has a pinch of nutrients provided by the blue spirulina, that turns the cocktail bright blue. If you don’t want to purchase spirulina (it”s available at health food stores), you can use food color.

Thanks to Koloa for the recipe. Check out their fine premium rums—great holiday gifts for rum lovers.
 
 
RECIPE: BLUE WINTER DAIQUIRI
 
Ingredients Per Drink

 
Preparation

1. COAT the rim of a coupe glass with decorating sugar or sparkling sugar (see the different types of sugar).

1. DISSOLVE the blue spirulina in a cocktail shaker with a tiny splash of hot water. Add the remaining ingredients and shake with ice.

2. STRAIN into a chilled coupe glass with a sugared rim.
 
 
MORE HANUKKAH COCKTAILS

*Spirulina is a type of blue-green algae with strong antioxidant effects. It is one of the world’s most popular supplements, loaded with nutrients and antioxidants that may benefit your body and brain. Here’s more about it. Blue spirulina has a neutral flavor and aroma, while green spirulina has an algae character. Here’s more about it.

We always plan ahead for non-alcoholic drinks that are also fun. Last year, we discovered Santa Clausthaler Nonalcoholic Beer, a seasonal brew from Germany’s Clausthaler, the world’s largest brewer of non-alcoholic beer.

It’s purely coincidental that the brewery was able to insert “Santa” in front of its name to have a perfectly-named holiday beer. Pick up some of this lively, delicious, limited edition non-alcoholic beer to carry you and yours through the holidays and into Dry January.

Santa Clausthaler is a 50/50 blend of the award-winning Clausthaler Original, spiced with cranberry and cinnamon flavors of the season.

 
 
ABOUT CLAUSTHALER

More than 50 years ago, Clausthaler patented the process for brewing beer without alcohol. Clausthaler Original was launched in 1979, the world’s first non-alcoholic beer.

Clausthaler first made its mark in the canteens and cafeterias of the German labor force. At last, people could enjoy a cold beer in the middle of the workday without the worry of intoxication. The brand was an instant success [source].

The brewery, which only produces non-alcoholic beer, continued to innovate with new flavors to meet the growing demand for good non-alcoholic beer.

In addition to Santa Clausthaler, the year-round lineup includes Original, Dry Hopped, Unfiltered Dry Hopped, Grapefruit, and Lemon.

Clausthaler is the most popular non-alcoholic beer in Europe, and winner of the World Beer Awards World’s Best Alcohol-Free* Beer.

Clausthaler’s unique brewing process produces non-alcoholic beer that actually conforms to the Reinheitsgebot, the German Purity Law of 1516.

 
 
> THE HISTORY OF BEER
 
 
> THE DIFFERENT TYPES OF BEER
 
 
> PAIRING BEER & CHEESE
 
 
> TIPS FOR SERVING BEER
 
 
________________

*According to the Food and Drug Administration, a product labeled alcohol-free beer must contain no detectable levels of alcohol. These beers should be labeled 0.0% A.B.V. Products labeled non-alcoholic beer can contain up to 0.5% A.B.V. Different countries can have different regulations [source].

A.B.V. is the acronym for Alcohol By Volume, which refers to the percentage of a drink that is pure alcohol. To get the proof, you double the A.B.V. Thus, an 80-proof vodka is 40% A.B.V. Clausthaler beer is .9% A.B.V. Double that and the proof is less than 1%, but it’s still a teeny bit of alcohol.

[1] Don’t they look great? Santa Clausthaler nonalcoholic beer delivers lots of flavor and no alcohol* (photo © African Marketing | Facebook).

[2] A good host always has interesting, non-alcoholic options for guests (photos #2 and #3 are courtesy of, and © copyright of, Craft Massachuetts | Facebook.

[3] If you haven’t had a good non-alcoholic beer, grab a Clausthaler.

[1] A Gouda snack with beer or wine (photos #1 to #7 © A Dutch Masterpiece).

[2] Rembrandt’s self-portrait and “Night’s Watch” grace the package of a delicious aged Gouda.

[3] Vermeer, a reduced-fat Gouda, also has less salt. Vincent is a Gouda with some flavor notes of Parmesan

[4] Frans Hals is an aged goat cheese, made in the Gouda style.

[5] A pizza topped with shaved Frans Hals Gouda.

[6] Melt Gouda into a sauce or fondue.

[7] A cheese board for entertaining. Here’s how to put it together.

[8] Cheese crystals in an aged Cheddar also appear in aged Gouda. See more about it below (photo © Rabizio 94 | Panther Media Stock Agency).

[9] Snack pairing: beer or wine with almonds, dried papaya, crackers and marmalade (photo © Wisconsin Cheese).

[10] Chunks of Gouda, sliced apples and pistachios: a yummy and nutritious snack (photo © Wonderful Pistachios).

When you think of a Dutch masterpiece, what comes to mind? A painting by Rembrandt van Rijn (1606-1669)? Johannes Vermeer (1632-1675)? Frans Hals (1580-1666)? Vincent Van Gogh (1853-1890)? How about Gouda cheeses that honor them, via a brand called A Dutch Masterpiece?

A Dutch Masterpiece was created by Royal Friesland Campina N.V., a Dutch multinational dairy cooperative. Their line of four delicious, award-winning Gouda and Gouda-style cheeses showcases the greatest of Dutch cheeses and the greatest of Dutch painters.

We think the painters would love eating their eponymous cheeses—and so will you, your family and your guests.

These premium cheeses are delicious for everyday meals and for entertaining. We love semi-hard Gouda on:

 
Some Gouda trivia: Gouda, or “HOW-da,” as it’s pronounced in Dutch, is named after the city of Gouda. It is one of the most popular cheeses in the world, accounting for 50% to 60% of the world’s cheese consumption [source]. A Dutch Masterpiece is shipped worldwide to meet the demand.
 
 
MEET THE CHEESES & THE PAINTERS

Each of these cheeses, made in the Gouda style, is different in personality and flavor. We had the opportunity to taste all four together, and while we personally prefer the extra-aged, all four are winners (figuratively and literally), committed to the art of traditional Dutch cheesemaking.

A Dutch Masterpiece has a robust website devoted to educating cheese lovers to the line-up of cheeses and artists.

The packaging features famous works of the artists and their self-portraits, while providing informative tasting notes of the product. The pairings noted below appear on the packaging. (Of course, pair the cheeses with whatever fruits, nuts, condiments, and breads/crackers you like.)

Here’s a store locator.
 
 
REMBRANDT: Extra Aged Gouda. Rembrandt van Rijn is widely recognized as one of the greatest painters of all time. The “Night Watch,” his largest and most notable work, is a group portrait of the Amsterdam civic guard. A portion of the enormous painting, completed in 1642, is featured on the label of the cheese (photo #2).

Rembrandt Gouda is traditionally ripened for one year, delivering a rich tangy flavor and the delightful presence of calcium lactaid crystals (more about them below).

Pairings: candied papaya, figs, roasted almonds, Bartlett pear, Chardonnay.

Awards: World Championship Cheese Contest World Champion 2004, World Cheese Awards Gold 2016.
 
 
VINCENT: Where Gouda Meets Parmesan. Although not widely appreciated during his lifetime, Vincent Van Gogh, a Dutch post-impressionist painter, is now considered by some to be the world’s most famous artist. Some of his paintings, such as his 1888 Sunflowers series, are among the world’s best-known canvases.

One of the sunflower paintings graces the wrapper of the cheese (photo #3).

The name of cheese may seem odd, but in this particular Gouda, there are actually flavors of parmesan cheese. That’s an unexpected delight in every bite! The cheese is aged for 6 months.

Pairings: marinated olives, cherry chutney, walnuts, Pinot Noir.

Award: World Cheese Awards Gold 2013.
 
 
FRANS HALS Aged Goat Cheese. Frans Hals is best known for his portraits of wealthy citizens, which convey a rare insight into the lives and personalities of his subjects.

The 100% goat‘s milk cheese is made in the Gouda style, and is full-bodied in flavor and alluring in its aroma. But in The Netherlands, cheese must be made with cow’s milk in order to be called Gouda. So Frans Hals is called an aged goat cheese (photo #4).

Aged up to six months, there is nothing “goaty” about this cheese, either in the flavor or its delicate aroma. Goat cheese avoiders can enjoy it without knowing it’s made with goat’s milk.

One of Hals’ most famous paintings is a 1633 large group portrait of the civic guards of Haarlem. The picture is called “The company of Captain Reinier Reael and Lieutenant Cornelis Michielsz Blaeuw,” and is also known as “The Meagre Company.” A portion of it is featured on the cheese label.

Pairings: marinated olives, candied papaya, artisan ciabatta, tangerines, Albañino.

Award: World Cheese Awards Super Gold 2016.
 
 
VERMEER: Aged Gouda, Reduced Fat. Long revered by art aficionados, Johannes Vermeer became a name far beyond the art world with the novel (1999) and film (2003), a fictional story about the creation of his painting, “Girl With A Pearl Earring.”

Working in a small space in his townhouse, Vermeer created captivating portraits of subjects engaged in everyday activities. His 1658 painting, “The Milkmaid,” is featured on the label of the cheese.

Traditionally ripened for five months, this award-winning Gouda has a delicate, fruity taste, and a bonus: Vermeer cheese contains less fat and less salt than classic Gouda cheeses (photo #3).

We were delighted to find crunchy lactaid crystals in the cheese (more about them below).

Pairings: figs, prosciutto di Parma, pomegranate, Prosecco.

Awards: World Championship Cheese Contest World Champion 2012, World Cheese Awards Gold 2013.
 
 
If we had to pick just one Gouda?

As with any food, it’s a very particular choice. We tend to be of “the older the better” school, but that’s just us. We love the crunchiness of the crystals in aged Gouda, so, on to the next section!
 
 
THE CRUNCHY CRYSTALS IN AGED GOUDA

As it ages, Gouda develops crunchy white crystals within its paste and on the surface.

The crystals add an extra dimension to the flavor and an enhanced textural experience. You can find them in aged Parmigiano-Reggiano, Romano, Swiss mountain cheeses like Gruyère, Cheddar, and Colby.

The crystals form as the protein chains in these cheeses begin to break down. That results in the small, crunchy deposits called cheese crystals. They vary in size, texture, and placement, depending on the cheese.

There are two types of crystals, and some cheeses can contain both:

 
Aged Gouda often contains tyrosine crystals, a crystallization of the amino acid, tyrosine*, which is found in casein, the main protein in milk.

Certain aged cheeses, like Aged Gouda, Aged Gruyère, and Parmigiano-Reggiano, will have a preponderance of them.

Aged blue cheeses can also have crystals inside them, which are typically found within the “caves” of the paste.

Cheese crystals are part of the pleasure of aged cheese!
 
 
> GOUDA, HOLLAND’S MOST FAMOUS CHEESE
 
 
> HOW GOUDA IS MADE
 
 
> GOUDA FOOD & BEVERAGE PAIRINGS
 
 
> THE HISTORY OF CHEESE
 
 
> THE DIFFERENT TYPES OF CHEESE
 
 
________________

*Tyrosine is found in casein, a protein in milk and other milk-based products. Tyrosine is also present in non-dairy foods that are aged, including some types of meats and red wines. Tyrosine is a non-essential amino acid that is produced by the body when insufficient amounts are ingested. Tyrosine supplements are sold as a [potential] stress reducer and sleep aid. The naturally occurring form that’s metabolized in the body helps to produce chemicals such as dopamine.

Lindt is the world’s largest premium chocolate company. The Swiss-based confectioner, which dates back to Zurich in 1845, has a U.S. production facility in New Hampshire. The company maintains quality while producing chocolate in volume, making Lindt Excellence chocolate bars, other bars, and Lindor truffles. Here’s a brief history of Lindt.

Lindor truffles—a round chocolate shell with a liquid chocolatey center—are available year-round in flavors dark, 60% extra-dark, milk, sea-salt milk and white, and flavors: a total of 27 choices, from matcha and mint to coconut and dulce de leche.

Seasonal flavors include Gingerbread, Milk Peppermint Cookie, Snickerdoodle, Snowman (white center, milk shell) and White Peppermint.

Whatever the flavor, when your teeth break into the chocolate shell, the luscious, creamy, melting, center covers your tongue with some emotion between glee and enchantment. It’s a unique sensation in truffledom.

And that’s why any chocolate lover would relish a gift of Lindor truffles.

Holiday chocolate, including a selection of special holiday boxes, is available at retailers nationwide or at LindtUSA.com, in sizes from small to jumbo.
 
The line is certified kosher by KOF-K.
 
 
WAYS TO USE LINDOR TRUFFLES AT HOME

Beyond holiday gifts, Lindor offers year-round opportunities to:

 
 
DRINKING THE TRUFFLES

Lindor truffles are not just for eating. You can drink them:

 
When we visited the Lindt Outlet Store (here’s a store locator for both Lindt Chocolate Shops and Lindt Outlet Stores), we found a large cafe counter offering the choice of these drinks and more. We dove right in.

Our recommendation: For a less sweet drink, use two Lindor truffles per 8 ounces of hot milk or coffee. For a sweeter drink, use three truffles. Whisk them in one at a time.

We haven’t stopped drinking Lindt hot chocolate since!
 
 
RECIPE: CHOCOLATE-RASPBERRY LINDTTINI

Have it for dessert (photo #4)!

Ingredients For 2 Drinks

 
Preparation

1. CHILL the vodka, creme de cacao, and 2 Martini glasses.

2. ADD the vodka and creme de cacao to a cocktail shaker filled with ice and shake well. Pour into the chilled Martini glasses.

3. GARNISH with an unwrapped truffle and a fresh raspberry on a cocktail pick. If you don’t have a cocktail pick, lightly notch the truffle and place it on the rim of the glass.
 
 
> THE HISTORY OF CHOCOLATE

> THE DIFFERENT TYPES OF CHOCOLATE & TERMINOLOGY

[1] Put a bag of Lindor truffles under your tree and in your candy bowl (all photos © Lindt).

[2] Treat your guests, treat yourself.

[3] Get holiday flavors such as Gingerbread, Milk Peppermint Cookie, Snickerdoodle and White Peppermint.

[4] Enjoy a dessert cocktail with a Lindor truffle garnish (the recipe is at left).

[5] Enjoy a Lindor parfait.