If the month of December (with parties for hosting and marshmallows for toasting) claims status as the most wonderful time of the year, then the season that follows must certainly be the opposite. Like many Wisconsinites, I require serious motivation to claw my way through the long, cold and often grey days of January and February.

But as an optimist in training, I dig in to find winter joy. Is a hashtag appropriate here? If so, #winterjoy. As the drifts build up and the sidewalks ice over, can there be an antidote? Of course! Instead of layers of fleece, Green County stacks the odds in your favor with layers of cheese. And nothing says “comfort food” better than a dish featuring melty cheese. Here are some to try:

Fondue. Authentic and local, a classic with Swiss roots. The main ingredient is Gruyere, but we know it as Grand Cru. Cru rhymes with woo hoo! Emmi Roth USA’s Grand Cru, made in Monroe, won the coveted title of best cheese in the world in 2016. Woo-hoo, a term used to express exuberant delight or approval, first made it into the dictionary in 1981. Since fondue hearkens to the Alps of Switzerland back in the 1800s, I reckon that the official Swiss national dish has been yodeled about, exuberantly, since that time. Find fondue at Chalet Landhaus Inn, New Glarus.

Three Mouseketeer. An epic creation of toasty goodness – Havarti, Cheddar, Monterey Jack – all layered into a hearty grilled cheese sandwich perfect for sharing. Crispy on the outside, gooey on the inside, special sauce optional. Watch and yearn as it sizzles on the grill behind the cheese counter at Decatur Dairy Cheese Store near Brodhead, where they like to say that “curd is the word.”

Curds. Lightly breaded and deep-fried to perfection. That’s how they’re served at Suisse Haus in Monroe. Dip ‘em in ranch, swirl ‘em in ketchup, or pop ‘em in straight up from the red basket. These tasty bites get their start as Muenster cheese at Silver Lewis Cooperative near Monticello. 

Kasechuechli — Swiss Cheese Pie. Savory. Buttery. Cheesy. Who could ask for more? It starts with a homemade crust rolled into a pie pan, fill with beaten eggs, grated Swiss cheese and a scattering of minced onion. It’s on the list of featured “Spezialitaten” (Swiss specialties) at Turner Hall of Monroe.

Raclette. It’s the name for the cheese as well as for the dish in which it plays the starring role. There are specially designed grills and mini ovens for enjoying Raclette. The basic idea is to take small boiled potatoes, pickled onions and gherkin pickles, and put the melted cheese over them. It’s a Swiss thing. Like fondue, it’s a dish meant to be served among friends at a communal table. Melt, scrape, share. On the menu at New Glarus Hotel. 

Pizza. Sugar River Pizza in New Glarus specializes in “Italian comfort food” and tops their pies with cheese made locally at Silver Lewis Cooperative. The ultimate in comfort food just might be their mac and cheese pizza.

Mac and cheese. The chef at Tofflers Pub and Grill in New Glarus keeps us guessing by featuring a Mac of the Week. This isn’t your mild-mannered, boxed and bland, toddler-friendly variety. Enjoy bold flavors for grown-ups — like Buffalo Mac with blue cheese crumbles. Toffler’s Taco Mac gets a spicy uptick with Pepper Jack cheese from Alp and Dell Cheese Store in Monroe. But there’s more! Buggyworks Pub and Grill in Monroe offers up their signature Wisconsin Macaroni and Cheese with a melty trifecta of local favorites: baby Swiss, Grand Cru and cheddar. 

So there you have it; some cheesy ways to melt away the season. #winterjoy in southern Wisconsin’s Green County. 

— Noreen Rueckert is director for Green County Tourism, executive director for Green County Cheese Days, and co-chair of Main Street Monroe’s Concerts on the Square. She refuses to name her favorite cheese, but it is rumored to be Feta. She has the best office in the county  overlooking Monroe’s downtown Square from the tower of the Historic Green County Courthouse. She dabbles in photography and graphic design, adores cats and coffee, and secretly loves the Cheese Days Song.