Government Cheese

When I was a kid...I don't remember being poor...but I do remember us qualifying for the Gov't Cheese giveaway program. I haven't seen or heard about them giving it away for years. Those I talk to that was able to get the cheese, remember it fondly. It was some darn good cheese. I sure wouldn't qualify for it today if they have it...but it wouldn't stop me from trying to buy it from someone.

Buy some hoop cheese from your local purveyor. Better yet, splurge a bit and get some good stuff.

http://www.cheesesociety.org/displaycommon.cfm?an=1

and go stinky http://www.surrealgourmet.com/html/foodadv/stinky.html

I can afford the "good stuff" now. I was just reminiscing back to my childhood when it was a big deal to get that huge block of orange welfare cheese.

quote:

Originally posted by PammyJo

I can afford the "good stuff" now. I was just reminiscing back to my childhood when it was a big deal to get that huge block of orange welfare cheese.

sorry about that -- was just reading that page when i saw your post. i like the big orange block of cheese, esp with a side of hot peppers ...

PammyJo,

I guess there is a stigma attached to receiving gov. cheese....

Growing up, I had relatives that received gov. cheese, and you are right, it WAS good cheese! Grandma used to make me grilled cheese sandwiches with it and I haven't had one as tasty since then.

Ahh... Good ole Government cheese! It brings back memories! Memories of getting yelled at when My brother and I refused to eat it! My grandmother received it and would give it to my mom! There was nothing wrong with it all we were just being difficult kids I guess!

Hmmm I even remember a group called "The Rainmakers" doing a song called Government Cheese.

Dearfolk,
Even better... I remember the band Government Cheese from Bowling Green, Kentucky. They released an EP on their own imprint, then signed with Reptile Records of Nashville for three LPs, which turned out to be two LPs and an EP.
With great regularity, I drove up to Kentucky to see them. I still say that if I had been able to get them to the right person, they would have been major-league successful. But they - and we - sure had a good time.
Although they quit performing as a group several years ago, all the members remain in touch and periodically get back together to do "reunion" gigs. If I ever find a woman looney enough to marry me, they will play for my wedding, original lineup intact, with the addition of their roadie/guitarist, Viva Las Vegas.
Who else out there remembers this great '80's band?
Thinking Of "Fish Stick Day" And "Yellow Cling Peaches," Ort. Carlton in Rainy Athens, Georgia.

I think that must be one of those things that people remember fondly BECAUSE they can't get it any more. They do still hand it out...my grandma used to get some every month. That stuff is FOUL!!! It's like imitation Velveeta, except not quite as creamy or tasty.

Blech...I wish I'd known there was this huge nostalgia over that crap...we just threw away about ten pounds of it she had in the freezer.

I remember my Aunt was a County Health nurse and she visited Seniors and helped them with baths and medical needs. Some of her patients received the Government foods and did not have any family to share it with. She would bring home cheese and peanut butter and other items that they would give her to keep it from getting old. My cousin used to say she couldn't wait until she got married and could buy some peanut butter and cheese that did not come from Government Commodities.

My granny would go and get that cheese every time they were giving it out. She would even freeze it. I don't remember her eating that much cheese, but she liked it because it was free. Seems like she also got butter sometimes as well.

She had a very poor childhood and hard times during the depression, and even though she had plenty in her later years, she could never turn down anything free.

I remember it being Velveeta-like.

My Mother would get the cheese and she would also get peanut butter. That was the best peanut. I believe the Govermment at that time only gave out 100% grade A food.

I think I saw in the paper that this staple of food pantries is in short supply. The govt buys cheese at a set price to hold up milk prices. Milk prices are high enough, so there is not much surplus cheese, because producers can not buy milk cheap enough to make cheese at the government price.

The cheese I had was NOT velveeta like. It was cheddar like in consistency if not in taste.

The cheese I remember was not velvetta like either. In fact, it was rather good cheese. My Uncle was eligible to get it and lived alone. My husband would take him to pick up his cheese and he would always share with us. It made rather good Mac n cheese.

I remember them Ort!

When my wife was in grad school, she student taught in an area with a high Hispanic and Asian population, so the GI beans and rice went fast, but there was always cheese left over. It was very high quality yellow Americian cheese, almost Cheddar-like and it made GREAT mac & cheese. We were just talking about it the other day, one of those 'good old days' chats.
Top

Guv-mint cheese, is what we called it in our household. My father helped distribute it among the needy in his parish, but, since most were Korean who had no need or want of this yellow/orange dairy-product peril, he brought it home rather than let it spoil. Does it spoil? I was spoiled, but not by Guv-mint cheese, although I do have a fondness for the name (of the cheese, that is). I can imagine Paul Robeson singing Guv-mint Cheese to the tune of Ol' Man River. It's not the same, but, heck, what is these days, even with a good imagination running away with you?

It sure ain't no Caprice de Dieux or Maytag Repairman Blue, but thanks for the memories, PammyJo.

Though it does remind me of an old exchange: Was that cheese Gouda? No, it was awful! Something that may be said of the present Guv-mint cheese as well.

Best to all from a "Blue" cheese state,
Rob

quote:

Originally posted by PammyJo

I sure wouldn't qualify for it today if they have it...but it wouldn't stop me from trying to buy it from someone.

Be careful: there has to be a law against buying and/or selling commodity foods as there is concerning food stamps. Wouldn't want people to get involved in free enterprise, now, would we?

quote:

Originally posted by Pogo

The cheese I had was NOT velveeta like. It was cheddar like in consistency if not in taste.

That might've been all right. But the stuff my grandma got was slightly less pleasing consistency and taste from Velveeta. In other words...the grossest, nastiest, foulest cheese-food product you can imagine.

Yes, I remember eating it at my grandmothers and it was a block of american cheese with a harder consistancy to it. Tasted ok to me.

Oh my!!

I lived on that stuff in my early college years! We all called it Ronny cheese, after the pres! It was hard orange and was Velvettaesque (is that a word? It should be!) Not great, not even like real cheese, but a lifesaver, er moneysaver, for a poor college kid who had much better, or much worse things to spend their money on than food. We would also get free flour, butter and instant milk. I learned how to make a roux, and can still make great Mac and Cheese, because that, burritoes, and grilled cheese were all these stuff was good for except...

My Punk Rock friends had no candy one Halloween, so they tore off chunks of Ronny Cheese, stuck five pennies in them, and made little mini cheese penny stickmen for the kids!!