Here we go again.  In a time of heavy demand a major food supplier, Kraft Foods, has announced that one of it’s products will be in short supply.

cheese

 

Yep.  There is a Velveeta cheese shortage on the horizon of the Super Bowl.  How are you going to be able to serve your famous cheese dip?  Nachos?  How will Geno’s, and Pat’s in Philly be able to continue to crank out their signature cheese steaks?

I couldn’t find just how much Velveeta is produced yearly.  Kraft seems to hide that information very well.  What I do know is that on Super Bowl Sunday Americans eat up to 46% chips than on an ordinary Sunday.  That be a whole lot of chips.  28 million pounds of chips to be exact.

And now we also have a possible cheese food shortage.  Where is the justice in this world?  In the Universe?

Of course, food shortages in the United States always seem to come before a time of increased consumption.  Butterball and their turkey shortages the last couple of years.

Thank the Gods that the Great Bacon Shortage of 2012 turned out to be a hoax.

The good thing is that you can make a cheese food similar to Velveeta at home if you are so inclined.  Here is a representative recipe taken from the Blogher.com website.

American cheese (Velveeta) adapted from America’s Test Kitchen

  • 1 tbsp water
  • 1 1/2 tsp powdered gelatin
  • 8 ounces of cheddar cheese, finely shredded
  • 4 ounces of co-jack cheese, finely shredded
  • 1 tbsp nonfat milk powder
  • 1 tsp salt
  • 1/2 cup & 2 tbsp milk

Line a 4 x 5-inch loaf pan with plastic wrap, letting the excess hang over the sides.

In a small bowl, combine water and gelatin and stir. Let stand for 5 minutes.

Combine cheeses, milk powder, and salt in a food processor bowl.  Pulse to combine.

Microwave milk for 45 seconds. Slowly add hot milk through food processor tube then add the thickened gelatin mixture.  

Process for 1-2 minutes, stopping occasionally to scrape down the sides of bowl.  Should come out perfectly smooth.

Quickly add to loaf pan. Remove any air bubbles with a spatula. Smooth surface of cheese. Cover with excess plastic wrap.

Chill for 3 hours or overnight. Slice as needed.  

Yeah, right.  Good luck with that stuff…..