I’m a virtual sponge for trivial information. And, if you’ve been reading this blog for any length of time, you know how I enjoy passing along the odd little tidbits I’ve learned. So today, my friends, we’ll have a lesson in cheese.

Cheese, I’ve discovered, predates written history. There are over 2,000 types of cheese now available worldwide. Cheese can be made from the milk of cows, sheep, goats, buffalo, horses, camels and water buffalo. In fact, the first Mozzarella cheese was made from water buffalo.

“Say cheese” is an instruction used by photographers who want their subject to smile. By saying “cheese,” most people form their mouths into what appears to be a smile-like shape. In other cultures, words that sound a little like cheese are used. For instance, in Germany, it’s “Käsekuchen,” meaning cheesecake, which certainly makes ME smile…

But can you believe everything you read on Wikipedia? In Bulgaria, do they actually say “kele,” which is cabbage, when they want so encourage a grin? Are they really prompted to say “Pepsi” in Thailand, or “whiskey” in Latin America? I don’t know, but if there’s money for a grant to study this phenomena, sign me up!

Meanwhile, I’m still fascinated by a fact I read in a Woodland, Washington, newspaper that more sheep milk is now used in cheese production than milk from any other animal. I don’t believe I’ve ever tried any sheep cheese myself, but I’ll bet it doesn’t taste half baa-aad.