This post is part of my series: First Lines from Arrows, my debut young adult novel forthcoming from Delacorte Press on January 26, 2016.

One way I introduced Wisconsin flavor into Arrows was through a food the state is known for: cheese curds!

In the (tense!) scene quoted above, Aaryn is trying fried cheese curds, undoubtedly my favorite way to eat them. Fried cheese curds are completely unhealthy and wonderful. So let’s get to the bottom of this.

What do cheese curds taste like?

Melissa’s answer: 

Fried cheese curds remind me of a grilled cheese sandwich, something everyone is familiar with–bread slathered in butter and crisped in a pan, the slight taste of salt and melted cheddar as you chew.

Now imagine cheese the size of cherry tomatoes. Ditch the bread for beer batter (the best kind!). After coating the cheese rolex daytona 116508wmdo uomini tonalita oro giallo 40mm curds, fry them in oil until the batter shell is crisp outside, with soft, yellow cheese melting inside. Salty. Savory. A little chewy with a shine of grease left on your fingers. (I like dipping fried curds in ketchup!)

Answer from Wisconsin picture book author Miranda Paul:

Cheese curds taste like “home.” When heated up, the cheese is a warm waterfall of salty goodness that plunges straight down to the tide pool of your gut.

(Side note: someone once told me it’s a remnant of the actual cheese-making process, so I like to think ofeating cheese curds as being resourceful and not wasteful. I’m considering “Go Green! Eat Cheese Curds!” as my new  motto.)

Miranda Paul is the author of ONE PLASTIC BAG and WATER IS WATER
Website: http://www.MIRANDAPAUL.COM
Twitter: @MIRANDA_PAUL

Answer from Wisconsin young adult author Liza Wiemer:

I can’t talk about what cheese curds taste like without describing the experience. Because it’s part of what makes eating cheese curds SO MUCH FUN! Pop the Milk Dud-size cheese curd into your mouth. Chew and SQUEAK! SQUEAK! SQUEAK! with cheesy goodness! It’s the ONLY cheese that makes noise when you eat. Otherwise, I’d say cheese curds taste like cheddar. Deep fry them and chew, chew, chew the perfect combo of breading and melted cheese!

Liza Wiemer is the author of HELLO?

WEBSITE: http://lizawiemer.com/

TWITTER: @lizaWiemer

I hope everyone is lucky enough to enjoy cheese curds at least once in their life–or way too often, like we do in Wisconsin.

Bonus: you can mail-order Wisconsin cheese curds through Simon’s Specialty Cheese.

Extra bonus: You can also pre-order Arrows! Or add it on Goodreads. I’d love you forever if you did.

xo, Melissa