ORIGIN

LaMancha goats are easy to recognize, what with those cute little ears, but the exact origin of the breed is not easily traceable. The La Mancha region of south-central Spain seems the most likely source of what we know today as the American LaMancha. Although shepherds in this region had no official name for the tiny-eared goats that frequently appeared in their stock, they did recognize them as being different, referring to them as monas (little monkeys) or monadas (cuties). The lack of an external ear is actually a common genetic mutation that has been noted in goats the world over, including in ancient Persia and more recently in Ethiopia, Egypt, and Turkey.

HISTORY

Often soothing for eczema sufferers, lotions made from goat’s milk are nutritive for all skin types. Canus Goat’s Milk body products, available in various scents and sizes, are relied upon by many a dry-skin victim. Stock up on Canus lotion, and enjoy the soft, natural, grease- and paraben-free experience.

Take care of your bills in this plaid fabric and black vinyl billfold wallet, handmade by Chantrelle Li, in San Francisco, California. Edged in contrasting stitching, the goat’s silhouette is cut out of the vinyl to reveal the plaid liner fabric beneath. Furnished with four card slots (two of which are clear plastic) and one long pocket for cash, this wallet is slim, functional, and flaunt worthy.

Handmade by Gerald Crowe in Somerset, Kentucky, these goat-silhouette mailbox toppers come in sets of two and are made of 14-gauge steel. Both toppers come with holes drilled in the bottom for attachment purposes and are painted black. Make your mailbox the friendliest—and worry no more about the grandparents missing your driveway.

Available in six natural colors, these beautiful kid mohair curls are ideal for spinning and needle felting. Sold by Marti Browne, a veteran fiber artist and fashion designer living and working in Southern California’s high desert, the mohair is hand-washed before shipping. One hundred percent of the proceeds from all of Marti’s sales goes to supporting troubled teens.

Sport your love of goats wherever you go with these charming, hand-drawn, browsing goat pendants made by Christina Cassidy in Florida. Each piece is an original drawing in India ink on polymer clay and is finished with acrylic for protection. Choose from two designs, and put this one on the “special gifts” list. See a photo of both pendants below.

Slippers may be indoor apparel, but this pair is worth showing off to the neighbors. Made with a mohair-wool blend, these felted slippers are wonderful to the touch, warm in the winter, cool in the heat, and naturally resistant to scary foot odors. Hand-knitted, bright blue with a variegated blue sole, and equipped with a natural rubber bottom for traction, they’ll keep your feet comfy in any climate.

Behold the versatility of goat hair! The da Vinci company is a family-owned business specializing in high-quality cosmetic brushmaking, with an eco-friendly factory in Germany. These powder/foundation brushes are made with high-quality mountain goat hair and are a long-lasting addition to a makeup kit.

To avoid messy cheese meltdown, choose one that can take the heat.

On the face of it, melting cheese would seem to be a fairly straightforward maneuver. All you need is a heat source and a good cheese, right? Yes, but there are some qualifications. I suspect I’m not alone in recalling an unexpected cooking trauma wherein pools of oil exude from a cheese, parting company with its solids, and resulting in the sum of the parts being decidedly less yummy than the whole.
What is it that makes some heated cheeses behave as described above, whereas others, such as warm raclette over potatoes or mozzarella on pizza, melt beautifully into much-loved delights? And beyond the tried and true, how do you know which other cheeses could be good melters or not?

Season and roast your nuts to make a cheese accompaniment you’ll go crazy for.