Cheese and crackers

Cheese and crackers, also known ascheese and biscuitsin the UK,is thepairingofcrackerswithcheese. Historically the fare of sailors, soldiers, and pioneers,cheese and crackers had become a common menu item in American restaurants and bars by the 1850s. Many different types of cheeses and crackers are used and the food is oftenpaired with wine. Cheese and crackers may also be served withfruitpreparations orpreserves,pickles,stuffed olivesandpreserved meats, such assalami,pepperonior varioussausages.Mass-producedcheese and crackers includeHandi-Snacks,Ritz,Jatz,LunchablesandLunchly.
Cheese and crackers is a commonsnack foodorhors d'oeuvreconsisting ofcrackerspaired with variouscheeses.In the United States it has also been served as a dessert, with the addition of ingredients such as jam, jelly, marmalade or preserves.It is also commonly served at parties in the U.S., and in theSouthern United States, it is relatively common for hot chilipepper jellyto be served atopcream cheeseand crackers at cocktail parties.Cheese and crackers  has a relatively high amount of protein, per the cheese as an ingredient.
Cheese and crackers is a commonfood pairingthat can serve to complement various cheeses, and the dish can bepairedwithwines.The cheese can be sliced or cubed, and served separately with crackers or pre-placed atop the crackers.
Cheese and crackers has been consumed by various sailors such as immigrants, whalers and explorers before refrigeration existed, usinghardtackcrackers and cheese.It has also been consumed by various land explorers.
Cheese and crackers increased in popularity circa the 1850s, when bakers began producing thinner crackers with a lighter texture compared to hard tack.During this time period, the combination  was placed on restaurant menus as an after-dessert course and was also served insaloons.Cheese and crackers was afood rationused by soldiers during theAmerican Civil War(1861–1865).Some soldiers at the time referred to cheese and crackers as a "square meal".Cheese and hardtack was consumed along with dried venison meat byEzra Meekerduring his time on theOregon Trailin 1852.In 1915, mountaineer Philip Rogers consumed  cheese and hardtack along with raisins and nuts during his expedition aroundMount Rainierin Washington state.
By the beginning of the 20th century, cheese and crackers was being prepared in homes and cooked  by baking it and adding additional ingredients after cooking, such as paprika and mustard. At this time, the combination  was sometimes served with soups and salads, and was used on salads for decades thereafter.It was also commonly served at parties beginning around this time.It was consumed as a dessert, rather than after-dessert by some during theGreat Depression in the United States, and was often consumed by PresidentFranklin D. RooseveltandEleanor Rooseveltin theWhite Housefor dessert and snacks, along with other foods.
Beginning in the 1950s, cheese and crackers was recommended as a snack for children by parenting experts,home economistsand authors of cookbooks.Consumption of the snack increased during the mid-1980s whenOscar Mayerintroduced itsLunchablesproduct, which included cheese, crackers and lunch meat, and occurred in part to boost the company's lunch meat sales.
The term "cheese and crackers" was used as aminced oathin the United States in the 1920s (from "Jesus Christ!"), and as aslangterm fortesticlesin the United Kingdom circa the late 1990s.It was thecatchphraseof theburlesquecomicBilly Hagan.