Whether or not we are in the middle of a health related crisis or not, dairy is an excellent source of nutrition.
Eating a balanced, nutritious diet, getting rest and maintaining personal hygiene all lend towards staying healthy.
Since, I’m more dairy minded, let’s concentrate on the benefits of dairy.
According to Chinese Centre for Disease Control and Prevention’s National Institute for Nutrition and Health, the Chinese Medical Doctor Association and Mengniu crafted guidelines which include:
“Milk and other dairy products are an excellent source of high-quality protein and can also provide a source of Vitamin B2, Vitamin A, calcium and other nutrients essential for the human body. So, a higher intake of these products for those low in protein, especially when higher immune resistance is required to fight the novel coronavirus, will be very beneficial.”
Did you know that milk contains 10 essential vitamins and nutrients?
Vitamin A, B12, Riboflavin, Calcium, Potassium, Magnesium, Zinc, Phosphorous, Carbohydrates and Protein.
Milk is a food that goes straight from the source to us consumers without human hands touching it.
ALL milk is safe – no antibiotics. Milk is tested numerous times before it lands in your grocer’s cooler.
Milk is homogenized: All processed milk undergoes the process of homogenization. In this process, fat molecules are broken down so they don’t separate and rise to the top of the container to form a layer of cream. This process does not involve any additives.
Milk is also pasteurized: Pasteurization is a simple, proven and effective process, approved by the Food and Drug Administration that kills potentially harmful bacteria without affecting the taste or nutritional value of milk. During pasteurization, the temperature of milk is raised to at least 161° Fahrenheit for 16 seconds and then rapidly cooled. Pasteurization extends milk’s shelf life and destroys harmful bacteria. Ultra-high temperature pasteurization, where milk is heated to 280° Fahrenheit for more than 2 seconds, is used to extend shelf life in some dairy foods.
Making milk a safe nutritious beverage with many benefits.
Cheese, oh my what can we say about this deliciousness!
According to Rachael Moeller Gorman, writing for Eating Well, There are 5 reasons why eating cheese is good for your health.
1.Cuts your heart disease risk. A key finding: eating as little as 12 ounce of cheese a day could cut stroke risk by 13 percent.
2. Friends of diabetes. Eating 1 ¾ ounces of chees a day may lower your risk of developing type 2 diabetes by 8 percent – American Journal of Clinical Nutrition
3 Helps you dodge death – During a study those eating 2 ounces of cheese a day were associated with a 38% lower likelihood to die during the study.
4. Improves your cholesterol. – according to an analysis of randomized controlled trials in Nutrition Reviews.
5. Makes you stronger. Eating almost a cup of ricotta cheese a day for 12 weeks boosted muscle mass and improved balance in healthy adults over 60. The researchers of the study-published in 2014 in Clinical Interventions in Aging-said that the milk proteins casein and whey may have fueled the improvement.
Butter, oh my. Nuthin’ better than butter.
Butter is a good source of vitamin A, a fat-soluble vitamin needed for skin health, immune function, and healthy vision. Butter is rich in various vitamins, including A, D, E, B12 and K12.
Butter can take a good recipe to great!
Butter, Milk and Cheese can be frozen. When there are good prices or if you know you won’t be able to shop for a while, buy it and freeze it.
Check out below for some dairy friendly recipe.
Dairy farmers will continue to milk cows and send fresh, safe milk to the processing plants where it is safely bottled and delivered to your grocer. Milk will be turned into other deliciousness such as butter, cheese, yogurt, sour cream, buttermilk . . . on and on.
While we are all social distancing let’s try some new recipes and get the kids to help out.
Wash your hands, stay safe, drink your milk and have a dairy good day.
Scalloped Potatoes
Serves approximately 6
6 potatoes, peeled and thinly sliced
½ medium sized onion sliced thinly. Break apart
Measure 2 cups milk and add:
1 t salt
½ t pepper
3 – 4 T flour
Whisk together
Toss the potatoes and onions together. Dump into a buttered baking dish. Pour milk mixture over. The milk should cover the potatoes. If it doesn’t add a little more milk. Place small chunks of butter evenly over the top of the potatoes – about 8.
Bake uncovered - 350 about 50 minutes.
Bake until bubbly and slightly browned. Test with fork to make sure potatoes are done.
Best Chocolate Chip Cookies Ever
Preheat oven to 350
Mix together:
1 stick of softened butter
½ C oil – I use canola
½ C sugar
1 C brown sugar
Add:
2 eggs
1 t. vanilla
Mix well.
Add:
1 t. baking soda
1 t. salt
2 ½ - 3 C flour
Mix together. The dough should be like mashed potatoes – sort of soft but not real stiff.
Add:
2 C chocolate Chips
Scoop cookies – keep the cookies the same size so the whole pan bakes evenly. Grease your cookie sheet or use Parchment paper – I use the paper – saves cleaning the pans.
Bake for about 10 minutes – as soon as the cookie starts to turn brown, take them out. Most people over bake the cookies. If your cookies are spreading out real thin when you bake, you need to add more flour.
Butter, Sour Cream and Cream Cheese Oh My~
Frosted Banana Bars
Preheat oven to 350
Cream together:
1/2 C softened butter – 1 stick
1 ½ C sugar
Add and mix:
2 eggs
1 t vanilla
Add and mix:
2 C flour
1 t soda
¼ t salt
2 medium ripe bananas, mashed
1 C (8ou.) sour cream
Spread into a greased 15” X 10” X 1” Bake 350 for 20 – 25 minutes – test with fork – don’t overbake.
Cream Cheese Frosting
Mix together well and spread on cooled bars:
1 8 ou package of cream cheese, softened
½ C butter, softened – 1 stick
2 t vanilla
3 ¾ - 4 C powdered sugar
Goop on Bread
1 loaf of French bread cut in ½ inch slices.
Mix:
1 lb ground beef
1 egg
¼ C bread or cracker crumbs
1 T mustard
½ C chopped onions
Salt and pepper
1/3 C evaporated milk
½ - 1 C shredded cheddar cheese
Line cookie sheet with aluminum foil or parchment paper. Lay the sliced bread face up. Scoop the meat mixture onto the bread – about ½ to 1 inch thick.
Bake 350 about one hour or until meat is cooked through. During the last 5 minutes add slices of cheese on top of the meat mixture to melt.
