Z Is For Zebra

I'm taking you on a journey from A to Z through the land of dairy! 

There's no need to pack your bags, just come along!

  Z Is For Zebra
because Z is always For Zebra! 

Thanks for joining me on this A-Z journey in celebration of June Dairy Month. I hope you learned a bit about my passion for dairy farming, dairy promotion and dairy foods. Although June Dairy Month is coming to a close, you can bet we here at Bremer Farms will continue doing what we love-caring for our animals, and the land, to produce milk for your family. And of course my blog will continue too. July is National Ice Cream Month. I won't pass up that!

So cut the cake, it's time to celebrate!

 

Learn more about dairy at Dairy Makes Sense

 
I am making a commitment to share as much as I can with you each day during June Dairy Month, about the life of our dairy farm family including what we do, how we share our passion for dairy, and dairy foods we enjoy.

 

Y Is For Yogurt

I'm taking you on a journey from A to Z through the land of dairy! 

There's no need to pack your bags, just come along!

  Y Is For Yogurt

There is a benefit to eating yogurt along with the deliciousness of it! Yogurt aides with digestion. The naturally occurring bacteria found in yogurt helps promote a healthy environment in your stomach and digestive system, which enables your body to more ably break down food. Lactose intolerant? Try yogurt! Due to yogurt's thickness it moves slower through your digestive system. This helps your body break down lactose more efficiently. Another advantage...yogurt's proteins are complete and fully absorbed by the body. Greek-style yogurt contains even more protein than other varieties, and may help you feel fuller, longer. Yogurt- another perfect solution to getting your recommended 3 Every Day.

Source- Google image search- the sleuth journal

 

Yummy yogurt recipes, see previous posts-

Have A Berry Good Day!

 S Is For Smoothie

 

To find more recipes and learn more about dairy at Dairy Makes Sense

 
I am making a commitment to share as much as I can with you each day this month, about the life of our dairy farm family including what we do, how we share our passion for dairy, and dairy foods we enjoy.

 See you here tomorrow...Z Is For Zebra

X Is For eXcellent

I'm taking you on a journey from A to Z through the land of dairy! 

There's no need to pack your bags, just come along!

  X Is For eXcellent

I know what you're saying, "EXcellent doesn't begin with an X." I know that, but I challenge you to find an appropriate dairy/farming word that begins with this difficult letter!

Today I am sharing some eXcellent recipes that you can eXecute without any eXtreme effort. I may not be an eXpert, but I am not eXaggerating when I say these recipes will eXceed your eXpectations, eXcite your family, and eXplode with flavor, and all with no eXtra effort by you. You may even have time to eXercise while your dish is in the oven! 

(and to faithful follower Judy- Hope you enjoy the recipes!)

Busy Day Lasagna*
30 oz. spaghetti sauce
1 lb. hamburger, browned
8 oz. lasagna noodles, uncooked
1/2 cup Parmesan cheese
1 cup water
16 oz. low fat cottage cheese
8 oz. plain yogurt
8 oz. mozzarella cheese
Spread about 1 cup sauce in 9x13 baking pan.
Layer a third of the noodles, a third of hamburger, a third of mixture of cottage cheese and yogurt, a third of mozzarella cheese. Repeat two times. Top with Parmesan cheese. Pour water around edges of pan. Cover tightly with foil. Bake in 350 degrees oven for 1 hour. Remove foil and bake additional 15 minutes. Let stand 20 minutes before serving.

*I got this recipe from my mom. I love that the noodles are not cooked before assembling the lasagna. I think that's why it is called Busy Day Lasagna, since it is so quick to put together. I always keep browned hamburger in the freezer so it is ready for recipes so I can make this dish even quicker. I usually make two pans at a time; one to heat and eat now, and one to put in the freezer for another busy, dairy day!

Swiss Vegetable Medley*
1 lb. bag frozen broccoli, carrots and cauliflower combo, thawed and drained
1 can cream of mushroom soup
1 cup shredded Swiss cheese
1/3 cup low fat sour cream
1/4 teaspoon black pepper
1 (2.8 oz) can french fried onions
Combine vegetables, soup, 1/2 cheese, sour cream, pepper and 1/2 can french fried onions. Pour into 1 quart casserole. Bake covered, at 350 degrees for 30 minutes. Top with remaining cheese and onions. Bake uncovered, 5 minutes longer. Serves 6.

*Vegetables at our family meals are usually simple and "undressed." But this vegetable dish often finds its way to our holiday table. I found this recipe in a magazine about 30 years ago.

Learn more about dairy at Dairy Makes Sense

 
I am making a commitment to share as much as I can with you each day this month, about the life of our dairy farm family including what we do, how we share our passion for dairy, and dairy foods we enjoy.

 See you here tomorrow...Y Is For Yogurt

W Is For Websites

I'm taking you on a journey from A to Z through the land of dairy! 

There's no need to pack your bags, just come along! 
W Is For Websites

 There is something new on my blog today. Can you find it? 

It's a new tab labeled "DAIRY WEBSITES TO VISIT" and it is near the top of the page. If you click on those words it will take you to a listing of my favorite websites that help to tell the dairy story. I have included a short explanation of what you will find at each site. These sites have made my favorites list because they are reputable and fact based. There are many other websites about dairy farming and dairy foods, but be careful...my Dad always told me, "don't believe everything you read." Opinions about farming and dairy foods are fine, but make sure they are not being passed off as fact. 

While you are looking around my HOME page, take a look over to the right side of my post. You will see the icons for Twitter (blue), Pinterest (red) and Google+ (orange). I encourage you to click on any or all of them to follow me. (It's easy to set up a free account if you don't already have one). This is where I share spur-of-the-moment thoughts and photos along with  notifications when I write a new blog post. 

I appreciate each of you taking the time to visit my barnyard and learning more about where dairy comes from. I thank you, from the bottom of my heart, for the kind words and support for My Barnyard View.

 

Learn more about dairy at Dairy Makes Sense

 
I am making a commitment to share as much as I can with you each day this month, about the life of our dairy farm family including what we do, how we share our passion for dairy, and dairy foods we enjoy.

 See you here tomorrow...X Is For eXcellent

V Is For Veterinarian

I'm taking you on a journey from A to Z through the land of dairy! 

There's no need to pack your bags, just come along!

  V Is For Veterinarian

Just like you and your family visit a doctor, our veterinarian visits our farm so our cows can receive regular veterinary care, including periodic check-ups, preventative vaccinations and prompt treatment of illness. 

Photo-Google Image Search

 

Sometimes it’s necessary for us to treat cows with antibiotics when they are ill (just like you and your children sometimes need medication when you are sick). All milk is strictly tested for antibiotics on our farm and again at the processing plant. Any milk that tests positive for antibiotics (which is less than one in every 3,000 tankers) is immediately dumped and never enters the food supply. If antibiotics are found during this testing, the farmer responsible for the milk is required to pay for the full tanker of milk, and runs the risk of losing their license to produce milk. We take the safety of our milk VERY SERIOUSLY! Milk and dairy products are among the most stringently regulated foods in this country, and we as dairy farmers are proud of that.

Learn more about dairy at Dairy Makes Sense

 
I am making a commitment to share as much as I can with you each day this month, about the life of our dairy farm family including what we do, how we share our passion for dairy, and dairy foods we enjoy.

 See you here tomorrow...W Is For Websites

 

U Is For Unexpected

I'm taking you on a journey from A to Z through the land of dairy! 

There's no need to pack your bags, just come along!

  U Is For Unexpected

I am a list maker. Are you? I make grocery lists, guest lists, to-do lists, honey-do lists (Farmer John loves that one) blog idea lists, farm goal lists, etc.etc.etc. If it is something to do, buy, or remember- it goes on a list. One thing that did not go on a list was for us to buy hay for the cattle.

If you remember my post Hey, Where's the Hay? you know that about one half of our hay crop was affected by winterkill, thus reducing our amount of feed for our animals. Also, the newly planted hay (alfalfa) which replaced the winterkill hay, will not be ready to cut until fall. As if this wasn't a big enough reduction in our food supply to our cattle, something else reared its ugly head...too much rain! We here in our area of Minnesota have experienced rain nearly every day therefore we have been unable to cut and bale hay. You can learn about this at  A Is For Acre.

I'm sure Farmer John had "find hay supply" on the top of his to-do list, since the health and care of our cattle is a farmers top priority. Just like a knight in shining armor riding in on a white horse, our neighbor came to our rescue! Farmer John received a phone call from our neighbor telling us that they do not have cattle at this time and may switch over to cash-crop farming. "Do you want to buy some hay?" said our life-saving knight. Farmer John jumped at the chance, and after more than 35 years of NOT purchasing hay, the sale was complete. Expect the Unexpected.

Now, back to my list making...bridal shower guests, bridal shower food, bridal shower games. My niece Dena and her boyfriend fiance Aaren are getting married (NOT unexpected) and I'm hosting a shower!

Dena chose a farmer!

 Learn more about dairy at Dairy Makes Sense

 
I am making a commitment to share as much as I can with you each day this month, about the life of our dairy farm family including what we do, how we share our passion for dairy, and dairy foods we enjoy.

 See you here tomorrow...V Is For Veterinarian

T Is For Trivia

I'm taking you on a journey from A to Z through the land of dairy! 

There's no need to pack your bags, just come along!

  T Is For Trivia

Our family loves board games. Farmer John's favorite is Risk. I'm guessing it is because he knows a lot about history and military tactics, which makes him a force-to-be-reckn'd-with. My top choice for game night would be Scrabble. It rolls together writing and spelling, two things I like to believe I'm good at. Michael's new favorite is Pandemic. I think he likes the power of saving the world from a deadly disaster. And Sara, well what ever game you name, she probably owns it. She is addicted to board games and so are her friends, so she is always on the prowl for new ones to stump her family and friends. 

This may not be a board game, but let's see if I can stump you with a few dairy odds 'n ends.

Did you know-

• It takes 25 gallons of milk to make 9 gallons of ice cream, or 11 pounds of butter.
• The average American drinks about 25 gallons of milk each year.
• The dairy industry supports over 38,000 jobs in the state of Minnesota.
• Milk remains fresh for 7-10 days after the expiration date if it is refrigerated at 35-40 degrees.
• Cows can detect odors up to six miles away. 

Did I stump you with any of these dairy odds 'n ends? I wonder if there's a market for a dairy version of "Trivial Pursuit." I could call it "Moonopoly" or "Pictiondairy" or...

Learn more about dairy at Dairy Makes Sense

 
I am making a commitment to share as much as I can with you each day this month, about the life of our dairy farm family including what we do, how we share our passion for dairy, and dairy foods we enjoy.

 See you here tomorrow...U Is For Unexpected

S Is For Smoothie

I'm taking you on a journey from A to Z through the land of dairy! 

There's no need to pack your bags, just come along!

  S Is For Smoothie

March, 2001- I was in Hawaii, accompanying 250 high school kids, including daughter Sara, on a choir performance trip. The trip was filled with concerts, beautiful sites, gorgeous sandy beaches, and SMOOTHIES! Yes, I tasted my first smoothie on the beaches of Hawaii. Purchased from a cute little stand, it was the most refreshing drink I could imagine. Now, 12 years later, I still think they are wonderfully refreshing. Try one of these and see if you agree...  

Recipe Index

Home Recipes

Apple Yogurt Smoothie

Makes 2Servings
Prep Time: 5min
Cook Time: 5min

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 Print This Page

Ingredients

• 2 cups low-fat vanilla yogurt
• 1 granny smith apple, cored, peeled and diced
• 1/2 cup orange juice
• 1/2 cup ice
• 2 tablespoons honey

Mix all ingredients in a blender or food processor until smooth and pour into tall glasses. Garnish with sliced almonds, julienne mint and 1/2 teaspoon of honey, if desired.
Recipe created by Chef Rick Tramonto of Tru restaurant, Chicago, on behalf of
3-Every-Day™ of Dairy.

- See more at: http://www.nationaldairycouncil.org/Recipes/Pages/Apple-Yogurt-Smoothie.aspx#sthash.L6S0EIeI.dpuf

• Servings: 2
• Prep time: 5 mins
• Total time: 5 mins
• Created by: Midwest Dairy Association

Ingredients

• 1 cup fat-free milk
• 5 to 7 large unsweetened frozen strawberries
• 1 medium banana, cut into chunks
• 1 tablespoon honey
• ¾ cup orange juice
• ½ teaspoon vanilla extract

Preparation

1. Combine all ingredients in blender; blend until smooth and creamy. Pour in glasses.
2. Substitution Idea
3. For frozen fruit pops, pour leftover smoothie into small plastic cups. Cover cups with plastic wrap; insert stick and freeze.

- See more at: http://www.dairymakessense.com/recipe/fruity-splash-smoothie/#sthash.7KVBSiB9.dpuf

• Servings: 2
• Prep time: 5 mins
• Total time: 5 mins
• Created by: Midwest Dairy Association

Ingredients

• 1 cup fat-free milk
• 5 to 7 large unsweetened frozen strawberries
• 1 medium banana, cut into chunks
• 1 tablespoon honey
• ¾ cup orange juice
• ½ teaspoon vanilla extract

Preparation

1. Combine all ingredients in blender; blend until smooth and creamy. Pour in glasses.
2. Substitution Idea
3. For frozen fruit pops, pour leftover smoothie into small plastic cups. Cover cups with plastic wrap; insert stick and freeze.

- See more at: http://www.dairymakessense.com/recipe/fruity-splash-smoothie/#sthash.7KVBSiB9.dpuf

ngredients

• 1 cup fat-free milk
• 5 to 7 large unsweetened frozen strawberries
• 1 medium banana, cut into chunks
• 1 tablespoon honey
• ¾ cup orange juice
• ½ teaspoon vanilla extract

Preparation

1. Combine all ingredients in blender; blend until smooth and creamy. Pour in glasses.

- See more at: http://www.dairymakessense.com/recipe/fruity-splash-smoothie/#sthash.7KVBSiB9.dpuf

• Servings: 2
• Prep time: 5 mins
• Total time: 5 mins
• Created by: Midwest Dairy Association

Ingredients

• 1 cup fat-free milk
• 5 to 7 large unsweetened frozen strawberries
• 1 medium banana, cut into chunks
• 1 tablespoon honey
• ¾ cup orange juice
• ½ teaspoon vanilla extract

Preparation

1. Combine all ingredients in blender; blend until smooth and creamy. Pour in glasses.
2. Substitution Idea
3. For frozen fruit pops, pour leftover smoothie into small plastic cups. Cover cups with plastic wrap; insert stick and freeze.

- See more at: http://www.dairymakessense.com/recipe/fruity-splash-smoothie/#sthash.7KVBSiB9.dp

Apple Yogurt Smoothie


Strawberry Yogurt Smoothie

Home Recipes

Apple Yogurt Smoothie

Home Recipes

Apple Yogurt Smoothie

Ingredients

• 1 cup fat-free milk
• 5 to 7 large unsweetened frozen strawberries
• 1 medium banana, cut into chunks
• 1 tablespoon honey
• ¾ cup orange juice
• ½ teaspoon vanilla extract

Preparation

1. Combine all ingredients in blender; blend until smooth and creamy. Pour in glasses.

- See more at: http://www.dairymakessense.com/recipe/fruity-splash-smoothie/#sthash.7KVBSiB9.dpuf

• Servings: 2
• Prep time: 5 mins
• Total time: 5 mins
• Created by: Midwest Dairy Association

Ingredients

• 1 cup fat-free milk
• 5 to 7 large unsweetened frozen strawberries
• 1 medium banana, cut into chunks
• 1 tablespoon honey
• ¾ cup orange juice
• ½ teaspoon vanilla extract

Preparation

1. Combine all ingredients in blender; blend until smooth and creamy. Pour in glasses.
2. Substitution Idea
3. For frozen fruit pops, pour leftover smoothie into small plastic cups. Cover cups with plastic wrap; insert stick and freeze.

- See more at: http://www.dairymakessense.com/recipe/fruity-splash-smoothie/#sthash.7KVBSiB9.dpuf

Recipe Index

Home Recipes

Apple Yogurt Smoothie

Makes 2Servings
Prep Time: 5min
Cook Time: 5min

 Share This

 Print This Page

Ingredients

• 2 cups low-fat vanilla yogurt
• 1 granny smith apple, cored, peeled and diced
• 1/2 cup orange juice
• 1/2 cup ice
• 2 tablespoons honey

Mix all ingredients in a blender or food processor until smooth and pour into tall glasses. Garnish with sliced almonds, julienne mint and 1/2 teaspoon of honey, if desired.
Recipe created by Chef Rick Tramonto of Tru restaurant, Chicago, on behalf of
3-Every-Day™ of Dairy.

- See more at: http://www.nationaldairycouncil.org/Recipes/Pages/Apple-Yogurt-Smoothie.aspx#sthash.L6S0EIeI.dpuf

Enjoying a smoothie is a great start to getting your 3-every-day of dairy too. O.k. I know it's not the same as sipping a smoothie on the beaches of Hawaii, but close your eyes and dream...

Source- National Dairy Council

• Servings: 4
• Prep time: 5 mins
• Total time: 5 mins
• Created by: Seena Glessing of Glessing Family Farm, Waverly, Minn.

Ingredients

• 1 cup low-fat vanilla yogurt
• 1 cup frozen raspberries, unsweetened
• 1 cup frozen strawberries, unsweetened
• ¾ cup low-fat milk
• 1 cup ice (about 12 cubes)

Preparation

1. Blend all ingredients in a blender until smooth. Serve immediately.

- See more at: http://www.dairymakessense.com/recipe/raspberry-strawberry-yogurt-smoothie/#sthash.Fr1TWmq9.dpuf

 

Learn more about dairy at Dairy Makes Sense

 
I am making a commitment to share as much as I can with you each day this month, about the life of our dairy farm family including what we do, how we share our passion for dairy, and dairy foods we enjoy.

 See you here tomorrow...T Is For Trivia

R Is For Reading

I'm taking you on a journey from A to Z through the land of dairy! 

There's no need to pack your bags, just come along!

  R Is For Reading

I love to read. Perhaps that is one of the reasons why I enjoy my off-the-farm job as an Instructional Assistant in reading and math at one of our local elementary schools. My love of reading might also be the reason for me sharing some of my favorite "cow" books whenever I can. This spring I contacted my local public library asking if I could read my cow books at the story times during June Dairy Month. I goofed! Who knew that the schedule was made out 6 months, to a year, ahead? Well I do now, and you can bet I am already on the schedule for June, 2014!

Here are some of my favorites-

Millie waits for the Mail by Alexander Steffensmeier  

Millie is unlike most other cows. She chews her cud and grazes in the fields with the others, but she doesn't enjoy that nearly as much as she loves scaring the mail carrier. It's too bad the mail carrier doesn't have as much fun each time Millie comes up with a new way to surprise him. 

 

 

Cows Can't Fly by David Milgrim 

Ms. Crumb said cows were far too fat; that facts were facts and that was that. But this little boy doesn't care about facts. All he knows is that he drew a picture of some cows, and when a breeze blows it into the air, he sees cows flying everywhere. And if cows can fly, isn't anything possible?

Click, Clack, Moo: Cows That Type by Doreen Cronin

Farmer Brown is used to all the sounds he hears on his farm. The clucks of the chickens, the quacks of the ducks, and the loud moos of the cows. Then one morning, a sound rings through the fields: Click, clack moo. It seems that his cows have begun to type on the old typewriter. Not only that, they have also typed a request. 




Do you have a favorite cow or farm book? I'm always looking for new stories to add to my collection. After all, I have until June 2014 to add to my library!

Learn more about dairy at Dairy Makes Sense

 
I am making a commitment to share as much as I can with you each day this month, about the life of our dairy farm family including what we do, how we share our passion for dairy, and dairy foods we enjoy.

 See you here tomorrow...S Is For Smoothies

Q Is For Question

I'm taking you on a journey from A to Z through the land of dairy! 

There's no need to pack your bags, just come along!

  Q Is For Question

Anna, a faithful follower, wants to know...

"What's the deal with cow's chewing their cud?"

Most cows chew at least 50 times per minute, and spend 8-10 hours a day chewing their cud. What's up with that?

 

Cows have a stomach organized into sections to take care of hard-to-digest food. When the cow first takes in food, it chews it just enough to moisten it. Once swallowed, the food goes to the stomach’s first section, where it is mixed with chemicals and softened. This softened food is called the cud, small balls of food. Next, the stomach’s muscles send the cud back up to the cow’s mouth, where it is re-chewed and swallowed again, this time going to another section of the stomach, where moisture is squeezed out of the cud. Finally, the food enters the last section of the stomach, the true stomach, where digestive juices mix with the food and start it on its way to the intestine to be completely digested. A cow chewing its cud is a sign of a happy, healthy cow.  

 Thanks for asking, Anna!

For more questions and answers- check out 
They Picked Farm Day and Back To School.

Do you have a question for me? Add it to the comments or email me at bremerfarms@hotmail.com

Learn more about dairy at Dairy Makes Sense
I am making a commitment to share as much as I can with you each day this month, about the life of our dairy farm family including what we do, how we share our passion for dairy, and dairy foods we enjoy.

See you here tomorrow...R is for Reading

P Is For Price

I'm taking you on a journey from A to Z through the land of dairy! 

There's no need to pack your bags, just come along!

  P Is For Price

 

I like a good deal- a bargain. I'm quite certain it is hereditary. My grandma was the queen of discount shopping, my mom doesn't pay full price for anything, I love a good clearance sale, and daughter Sara always finds the good deals everywhere she shops. We all have acquired the "thrifty-gene." And why not? We work hard for our money. Doesn't everyone?

 

I think milk is one of the best bargains around. At about 25 cents a glass, milk is a nutritional bargain! Thinking back to N Is For Nine you know milk is packed with lots of essential nutrients, so why wouldn't you choose milk over other beverages that cost the same or more, and give you less?

 

Here are some other ways to stretch your "Dairy Dollar."

• Buy milk by the gallon. It's less expensive, per ounce, than smaller containers.
• Buy cheese in block form and shred it yourself. I buy 5 pound blocks and shred it, freeze it in small containers, and it's ready when I need it.
• Buy low-fat, plain yogurt by the quart and flavor it with fresh fruit, granola, or nuts. Plain yogurt also works well as an ingredient for dips or sauces.

To learn more about dairy's nutritional value and get delicious dairy recipes, visit Dairy Makes Sense.

 

P Is also For Pinterest- Have you entered the  Midwest Dairy’s Dairy Farm PinTourist Contest yet? It features photos from our farm and some of my friends farms too. You could win a grocery gift card and a Midwest Dairy prize pack!

 

I am making a commitment to share as much as I can with you each day this month, about the life of our dairy farm family including what we do, how we share our passion for dairy, and dairy foods we enjoy.
 

 See you here tomorrow...Q is for Question.

 

O Is For Outing

I'm taking you on a journey from A to Z through the land of dairy! 

There's no need to pack your bags, just come along!

  O Is For Outing

This story was going to be "V Is For Visit". That's 22 days into June...too long too wait. How about "T is For Tour". Nope, still too far away. I'm like an anxious child on Christmas morning, I just can't wait to share this story about an outing to our farm by our new friends!

This past weekend my family and I played host to blogger Amy and her family from Grinning cheek to cheek. Thanks to Midwest Dairy for suggesting this city gal see what really happens on a family owned dairy farm. 

Amy and Joe and their adorable boys, Andrew and Ethan arrived last Saturday afternoon right before another wave of rain hit the farm. In true adventurer style, they donned their blue plastic booties that we provide to our visitors, and the tour began!

One size fits all?

Cow feeding, the milking barn, our calf barn; yes, they saw it all. They experienced the sights, smells and sounds of life on the farm. You can see it all by going to Grinning cheek to cheek.

I love sharing our passion for dairy farming, and I enjoy the enthusiasm our guests show for the life and responsibility we some days may take for granted. I know Grinning cheek to cheek learned something about our dairy farm, but through our guests I'm also reminded of what a blessing we have been given to live the life of a farm family. 

 Learn more about dairy at Dairy Makes Sense

 
I am making a commitment to share as much as I can with you each day this month, about the life of our dairy farm family including what we do, how we share our passion for dairy, and dairy foods we enjoy.

 See you here tomorrow...P is for Price.