Guess Who's Coming To Dinner?

Minnesota Viking, Toby Gerhart!

 

 

 

Well, Toby (we are on a first name bases already) is not really coming for dinner, but he is coming for a visit to our farm later this month! How did this happen? Do you remember the Show Your Pride contest we entered? The contest guidelines were to enter a photo that shows our support for Fuel Up To Play 60 and the National Football League. Our prize? A visit from an NFL player! And our family is thrilled to have Toby Gerhart come to visit!

So now we need your help...If you were to meet a National Football League player, what would you ask him?  If you are a farmer, what would you show him on your farm and what part of farming would you take this opportunity to explain? Leave your thoughts in the comments below. Thanks! 

 

And Toby, if you are reading this...in case you decide to stay for dinner...what is your favorite food? I'll set an extra place at the table, just in case!

 

Visit Dairy Makes Sense

A Little Turkey Talk

Speaking of Thanksgiving... I know you are probably thinking about Christmas...shopping, cookie baking, parties, but I'm a holiday behind, as I am still thinking about Thanksgiving. The bulky electric roasters and 3 crock-pots are still sitting on the dining room table (yes, they have been washed). The table leaves are waiting near the closet to be stored for the next big family gathering. It would only take a few moments to put the remnants of Thanksgiving away, but I just don't seem to get to it. Maybe I am spending too much time trying new recipes with our turkey left-overs. Sara made this one for supper tonight, and we think it's a keeper! Wow, look at all the dairy in this recipe!

Creamy Turkey & Potato Casserole
CDKitchen http://www.cdkitchen.com
Serves/Makes: 12    |   Difficulty Level: 2    |   Ready In: 1-2 hrs

Ingredients:
1 package (2 pound size) frozen hash brown potatoes
1 can cream of chicken soup
1 cup milk
1 pint sour cream or plain Greek yogurt
4 tablespoons melted butter
1 cup chopped onion
1 cup chopped green bell pepper
1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
4 cups cooked chicken or turkey

Directions:
Combine all ingredients in a large bowl and mix well. Place in a large 9 x 13 greased baking dish. Bake at 350 degrees F, uncovered, for about 1 hour.

 

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.

 

Rubbing Elbows

How does a dairy mom and dairy son get to rub elbows with the Minnesota Vikings football team? Be a super fan, of course. Son Michael was the grand prize winner of the Radisson-Vikings Super Fan contest and he asked me to go as his guest.

Friday- Off to Minneapolis in our chauffeured Town Car.

After checking in to the Radisson Hotel, exploring the skyways and shopping at Macy's we settled in at "The Shout House" for some dueling pianos.

Saturday- Arriving at Winter Park, the Vikings training facility, for a tour.

 

The practice field where the magic begins. We weren't allowed to take photos during the practice.

We got a private "meet and greet" with punter, Chris Kluwe.

 

Sunday- Game day against the Green Bay Packers. We got to be down on the field before the game to watch the warm-ups and take photos!

Kicker Blair Walsh and Punter Chris Kluwe in action during warm-ups.

In front of a packed stadium, the MN Vikings beat the Green Bay Packers, 37-34!

After the game we were invited to attend the press conference. We were the only fans allowed in, along with the press. What a treat! 

Minnesota Vikings head coach Leslie Frasier

Minnesota Vikings quarterback Christian Ponder

Minnesota Vikings running back Adrian Peterson

Monday- It was time to head back to reality and back to the farm, but at least for a weekend we got to rub elbows with the pros!

PS- This may sound cheesy, but if you want to grow up healthy and strong like a pro football player, don't forget to eat 3 or more servings of dairy each day. I bet Adrian does!

Our Resident Foodie

My daughter is our resident foodie. Sara loves watching cooking shows. She knows everything about Iron Chef, Cupcake Wars, Top Chef, and every Diner, Drive-Inn and Dive across America. She subscribes to Food Network magazine, which she reads cover-to-cover. She is one of the few people I know that actually enjoys grocery shopping. One of her favorite places to shop is kitchen stores. So I shouldn't be surprised when she came home last week with a Linzer Cookie Cutter. Linzer cookies are European inspired jam-filled cookies. They are quite time consuming, but full of delicious buttery goodness. Perhaps your resident foodie would like to try this recipe.

Linzer Sandwich Cookies

2 cups flour
2/3 cup finely chopped almonds
1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1 cup butter, softened
2/3 cup sugar
1 egg
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
1/2 cup seedless raspberry jam
Confectioners sugar
In small bowl combine flour, almonds, and cinnamon. Set aside. In large bowl, beat butter and sugar with electric mixer until light and fluffy. Add egg and vanilla; mix well. Add flour mixture; mix only until incorporated. Divide dough into 2 pieces. Press into small discs, about 1 inch thick. Wrap in plastic wrap and refrigerate about 2 hours.
Preheat oven to 350 degrees. On floured surface roll out one disc of dough 1/8 inch thick. Keep remaining dough chilled. Cut half the dough using the center cut-out (top cookie) and cut the remaining half with out the center cut-out. This will be the bottom cookie. Bake on parchment paper-lined baking sheets 10-12 minutes. Let cool completely. Spread bottom cookie with about 1/2 to 1 teaspoon jam. Cover with top cookie which has been dusted with confectioners sugar.
(This recipe was printed on the Wilton Linzer Cookie Cutter package.)

Sara used our KitchenAid mixer to make these cookies. What? You don't have a KitchenAid mixer? You could! Check out Real Dairy Holidays Contest sponsored by Midwest Dairy to see how you could win one.