Dairy Farmer's Thankful Thursday

"Foodie Friday"  was a fun food experience provided

during the Megaphone 19 Influencer conference.

We started the event by tasting our way through local food businesses at 

8th Street Market  and ending with cheese and wine pairing.

My favorite experience was the demonstration of Brightwater 

culinary chef Aria Kagan making Fresh Mozzarella.

Chef Kagan gave us the step by step directions.

Although she made it look easy, I think I would want to practice a few times before

the party!

Fresh Mozzarella requires the use of  a water bath made of 4 cups warm 

water plus 2 Tablespoons salt and 2 pounds of fresh Mozzarella curd.

My friend Kerri captured the fun part of this recipe perfectly as Chef Kagan 

was working with the cheese.

I may never attempt making fresh mozzarella but 

I am thankful to be a producer of the milk that brings great joy 

And provides many delicious and nutritious dairy foods.

I

Halloween Cheesy Treat

We never get too old for treats on Halloween so why not plan  a little cheesy treat for  your family? Midwest Dairy's  Cheese Lovers Pizza Squares is perfect for supper before, after or in-between greeting the Halloween characters that may show up at your house to collect a treat.

Cheese Lovers Pizza Squares

Ingredients;

1 can refrigerated pizza dough
1 cup Ricotta cheese
2 cups (8 oz,) shredded low-moisture part-skim
   Mozzarella cheese
2 ounces turkey pepperoni,diced
2 plum tomatoes, thinly sliced
1 cup yellow pepper,sliced
1 teaspoon oregano
2 tablespoons chopped parsley


Directions:

Preheat oven to 400 degrees F. Press pizza dough into 15 x 10-inch jelly roll pan.

Bake for 12 minutes; remove from oven and spread Ricotta cheese over crust. Top with Mozzarella,pepperoni,tomatoes,pepper and oregano.

Return to oven and bake for 6 minutes or until cheese is melted. Sprinkle with parsley, cut into squares and serve.

Yield: 10 servings

                                                                 Happy Halloween!

Snow Day Dairy Snack

Cheese is a good snack for any day of the year but these cheese sticks added a few smiles to the dairy farmers  during our week of snow days!

  Baked Mozzarella Sticks and other easy, nutritious recipes can be found  at Dairy Makes Sense. 

 

 

Baked Mozzarella Sticks

Ingredients:

Cooking spray
1 (12 ounce) package reduced-fat Mozzarella string cheese
1 egg
1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
8 tablespoons panko (Japanese) bread crumbs
1/2 cup prepared marinara sauce,warmed

Preparation:
Position rack in upper third of oven and preheat it to 350 degrees F. Line a baking sheet with foil and spray lightly with cooking spray. Remove cheese from packaging and set aside. In a small bowl, whisk egg until foamy. In a small non-stick skillet, mix Italian seasoning with bread crumbs and place over medium-heat. Cook and stir bread crumbs until lightly browned, about 5 minutes.

Dip one piece of string cheese in egg until coated and then into toasted bread crumbs,
coating completely. Re-dip the string cheese in egg and again in bread crumbs, if desired. Place on baking sheet. Repeat with remaining string cheese and place on baking sheet 1 1/2 inches apart. Spray string cheese lightly with cooking spray.

Bake 5 to 6 minutes or until heated through. Serve with warmed marinara sauce for dipping.