Dairymom's Thankful Thursday

I love our Christmas tree because it is a memory tree filled with ornaments given to us as gifts, ornaments the boys  made when in elementary school or during our  4-H experience and gathered from places we've visited.

I'm thankful for the moments during the holiday season that we can just enjoy being together as a family to make new memories and enjoy sharing  those of the past.

Of course, the dairy  cows have their special place on the tree!

Dairymom's Butter Tradition

A few weeks ago, while standing in the grocery check-out line, I spotted the new Taste of Home Cookies recipe book. I couldn't resist adding it to my collection and so glad I did!  Lemon Butter Spritz, a recipe submitted by Iola Egle of Bella Vista,AR,   turned out to be a perfect recipe for my first experience using the new cookie press that I happily brought home from the  Dirty Santa  Game I participated in  last week at a family Christmas gathering.

I'm pretty sure these buttery cookies will become part of my Christmas cookie tradition after today's experience! 

Lemon Butter Spritz

1 cup butter,softened
1 1/4 cups confectioners' sugar
1 egg
1 Tablespoon lemon juice
1 Tablespoon grated lemon peel
2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1/4 teaspoon salt

Glaze:
1 cup confectioners' sugar
2 Tablespoons baking cocoa
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
2 to 3 Tablespoons whole milk

Preheat oven to 400 degrees. In a large bowl, cream butter and sugar until light an fluffy. Beat in the egg,lemon juice and peel. Combine flour and salt; gradually add to creamed mixture and mix well.
Using a cookie press fitted with a bar disk, form dough into long strips on ungreased baking sheets. Cut each strip into 2 1/4-inch pieces (do not separate pieces).
Bake 5-7 minutes or until set (do not brown). Cut into pieces again if necessary. Remove to wire racks to cool.
For glaze,in a small bowl, combine the sugar,cocoa,vanilla and enough milk to achieve desired consistency. Drizzle over cookies. Let stand until set.

Yield: 4 1/2 dozen

                                                                             

Dairymom's Thankful Thursday

The Bentonville City Council honored my mother,Mary Baggett, for her years of service to the community and in her position as city alderman for the last 12 years. 

It was absolutely perfect in every way--especially the dessert reception following the meeting!

( My mother's favorite meal--sweets!)

I'm thankful for this community leader that leads by example in serving others  and always strives to make our corner of the world the best it can be!

Dairy Q&A

Question:

How do I know which milk or dairy product is antibiotic free?

                                                   
                                                                      Answer:
           All milk is tested for antibiotics when it leaves the farm
                                   and before it is pasteurized.

                                                In fact,
 it is illegal for a dairy farmer to sell milk that contains antibiotics. 

Healthy animals are the foundation of a safe and abundant food supply. We use antibiotics under  the advice of our veterinarian  to treat a cow that is sick.  The milk from a cow being treated with antibiotics is separated to ensure it does not go into the milk supply.
You can find  more detailed information about antibiotic use on the farm at Dairy Makes Sense. 

Dairymom's Thankful Thursday

Feeding our dairy cows a nutritious diet is an everyday activity. 

 I'm thankful for the the grain farmers that grow the corn we purchase for our cows to enjoy everyday of the year,

for equipment that makes it possible to load feed  easily,

and 

for the satisfaction of knowing the cows are enjoying the fruits of the farmers' labor.

Dairy Q&A

Question: 

Is it painful for the dairy  cow when being milked?

Answer:

No.

Milking a cow actually provides relief from the pressure of being full of milk. 

The milking machine applies a very gentle pressure on each teat in an alternating pattern.

Although every dairy farm may have a different type of milking equipment, milking the cow provides relief and comfort for the cow. Dairy farmers make sure their cows in the milking herd  are milked at least  twice a day, the same time every day, everyday of the year.

Dairymom's Thankful Thursday

Before we have our traditional Thanksgiving gathering with our family, we'll be

caring for the baby calves,

milking and feeding the cows,

and making sure the new babies arrive safely.

I'm thankful for America's dairy farm families, just like mine, that are committed to providing safe, high-quality milk and dairy products for your family to enjoy not only on holidays but everyday of the year.

Happy Thanksgiving!