Taco Tuesday

Tacos are often an easy lunch or supper when the schedule doesn't allow too much time in the kitchen. My family often refers to Tuesday as Taco Tuesday just because they know  the menu will  be quick and easy to meet my need to get to a meeting on time. Midwest Dairy's Touchdown Taco Salad offers a nutritious and tasty  variation for our Taco Tuesday schedule.


Touchdown Taco Salad


Ingredients:
1/2 lb. lean ground beef
1 1/2 cups (6 oz.) shredded Cheddar cheese,divided
1/2 cup salsa, divided
8 cups salad greens
1 cup chopped tomato
1 1/2 cup black beans

Directions:

Brown beef in large non-stick skillet; remove from heat. Stir in 1 cup shredded cheese and 1/4 cup salsa; mix until blended. Spoon onto serving platter. In a large bowl, toss together salad greens, tomatoes, black beans and remaining cheese and salsa. Spoon salad over meat mixture and serve.

Yield: Makes 8 servings

Monday's Moo

Even though we witness new life often on our family dairy farm, it is never routine.

Each birth is a celebration.

                                         
                            Life down on the dairy farm isn't always easy but we pride ourselves
                                       in caring for our animals,contributing to the local economy,
                                                                    and most important,
                                     producing healthy high-quality  milk, for you and your family.

Dairymom's Thankful Thursday

Sometimes a picture is worth a thousand words...

                                           
                                   I'm thankful for the joy I see in my oldest son  as he anticipates
                                      the arrival of his first child and the excitement of welcoming
                                                           the fifth generation to the farm.
                                                                             
                                     

Grilled Cheese for Adults

A grilled cheese sandwich and a bowl of soup has often been a quick meal when we've been working late on the farm, especially during cold winter days. Midwest Dairy's  Hot and Sweet Grilled Cheese looks like a perfect adult tasting supper  with that mixture of peach preserves and jalapeno pepper to add a little spice!

Hot and Sweet Grilled Cheese

Ingredients:

For Peach Jalapeno Jam:
3 tablespoons peach preserves
1/2 fresh jalapeno,seeded and finely chopped

For sandwiches:
11/2 tablespoons unsalted butter,softened
4 slices 12-grain bread
2 slices white Cheddar cheese
2 slices Pepper
Jack cheese
2 slices smoked Gouda cheese
1/2 small avocado, thinly sliced

Directions:

For peach jalapeno jam, combine peach preserves and jalapeno in a small saucepan over medium heat.
Stir mixture constantly until the preserves are melted. Remove from heat and set aside.

For sandwiches, preheat a large nonstick or cast iron skillet over medium heat for about 2 minutes. Butter one side each of 2 slices of bread. Turn buttered slices over, buttered side down, and spread jam over the second side of each bread slice. On top of jam side of each bread slice, layer 1 slice of white Cheddar cheese, 1 slice of Pepper Jack cheese, half the slices of avocado and 1 slice of smoked Gouda cheese. Spread jam on the 2 remaining slices of bread and place jam side onto the cheese. Spread remainder of butter on bread on top of sandwiches.

Place sandwiches buttered side down in preheated pan. Partially cover with a lid, allowing steam to escape, and cook for 11/2 to 2 minutes or until bread is toasted and browned. Flip sandwiches over with a spatula. Partially cover with a lid and cook for an additional 11/2 to 2 minutes, watching carefully for the bread to brown and the cheese to melt. Remove sandwiches from heat and cut in half. Serve warm.

Cook's tip: Cooking time depends on your cook-top and cookware. It's better to go slow and give the cheese time to melt while the bread gets toasty brown. If the bread is browned but the cheese hasn't completely melted or if you are making several sandwiches to serve, place the sandwiches in a 250 degree oven on an baking sheet to continue warming and keep bread crisp.

Yield: 4 servings

Dairymom's Thankful Thursday

There's only one thing sweeter than a newborn calf

and that, of course, is twins!

                                            After laboring with no result, this momma received
                                            a little delivery assistance from the Anglin brothers.
                                         
                                       I'm thankful for these two heifers that we welcomed to the
                                    dairy farm this morning and the teamwork that made it possible.
                                                                       

Dairy Q&A

                                                Question:

                             Can I buy milk from your farm?

                                                                        Answer:

                                                   No. 

                  Our milk is transported to the Hiland plant in                             Fayetteville to be pasteurized and bottled for drinking. 
         You might be drinking our milk if you buy Hiland milk!
                           

Happy New Year

Happy New Year!

                                                                           
                                                      "For I know the plans I have for you,"
                                                                     declares the Lord,
                                                    "plans to prosper you and not to harm you,
                                                         plans to give you hope and a future."
                                                                                    ---Jeremiah 29:11