Ice Cream Month

We enjoy ice cream all year at my house but homemade ice cream is our special summer time treat down on the dairy farm. A bowl of homemade ice cream kicks off   every  July 4th celebration.

If you're a serious ice cream eater, you will  enjoy Candy Bar Ice Cream from the Sassafras Cookbook by  the Junior League of Springfield, Missouri.  It's a fact,there is no bad ice cream! 

Candy Bar Ice Cream

6  2.16-ounce Butterfinger candy bars,frozen

1  3-ounce package vanilla instant pudding mix

1  14 ounce cans sweetened condensed milk

1   tablespoon vanilla

1/2 gallon milk

Crush frozen candy bars into very coarse crumbs. Combine crushed candy bars, pudding mix,condensed milk and vanilla in an ice cream freezer. Add milk to within 1 inch of fill line. Freeze according to manufacturer's directions. Makes 3 quarts.

Here's the scoop on  ways to celebrate Ice Cream Month:

• Enough Ice Cream? by Farmer Bright
• Mint Chocolate Ice Cream by Kimmi’s Dairyland
• Why this Ice Cream Addict has a New Addiction: Ice Cream Sandwiches by New Mexico Milkmaid
• Sprinklers, Fans and Ice Cream in the Barn Modern-day Farm Chick
• Here’s the Scoop on My 5 Favorite Ice Cream Recipes by Eat Farm Love
• Apple Cinnamon Oatmeal a la Mode by New Day Dairy
• Gimme the Jimmies by The Deere Milkmaid
• Ice Cream Month by Spotted Cow Blog
• Oregon Ice Cream by Guernsey Dairy Mama
• In Celebration of Ice Cream by New Moon Farms
• Sadie’s Homemade Ice Cream by Dairy Good Life
• The Best Ice Cream Stand by Raising a Farmer

Dairymom's Thankful Thursday

I'm thankful for the things we enjoy everyday down on the dairy farm such as

faithful farm dogs,

wild Egyptian geese that love our farm habitat,

and

curious cows that are always looking for 

green grass on the other side of the fence.

Dairy Tall Tale

It's not a tall tale,  but it's the tale of how tall  corn can grow on an

Arkansas dairy farm when you have the right nutrients and

 almost perfect weather conditions. 

Can you see the dairy farmer's smile?

Our cows produced the manure that we applied to the field prior 

to planting this spring.

 Manure, also known to us as a nutrient,  improves the soil by increasing 

the organic matter,adds nutrients for plant growth and increases the water 

holding capacity of the soil. The amount,source,placement 

and timing of manure on fields for crops that we raise

 is part of our farm's nutrient management plan.  

 By following the plan,

we are  protecting the environment and improving the land.

Our tall tale is also a perfect tale of  sustainability.

At the end of this tale, when eating corn silage this fall,

 our dairy  cows will be so happy!

Dairymom's Thankful Thursday

As the weathermen or weather-women were consoling us  about a rainy

 4th of July holiday weekend, the dairy farmers were smiling. 

It's not that we wanted to ruin any one's plans but a rain any 

day in July is a gift down on the dairy farm! 

I'm thankful for the 3 inch rain that watered the garden

and

 the corn crop that our dairy cows will enjoy this winter.

Dairy Family Tradition

Our July 4th celebration begins like every day down on the dairy farm...

with our dairy cows. 

We will be feeding calves and cows 

 and milking long before the fireworks begin.

Our  family  holiday fun  and  our family tradition begins  

  when we retreat to our July 4th picnic spot after all the chores are done.

 It's where 4 generations of farmers  have enjoyed picnic

 suppers  together, paddling across the pond to throw a fishing line 

and  setting off a sack full of fireworks.

       

We're adding a few more fireworks to our celebration 

to welcome Hattie Claire into the family tradition!

Happy July 4th!

Dairymom's Thankful Thursday

                        We were just getting the gates ready to walk this heifer to the barn  for
                         delivery assistance when she laid down and within a minute, delivered  her calf.
                                    She wasted no time standing up to clean  her baby and
                                          nudge the newborn to stand up for the first time.

                                                             Aren't mothers amazing?
                       

I'm thankful for the safe delivery of every 

new baby down on the dairy farm!

Muffins and Milk

Garrett Lance from Howard County convinced us that Cheesy Muffins would be a perfect menu  addition with our favorite soup or chili.  Cheesy Muffins brought a fourth place win at the Arkansas Farm Bureau Dairy Foods Contest.

My only suggestion for this recipe is to serve with a big glass of cold milk!

Cheesy Muffins

Ingredients:


1 1/2 cup flour
1 1/2 Tablespoons sugar
1 Tablespoon baking powder
1/2  Tablespoon salt
1 cup shredded Colby-Jack cheese
1 cup shredded mild cheddar cheese
1 cup shredded Monterey Jack cheese
1 cup milk
1 egg
1/4 cup melted butter

Directions:

Whisk together dry ingredients and then stir in cheese. In a separate bowl, whisk egg, milk and butter together. Pour milk mixture into dry ingredients and stir with a spoon to combine. Bake in greased muffin tins at 375 degrees for 20-25 minutes.  Makes 12.

Serving Suggestions: Add 1/4 cup green chilies in batter for a Mexican flair.
                                   Great with soup or chili.