Keep Your Family Happy and Healthy When You Hang Out in the Dairy Aisle!

June is officially Dairy Month, and there’s no better way to cool off than to check out the enormous savings in the refrigerated section of your grocery store. Eating dairy foods can be a big boost to your diet. Adding more dairy is a convenient way to add nutrients to your day, and it’s a tasty way to bring a smile to the faces around the table. So skip the restaurant bills on these busy summer mornings and warm summer nights and build a healthy family with dairy foods, right at your kitchen table.

Enter the Building Healthy Families
$10,000 Sweepstakes!

Celebrate June Dairy Month with the National Frozen & Refrigerated Foods Association (NFRA) by playing the Building Healthy Families $10,000 Sweepstakes. Visit www.EasyHomeMeals.com to enter, and while you’re there, be sure to check out great recipe ideas, refrigerated food information, kid’s games, and more!

Mr. Food’s Featured Recipe

Popular TV personality and NFRA’s national spokesperson, Mr. Food, always shares his tips for quick and easy cooking, plus delicious recipes that will have your family asking for more. Visit www.mrfood.com for great food information and recipes, and see when his television show may air in your market.

Fettuccine Alfredo
4 Servings

12 ounces fettuccine
1/2 cup (1 stick) butter
2 cups (1 pint) heavy cream
1/2 teaspoon black pepper
1-1/2 cups grated Parmesan cheese

1. Cook fettuccine according to package directions; drain.

2. Meanwhile, in a large skillet, melt butter over medium-low heat. Add heavy cream and pepper; cook 6 to 8 minutes, or until hot and well blended, stirring constantly.

3. Stir in cheese and cook 6 to 7 minutes, or until sauce is thickened. Pour sauce over fettuccine; toss and serve.

Cheese Cooking Tips

Chill cheese for easy grating and shredding – hard cheeses in the freezer for 30 minutes; soft cheeses for 15-20.

Measure cheese for cooking by weight for best results – general rule is 4 oz. of cheese equals one cup shredded or grated.

To cook or reheat dishes with cheese in the microwave, use the lower power settings and stir and rotate frequently – cheese is best when heated slowly at low temperatures.

To prevent cheese such as Swiss and Mozzarella from becoming stringy during cooking, add a little wine or lemon juice before melting them.

The June Dairy Month Promotion is brought to you by these leading brands:

Look for these appetizing products in your refrigerated aisles. Click on any of the brand logos to visit their websites where you will find additional recipes and meal solutions, along with product updates.

Breakfast “To-Go”

CRUSTLESS CHEESE, POTATO AND BACON QUICHE

1 1/4 cups egg substitute (or 5 eggs)
1 (12oz) pkg. refrigerated hash brown potatoes
5 bacon strips, cooked and crumbled
1 cup shredded Swiss cheese
1/2 cup cottage cheese
1/4 cup chopped green onions
1/4 tsp salt
1/8 tsp pepper
 
Combine eggs, potatoes, bacon, Swiss cheese, onion, cottage cheese (creamed), salt and pepper in a large bowl. Pour carefully into a lightly greased 9-inch pie plate. Bake at 350 degrees for 25 minutes, or until the center is set. Serves 6.

*You can find diced potatoes in the refrigerated dairy aisle – easy to prepare and add to recipe.

CUCUMBER RADISH DELIGHT

1 Bread Baguette
1 pkg. cream cheese, softened
1 cucumber, sliced thin
6-7 Radishes, sliced thin
 
Slice bread and spread cream cheese on each piece. Top with cucumber and radish slices. Attractive, easy and tasty!

YOGURT W/FRESH FRUIT

32 oz. container low-fat vanilla yogurt
Assorted fresh berries (strawberries, blueberries, blackberries, raspberries)
Mint leaves
 
Simply dip yogurt into 4 dessert dishes and top with fresh fruit and mint leaves. A very delicious and healthy treat!

To be sure your refrigerated dairy products deliver with great taste and healthy effect, it is important to store and handle them correctly.

• Pay close attention to expiration dates, and be sure to toss products that have been sitting in your refrigerator too long. Most dairy products remain fresh for 5-7 days.
• Always keep dairy products refrigerated at temperatures between 36-40 degrees. Never store them above 45 degrees.
• Make your refrigerated dairy products one of the first purchases you put away after a trip to the grocery store; it is important that they be refrigerated as soon as possible. With that in mind, try to make your food shopping last on your list of errands – sitting in the car too long could spoil many foods you purchase.