To say that we like our dairy products here in the Kitchen is a bit of an understatement. With almost a year of blog recipes under (or over?) my belt, I took a look back and found that all but a handful called for some sort of dairy product(s). It seems Julia Child, most chefs everywhere and I are all in agreement: everything tastes better with butter (or cream or cheese).
That said, I saw no conflict of interest whatsoever when the American Dairy Association and Dairy Council invited me up to the Finger Lakes region of New York to learn about modern dairy farming and (of course!) taste a few products.
So this past Friday, my friend Amy and I set out for Canandaigua, NY– about a 5-hour drive from where we live. With the alternative weekend plans being 5 hours standing around on a soccer field, this was an easy decision. (Did I mention the product tasting?)
Canandaigua Lake, NY
The fall leaf color was mostly past prime (with a few exceptions like the red shocker above), but it was still a nice time of year to visit this picturesque region.
I love these old barns and silos!
On Saturday, a small group of bloggers and their guests were treated to a hayride and comprehensive tour of Noblehurst Farms – a seventh-generation, family-owned dairy operation.
Yikes – looks like I could’ve used some more coffee.
We learned about sileage (chopped and lightly fermented hay and corn stalks) and dairy cow diets, and then watched the cows go on a10-minute milking merry-go-round (which they seemed to enjoy, by the way).
Milking Merry-Go-Round
At the end of the tour we met this hours-old calf with its mother. The intimacy of this moment actually choked me up a little! I know I’m a city-slicker sap, but surely other mothers out there can relate? Maybe I was just missing my two calves at home, who were by now just finishing with their Halloween soccer tournaments.
After a wine and cheese-filled evening, we hit the road for home on Sunday. Along the way we made stops for coffee, antiquing, and fresh-off-the-farm produce: cabbages, cauliflower, Romanesco broccoli (green pointy tips) and butternut squash.
Amy with her wagon of produce from Smith Farm in Stanley, NY.
Immediately I had visions of a gooey, nutty cauliflower gratin – loaded with cream and gruyère cheese and cooked until bubbly and golden brown. (Would I have had the same thought had I not spent the previous day on a dairy farm? Very likely. I start dreaming of gratins and casseroles the minute the temperatures start to drop.)
I’m planning to make the cauliflower gratin tonight, so I’ll post the recipe soon. In the meantime, how about a Giveaway?? (Yes – my first!) Simply leave a reply to this post (in the box below), telling other readers and me about your favorite thing to cook with cheese; with that you’ll be entered to win this dairy-lover’s dream bag of goodies. Included in the bovine bounty: an insulated lunch box, an apron and oven mitt, a bottle stopper, a set of cheese or butter spreaders, a Taste of New York cookbook, and a sturdy wooden cheese board. One winner will be selected at random on Sunday, October 28, 2012 (6 p.m. EST) Good luck! (One entry per person, please; I know these cow spreaders are cute, but we need to give everyone a fair chance.) (Also, U.S. mailing addresses only.)
Win this bag of dairy-themed goodies!
If I’ve got you craving creamy cheesiness and you need some ideas for dinner or dessert tonight, here are links to 10 of my favorite dairy-inclusive recipes from previous posts:
- Baked Butternut Squash Rigatoni
- Corn & Leek Chowder with Cheesy Drop Biscuits
- Turkey Burgers with Cilantro Lime Sauce
- Baked Campanelli with Mushrooms
- Tomato Fennel Soup with Gruyère Dippers
- Chicken Pot Pie
- French Toast with Butter/Brown Sugar Sauce
- Almond Toffee
- Chocolate Pudding
- Chocolate Toffee Chip Cookies
Subee's Kitchen 
Classic cheese fondue! What could be better on a cool Fall night. Sounds like a great weekend.
Heather
I make a cheesy buffalo chicken dip appetizer that sometimes my kids have for dinner instead.
yes, yes, yes !! what about a good “souffle au fromage” ? I love the bovine bounty….!
What a great trip….How about just a simple Baked Zita……the more cheese the better….
I agree!
My favorite is a grilled cheese sandwich – there are so many variations and each one is delicious!
Do you cook them in a skillet or with a panini press?
Personally, I am a huge grilled cheese fan – and there is almost no going wrong with a grilled cheese – unless it’s a dry one. So I’m going to just throw my two cents in and say skillet (and butter) for best results !! What do you think, Susan ? (Subee, this cheese contest was a very good idea !!)
Well not quite a recipe, we have been enjoying our local farm share pears with a “schmear” of soft blue cheese. Does that count? 🙂
Delicious! And yes- that counts!
Yum ! I totally thought we had to leave a recipe !
Yes, that counts!
I love anything with cheese. Goat cheese is my favorite. I crumble in a salad, stuff. His ken with it (and spinach), eat as a snack, top a grilled pizza with some and arugula too!
I could live on cheese!!!
Macaroni and cheese is a favorite at our house – one version from Myrtle Langlow, one version from Jane Heimerdinger – both old fashioned but soothing in the way old fashioned comfort food can be. I’m eager to see your receipe for cauliflower gratin….sounds great, as does your weekend in the country!
Would love to see the recipes. Sunset cookbook or originals?
Sue, you’re inspiring me. Might have to break out an old recipe for Potato Gnocchi with Gorgonzola sauce. Although, the fondue sounds good too!
I hope you got to sample local wine. Dr. Konstantin Frank’s winery is one of my favorites. My Inlaws used to buy it by the case! My favorite cheese dish is one I make only on Thanksgiving for some reason. Spinach Madeline , a spicy cheese filled creamed spinach.
We did get to sample several, but I think the wine trail merits a whole separate trip.
Sue, we can arrange such a trip!
Everything is better with cheese, isn’t it? But, I did make a yummy Enchilada Casserole on Sunday.
Let me know when you go on the wine trail – I’m in!
My friend, Karen, makes these cheese puff appetizers that are to die for. Two kinds of cheese and lots of butter. They melt in your mouth!
I’ll have to get her recipe!
twice-baked goat cheese soufflé. it’s like eating a dreamy, cheesy cloud on a fork. and is totally do-ahead, so takes all the knee-knocking terror out of the word “soufflé.” (or maybe it’s just me who generally cowers like a pansy from them??) plus, not to forget that goat cheese is pretty much like crack. just, you know, without the lindsay lohan side-effects.
Sounds amazing!
SO good. terribly impressive and not at all faffy. http://www.deliaonline.com/recipes/type-of-dish/souffle/twice-baked-goats-cheese-souffles-with-chives-and-balsamic-vinaigrette.html if you don’t know delia, she’s like the british martha stewart. just without the jail time.
I love homemade mac and cheese!!
Me too – but my kids won’t touch it! (Which leaves me with way too much mac-n-cheesy temptation)
Being a lacto-ovo vegetarian….cheese is big in my recipe file. An old favorite of mine is artichoke quiche squares…very tasty and easty to take to parties to share! Will try your
Butternut/Cheese/Rigatoni recipe, Sue! Thanks.
Shirley
My favorite cheese treat (in the early summer) is homemade pizza with beet greens, garlic and mozzarella. Healthy as well as delicious!
Love,
MomBee
I hope I win!
Congrats to our winner, Dani F.! And thank you to all who entered the giveaway.