Banana Split Dessert

Schools out, swimming pools are open,and it's hot in Northwest Arkansas--perfect time for an ice cream dessert! A dear family friend shared this recipe with me soon after Ryan and I were married. Recipes that have been given to me  always bring a smile whether I'm reading   the recipe or eating the finished product!  It's a great make ahead dessert for any celebration or the perfect treat for an ordinary day when you need to bring a smile or lift a spirit.

Banana Split Dessert

Ingredients:
2 1/2 cups  graham cracker crumbs (2pkgs)
3 large bananas,sliced
1/2 gallon Neopolitan ice cream
1 cup pecans
1 pint whipping cream

Reserve 1 cup crumbs; sprinkle remaining crumbs to cover bottom of 11x15in. pan. Slice banannas over crumbs.Slice ice cream in 1 1/2 inch slices, place on top of bananas. Cover with pecans. Place in freezer.

Sauce:
1 stick butter
1 cup chocolate chips
2 cups powdered sugar
1 1/2 cup evaporated milk
1 teaspoon vanilla

Melt butter, add chocolate chips, melt; add powdered sugar and milk. Bring to boil and boil 5 minutes. Cool and add vanilla. Pour over ice cream mixture. Place back in freezer. Whip cream ( sweeten to taste) , spread over sauce. Top with remaining crumbs. Freeze until serving time.

                                                                       
                                                               Have A Dairy Good Day!

Summer Snack Tips

Our quick trip to Texas to celebrate our uncle's birthday was three days of family togetherness centered around a lot of non-stop snacking, meal eating and being entertained by the boundless high powered energy of young children. The children seemed to be powered by the snacks they grabbed when passing through the kitchen, but by meal time, the kids were not hungry. This was the perfect reminder that snacks should fit into the day's nutrition plan to make sure that  nutritional needs are being met without competing with meal time nutrition.

With summer time full of activity and  erratic family schedules, winning snacks should provide carbohydrate,protein,fiber and some healthy fat. Low-fat dairy products are powerhouses of calcium and protein and make great choices for snacking for adults and children. Here are just a few healthy and economical snack suggestions found on the Web MD site (http://www.webmd.com):

• Whip up a smoothie using any fresh or frozen fruit,plain low-fat yogurt,100%fruit juice, and ice
• Low fat microwave popcorn tossed with Parmesan cheese
• Low fat ice cream or frozen yogurt topped with fresh fruit
• Snack size (8oz) of low fat plain or chocolate milk with whole wheat pretzels
• Whole grain crackers,string cheese and mango slices
• Cooked or raw vegetables with low-fat ranch dressing, and a hardboiled egg
• Bowl of whole grain cereal and low fat milk
• Small container of Greek yogurt
• Substitute low-fat frozen yogurt for premium ice cream for added nutrition and fewer calories

You can find more great recipes and snack ideas at http://www.midwestdairy.com or http://www.dairymakessense.com.

                                                                
                                            I'm ready for a healthy snack---how about you?

Memorial Day Tradition

When I arrived at the cemetery today to decorate the graves of family members, I was surprised to see two men walking through the cemetery.  The men were checking a list on a clipboard and pulling a small wagon that was full of flags. Row by row, they were placing a flag by each veteran's grave. I found out that these men were continuing  a tradition that their grandmother had started  to show her appreciation for the sacrifice others had made for the freedoms we enjoy today. 

All the freedoms we enjoy today have come with a cost.  Looking across the cemetery with a strong wind blowing, each flag appeared to be standing at  attention and givng a salute. It was a perfect picture to remind me of all the freedoms that we enjoy as a nation because of the sacrifice of others.

                                                                                 
                                                                    God Bless America!

Dairymom's Thankful Thursday

I learned alot about the dairy industry in Benton County when preparing for our Arkansas Heritage program. This farmer was delivering his milk to the Kraft Plant in Bentonville in 1948.  I'm thankful for the improvements in the dairy industry like refrigerated milk tanks on the dairy  farm  that keep the milk cool  before being transported to the processing plant and for our faithful  milk truck driver!

VOTE DAIRY

Arkansas primary voting is Tuesday,May22. Campaigning has been hot and heavy in our area and tough decisions will be made on Tuesday. Although voting for dairy isn't on the Arkansas ballot, including dairy in our diet every day is an important choice.

The 2010 Dietary guidelines for Americans recommends three daily servings of low-fat and fat-free milk and milk products for those ages nine and older. It's a fact that on average, Americans are consuming only two dairy servings a day. Making wise nutritional choices is important to lifelong health. Here are a few reasons to consider  casting your vote for Dairy:

• Milk contains essential nutrients, including calcium, potassium,protein and phosphorus and it's fortified in vitamins A and D.
• Milk's powerful nutrient package of calcium, plus eight other essential nutrients, helps nourish your body, not just your bones.
• The protein naturally found in milk helps to build strong muscles for your active lifestyle.
• The dairy case has something for everyone--low-fat,fat-free and lactose free products to meet taste and nutritional goals.
• At about 25 cents a glass, milk is a nutritional bargain providing incomparable nutrition, value, and taste.

You can find more nutritional information and great recipes for you and your family at http://www.midwestdairy.com or http://www.dairymakessense.com.

                                                                     

                Dairy farm families are working everyday to provide safe,high-quality milk  by
                                                  taking good care of our cows and the land.

                                           VOTE DAIRY---It's a  Healthy Choice!

                                                                              

Sunday Sweets

Sunday's deserve something a little sweet after a week too busy for baking. I was searching for something easy to make that required no trip to the grocery store and found the ingredients for the Duncan Hines Sunshine Lemon Bars. (https://www.duncanhines.com)


Sunshine Lemon Bars

Ingredients:
1 pkg Duncan Hines Moist Deluxe Lemon Supreme Cake Mix
1/2 cup butter
1 large egg
1 (14 oz) can sweetened condensed milk
1/2 cup lemon juice

Baking Instructions:

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Stir together cake mix,butter and egg. Spread mixture evenlhy into bottom of a 13x9 inch baking pan.

Blend together sweetened condensed milk and lemon juice. Pour mixture over top of cake mix mixture.

Bake for 23-27 minutes. Cool completely. Cut into 1 1/2 x 3 1/4-inch bars.




I don't think I let them cool completely before cutting and sampling--just couldn't wait!  

    

                                          Happy Sweet Sunday! 

Dairymom's Thankful Thursday

From the young

to the old,

 all love to hold a baby chick.

 These chicks provided fun for 4th graders last Friday and celebrated National Nursing Home Week with residents at a local nursing facility today.

I'm thankful for being involved in  volunteer activities that provide educational fun and joy for all ages.