Deviled Egg Chicks

- Posted in Breakfast

These little cuties are perfect for setting out at any Easter or spring event and will be loved by adults and kids alike.

12 Eggland’s Best eggs, hard boiled and peeled
⅓ cup mayonnaise
1½ tsp Dijon mustard* or add to taste
¼ tsp garlic powder
⅛ tsp salt or to taste
1 small carrot peeled and sliced into rings
6 black olives

Also needed:
sharp knife and plastic straw
Peel eggs. With a sharp knife, slice off a thin layer from the bottom of the egg so it will stand. Cut off a generous top third of the egg with a straight or zigzag cut. Loosen the yolk by gently squeezing around the base of the egg. It should pop right out. Keep the lid paired with the base.
Mash all cooked yolks with a fork. Add mayonnaise, Dijon to taste, garlic powder and salt to taste. Combine until smooth and transfer to a Ziploc or pastry bag. Pipe generously into egg bases. Replace top third, pressing slightly to adhere.

For the eyes, poke through an olive with a plastic straw several times. Gently squeeze down the straw so the olive circles pop out. For the beak, cut carrot rings into sixths. Use 2 olive spots for the eyes and 2 carrot wedges for the beak. Set chicks on a platter and garnish with lettuce if desired.

Seafood & Potato Chowder

- Posted in Main Dish, Soup

Warm up a chilly spring evening with this hearty soup. Every spoonful is packed with flavor! 12 servings (3 quarts).

½ c. Country Cream butter, cubed
1 can (15¼ oz.) whole kernel corn, drained
4 celery ribs, chopped
3 medium carrots, chopped
3 bay leaves
1 large onion, chopped
2 c. Longmont Dairy Half & Half
½ c. all-purpose flour
2 Tbsp. lemon juice
¼ tsp. white pepper
1 lb. halibut fillets, cut into 1-inch pieces. Can also use cod, haddock, clams, or other whitefish.
2 c. Longmont Dairy 2% milk
1 can (14½ oz.) chicken broth
¼ c. water
1 c. salad croutons
1 Tbsp. chicken stock base (optional)
¾ c. grated Parmesan cheese
3 medium potatoes, peeled and chopped
½ c. minced chives

In a large saucepan, melt butter over medium heat. Add celery, carrots and onion; cook and stir until tender. Stir in flour and pepper until blended. Gradually add milk, broth, water and chicken base. Bring to a boil; cook and stir until thickened, about 2 minutes.
Add potatoes, corn and bay leaves. Return to a boil. Reduce heat; cover and simmer until potatoes are tender, 15-20 minutes.

Stir in cream and lemon juice; return to a boil. Add halibut. Reduce heat; simmer, uncovered, until fish flakes easily with a fork, 7-11 minutes. Discard bay leaves. Serve with remaining ingredients.

Cheese Fondue

- Posted in Side Dish

Dip bread or vegetable slices into melted cheese for a family meal filled with sharing and conversation. Serves 4.

1 medium clove garlic, cut in half
1 cup dry white wine (Sauvignon Blanc or Pinot Grigio)
8 oz. Gruyere or Gouda cheese, shredded
8 oz. Haystack Vaquero Jack or Tillamook Medium Cheddar cheese, shredded
1 tablespoon cornstarch
1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
Salt and pepper

For even heat, use a double boiler, or a stainless steel mixing bowl set over a pot of simmering water (not touching the water). Alternatively, you can warm in a cooking pot with very low heat, stirring constantly.
Rub garlic cloves on inside of the cooking pot. Heat the wine, adding the half clove of garlic if desired, until it starts to steam. In another large bowl, toss both of the shredded cheeses and the cornstarch until evenly coated.

Add cheeses to the pot, one handful at a time, stirring over low heat until that portion is mostly melted before adding more. Stir continuously. Don’t rush it. Keep the heat below a simmer. When melted and glossy, stir in the lemon juice. Season with salt and pepper to taste. Transfer to a serving fondue pot or chafing dish with a candle below it to keep it warm and melted on the table.
Serve with toasted crusty, or semi-hard bread, cubed, or crackers; cut dipping vegetables, quickly blanched; fruits like Granny Smith apples, grapes or pears; cured meats like kielbasa or pepperoni.

Easy Chocolate Fondue

- Posted in Dessert

A cozy dessert on a cold night.

1 cup Longmont Dairy Whipping Cream
12 ounces chopped, semi-sweet chocolate chips
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
2 teaspoons Grand Marnier or chocolate liqueur

Heat whipping cream on medium heat, in a small sauce pan, until it starts to simmer. Do not allow to boil. Add vanilla and chips, and whisk until smooth and blended. Pour immediately into warm fondue pot. Stir in liqueur. Serve with your favorite cut fruits, marshmallows, rice crispy treats, or brownie bites.

Tomato-Cream Sauce for Pasta

- Posted in Main Dish

Serve over your favorite pasta. Absolutely delicious and so easy to make!

2 tablespoons olive oil ¾ teaspoon white sugar
1 onion, diced
¼ teaspoon dried oregano
1 clove garlic, minced
¼ teaspoon salt
1 (14.5 ounce) can Italian-style diced tomatoes, undrained
⅛ teaspoon ground black pepper
½ cup Longmont Dairy heavy cream
1 tablespoon dried basil leaves
1 tablespoon Country Cream butter

Heat olive oil in a saucepan over medium heat. Sauté onion until just tender, then add the garlic, making sure it does not burn. Add the tomatoes, basil, sugar, oregano, salt and pepper. Boil uncovered until most of the liquid evaporates, about 5 minutes. Reduce heat, stir in heavy cream and butter and simmer for 5 more minutes.

For a heartier meal, add Rome’s Meatballs or sliced Italian Sausage while the sauce is simmering.

Tamales

- Posted in Baked Goods

Often made for Christmas celebrations, the preparation of tamales is sometimes shared at a social event called a tamalada.

For the Pork

4 pounds pork butt

8 cloves of garlic

1 tablespoon salt

For Chile Sauce

10 medium ancho chiles

5 guajillo chiles

4 cloves of garlic

½ tablespoon cumin

5 cups water

5 tablespoons flour

1 teaspoon pepper

2 teaspoons salt

For the Masa Dough

3 pounds fresh coarse-grind corn masa

1¼ cups lard, melted

¼ cup low-sodium chicken broth

1 tablespoon kosher salt

You Will Also Need

50 corn husks

Chile Sauce

Remove stems and seeds from chile pods. Place in a colander and rinse. Add the chiles to a large pot and add enough water so they are just covered. Bring water to a boil. Lower the heat, cover, and simmer for 30 minutes. Drain cooked chiles and allow to cool before blending.

Transfer cooked chiles, water, cumin, flour, salt and pepper into blender and purée until smooth working in batches. If necessary, season with more salt.

Pork

Cut the pork into 3 inch chunks. Transfer to large pot. Cover with 12 cups of water. Add 1 tablespoon of salt and garlic. Bring to a boil, then lower the heat and cook at a simmer for 2‑3 hours, or until pork becomes tender.

Once the pork is cooked, remove from the broth and let cool. When cool enough to handle, shred the pork. Heat 3 tablespoons of lard to medium heat in a large pot. Add the chile sauce and cook for 10 minutes. Add in all of the pork and 2 cups of remaining pork broth. Cook at a low simmer for 1 hour or until the broth reduces. Taste for salt. Let mixture cool before filling tamales.

Masa

Mix masa, lard, broth, and salt in a large bowl with your hands until well incorporated and mixture looks shiny and smooth, about 4 minutes.

Tamale Assembly

Soak husks in a large bowl of hot water until soft and pliable, about 15 minutes. Drain, rinse, and shake off excess water.

Easy Sugar Cookie Icing

- Posted in Baked Goods, Dessert

To keep things simple, Lyric uses Mary’s Mountain Roll-Out Cut‑Out Sugar Cookie Dough with this quick and easy icing.

2 cups powdered sugar 2 teaspoons light corn syrup

2-3 tablespoons ½ teaspoon vanilla extract

Longmont Dairy milkGel food coloring

Whisk powdered sugar, 2 tablespoons milk, light corn syrup, and vanilla extract in a large mixing bowl until smooth and well combined. The mixture will be pretty thick.

Add ½ teaspoon milk at a time to thin icing to outline consistency. When you lift the whisk or spoon, you should still see the ribbons of icing that fall back into the bowl for 3-4 seconds. Add more milk to thin out the icing or more powdered sugar to make it thicker.

Add gel food coloring and mix until fully combined.

Heavenly Potatoes

- Posted in Baked Goods

An easy-to-make  comfort food casserole your Thanksgiving dinner guests will think is heaven-sent.

3 lbs. potatoes

¼ cup Country Cream butter, softened

½ cup Longmont Dairy milk

¾ cup Longmont Dairy whipping cream

4 oz. Gruyere cheese, grated

4 oz. freshly grated Parmesan cheese

parsley, chopped, for garnish

Heat oven to 400° F. Prick potatoes with fork and place directly on oven rack. Bake until soft and easily pierced with fork, about 45 minutes. Remove from oven, cool slightly, and split each potato in half lengthwise.

Grease a 9×13” or 3-quart baking pan. Scoop out potato flesh, add butter and milk, and mash with an electric mixer until smooth. Spread into prepared pan.

Increase oven temperature to 500° F.  With an electric mixer, whip the cream until it forms soft peaks. Fold in Gruyere cheese by hand. Spread evenly over potatoes and sprinkle with Parmesan cheese. Bake until heated thoroughly and topping is golden brown, about 10 minutes. Garnish with parsley and serve warm.

Costumed Cupcakes in a Jar

- Posted in Baked Goods

Chocolate Cupcakes

1⅓ cups all-purpose flour

1 cup sugar

½ cup cocoa powder

2 large Eggland’s Best eggs

¾ teaspoon baking soda

1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract

¼ teaspoon salt

½ cup Longmont Dairy whole milk

½ cup butter, softened

½ cup hot water

Beat butter and sugar until light and fluffy, about 2-3 minutes. Beat in eggs, one at a time. Add vanilla extract and beat until combined.

Sift together the dry ingredients and add half just until combined. Beat in milk, followed by the other half of the dry ingredients. Add hot water until combined. Do not overmix.

Divide batter evenly between 16 muffin cups. Bake at 350° F for 15-20 minutes. Cool for 10 minutes, remove from pan and cool completely.

Buttercream Frosting

1 cup unsalted butter, softened

⅛ teaspoon salt

4 cups powdered sugar

2-4 tablespoons Longmont Dairy

2 teaspoons vanilla extract

heavy cream or milk

Beat butter until creamy and smooth. Stir in 1 cup of powdered sugar, vanilla extract, and salt, until combined. Add remaining powdered sugar until completely combined. Beat in heavy cream or milk, one tablespoon at a time until desired consistency is reached.

When cool, cut the cupcake horizontally. In a one-pint, wide-mouth Mason jar, layer the bottom half of a cupcake, a few spoonfuls of buttercream frosting, the top of the cupcake, then more buttercream frosting. To dress up your dessert, decorate with sprinkles, candy corn, gummy worms, or whatever you choose!

Go-To Applesauce Muffins

- Posted in Baked Goods, Breakfast

Easy to make, but hard to resist! Make these for breakfast or a go-to snack for the kids after school. Makes 12 muffins.

½ cup Country Cream butter, softened

½ cup sugar

2 Eggland’s Best eggs

¾ cup Ela Family Farms applesauce

1¾ cups flour

1 tablespoon baking powder

½ teaspoon salt

Topping:

¼ cup Country Cream butter, melted

½ cup sugar

¼ teaspoon cinnamon

Place softened butter and sugar into large mixing bowl. Cream butter and sugar, mixing with a hand mixer or stand mixer on medium speed 1-2 minutes, or until butter mixture is pale yellow, light, and fluffy. With the mixer on low, add the eggs one at a time, beating 20 seconds after each. Increase the mixer speed to medium and beat the mixture for 2 minutes. Mix in applesauce. Sift flour, baking powder, and salt into batter and beat on low speed until combined. Scoop batter into lined muffin tin and bake at 350° F for 12-18 minutes, or until golden.

For topping, combine cinnamon and sugar. Before the muffins cool completely, dip each top in the melted butter, then the cinnamon sugar mixture.