Cooking with bloggers

United Dairy Industry of Michigan put on a great event yesterday!  They invited Michigan bloggers to take part in a dairy-centered cooking class at Ann Arbor Cooks. 

 

First while we enjoyed appetizers, the chefs demonstrated what we were going to do.  So funny - this was exactly what I was going to be preparing for dinner at home!  (Right.)

 

Notice the bloggers tweeting and taking pictures.  It's nice to be around people who don't mind!

 

 

Then we got our own materials and started in ... with much joking and laughing.  We were all assigned to different parts of the meal.

 

Spring chop salad with buttermilk ranch dressing ...

Cauliflower soup and four-cheese macaroni and cheese ...

Creamy garlic mashed potatoes and pork ...

My part involved cutting up potatoes (at which I have much practice) and preparing a pork loin (at which I have zero experience.)

We sliced off the pork loin's silver skin, which we had collectively never heard of, put bacon on it, and tied it up with string, so it would all stay together and cook evenly.  (Or so it wouldn't escape.)

 

We hung out and talked, and then it was time to eat our beautiful meal. 

 

 

And finished with a salted caramel pots de crème with whipped cream and sea salt, which was heavenly.

 

 

As we cooked and ate, we talked about dairy farming and issues in food today.  Like I was asked:

 

Do I drink raw milk?  No.

Are there antibiotics in milk?  No.

Are there artificial hormones in our milk?  No. 

Are people trying to sneak sweeteners in milk?  No.

Do you buy organic milk?  No.  I like to buy milk where ours is sold.     

 

Of course our conversations were longer and chattier than that, but that's just to give you an idea of the topics of the evening. 

 

Cooking with dairy was an enjoyable night, with interesting people, and good time overall!  Thank you so much to the bloggers who took the time to come.  It was fun talking shop with you! 

Want more?  There are lots of ways to stay connected with Michigan dairy news.  You know, besides just my site.

www.michigandairynewsbureau.org

www.facebook.com/michigandairynewsbureau

www.youtube.com/user/michigandairynews

www.udim.org/content/dairy-recipes

www.pinterest.com/michigandairy

Pure Michigan Agricultural Tour

Today I went with the Michigan Ag Council as the dairy spokesperson (and blogger) for the first Pure Michigan Agriculture farm tour! 

It was so much fun.  The Ag Council invited bloggers and food writers to learn about Michigan farming and food production. 

First, we visited the Horning Farm in Manchester, MI.  They milk about 500 cows.  Earl Horning was able to answer their many questions - about organic, antibiotics (not in milk!), GMO, feed, raw milk, his favorite calves ... even what he would do with his cattle in the event of a tornado.  It's always so interesting to talk to people about farming and get their different perspectives.

Earl showing off his milking parlor

Letting the milker milk our fingers

We next went to the Michigan Dairy LLC in Livonia.  This is a milk processing and bottling plant owned by Kroger.  We went inside and I said, "It smells like milk in here."  Another blogger, Camille, laughed and said, "Who says that?"  But it did! 

I thought the plant was fascinating.  I love factory tours!  I've been to the milk plant in Ovid, but this one was different - mostly due to the bottling.  We got to see the bottles being made, being moved, being filled, and being moved out - all in two rooms.  We saw the lab, we checked out all the various machines to separate and pasteurize the milk, and we got to talk to really enthusiastic (and proud) employees.  The bloggers asked really good questions and liked the answers.  After hearing about the local milk, the safety principles in place, and the dairy farm practices, Lisa said, "This makes me really want to buy milk at Kroger!"  (Which I of course support because Kroger is a great MMPA customer!)

I also learned something I'd never even thought about - milk goes from the farm to the grocery shelf in about 40 hours.  Or shorter.  Occasionally it'll be longer if a farm does every other day pickup and the grocery store does every other day shelving.  But that's the exception.  MOSTLY, the milk you're buying just came from the farm.  The shipping, bottling, and shelving happens very quickly! 

We weren't allowed to take pictures in the plant, which is too bad, because we were wearing hairnets, helmets, glasses, boots, and coats.  Maybe one will turn up tomorrow!

We then went to Kroger to hear about their Pure Michigan campaign and to have lunch.  First, Dale walked us through the store and showed us the giant signs that featured Michigan farmers that sell their products to Kroger.  I asked if all Krogers had these signs and he told me yes.  I hadn't noticed them at my Kroger - and I even know some of the farmers on the signs! 

Then we came upon our beautiful milk-tasting table. 

Which called for a toast:

Then we walked to the dairy section and were surprised by ... our lunch spread! 

Three beautiful tables, covered with tablecloths, pretty place settings, tulips, and food, right among the shoppers!

Just a normal day in the dairy section

We were waited on and had a fabulous Michigan-made meal.  I'm a super picky eater, and I never expect to eat what's served at a dinner.  But I ate every bite.  (For those who know me personally, yes, this is the first time it's ever happened.)

Portobello mushroom covered in squashes and eggplant, ice cream with warm apples, chocolate milk ... delicious. 

 

Even our tulips had a 'From Michigan, For Michigan' sign 

Good looking and good tasting

And I never let my kids eat in the grocery store ...

Wonderful day, interesting people, fun environment - and a meal I didn't EVEN MAKE.  Hard to beat.

On the way home, I had to buy milk.  I went to my local Kroger.  I checked out the dairy section and - yes!  There were giant signs featuring Michigan farmers.  They've been there all along and I just hadn't noticed.  Learn something new every day, even in my own backyard ... or grocery aisle.   

***

Check out some of the other attendees' sites to get their take on the tour! 

 

Lauren Weber – Mrs. Weber’s Neighborhood

Camille Jamerson – The Super Family 13

Alysia George - Michigal

Regina Sober – The Crazy Nuts Mom

Lisa Nocera – Smart Food and Fit

Lisa Paparelli – Simple Food First

Kara Dykstra – Domestic Endeavors