Pet the Cows and Eat Breakfast on the Farm during Wisconsin's June Dairy Month

In Wisconsin, June is Dairy Month. On June 6, cows and dairy farmers arrive on the state capital square to entertain children and educate adults about the vital role dairy farms play in our state's economy. Free t-shirts and cheese samples, animals, kids' games, and music entice passer-bys to this annual Cows on the Concourse event. As children pet the sweet-tempered cows, "moo experts" from the University of Wisconsin and Wisconsin's dairy industry answer questions about cows, milk, cheese, and Wisconsin's dairy industry.
One of the goals of the event is to teach urban children about how their food originates on farms, and not in grocery stores. To make this point fun and remembered, dairy farms across Wisconsin host "Breakfast on the Farm" events throughout the month of June. Farmers invite the public to their dairy farms and serve up a farm-cooked breakfast of scrambled eggs, Wisconsin sausages, coffee cake, fresh cheeses, and strawberry sundaes. Most farms also offer hay rides for the children, games, musical entertainment, and tours of the dairy farm.
If you can't join the fun on the farm, enjoying a Wisconsin-farm breakfast at home is still a good time... and easy. Begin heating up some Wisconsin breakfast link sausages and you're on your way to a memorable meal. Skillet-cooked or microwaved slices of applewood-smoked, thick-sliced bacon are always crowd-pleasers. Throw in grated Wisconsin cheese as you scramble the eggs and the kids will eat every bite. Serve bakery-fresh coffee cake with hot coffee and fresh milk to complete the meal. Or maybe you'll choose pancakes instead of coffee cake. If so, remember a true-Wisconsin breakfast pancake is smothered in real butter and pure maple syrup. Accept no imitations, and everybody will come back for seconds.
Maybe you're home-cooked Wisconsin breakfast will be so good that you'll want to share it with your loved ones far away. Well, that's easy too. A few web clicks, a few days, and a Wisconsin gourmet's farm-fresh breakfast arrives. Amazing, yes. Will this "breakfast on the farm" gift confuse the kids? Will they now think that breakfast comes from UPS? Possibly, but send it to your dad for Father's Day and he'll be happy. Dad's understand that great breakfasts are made in Wisconsin.

Hosting a Summer Party for Graduations, Memorial Day Picnics, and Family Reunions

Memorial Day's almost here and it's time to plan summer parties. Grab the grill, grab the brats, and head for the park. Cooking for a crowd can be as fun as it is easy with the right food. Making the party food easy means nixing the sauces, gravies, and hot casseroles. Instead pack up the fresh fruit salads, and colorful veggie and pasta salads. Serve chips and dips beside the brats, dogs, and buns. Pass out the sodas and beer and everybody has fun!
Sounds too easy? Worried that simplicity means compromising quality? Well in some places that may be so. Some places are burdened with mediocre food, but not here in Wisconsin. America's dairy land is known for its farm-fresh food. Wisconsinites know where to get high-quality meats and how to grill them. Wisconsin micro-breweries keep the beer fresh and flowing. And no dessert is easier to serve a summer party crowd than sweet and colorful, Wisconsin-bakery cookies.
Wisconsinites have been enjoying their gourmet food at outdoor parties long before either it or they started showing up in chic, 5-star restaurants. Wisconsin brats, wieners, burgers, and chicken breasts are perfect grilling food. Rounds of prize-winning, Wisconsin cheese, fruit, wine, sliced summer sausage on crackers, and a homemade fruit pie define the classic summer picnic. Our Wisconsin food may not look fancy, but neither do we. Spend a little time with both of us and you'll recognize the fine-qualities shining through our unassuming appearance. Enjoy the best of Wisconsin and relax in the summer fun.

Menu Plan For A Graduation Party Uses Easy, Crowd-pleasing, Gourmet Foods

If you are reading this post, you are likely the parent of a soon-to-be-graduate. Congratulations. You have survived some of the most difficult years of parenthood. No doubt you have worried yourself to distraction regarding your graduate's grades, driving, and social activities. For years you have sacrificed peace of mind, sleep, money, and time. But the good news is that you are still here and sane enough to plan a graduation party.
So as you plan that graduation party, keep yourself in mind. It is definitely your party too! If you're throwing a backyard party, you'll be stressing about the weather. Keep the party menu easy so you won't worry about the food too. This means: Do not set yourself up to fry chicken for 50 people. Do not bake 5 dozen, homemade rolls the day before the party. Only bake your own graduation cake if you LOVE baking and have little else to do.
An easy main dish for a party crowd is a sliced ham or turkey breast. Make these popular, party standards special with gourmet mustards and cranberry relishes served on the side. Your guests can enjoy the meats sliced or on fresh rolls baked in someone else's kitchen. An impressive round of gourmet, WI cheese can serve as a meat alternative and as a sandwich addition. Young children who fuss about meat on their plates typically love nibbling on cheese.
Kids of course want chips and dips. That's easy. But for adults, remember the relish tray! It will add bite-sized greenery to the party table. Peeling broccoli and cutting carrots however, is too time-consuming to do on your big day. Instead, put out gourmet, pickled veggies; they're simple to serve, different, and healthy. Great food does come in jars when the jars come from Wisconsin.
On to the graduation desserts! Oder a custom-decorated cake. Ice cream on the side is great too. Or go extra-easy and put out no-mess, no-plates or forks required, graduation cookies. The gourmet cookies can carry the graduation message as well as a cake can. And everyone loves a great cookie!
See, delicious, gourmet, party food doesn't have to be complicated or fancy. Keep it simple, and you're practically guaranteed to have the fun graduation party you deserve.