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Pressed for Time? Try This Genius Whipped Cream Hack for Store-Bought Goodies

December 7, 2015 · by Tiffany Merritt · 1 Comment

This post brought to you by DairyPure Milk. The content and opinions expressed below are that of Stuff Parents Need.

I don’t know about you, but this is the time of year when I feel utterly at war with my to do list. Every morning I get out of bed and prepare for battle with a list that seems to get longer despite my best attempts to slash it. There just seem to be more needs than I can possibly fulfill, and that is stressful to say the least! I know many of you reading this can identify with this feeling.

But friends, let me tell you something I’ve learned: when you are feeling like too much is being asked of you, you might just find, as I have, that the person doing too much asking is yourself.

Here’s an example for you: this week I’ve been majorly stressing over a dessert I needed to provide for an event. How in the world was I going to find the time to find the perfect Pinterest-worthy recipe, make sure that I get it just right on the first try and then wow the crowd with its insanely awesome taste and look?

But when I sat down to really think it all through, I realized that the only person who was asking me to do all of those things was me. I really didn’t have time to create a new dessert from scratch this week, and so I gave myself permission to let the grocery store do the baking for me. I could provide a homemade topping that would take the flavor profile up a notch and save my sanity all at once.

So as a compliment to these store bought chocolate goodies I purchased, I made an AWESOME whipped topping. It only takes a few ingredients and a few minutes and it tastes extraordinary. I hope you enjoy this simple and delicious recipe for Orange Blossom Whipped Cream.

Ingredients:

1 cup DairyPure heavy whipping cream
2 tsp sugar
1tsp orange zest
1 tsp orange flower water (found mine on Amazon!)

Begin by grating your orange peel using a zester. This adds such great flavor and a bit of color to the recipe. If you don’t own a microplane zester, this is the one to get that will go the distance. I’ve had mine for a decade and it still works amazingly well.

Add all the remaining ingredients together with the orange zest in a mixing bowl and then mix on the highest setting of your mixer until stiff peaks are formed.

When the mixture is getting close to forming those peaks, give it a taste to see if the sweetness is to your liking. You can add a bit more sugar at this point if you desire.

Now all you need to do is add this to your dessert of choice! Yum!!!

If you are in need of a simple and delicious solution to some of your holiday baking needs, give this recipe a try in conjunction with something store bought (I think it goes best with chocolate!). I hope this idea helped you take some of the stress out of your to do list this holiday season. For more simple and delicious ideas and to Learn more about DairyPure, check out the DairyPure website, as well as DairyPure on Facebook. You can also find DairyPure Recipe inspiration on Pinterest

Hang in there, friends!

5 Super Simple Fall Decor Ideas (Using Food!)

October 15, 2015 · by Tiffany Merritt · Leave a Comment

This post brought to you by DairyPure Milk. The content and opinions expressed below are that of Stuff Parents Need.

Friends I’ve put together some great ways to decorate for the fall. In addition to being super easy, they are also thrifty, because they utilize food! Enjoy!

1. Popcorn

Popcorn kernals are the perfect color for fall. They look fantastic in a votive with a candle. Easy!

2. Gourds

You can pick these up at your nearest grocery store this time of year. They look great on a table runner, or as a ring around a candle votive, as shown above.

3. Pumpkin Made Easy

I have no idea how to carve a pumpkin, but I know how to dress one up in 30 seconds! Put a mask on your pumpkin and call it good, because it is!

4. Apples

Find a cute bucket and fill it to the brim with apples. Put it where the kids can reach it so they’ll take a bite out of the display!

5. Hot Chocolate Bar

This idea can adapt to any upcoming holiday. For Halloween we have spooky names for the hot chocolate elements. Keep the tray on display and break out the DairyPure whole milk when company arrives. Go for DairyPure and feel confident about your purchase, as it is from your local dairy, and is backed by the exclusive 5 Point Purity Promise:

No artificial growth hormones (No significant difference has been shown between milk derived from cows treated with the artificial growth hormone rbST and non‐rbST‐treated cows).
All milk tested for antibiotics
Continuously quality tested to ensure purity
Only from cows fed a healthy diet
Cold shipped fresh from your local dairy

You can Learn more about DairyPure on their website. My family is really happy with our switch! And if you want more fun fall decor ideas, follow DairyPure on Facebook and also get some DairyPure Recipe inspiration on Pinterest.

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How to Make Condensed Milk (Pure, Simple and Delicious!)

October 14, 2015 · by Tiffany Merritt · Leave a Comment

This post brought to you by DairyPure Milk. The content and opinions expressed below are that of Stuff Parents Need.

Do you have holiday baking on the brain, yet? I’m stalking Pinterest like it’s my job for fun treat ideas to make with my kids for Halloween, Dia de los Muertos, Thanksgiving, Christmas, and should there be any random dessert holidays in between now and then (National Chocolate Day, anyone?) I’m all over it.

To be ready for all that awesome dessert making, this is usually the time of year when I stock up on sweetened condensed milk. But this year I thought I’d try my hand at making it myself, and I wanted to do this for one main reason:

If I make it, I control the ingredients.

I don’t have to worry that preservatives were added to make it shelf stable. I don’t have to wonder about the quality of the milk (since we all know I’ll be rockin’ the DairyPure, which is my family’s choice for dairy), and I can choose the type of sweetener (for me, that means I’ll pass on that highly processed white stuff and will go for something a little more natural, as well as something organic).

The main thing I learned about how to make condensed milk during my weekend experiment was that it is super easy, but does take quite a long time. So it’s definitely a weekend project, or something to tackle any time you know you will be home and also awake for 3-4 hours. But the good news is that it will take precious little of your attention during that time.

Let’s dig in and learn together how to make condensed milk!

Ingredients:

2 cups DairyPure whole milk
2/3 cup sweetner of your choice (I chose organic cane sugar)
2 2/3 tbsp butter
1 tsp vanilla extract

Since having control over the quality of ingredients was a motivator for me to make my own condensed milk, I started with DairyPure milk. This milk come from your local dairy and has an exclusive 5 Point Purity Promise:

No artificial growth hormones (no significant difference has been shown between milk derived from cows treated with the artificial growth hormone rbST and non‐rbST‐treated cows).
All milk is tested for antibiotics
Continuously quality tested to ensure purity
Only from cows fed a healthy diet
Cold shipped fresh from your local dairy

Take 2 cups of DairyPure whole milk and add it to a saucepan on medium heat.

Now add 2/3 cup of your chosen sweetener, and stir constantly util the sweetner has dissolved into the milk. Continue stirring until you notice the milk just starting to steam. Now turn the burner to its lowest setting and let it reduce by half, stirring occasionally (I stirred maybe every 15 minutes or so). I found this process to take 3 hours and 15 minutes. I checked to see how much the milk mixture was reduced by simply by pouring it back into the measuring cup.

Once your milk mixture is down to about 1 cup in measurement, it’s time to turn off the burner and add the butter and vanilla extract, whisking constatly until well combined. Now pour the contents into a glass jar with a lid and allow to cool. I can’t say for certain how long this will stay good in the refrigerator, but I would aim to use it up within a few days just to be safe. You might notice that your final product seems a bit runnier than the store bought version. It will thicken as it cools, though I found the end product to still be a bit thinner than what I was expecting. However, I did use it in a recipe and had excellent results. You could also let the milk reduce by more than half, though, if you really want it to be thick.

If you want to Learn more about DairyPure check out the website for details and for your nearest provider. And before you get all your holiday bakign planned out, be sure to look through the DairyPure Recipe inspiration on Pinterest, and follow DairyPure on Facebook for all the latest tips and ideas.

I hope you enjoy your homemade condensed milk and the satisfaction that comes from knowing you did it yourself AND you know exactly what’s in it! 🙂

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Pumpkin Pie Milkshake: Pure Fall Deliciousness

September 24, 2015 · by Tiffany Merritt · 2 Comments

This post brought to you by DairyPure Milk. The content and opinions expressed below are that of Stuff Parents Need.

Fall is finally officially here! How’s the weather looking in your area? Here in east Tennessee the leaves are starting to change, and we’ve had a handful of days in the ’70s…just enough of a change to make me want to start making pumpkin EVERYTHING.

One of my favorite new ways to make use of this great super food has been, of course, to turn it into a delicious dessert. And true to my style, I like to keep my time in the kitchen down to a minimum. Why use a pie pan and 45 minutes to make a pumpkin pie, for example, when I can take a few key ingredients and a blender and have a pumpkin pie milkshake in just a few minutes? 🙂

Here’s what you’ll need to recreate this super yum treat!

2 1/4 cup DairyPure milk
4 bananas (frozen is ideal)
1 cup pumpkin puree
2 tsp pumpkin pie spice
1/2 cup DairyPure heavy whipping cream
1 Tbsp sugar
2 graham crackers, crumbled

Combine all ingredients except for graham crackers, whipping cream and sugar in a blender and puree until smooth.

At this point, give your milkshake a taste. If you find the pumpkin flavor to be a bit overpowering, add 1 tsp vanilla extract and blend a bit more.

Pour the milkshake into 4 separate glasses and pop them in the freezer.

In a large metal bowl, combine DairyPure whipping and cream and sugar. Blend on your mixer’s highest setting to turn the mixture into whip cream. It takes about 3 minutes for it to thicken. Remember, you aren’t looking for peaks that are as stiff as a meringue!

Divide your whipped topping among your milkshakes, and then sprinkle graham crackers on top. An additional optional topping could be a sprinkle of cinnamon.

A critical component of a great recipe is great ingredients. I choose DairyPure milk for my family because of it’s exclusive 5 Point Purity Promise:

No artificial growth hormones (“No significant difference has been shown between milk derived from cows treated with the artificial growth hormone rbST and non‐rbST‐treated cows.”)
All milk is tested for antibiotics
Continuously quality tested to ensure purity
Only from cows fed a healthy diet
Cold shipped fresh from your local dairy

I care about these matters when it comes to the milk I am offering to my family. We are really happy with our choice, as the product tastes fantastic, be it by the glass, in our cereal, or even as a component of a special treat, like a pumpkin pie milkshake. Besides, cleanup is always easier when the thing you make gets entirely consumed. 🙂 Take a moment to Learn more about DairyPure; it might be the right choice for your family, too!

And if you want more yummy ideas for fall or any time, get your DairyPure Recipe inspiration on Pinterest and follow DairyPure on Facebook

Chocolate Mint Pudding Using Fresh, Simple Ingredients

June 16, 2015 · by Tiffany Merritt · Leave a Comment

This post brought to you by DairyPure Milk. The content and opinions expressed below are that of Stuff Parents Need.

Last week our Community Support Agriculture (CSA) basket fro our local farmer included some fresh mint. The smell was out-of-this-world and I immediately knew that I wanted to make something fabulous with it.

I also know who I am in the kitchen: someone who likes to get in and out without too much hassle. I thought perhaps a chocolate mint pudding mightbe the perfect use for this mint. I’d love to show you how easy it is to recreate a made-from-scratch pudding!

I think the bulk of your success with this recipe is going to happen when you choose your ingredients. I recommend choosing local for as much as you can, as well as choosing items that aren’t highly processed. For example, when you are selecting your milk, look for the DairyPure sign on the carton. You can Learn more about DairyPure by clicking the link, but the main thing you should know is that only DairyPure milk comes with the exclusive 5 Point Purity Promise:

No artificial growth hormones (No significant difference has been shown between milk derived from cows treated with the artificial growth hormone rbST and non‐rbST‐treated cows.”)
All milk is tested for antibiotics
Continuously quality tested to ensure purity
Only from cows fed a healthy diet
Cold shipped fresh from your local dairy

I also opted for locally grown mint and eggs. I went with a more naturally processed cacao powder and I chose a coconut sugar, which is lower on the glycemic index and doesn’t result in a sugar crash when you consume it.

Chocolate Mint Pudding

Ingredients:

2 cups DairyPure whole milk
1/3 cup fresh mint leaves, muddled
1/2 cup coconut sugar
1/3 cup natural cacao powder
4 tsp cornstarch
3 large egg yolks
2 tsp pure vanilla extract
1/4 tsp salt

Servings: 6 smaller servings or 4 larger servings

Prep time: 5 minutes

Cooking time: 40 minutes

Total time (including chilling): 4 hours, 45 minutes

Begin by removing the leaves from your mint and placing in a bowl. Add 1 Tbsp from the milk you have set aside, and 1 Tbsp from the sugar you have set aside. Use a muddler to crush the mint leaves, or simply use the back of a spoon. Crushing or bruising the leaves releases the oils much better than chopping, so the flavor will be better. Muddle for about 10 seconds.

Place the remaining milk in a saucepan and heat until it is hot to the touch but not boiling. Add the crushed mint mixture and turn off the heat, allowing the leaves to steep in the milk for half an hour.

Meanwhile, combine cornstarch, salt, egg yolks and vanilla extract in a bowl. Mix well and set aside.

Once the mint has steeped in the milk for half an hour, remove the mint. If few tiny bits remain, don’t sweat it! Now slowly add the egg mixture to the steeped milk, stirring constantly while combining.

Return the saucepan to the stove. Add the sugar and cacao powder and cook over medium-high heat, whisking constantly until it begins to boil. Reduce the heat to medium-low or low (just enough for a gentle simmer) and cook for another 2-3 minutes, until thick, whisking almost constantly (whisking makes it frothy, so you will have to stop here and there to see if it is boiling, yet).

Place the pudding in individual serving cups and chill until set (at least 4 hours) (yes the waiting is the harest part).

The finished product is worth the wait, and that pop of fresh mint is delightful in every way. This is a yummy sweet treat that actually isn’t overwhelmingly sweet, which I love. I hope you’ll try it!

Want more fresh ideas? Get some DairyPure Recipe inspiration on Pinterest and follow DairyPure on Facebook.

Pure Breakfast Deliciousness: Peachy Protein Shake

May 27, 2015 · by Tiffany Merritt · 1 Comment

This post brought to you by DairyPure Milk. The content and opinions expressed below are that of Stuff Parents Need.

During the school year I confess that we fell into a bit of a funk with our breakfast options. Like most families, we are usually a bit rushed during those first few hours of the day as we prepare to launch in all our separate directions. I found myself buying the same 2-3 things for our breakfasts simply because they seemed to be quick and to be consumed without complaint.

But now that summer is here, we are a bit more relaxed and can spend a bit more time thinking bout meal prep (don’t let this confuse you with spending more time PREPARING the food…I still like to keep it quick!). I am glad to have the chance to give it more thought because I find it especially difficult to get my oldest child to eat some protein first thing in the morning (or ever, actually, but this post is about breakfast…).

But you know what that kid LOVES? Smoothies and shakes. I love giving her a big dose of milk to start the day, too, so I decided to come up with something that was simple, delicious, and packed with protein for her growing mind and body. And what I made was a smash success!

For this recipe, I really wanted to keep the ingredient list simple and pure, with unprocessed ingredients for a fresh, healthy start to the day. That’s why I went for DairyPure milk, which comes only from cows fed a healthy diet, and that is continuously quality tested to ensure purity. Keeping artificial growth hormones out of our milk is a priority for my family, personally, and I like that it is also a priority for DairyPure (though I am required to state the following: “No significant difference has been shown between milk derived from cows treated with the artificial growth hormone rbST and non‐rbST‐treated cows”).

So here’s what I put in my peachy protein shake if you want to give is a try with your family (especially any of your protein-averse kiddos!).

Peachy Protein Shake

prep time: 5 minutes

total time: 6 minutes

servings: 4

Ingredients:

3 peaches, pitted and sliced
1 package (12-16 oz) tofu, silken preferred
2 bananas, peeled and sliced
1 1/4 cups DairyPure milk
1/4 cup honey

1. Place sliced and pitted peaches into a blender.
2. Puree peaches until smooth. Remove from the blender and set aside. Wash out the blender. 3. Add chopped tofu, sliced bananas, honey and DairyPure milk to the blender. 4. Blend until smooth.

5. Pour 3-4 spoonfuls of the peach puree into the bottom of a glass. Top with the desired amount of the shake. Stir to combine, or enjoy it as is!

I hope you love the peachy protein shake as much as my family does! And I hope you will give DairyPure milk a try if you haven’t already. This is something you can get from your local dairy, which makes it a truly simple choice for moms. Don’t forget, it’s backed by an exclusive 5 Point Purity Promise (no growth hormones, tested for antibiotics, continuous quality testing, healthy diet for the cows, and cold-shipped from your local dairy)!

Follow this link to Learn more about DairyPure and to locate your nearest retailer. If you liked this recipe, you can get more DairyPure Recipe inspiration on Pinterest. And you can also get some new ideas through following DairyPure on Facebook. I just signed up to follow them on both places so that I can change our breakfast routine, and perhaps even get some new ideas for lunch and dinner!