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What Type of Milk Do You Drink?

YumSugar — Fri, 04 Sep 2009 11:45:30 -0700

Got (one percent) milk? The Daily Mail reports that after a British watchdog organization cautioned against excessive intake of saturated fat, sales of one percent milk have skyrocketed in the United Kingdom. The Food Standards Agency warned that whole milk can lead to heart disease and clogged arteries, so shoppers swapped out whole milk in exchange for one percent, which contains more flavor than skim milk. It now accounts for 10 percent of sales.

I'm surprised to hear that people have just started switching from whole milk in Britain, considering whole milk fell out of favor years ago in the States. Do you drink whole milk?

Dairy Prices Continue to Plummet, Leaving Farmers Frenzied

YumSugar — Thu, 12 Mar 2009 14:00:04 -0700

It goes without saying that the economic crisis has left everyone from automakers to financial services firms in shambles. But you might be surprised to hear who the latest victims of job loss are - dairy cows.

At a time when costs of all other foods seem to be on the rise, we saw the downward movement of dairy prices as the silver lining. But as industry conditions have worsened, hard-hit farmers have been forced to contemplate whether it would be more profitable to send their cows to a slaughterhouse.

Farmers have been struggling to feed their herds, as prices for milk are currently half of what it costs for farmers to produce it. With dairymen in such dire circumstances, industry insiders are estimating that nearly 1.5 million of the country's dairy cows could be slaughtered this year as a result. The falling milk prices were caused by a weakened international consumption, a stronger US exchange rate, and the melamine scandal that broke out in China last year.

This situation is disheartening, and I wonder how many people have taken notice of it. I'll certainly make an effort by continuing to support the dairy industry. What about you? Will this news affect your dairy-purchasing habits?

Source

Despite Other Rising Food Costs, Dairy Prices Have Fallen

YumSugar — Wed, 14 Jan 2009 10:15:12 -0800

From rising avocado prices to the McDonald's Dollar Menu falling on hard times, over the last year, every section of the food industry has paid the price of cost increases. One segment of the food world, however, seems to have taken an opposite turn.

Prices of dairy products have seen a downward trend, as the weakening global economy has caused demand to decrease for US exports like milk. This decline has hurt certain sectors, such as dairy farmers and cheese producers: The value of cheese has dropped 40 percent over the last month. On the other hand, quite a few companies have seen the silver lining of falling dairy prices. Companies like Kraft Foods and Hershey's, and chain stores such as Domino's Pizza and Starbucks Coffee expect higher costs to be offset by favorable prices of milk and cheese.

While Kraft and other companies wouldn't comment on future price cuts, the plummeting value of dairy could trickle down to the consumer segment. Does it come as a relief to hear that at least one aspect of the food industry is seeing cost decreases?

Source

Definition: Crème Fraîche

YumSugar — Thu, 14 Aug 2008 03:00:33 -0700

Crème fraîche
A heavy French cream that has been slightly soured by bacterial cultures. It's similar to American sour cream, but has a thinner texture and less sour flavor, with a higher fat content, lower protein amount, and lower viscosity.

Unlike its American counterpart, crème fraîche can form peaks when whipped, and it can be cooked without curdling. Crème fraîche is a versatile addition to many dishes, including smoked fish, soups, and fresh fruit desserts.

Source

Definition: Burrata

YumSugar — Thu, 17 Jul 2008 03:00:41 -0700

Burrata
A mild-flavored Italian cheese made from a mixture of heavy cream and curds. It has a mozzarella skin and runny center. Originally produced in the Italian region of Apulia, burrata is made from water buffalo or pasteurized cow milk. It takes only eight hours to produce from start to finish, with no aging required.

While often served on its own at room temperature, burrata can also be used to replace mozzarella in an unusual caprese salad.

Source

Definition: Half & Half

partysugar — Thu, 13 Sep 2007 14:13:39 -0700

Half & Half
A dairy product that consists of equal parts cream and whole milk. It is usually 10 to 12 percent milk fat. In some cases it can be used as a cream substitute, however it can not be whipped.

Got Milk? You Might Need Some Extra Cash First

YumSugar — Mon, 02 Jul 2007 07:01:38 -0700

Warning milk drinkers, you might want to start tightening those purse strings, the cost of milk is going up. Since January, the price of a gallon of milk has gone up a dollar in California - bringing the minimum retail price for a low-fat gallon of milk to $3.10. Similar pricing issues are being felt across the country and are said to be caused by several factors:

High price in the corn-based feed the farmers provide to their cattle.
Drought in Australia has challenged their highly exported dairy industry.
Fewer supplies coming from Europe due to a cap on dairy subsidies.
High demand in Asia and other nations with developing economies.
Increased gas prices mean increased delivery costs.

Not worried because you don't drink milk? Think again. This pricing structure might end up effect your lattes, chocolates, and cheeses too.

In May, the Hershey Co. in Pennsylvania revised its 2007 earnings expectations, saying higher dairy input costs are "adversely impacting'' its outlook.

In Seattle, a spokeswoman for Starbucks Coffee Co. said that dairy represents from 5 percent to 10 percent of the company's costs, "and as such will put pressure on our cost structure in fiscal 2007.''

In San Francisco, Todd Parent, chief executive of Extreme Pizza ... said he expects to raise prices $1 per pizza in the near future -- a 3 to 5 percent price increase -- to cover costs.

Something tells me this might be a bad time to develop an ice cream sandwich habit...

Source: San Francisco Chronicle

Off To Market Recap: No Meat/Dairy Appetizer

partysugar — Wed, 14 Mar 2007 12:51:59 -0700

A little while back I told you about my girlfriend Melissa who is a vegetarian and lives in Seattle. She called me in a panic asking me for a few vegetarian and lactose intolerant appetizer ideas. I asked you to save your best recipes in the recipe database on TeamSugar with the keyword tag No Meat-Dairy Appetizer because most of my crowd-pleasing hors d'oeurves have either meat or cheese (or both!). Luckily for Melissa, and her fragile stomached friend Nicole, you guys came up with a lot of amazing appetizers. Here are the one's I think Melissa should use to create a well rounded spread of scrumptious starters:

Nixievixeypixie's recipe for Sweet and Spicy Mixed Nuts is perfect for a crunchy taste treat. Nuts have classically been considered a bar food and will be an excellent appetizer for a cocktail party.

Two more rewarding recipes so read more

What will look tasty next to silver bowls of sweet and spicy nuts? A simple Tomato Toast (Bruschetta) whose recipe was submitted by cheergrlad. Crusty bread, delicious tomatoes, subtle hint of garlic. Nuff said.

To round out the selection of hors d'oeurves, Melissa should offer Stuffed Mushrooms with Marsala Wine. These babies are stuffed with a tantalizing mixture of bread crumbs, parsley, and finely chopped veggies. The meaty flavor of the mushrooms will satisfy her meat-hungry guests. Thanks for sharing your cheeseless recipe emisaurusrex!

And thank you to everyone who participated! Keep on sharing your recipes in the database so everyone can enjoy your creations!

Off To Market: No Meat or Dairy Appetizer

partysugar — Mon, 12 Feb 2007 09:58:09 -0800

The other day I received a frantic voicemail from one of my best girlfriends, Melissa in Seattle. She enjoys cooking and has invited some friends over for appetizers and drinks before they head out to dinner at a fancy restaurant. Melissa is a strict vegetarian who doesn't eat meat or fish in any way, shape, or form. One of her guests has a fragile stomach, is lactose intolerant and cannot consume dairy products. Now you can guess what Melissa hurriedly asked me in the message, "What should I make?" This is a tough one guys, and I need your help (all of my crowd pleasing appetizer recipes have meat or cheese!). What should she make? I need you to add your best recipes for a meat and dairy free appetizer to the recipe database. Don't forget to mark your recipes with the keyword phrase No Meat-Dairy Appetizer.

To learn how to share your recipes in the recipe database, read geeksugar's easy to understand guide.

Would You Eat This Cheese?

YumSugar — Fri, 09 May 2008 16:00:40 -0700

A few weeks ago, while at the Oxbow Public Market in Napa, BellaSugar and I tasted a deliciously creamy cheese. The cheese was called Mélange and was from the Andante Dairy. I loved its blend of goat and cow's milk cheese that created a great flavor sensation. Even Bella - who hates soft cheeses - thought it was fantastic.

There was one teeny issue. The Oxbow Cheese Merchant had been sampling it for a while, so it was a gooey, melty creature. To me it wasn't a problem; in fact, I immediately imagined the cheese spread all over bread. However, another friend couldn't handle it and thought the gooeyness was just wrong.

So tell me, could you eat this melty cheese? Or would you have to turn it away?