Fruity Oatmeal Breakfast Smoothie

By Dianne Ruyack of Winners Drink Milk

Ladies and gentlemen, start your blenders: Smoothies make a quick, easy and healthy meal, snack or dessert. Smoothies are all the rage because they are a simple (and delicious!) way to bump up your daily intake of powerhouse fruits and veggies. Full of antioxidants, essential vitamins and minerals, they are the perfect way to sneak a whole lot of goodness into your family diet.You can use these recipes to make some yummy kid-friendly smoothies, or concoct your own tasty delights with what you have on hand at home.

It's not easy getting kids excited about fruit and vegetables. That's where smoothie recipes for kids come into play. If you present them a smoothie as something different and give fruits and vegetables a a new name (kid's smoothies) they are more likely to consume these foods.These bright, colorful, and delicious drinks will get kids to consume something healthy in a new and exciting way. Try starting your day with yummy smoothies.  Be creative and let the kids vote for their favorite!

Fruity Oatmeal Breakfast Smoothie

Rating: 5

Total Time: 5 minutes

Yield: 2

Serving Size: 1 cup

Creamy and fruity breakfast in a glass and on the go!

Ingredients:
1 cup milk
1/2 cup rolled oats
1 banana, broken into chunks
14 frozen strawberries, 1 cup frozen blueberries, peaches, raspberries
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 1/2 teaspoons white sugar
Instructions

In a blender, combine milk, oats, banana and strawberries. Add vanilla and sugar if desired. Blend until smooth. Pour into glasses and serve.

For more Smoothie Recipes, check out Allrecipes.com.

A High What?

By Sarah Correll

Yesterday was National Haiku Day.  If you’re like me, you might not be exactly sure what that is.  I checked it out, and it’s a poem with three verses of 5, 7, and 5 syllables (it’s been a while since English class).  Nevertheless, here is my attempt!

Silos, corn cribs, cows

Indiana sights and scenes

Line the roads ahead.

Alright, so I’m no poet.  But this haiku about cheese from Cricket Creek Farm is pretty neat!

“cheese surprises me

i think i know her, but then

oh! impressed again”

While my poetry skills are still lacking, there is certainly a lot to appreciate about Indiana agriculture.  The Purdue University College of Agriculture hosted “SWAG Week” last week.  SWAG stands for See What Ag Gives, and they invited the entire campus to get involved with the event.

Buttons were found on jackets and backpacks with things that agriculture gives individuals all week.

Even the bell tower got involved with a special green glow.

But more than anything else, it was exciting to see students from across the College of Agriculture and from across campus come together to talk about what ag gives.  We already can’t wait for next year!

Great Grilling Recipes

By Sarah Correll

It’s warm.  It is finally warm. (Or we will pretend it is until it is!)  That means spring sports, show livestock in the barns, and, of course, grilling season.  In celebration of that, here is a recipe roundup of some tasty grilling recipes from the Real Farmwives of America and Friends!

 Ham and Pineapple Kabobs from Goodeness Gracious

 Grilled Pizza from A Latte with Ott, A

 Grilled Artichokes from 3 Kids and Lots of Pigs

Grilled Summer Salad from Goodeness Gracious

The Perfect Steak from Beyer Beware

Bourbon Tenderloins from A Latte with Ott, A

Barbeque Chicken Thighs from Goodeness Gracious

Asian Duck Burgers from A Latte with Ott, A

I’m definitely excited for this warm weather and everything (food and non-food) that goes with it!  If your favorite recipe isn’t listed above, be sure to share it below!

A Cheesy Champ: Grilled Cheese Month

By Sarah Correll 

It can be simple or quite complicated.  It has been served with tomato soup and with ketchup (or maybe that’s just me), with one slice and with 17.  It goes by at least two different names and is one of the most popular foods at the Indiana State Fair (only 121 more days!) every year.  What is it?  The grilled cheese.

  From the Grilled Cheese Academy’s creative takes 

To the classic school lunch favorite

To Indianapolis’s own Scratch TruckGrilled Cheese (complete with two kinds of cheese and red wine braised short rib), it’s no secret that the sandwich is popular.

  

But did you know that a classic grilled cheese (two slices of bread with one slice of cheddar cheese) has less than 300 calories and is a great source of protein?  If any sandwich deserves a full month of celebration, it’s definitely the grilled cheese.  Try something new or celebrate with a classic, and be sure to let us know which grilled cheese is the best!

Back to the at least two names thing…  I’m curious, has anyone who isn’t from Allen or Adams Counties in Indiana heard of a grilled cheese being called a cheese toasty before?