Author: info@discoverdairy.com
Dairy Fun Fact
More than 251,770,000 POUNDS of mozzarella cheese is used every year to make pizza in the United States. This is equivalent to 2.5 billion pounds of milk, or 2.92 million gallons of milk.
With National Pizza Day being on February 9, share this fun fact with your students to show just how much milk goes into everyday foods that they enjoy throughout the year!
Recipe for National Pizza Day on February 9
| When you celebrate National Pizza Day on February 9, try something new that also adds an extra serving of dairy: put Greek yogurt on your pizza! This recipe for Cauliflower Pizza with Greek Yogurt Pesto & Grilled Veggies is protein-packed and full of flavor. |
| Ingredients For the cauliflower crust: – 12 cups cauliflower, cut into florets (about 2 medium heads or 3 lbs) – 1 tablespoon + 1 teaspoon garlic, minced – 1/2 teaspoon salt – 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning – Pepper – 1 1/3 cups + 4 tablespoons Parmesan cheese, grated and divided (about 3.5 oz) – 2 large egg whites For the Greek yogurt basil sauce: – 1/2 cup plain, fat-free Greek yogurt – 1/2 cup firmly packed fresh basil, roughly chopped – 2 teaspoons garlic, minced – 1 tablespoon olive oil -Salt/pepper to taste For topping: – 1 small zucchini, sliced – 3 Roma tomatoes, sliced – 1/2 inch thick – 1/2 tablespoon olive oil – 1/2 cup Parmesan cheese, grated – Fresh basil, for garnish Instructions 1. Preheat your oven to 400°F and line a pizza pan with parchment paper. 2. In a large food processor, process the cauliflower until it is fine and the texture of rice. 3. Place the cauliflower into a LARGE bowl and microwave for 7 minutes, stir, and microwave for an additional 7 minutes. Then, let the cauliflower stand until cool enough to handle, 10-15 minutes. 4. Dump the cauliflower into a thin kitchen towel. Ring out ALL the excess moisture to avoid soggy crust. 5. Transfer the cauliflower back into a large bowl and add the garlic, salt, Italian season, a pinch of pepper and 1 1/3 cups of the Parmesan cheese. Stir until well combined and then add the egg whites, mixing until well combined. 6. Divide the cauliflower into 4 balls (about a heaping 1/2 cup each) and spread onto on the pizza pan, leaving a ridge for the crust. Bake until golden brown, about 30 minutes. 7. While the pizza bakes, combine the Greek yogurt, basil and garlic in a small food processor until smooth and creamy, scraping the sides down as necessary. 8. With the food processor on, stream in the olive oil until well mixed. Set aside. 9. Then, preheat your grill to medium-high heat. 10. Combine the sliced zucchini, tomato and olive oil in a small bowl and season with a pinch of salt and pepper. Grill until charred, about 2-3 minutes a side. Place onto a plate and set aside. Keep your grill on. Once the pizza is cooked, remove them from the oven and preheat your broiler to high heat for 3 minutes. Take the remaining 4 tablespoons of cheese and sprinkle it onto the pizzas (1 tablespoon each) and broil for 2-3 minutes until golden brown and melted. 11. Spread some of the Greek yogurt sauce on each pizza and then top with the grilled veggies and sprinkle with remaining cheese. Place the pizzas onto the grill until the cheese melts, about 2-3 minutes. |
Create an Adopt a Cow Workbook or Memory Book
| This teacher came up with a creative way to keep her classroom’s Adopt a Cow activities all in one place! She made this workbook of all the different worksheets students have completed so far. Whether you teach in a traditional classroom setting, or home school setting, try making your own workbook or memory book from the months you spent with your adopted calf. Watch a short video of her workbook. |
New Animal Health Lessons Now Available
Dairy farming is a way of life for more than 40,000 farm families in the United States. To help you introduce the career field of dairy farming to your students, along with how farmers keep their cows healthy and comfortable, Discover Dairy just published new Animal Health Lessons for three grade levels. Log in to your Discover Dairy/Adopt a Cow account to access these free lessons:
- K-2nd Grade Animal Health Lesson – In this lesson, we will learn some words around a dairy farm, explore the career of being a dairy farmer, and see the ways farmers care for their cows every day.
- 3rd – 5th Grade Animal Health Lesson – In this lesson, students will learn what it’s like to operate a dairy farm and introduce animal health. Specifically, it will teach them ways farmers care for their cows each and every day. The lesson will also touch upon other dairy-related careers within the agricultural industry.
- 6th – 8th Grade Animal Health Lesson – In this lesson, students will learn how to work with others to make sure that their cows’ diet is balanced and nutritious to keep the cows healthy and happy. The lesson will also highlight the career of being a nutritionist.
Get a Customized Ear Tag Keychain With Your Adopted Calf
Did you know a cow’s ear tag helps dairy farmers identify the cow from the rest of the herd? The tags can include numbers, birthdates, or their names! If you want a fun memory from this year’s Adopt a Cow program, we have a limited amount of customized ear tag keychains available. By making a $10 donation, you’ll receive a customized ear tag keychain as a thank-you gift. Each tag will be yellow with the Discover Dairy calf on one side. You can customize the other side of your tag with your adopted calf’s name in memory of your special classroom mascot. For every $10 donated, you will receive one ear tag. You must order yours and make your donation between January 1-26, 2024 (or while supplies last).
Mess With Your Milk: Make Magic Milk “Plastic”
Don’t just drink your milk — mess with it! You probably already have everything you need in your kitchen to make your milk transform into “plastic” charms! In this video activity, you can make your own Magic Milk “Plastic.” How does it work? Milk contains protein. When milk’s protein meets vinegar’s acid, the protein molecules join together in long chains, causing curds to form. Those curds can then be molded into any shape. When they dry, you have homemade “plastic!”
Age group? This video/activity is ideal for students of all ages.
Frequently Asked Questions About Calf Care
As you share Update 1 about your adopted calf with your students, here are some answers to frequently asked questions about your calf and her life on the farm. These topics can help you make connections to how old your calf is now and what her life is like during the winter months.
How Do Calves Stay Warm in the Winter?
There’s nothing cuter than a calf in a jacket. When the temperature drops below 40 degrees, calves typically get to wear calf jackets. So, why do dairy farmers put jackets on their calves this time of year? Because calves are unable to properly regulate their own body temperature until they are about 1 month old. So the calf jackets help keep them warm and cozy during the winter months.
Why Do Farmers Move Calves to Group Housing?
Calves are creatures of habit, and any change in routine can be a stressful time for them. Moving from individual hutches to group housing potentially combines many stressors at once – new surroundings, feeding and watering changes, vaccinations, and socialization with other calves. Dairy farmers work hard to follow best practices to optimize immune function and minimize disease risks to better prepare calves for the transition to group housing.
National Hot Chocolate Day on Jan. 31: Homemade Hot Cocoa with Frozen Whipped Cream Cut-Outs
| Did you know National Hot Chocolate Day is January 31? This week, we have a cozy homemade hot cocoa recipe with a fun twist: frozen whipped cream cut-outs in your favorite shapes! Add a snowman cut-out or a heart for Valentine’s Day in February. |
| Supreme Hot Cocoa Recipe – 3/4 cup white sugar – 1/3 cup unsweetened cocoa powder – 1 pinch salt – 1/3 cup boiling water – 3 1/2 cups milk – 3/4 teaspoon vanilla extract Click here for directions on how to prepare. Frozen Whipped Cream Cut-Outs Recipe – 11/2 cups (12floz/350ml) cold heavy whipping cream – 1 1/2 tablespoons sugar- 2 tablespoons vanilla extract (optional) 1. Line a 8×8 inch tray (or any small tray) with parchment paper 2. In a large bowl, whisk together the cream, sugar and vanilla extract (if using) until the cream reaches a soft peak. 3. Use a spatula to spread the whipped cream onto your tray, taking care to even out the top.4. Freeze until solid (Recommended to do this the night before and freeze overnight). 5. Using festive cookie cutters, press firmly into the cream and lift straight up. Lay back on the tray and store in the freezer until ready to use. 6. When ready to serve, top each of your hot chocolates with a frozen whipped cream cut-out. |
Dairy Fun Fact
By three months old, a calf should more than double its birth weight! Dairy calves grow very quickly in the first few months of life.
Share this fact with your students as you look through Update 1 that you received in December!
Stuffed Cow Adventures
Hugh Goodwin Elementary School has been sending their stuffed cow, Alleyoop, that they received in their Cow Kit all around with their students and sharing their adventures and photos! Here are some fun highlights they shared with us. If you donated to receive the Cow Kit, what kind of adventures have you been having this year? Email us at info@discoverdairy.com to share!
- “Peyton took Alleyoop to enjoy some yummy ice cream this weekend at the El Dorado Creamery.”
- “Emery took her to the movies.”
- “Alleyoop got to watch the NCAA Football National championship with Nelson.”
