Mommy Ginger
Let's talk about Business, Beauty and Babies!

How Real California Cheese Can Make Your Dishes Better

My family is fond of California cheese. I especially love grilled cheese sandwiches that we prepare on lazy Sunday afternoons when we’re at home.

That’s why I make sure to try different types of cheese every now and then to make our meals extra special.

But did you know that there are about 1831 types of cheese all over the world? In France alone, there are 365 variants that you can choose from. This means you get to try one type of cheese every day of the year. And that doesn’t even count other popular cheeses from Italy, Spain, Switzerland and the US.

One of my favorite brands in the market is Real California Milk Cheese. What I love most about them is the huge variety of popular cheese that they offer at an affordable price.

Real California Milk is among the line of dairy products of the California Milk Advisory Board (CMAB). They represent California’s more than 1300 dairy farm families who create different varieties of cheeses. And today, over 50 cheesemakers are producing more than 250 varieties of cow’s milk cheeses that carry the Real California Cheese seal.

CMAB cheese expert Joe Baird says that California cheeses are packed with natural flavors that make dishes stand out. Cheese has natural umami flavors that make food more delicious for our palates.

There are different types of cheese that you can use for your cooking needs.

Hard cheeses like Dry Jack, Parmesan, and Cheddar are great for cooking and baking because they can withstand higher cooking temperatures.

Soft and soft-ripened cheeses like ricotta and mascarpone are best for mixing in with desserts like custards and souffles.

Semi-hard, smoked cheeses add a nice kick and enticing aroma to any meal, especially on salads. Aged cheeses, on the other hand, have sharper tastes, longer shelf life, and make awesome additions to soups and stews.

The CMAB also offers a wide variety of dairy products you can enjoy from ice cream, yoghurt and yoghurt drinks, and butter. So if you want dairy items produced by healthy, happy, and well-fed cows from family farms, all you have to do is look for the Real California Milk seal.

Last year, I had the chance to learn how to make homemade cheese and butter with “The Cheese Dude,” Mark Todd. And since we drink Real California Milk at home, Zeeka and I had so much fun doing recipes at home. Zeeka made some milk shakes and I did some quick homemade butter and queso blanco.

Read more about how to make your own butter at home here.

Try out these simple and awesome recipes that you and your family will surely love!

California Cheddar and Bacon Waffles

Grilled Cheese with Tomato Dipping Sauce

Check out this awesome dip recipe made that goes perfectly with veggies.

California Protein Dip and Veggie Skewers.

Craving for dessert? See this simple recipe.

California Butter Cookies

Having guests over? Create an impressive cheese board without the fuss. Here are some quick and easy tips on which cheeses to add to yours.

The best part is, most of their products are available in leading supermarkets near you, like S&R, Robinsons Supermarket, and SM.

To learn more about Real California Milk and other dairy products made with Real California Milk, visit their website at www.realcaliforniamilk.com. You can also follow Real California Milk on Facebook for more recipe ideas.

Do you have easy and amazing cheese recipes? Share it below!

You may also enjoy:

Homemade Cheese with Real California Milk

I love cheese! I can eat cheese sandwich for breakfast, lunch and dinner without complaining! Do you know that you yourself can make cheese or butter from milk? Do you want to learn how?

I actually learned about this from the California Milk Advisory Board (CMAB), an instrumentality of the California Department of Food and Agriculture, when they recently held a cheese forum to educate Filipino mommies and cooks on the different kinds of California cheeses.

There are different kinds of California cheeses and each one has its own unique qualities – from soft and soft ripened, semi-hard, hard, to Hispanic. This was mentioned by “The Cheese Dude” Mark Todd. He is a cheese expert and consultant for respected dairy organisations in America. He also mentioned that we can  recreate these cheeses at home using Real California Milk. I was so surprised as we drink Real California Milk at home!

“The availability of California cheeses in most supermakets gives you the convenience of adding more texture and flavor to your dish when you need it,” said Todd. “However, in case you’re looking for a specific taste for your dish, you can experiment creating your own cheese using Real California Milk at home,” he added.

Queso blanco and butter are some of the cheese products you can recreate using Real California Milk.

“Dairy products made with Real California Milk are packed with flavor because they are produced by well-fed cows from family farms in California,” said Reji Retugal-Onal, CMAB Country Representative. “They are also filled with nutrients like protein, calcium, Vitamin D, and potassium that are needed by both children and adults, according to MyPlate, the US Department of Agriculture’s food guide,” she added.

California dairy products are available in leading supermarkets nationwide such as Rustan’s, S&R, Robinsons Supermarket, and SM.

To learn more about Real California Milk and other dairy products made with Real California Milk, visit their website at www.realcaliforniamilk.com or their Facebook page at Real California Milk.

 

You may also enjoy:

Spanish Sardines Recipe: Preparing Finger Foods for Kids

One of my favorite dishes is Spanish sardines. I’ve hand-picked some of the best and quickest Spanish sardines’ recipes to prepare. No matter where you go, you’ll always find a delicious sardine appetizer dish that captures the taste of your children. If you want to prepare some on your own, here’s a list of Spanish sardine finger foods that your kids will enjoy!

Spanish Sardines on Toast

This is one of the simplest recipes on the list. We all know that kids love toast. Zeeka can survive just by eating toast the entire day! haha! There’s just something about it that attracts children’s taste buds. On its own, toast is great, but with sardines it’s even better. The sardine and toast combination is a kids’ favorite. It’s also a healthier option for children to munch on.

This omega-3 packed finger food will only take around three to five minutes to make. You can simply top a slice of whole-wheat bread toast with Spanish sardines. To spice things up, you can add garlic, squeeze a bit of lemon, and some salt and pepper. You can get creative with what your kids want to add on top of this appetizer.

Spanish Sardines Cream Spread with Crostini

We all know that Spanish sardine spread definitely goes well with bread, crackers, and biscuits. But for this recipe, we’ll go with crostini’s since they are the perfect base to pair the Spanish sardine cream spread with. Kids love sardine cream spreads because of its salty taste and mild, creamy texture.

You can buy the crostini’s in your local grocery stores or make them yourself. If you want to make your own crostini’s, cut a baguette into thin slices then toast it until its crisp. To make the spread, start by heating up a pan over moderate heat, you could use the oil the comes with the sardines but you could add a dash of olive oil, it’s up to you. Sauté diced onions and garlic for three minutes then add the sardines. Using your spatula, cut the sardines into smaller pieces. In a separate bowl, whip cream cheese with cream using a whisk, season with salt and pepper, add the sautéed sardines and blend it well. Serve it on top of the crostini.

Spanish Sardine Pate

Most people associate pate with shredded pork cooked in fat. Often wrapped in pastry this cold paste is delicious when made with sardines as a base. What’s amazing about sardine pate’s the fact that you can use certain ingredients to make its texture feel like pulled pork was used. This Spanish sardine recipe is a hit with the young ones.

It’s extremely easy to make this pate. Simply combine your two cans of Spanish sardines, seven ounces of cottage cheese, seven ounces of Greek yogurt, chopped green onions, a pinch of paprika and lemon juice in a food processor or blender. Blend until it’s smooth and serve on toast or crackers. The portions mentioned will make enough for six to eight kids. Ready your ingredients for your next batch because the kids will surely ask for more.

Sardine Pizza (my own personal favorite!)

Come on, we all know that kids love pizza. Home-made pizza? Even better! You can enjoy making this pizza with your kids to make the whole experience fun and exciting. The opportunity to add whatever toppings you want to make this dish delicious is up to you and your children. Great pizza starts with a good pizza dough and pizza sauce.

Start by preheating your over to 500 degrees Fahrenheit. You can purchase pre-made dough or make your own from scratch. Place your dough on a flour dusted baking tray and brush your pizza sauce over. Now, this is where the fun begins, add your desired toppings over the sauced dough. If you have no idea what to put, here’s what we suggest. A handful of arugula, thinly sliced onions, chopped garlic, and tomatoes. Add the drained can of Spanish sardines to complete your toppings. Bake in the oven for 10 to 12 minutes. Remove from the oven and let your kids enjoy your wonderful creation.

Spanish Sardine Fish Cake

Kids love munching on foods that is crunchy on the outside and soft on the inside. The texture of these fish cakes alone will make this appetizer a kid’s favorite. It may seem complex to make sardine fish cakes but in fact, they’re pretty easy. It will take an estimated total of one hour to prep and complete this dish.

We’ll focus on a fish cake recipe that can serve up to four children. What you’ll need are 600g of potatoes cut into chunks, two 120g cans of Spanish sardines, four table spoons of chopped parsley, one small lemon, three tablespoons of light mayonnaise, four tablespoons of greet yogurt, one tablespoon of seasoned plain flour, and four teaspoons of sunflower oil.

To start, cook the potatoes in boiling salted water for about fifteen to twenty minutes. While your potatoes are boiling, you can coarsely mash the drained Spanish sardines in a bowl. Mix three tablespoons of chopped parsley and the lemon juice. On a separate bowl, mix the mayonnaise and Greek yogurt with some of the parsley. Heat half of the oil in a non-stick frying pan and fry the fish cakes for three to four minutes on each side until they’re crisp and golden. Finally, serve with mayonnaise. The delicious and flavorful taste of this Spanish sardine recipe is something that your children will love.

Key Takeaway

There are a multitude of ways you can prepare Spanish sardines. These are but a few favorites that children from all over the world love. These recipes won’t take you hours to prepare and cook. You can serve these when your kids have friends over or at children’s parties.

Sources:

https://www.yummy.ph/recipe/spanish-sardines-cream-spread-with-crostini

https://www.simplyrecipes.com/recipes/sardine_rillettes/

https://www.bbcgoodfood.com/recipes/230609/feelgood-fish-cakes

https://www.chowhound.com/food-news/47126/7-things-to-do-with-canned-sardines/kitchen.nine.com.au/2016/05/13/12/44/

https://www.allrecipes.com/recipes/108/appetizers-and-snacks/seafood/

You may also enjoy:

Get an All New Pizza Experience With The Big Guys Pizza

There are so many things to love about pizza. From the crunchy crust to its flavorful toppings, every bite is sure to be a hit at every party.

While we all know that pizza originated in Italy, there are many variations of bread and toppings all around the globe.

Turkey has pide, which comes with minced lamb or beef topped with herbs and cheese. Lebanon has manakish, a thin, flatbread covered with spices like thyme, sumac, oregano and sesame seeds.

Mexico has tostada, which is a tortilla crisped in an oven topped with a variety of meats and vegetables. It can range from ground beef, beans, lettuce, tomatoes, and even shrimp. Its flavors can also vary depending on the location.

On the other hand, China has cong you bing, which is a dough folded with scallions, chilies, eggs, and other flavors. It is then baked to its crispy, flaky goodness or fried in a hot pan or skillet.

But what makes an awesome pizza experience? Is it the crust, the sauce or the toppings you use? Or is it the technique you use in kneading the dough or the temperature when you bake it?

There are four key elements you need to focus on in making great pizza. That’s the dough, the sauce, the toppings, and of course, the diner.

Big Guys Pizza has always been a party staple for oversized and affordable pizzas for almost a decade already. In that time they’ve listened to feedback and suggestions from their customers to improve their quality and service.

For three years, they’ve been checking out online comments and did some random taste tests from all over the city. And today, they’re sharing with us their best flavors yet.

So what’s new?

Big Guys Pizza has upped the ante with familiar flavors, high-quality ingredients, and improved recipes guaranteed to make us want more.

Their new dough is made with seven quality ingredients and is now delivered fresh every day to all their branches. Their new signature tomato sauce has a blend of secret herbs and spices that suit the Filipino palate perfectly.

Big Guys Pizza also changed their previous topping menu and upgraded it to more authentic, superior quality meats blended with premium spices. All of their pizza toppings are made from real pork and beef without any fillers or extenders, making it more delicious to every bite.

Are you a pepperoni lover? Want pineapples on your pizza? Keeping it simple with just cheese? Big Guys Pizza has the right blend for every Filipino pizza lover out there.

Best of all, Big Guys Pizza is just one call away!

Now you can order, give feedback, and share your suggestions in Big Guys Pizza’s new one number system. All you need to do is call 231-1212 and get hot and fresh pizza delivered to your door.

Order now and get an awesome deal with your pizza!

From June 4 till July 4th (Hurry! You have a few days left to avail of this!), Big Guys Pizza will be giving away 10% discounts when you order through the hotline today. So hurry up and order yours!

Get ready for the #bigguyspizzainvasion from #bigguyspizzaPh!

For more information, check out their website here. And don’t forget to follow them on Facebook and Instagram at @bigguyspizzaph.

You may also enjoy:

How to Keep your Kid’s Tummy Happy and Healthy with Erceflora ProbiBear

It hurts to see when your kid is sick, especially when they couldn’t describe what’s hurting them.

At the start of the year, Zeeka often got sick. And because of that, we had to go to a hospital almost every other week. It was a difficult time, especially with all the things we currently have on our plate. Good thing that I breastfed her as a baby, because it became easier for her to get better faster.

So I kept on looking for ways to strengthen my baby’s tummy and prevent her from getting sick. I got to know more about certain foods, vitamins, and supplements that strengthen the body and keep our kids strong and healthy.

But more than that, did you know that our stomachs have a great impact on our overall behavior?

According to Hyperbiotics, microbes in the gut has a direct relation to our brains via the vagus nerve. This cranial nerve extends from the brainstem directly to the abdomen. Thus, our gut bacteria plays a role in creating and regulating many neurotransmitters that relay signals throughout our bodies.

Psychobiotics can produce happy and calming chemicals that have a stress-relieving effect in our bodies. To maintain this, levels of good and bad bacteria in the tummies should also be balanced.

I guess this is how we came up with the term “gut feel”, because we literally feel it in our guts. Haha.

That’s how I learned about how important probiotics are for our children’s health.

Probiotics are live microorganisms that help maintain the balance of good and bad bacteria in the digestive tract. These help aid digestion and also increase the body’s defense system against illnesses. It can even protect us from common colds and flu.

Lactobacillus is the most common probiotic that we know of today. A study has shown that it was an effective treatment against infant colic. Bifidobacterium, on the other hand, helps ease digestive issues such as bloating and flatulence.

Experts say probiotics may help ease children’s digestive disorders and make potty training easier and more manageable.

It is a good bacteria that are present in a lot of food like yogurt, sauerkraut, kimchi, pickles, and some kinds of cheese. But most of these foods can be difficult for kids to eat because you know, some of them aren’t really as kid-friendly.

When Zeeka was in the hospital, she often complained of tummy aches. I guess it ran in the family. When I was younger I also had some tummy problems like hyperacidity and constipation (sorry for the TMI).

So I decided to add more probiotics to her diet.

Good thing I found out about Erceflora Probibears. It’s a yummy tummy supplement with a combined 2-in-1 PROBIO-BOOSTER, Lactobacillus acidophilus, and Bifidobacterium lactis.

One pack of Erceflora ProbiBears comes with four cute little yummy cookie bear. And it also has enough probio-boosters that help improve your child’s digestion.

I’ve started giving Zeeka Probibears along with a balanced diet and it has greatly improved her digestion. Our trips to the hospital also decreased, and Zeeka is now happier and healthier.

Overall, I think Erceflora ProbiBears is effective in keeping your kid’s tummy happy. I also think they could also improve on the packaging because it can get difficult for kids to pry it open.

If you want to try out ProbiBears for your kids, they will be available in Mercury Drugs by June for only Php 540.

Try it out and let me know how it goes in the comments section below =)

You may also enjoy: