Celebrating Local: What to do with your Produce Bags

Planning Your Meals

• Start by making a list of the ingredients you have on hand from your produce bag. SMC sends out a weekly produce listing every week. Sign up for our weekly newsletter here!
• Make a list of the meals for the week you plan to cook.
• For each meal, choose a fresh vegetable that will be the focus of the meal and find a recipe that features it. You can add other vegetables if it the recipe calls for it or it just makes sense – vegetable soup is an awesome way to use lots of produce – but in general, don’t try to fit the entire contents of your produce bag into a single meal. 
• Use Pinterest to organize seasonal recipes. SMC compiles recipes and ideas on their Pinterest page.
• If you don’t have enough of a single ingredient to make an entire dish, consider including it in a salad. A pint of tart cherries won’t make a pie, but they can work nicely on a salad!
• Use the weekend to prepare meals for weeknights you know it won’t be possible to cook. Make a huge pot of soup that can be reheated, or grill chicken or steak for topping salads.
• Don’t just think about dinner! Include veggies in packed lunches, and offer them as snacks. Add veggies to omelets or frittatas at breakfast, or slice up fruit and add to yogurt and oatmeal.

Storage Tips

Properly store produce so it doesn’t go bad before you can cook it. Farm fresh produce lasts a lot longer than the stuff you buy at the grocery store, assuming it’s stored correctly. If you can’t eat it, preserve it! Slice it, blanch it, freeze it, and put it away for winter. To make storage easier for berries and chopped fruits, be sure to quick freeze them before storing them in the plastic bags. Storing the fruit with sugar will extend its quality while frozen. 

How to Freeze Fruit

• Wash and sort fruit carefully and discard parts that are of poor quality. Prepare fruit as you will use it.
• Check the University of Minnesota's chart for freezing fruit to see if an anti-browning treatment is suggested. Use ascorbic acid preparation as recommended in the chart or in the manufacturer's instructions.
• Use dry sugar, or sugar syrup in suggested portions. Dissolve the sugar needed in cold water. Stir. Allow to stand until sugar is completely dissolved. Do not heat. Sugar syrup  will keep up to 2 days in the refrigerator. If you are preparing a sugarless pack of fruit that browns, be sure to treat with ascorbic acid or other anti-browning agents.
• Pack into plastic freezer bags, freezer containers, or freezer jars. Allow ½ inches of space for expansion. Pack fruits that tend to darken in rigid containers under the syrup by placing crumpled wax paper between the lid and fruit.

South Mountain Creamery is proud to partner with Gude Brothers in Middletown, MD to bring you the freshest, local produce straight to your door. Learn more about our produce and home delivery at www.southmountaincreamery.com

Chocolate Milk: Your New Workout Recovery Drink?

Chocolate Milk: Your New Workout Recovery Drink?

Choosing a post-recovery workout drink can be a difficult task. There are hundreds of products to choose from, all of which seem vaguely similar, yet claim to be drastically different. However, one of the best options for your post-workout recovery drink may already be sitting in your fridge! Here are five reasons why chocolate milk may be the best choice for your next recovery drink:

1. An ideal recovery beverage will have between a 3:1 and 4:1 carbohydrate to protein ratio. This helps speed up the recovery process after a tough workout. It also helps to replace fluids and electrolytes lost during exercise. Chocolate milk, including SMC’s chocolate milk, falls right within this range!
2. It’s a more natural supplement! It’s very difficult for a powder or pill to replicate the variety of nutrients, fiber, and vitamins we can get by eating and drinking whole foods. Chocolate milk allows you to maintain a more natural and organic diet, which can lead to a happier and healthier you.
3. Many athletes, particularly runners, lack vitamin D and calcium in their diets. Chocolate milk provides these nutrients; alongside the protein and carbohydrates you need for an effective recovery beverage.
4. When milk enters the body, it creates a spike in insulin, which can help you transport sugar into the muscle, where it turns into glycogen. Alongside this, it stimulates muscle protein repair and growth.
5. Chocolate milk is generally much cheaper than most recovery products. Sometimes it can be close to 1/3 of the price of your average recovery beverage.

So, next time you finish your workout, consider grabbing a bottle of SMC chocolate milk instead of an expensive recovery beverage. You’ll probably see the same results by drinking a more delicious, natural, and nutrient-packed beverage.

South Mountain Creamery does dairy differently! South Mountain Creamery is an all natural dairy farm offering glass bottled milk, yogurt, butter, ice cream, and a variety of specialty vendor products delivered to customers’ homes throughout Maryland, DC, Virginia, West Virginia, and Pennsylvania. Sign up for home delivery today and have milk delivered straight to your door: www.southmountaincreamery.com

Fresh Fruit and Vegetables

Celebrating National Fresh Fruit and Vegetables Month

June isn’t just for celebrating dairy products – it’s also National Fresh Fruit and Vegetables Month! Summer is just around the corner, which means plenty of fresh fruits and vegetables will be available!

Eating fruits and vegetables provides health benefits. People who eat more vegetables and fruits as part of an overall healthy diet are likely to have a reduced risk of some chronic diseases. Most fruits are naturally low in fat, sodium, and calories; and none have cholesterol.  Fruits also provide nutrients vital for health, such as potassium, dietary fiber, vitamin C, and folate (folic acid).

• Calcium: Calcium is essential for healthy bones and teeth. It is also needed for normal functioning of muscles, nerves and some glands.
• Folate: Healthful diets with adequate folate may reduce a woman’s risk of having a child with a brain or spinal cord defect.
• Iron: Important for healthy blood and normal functioning of all cells.
• Magnesium: Magnesium is necessary for healthy bones and is involved with more than 300 enzymes in your body! Inadequate levels may result in muscle cramps and high blood pressure.
• Potassium: Diets rich in potassium may help to maintain a healthy blood pressure.
• Sodium: Assists in normal cell function throughout the body. Most diets contain too much sodium, which is often associated with high blood pressure.
• Vitamin A: Keeps eyes and skin healthy and helps protect against infections.
• Vitamin C: Helps heal cuts and wounds and keeps teeth and gums healthy.

10 Tips to Help you Eat More Fruits and Vegetables

Make it Visible: Keep a bowl of whole fruit on the table, counter, or refrigerator.

Think about Taste: Buy fresh fruits in season when they may be less expensive and at their peak flavor. Add fruits into your recipes for a sweet treat!

Think about Variety: Buy fruits and vegetables that are dried, frozen, and canned (in water or 100% juice) as well as fresh, so that you always have a supply on hand. Dazzle your plate with color! Eating fruits and veggies in a variety of colors — red, dark green, yellow, blue, purple, white and orange — not only provides eye candy for your plate, but mixing things up also gives you a broad range of nutrients.

Don’t forget Fiber: Make most of your choices whole or cut up fruit, rather than juice, for the benefits that dietary fiber provides. Fruits and vegetables provide fiber that helps fill you up and keeps your digestive system happy. Diets rich in dietary fiber have been shown to have a number of beneficial effects, including decreased risk of coronary heart disease.

Be a Role Model: Set a good example for children by eating fruit and vegetables everyday with meals or as snacks.

Wake up with Fruit: At breakfast, top your cereal with bananas, peaches, or strawberries; add blueberries to pancakes; and drink 100% orange or grapefruit juice. Or try fruit mixed with yogurt!

Fruit for Lunch: Pack a tangerine, banana, or grapes to eat, or choose fruits from a salad bar. Individual containers of fruits are easy and convenient, too!

Fruit and Veggies with Dinner: Try adding pineapple to coleslaw, or include orange sections, dried cranberries, or grapes in a tossed salad.

Snack on Fruit: Dried fruits are easy to carry and store, making them great snacks.

Keep Produce Safe: Rinse fruits and vegetables before preparing or eating them. Rub fruits briskly under clean, running water to remove dirt and surface microorganisms. After rinsing, dry with a clean towel.

South Mountain Creamery is proud to partner with Gude Brothers in Middletown, MD to bring you the freshest, local produce straight to your door. Learn more about our produce and home delivery at www.southmountaincreamery.com

Celebrating National Dairy Month

June is National Dairy Month! 

Whether it’s ice cream, yogurt, sour cream, or a cold glass of milk, South Mountain Creamery encourages you to purchase more local dairy products to celebrate National Dairy Month. Dairy is the third largest agricultural commodity in Maryland. There are over 520 dairy farms across the state!

National Dairy Month was created by the National Dairy Council in 1937 and to celebrate the dairy industry and to promote dairy consumption. Today, milk is still considered a nutrient-rich powerhouse. From essential minerals like calcium, to its body building protein and vitamins, milk remains the clear drink choice for a healthy lifestyle.

Celebrate National Dairy Month with SMC:

Include milk, Maryland’s official state beverage, in your diet. With nine essential nutrients, calcium, potassium, phosphorous, protein, vitamin D, vitamin A, Vitamin B12, riboflavin, and niacin, dairy is a nutrient powerhouse! Find dairy-inspired recipes and ideas on the SMC Pinterest Board.

Join SMC on a guided tour. Learn about local agriculture and how your milk is made. All of our tours end with a delicious scoop of super-premium SMC ice cream. Visit our website for more information and to schedule your tour.

Experience Maryland’s dairy farms first-hand. The Maryland’s Best Ice Cream trail features eight dairy farms that produce farm fresh ice cream and sell it directly to consumers on the farm. Pick up your Ice Cream Trail Passport at SMC or any other participating creamery!

Sign up for Home Delivery. Drop the hassle of going to the grocery store every week and have milk delivered straight to your door! SMC is the return of the milkman, delivering to over 9,000 homes in DC, Maryland, Virginia, West Virginia, and Pennsylvania. We have over 500 products available in our online store. Sign up for home delivery today.

Find other local Maryland dairy products near you at www.marylandsbest.net

How will you celebrate National Dairy Month?  Be sure to tag South Mountain Creamery in your celebration! #30DaysofSMCDairy

Egg Storage

 

How to Store SMC Certified Humane Brown Eggs

Take care of your farm fresh SMC eggs with these storage tips!

Always store your South Mountain Creamery eggs in a refrigerator. To maintain freshness and quality of your eggs, it is always best to store eggs on an inside shelf, rather than in the refrigerator door. Repeated opening and closing of the refrigerator door can cause temperature fluctuations. Slamming can even result in breakage.

The carton in which you purchase them helps keep the eggs from picking up odors and flavors from other foods while also helping to prevent moisture loss.

Storing Fresh, Uncooked Eggs

You can keep fresh, uncooked eggs in the shell refrigerated in their cartons for at least four to five weeks beyond the pack date. If eggs are properly handled and stored, they rarely spoil. Sometimes, eggs will dry up if you keep them long enough. Never leave eggs out. They will age more in one day at room temperature than they will in one week in the refrigerator!

Storing Hard Boiled Eggs

As soon as hard boiled eggs have cooled, refrigerate the eggs in their shells and use them within one week. When storing hard-boiled eggs, you may notice a gassy odor in your refrigerator. Often, the smell is more noticeable when you open the refrigerator infrequently. The odor is caused by hydrogen sulfide, which forms when the eggs are cooked. This odor is harmless and usually dissipates within a few hours.

Picnics and Outdoor Occasions

For outdoor eating occasions, you can keep eggs refrigerator-cold with ice or commercial coolant in an insulated bag or picnic cooler.

Leftover Whites and Yolks

Refrigerate and store leftover egg whites in a covered container for up to four days. Store leftover yolks in water in a covered container in the refrigerator and use them within one to two days.

SMC Supreme Eggs

South Mountain Creamery’s Certified Humane Eggs can’t be beat*! Our eggs meet the Humane Farm Animal Care program standards, which include a nutritious diet without antibiotics or hormones, animals raised with shelter, resting areas, sufficient space, and the ability to engage in natural behaviors. Our laying hens are fed with food grown and harvest on the farm. See how SMC’s eggs compare to the leading brand: www.southmountaincreamery.com

*Disclaimer: SMC eggs CAN be beat! Try them scrambled or in a soufflé, quiche, crème brulee, and more! Visit our EGG-Citing Ideas Pinterest board for recipes, ideas, and more!

The Ultimate Guide to the 2015 Spring Festival

 SMC is excited to hold the 14th Annual Spring Festival!

Saturday, May 2 and Sunday, May 3

Join us this weekend for food, ice cream, and fun for the whole family!

Charity Raffle

This spring, SMC has chosen our local 4-H Chapter as our charity of choice. As the nation’s largest positive youth development and youth mentoring organization, 4-H empowers six million young people in the U.S annually. On behalf of the Frederick County 4-H, South Mountain Creamery is asking you to donate to our charity raffle to grow more confident and capable young people. Youth who participate in 4-H learn life skills to help them become caring, competent and responsible individuals through club work, community service, and 4-H project curriculum.  Members of 4-H work with their club leaders to develop yearly educational plans and service projects, and attend field trips and learning activities. Stop by our Raffle Table this weekend to see how you can invest in the future of our young people through bidding on these exclusive items:

• Ocean City Beach Vacation (Two chances to win a 1 week stay)
• Two Admission Tickets to Medieval Times
• Two Cider Tastings at Distillery Lane Ciderworks
• Catoctin Popcorn Basket
• Falling Bark Farm Hickory Syrup Basket
• Firefly Farms Gift Certificate
• Hoffman’s Meats Gift Certificate
• Liberty View Creamery Goat Product Basket
• Lord Byron Honey Basket
• McCutcheon’s Gift Basket
• Michele’s Granola Sampler
• The Breadery Gourmet Bread Basket
• Chesapeake Bay Maritime Museum Gift Certificate
• Handmade Quilt by Margaret Minton
• Photo by Ralph Adkins
• Dominion Tea Gift Basket
• Adventure Park USA Gift Certificate
• Manoli Canoli Olive Oil & Kalamata Olives
• South Mountain Creamery Porch Box

For History Enthusiasts

Did you know South Mountain Creamery is located in the heart of Civil War territory? Our history buff visitors will have the opportunity to learn more with these great demonstrations:

• John Milleker Photography and Wet Plate Demonstrations
• Civil War Reenactors and Encampment
• Civil War Ambulance

Vendors

Visit with some of our awesome vendors to learn more about why we choose to offer their products! Free samples and giveaways will be offered:

• Animal Planet, APLive camera, demonstrations and giveaways
• WFRE, live remote and giveaways
• WLIF, live remote and giveaways
• Catoctin Popcorn, fresh kettle corn
• istillery Lane Ciderworks, hard cider tastings
• Dominion Tea, tea samples
• Falling Bark Farm, hickory syrup samples
• Gude Brothers Greenhouses, lettuce samples and greenhouse tours
• Civil War Photographer, civil war style photos
• Civil War Reenactors, encampment
• Liberty View Creamery, goats and samples
• Lord Byron Honey, bee demonstration and samples
• Manoli Canoli, olive oil samples
• Maryland Aerial Video, aerial videography demonstration
• Michele’s Granola, granola samples
• Rolling Thunder, motorcycle display
• Sanner Brothers Maple Products
• Sleepy Hollow Lights, recycled tin cans
• Sugar Loaf Alpacas, alpacas and yarn
• Sweet Farm Sauerkraut, sauerkraut samples
• The Wild Pea Hummous, hummous samples
• DC Dills, flavored pickle samples

Entertainment

After you’ve eaten too much ice cream, sit down in our shop and enjoy some great music:

• Ernie Bradley (bluegrass music) performing Saturday & Sunday
• Special appearance by SMC’s very own Randy Sowers

 Free Activities

You have to take advantage of our free activities over the weekend! Our festivals are the only chance you have to see our production facility!

• Animal Planet Photo Booth
• Watch the Cows being milked 1:30pm-5:00pm
• Bottle Feed the Calves, 4:00pm
• Playground and Rock Pile
• Hayrides
• Face Painting by local Girl Scout Troop
• Tours of production facility and milking parlor
• Antique Tractor Display
• Cow Milking Contests
• Make Your Own Butter

Karen's Kountry Store

Our farm store will be open 10:00am-6:00pm on Saturday, and 11:00am-6:00pm on Sunday. Join us in the store for free samples and merchandise. Our 2015 Spring Festival Shirts will be on sale over the weekend.

Food

Our food tent, located in our pavilion, showcases some of SMC's meats and local products. Our rub and BBQ sauce are made locally. This year, greens and potatoes will come from Gude Brothers Greenhouses.

• Pit Beef and Pork BBQ Sandwiches
• Fresh Cut French Fries (Regular & Sweet Potato)
• Super Premium Ice Cream & Milkshakes
• Chicken Corn Soup and Chili
• Hamburgers, Cheeseburgers, Chicken Tenders and Hot Dogs

Parking

Both parking and admission at the festival are free. If you are in need of handicapped parking, please let one of our parking staff know!

For more information:

Visit www.southmountaincreamery.com

Like South Mountain Creamery on Facebook

Email us at events@smcdairy.com

The Milk Wagon

One of South Mountain Creamery vintage delivery trucks.

Spot our delivery vehicles driving down the road, and you'll see cow spots, cartoon characters, and milk bottles from Middletown, MD, to Alexandria, VA, to Annapolis, MD, and more! A dairy delivery company isn’t complete without a fleet of delivery trucks. Today, South Mountain Creamery has over 20 delivery trucks to deliver to homes in Washington, DC, Maryland, Virginia, West Virginia, and Pennsylvania.

Fourteen years ago, on April 13, 2001, South Mountain Creamery began deliveries to 13 local customers in Karen’s purple Ford Explorer. With the start of dairy delivery, South Mountain Creamery became the first on-the-farm milk processing plant in the State of Maryland.  They processed and bottled the high quality milk from their dairy cows.  The decision was made to use reusable glass bottles for the milk and home deliver it to customers, just like other local dairy companies had done since the early 1900s in the Middletown Valley.

"Spot" SMC delivering to your neighborhood in our black, pink, and brown spotted delivery trucks.

As the company grew, the Sowers added more delivery trucks to their fleet. In the beginning, these trucks were all pre-owned by other delivery companies. During a visit from an agriculture statistician, the Sowers were informed that a milk truck was available for sale in Frederick. Karen and Randy visited the owners of the delivery truck, who ran a milk delivery business called "The Milk Wagon." The woman was selling the truck and all of its contents (tires, milk boxes, supplies, etc.) They purchased the truck and brought it and a pickup truck full of supplies back to the farm. The Milk Wagon soon became Truck 91, South Mountain Creamery’s newest addition to the delivery fleet.

Years later, the driver of The Milk Wagon became an SMC delivery driver and is still delivering today! Truck 91 doesn’t leave the farm, but is a reminder of SMC’s beginning and continued growth.

Early deliveries make for beautiful sunrises!

Our success over the past 14 years as South Mountain Creamery and the past 34 years as Sowers Dairy and we owe everything is owed completely to our customers!  Your families, friends, neighbors and co-workers that have shared their SMC experiences, recruited new customers and have come out to see what we do every day – make every moment worthwhile. From our South Mountain Creamery family to yours, would like to thank you for all for your continued support.  Thank you!

Have a Brighter Easter with SMC Eggs

Did you know you can dye brown eggs instead of white for a different range of colors? When brown eggs are immersed in dye, they take on darker, bolder colors.

The Dye

Mix 1 teaspoon of vinegar and 20 drops of food coloring (use more to intensify color) in 1 cup of hot water in a heatproof bowl, cup, or jar deep enough to let you submerge an egg completely. To create different tints, vary the dipping time. To make handling the eggs easier, use tongs or a whisk.

Dye your eggs naturally using everyday ingredients! For directions visit our blog post on All Natural Egg Dyes.

Egg Dyeing Tips

• Before you begin dyeing eggs, protect your work area with paper towels or newspaper.
• Save your eggs from year to year or turn them into ornaments to hang from branches! Instead of hard-boiling the eggs, blow out the yolks and egg whites before dyeing them. To empty a raw egg, begin by using the tip of a sharp utility knife to pierce both ends of the egg; turn the knife in one of the holes to widen it slightly. Then, poke a straightened paper clip through the larger hole to pierce and "stir" the yolk. Hold the egg over a bowl with the larger hole down, and blow the contents out with a rubber ear syringe.
• Broken shells? Don’t throw them away! Crunch the dyed shells into little pieces to make a beautiful mosaic.
• Most naturally-dyed eggs have a matte finish. For shinier eggs rub eggs with coconut or olive oil and polish with a paper towel.

Egg Patterns and Designs

Try these different techniques for creative designs and patterns on your Easter Eggs!

Two-tone: Dip top half of egg in 1 color and the bottom half in another.

Dots and Shapes: Before dyeing, place stickers on the eggs. Once dry, remove stickers. Try using shapes or animals for different designs!

Stripes: Place rubber bands on the eggs before dyeing to create the design of choice. Once dry, remove rubber bands.

Personalized: Draw zig zags or pictures on the egg with a white or light colored crayon before dyeing.

Glitter: Use Glitter Glue to add sparkling designs on eggs. Allow glue to dry on eggs before moving.

Marbled: Mix 1/4 cup boiling water, 1 teaspoon vinegar, 1/8 teaspoon oil and 4 to 8 drops food color in shallow bowl. Gently roll egg in mixture until desired shade. Transfer egg to second color mixture, and repeat the process. After egg dries, wipe away excess oil with paper towel.

Color Wash: Place several eggs in a colander in the kitchen sink. Splash eggs with vinegar. Drop desired food color onto eggs. Gently shake the colander for a few seconds to help the color spread. After 30 seconds, lightly rinse eggs with water. Drain completely. Allow eggs to dry.

Get Cultured with Greek Yogurt

Eight Benefits of Greek Yogurt (One for every flavor)

A bowl of Greek yogurt is fortified with essential nutrients—it can even help with weight loss. Greek yogurt is made by separating out the liquid whey, which results in a thicker texture with fewer carbohydrates and sugar, and more protein than regular yogurt.

1. Protein

Protein is essential for good health. It is vital to cell growth, building muscle, and repairing tissue. As you age, you need more protein to keep your skin healthy and to fight off illness. Greek yogurt is a great way to boost your protein levels while avoiding heavier foods.

2. Digestive Health

Healthy bacteria help to promote a healthy stomach. Greek yogurt is packed with probiotics, or microorganisms such as bacteria and yeast. These normally live in your intestines, and having good microorganisms in your intestines helps keep you healthy. Probiotics are great for the digestive system, and especially helpful to people who suffer from conditions such as irritable bowel syndrome.

3. Vitamins and Minerals

One serving is a significant source of potassium, phosphorous, riboflavin, iodine, zinc, and vitamin B5. Greek yogurt also contains B12, a vitamin necessary for energy and healthy brain function. Many choose Greek yogurt as a natural alternative to Vitamin B12 supplements.

4. Prevent High Blood Pressure

Did you know 70 percent of us consume more than twice the recommended amount of salt? The potassium in yogurt may help flush some of the excess sodium out of your body. A study in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition found that adults who ate the most low-fat dairy (two or more servings per day) were 54 percent less likely to develop high blood pressure than those who ate the least.

5. Smile!

A yogurt a day can keep the doctor away. Despite its sugar content, Greek yogurt doesn't cause cavities. The lactic acid in yogurt gives your gums protection as well. People who eat at least two ounces a day have a 60 percent lower risk of acquiring severe periodontal disease than those who skip it.

6. Workout Recovery

Greek yogurt can be a healthy and satisfying treat after a tough workout. Not only will it tide you over until your next meal, but the protein in Greek yogurt can repair damage done by exercise.

Greek yogurt is rich in the amino acids which make up proteins, and proteins are the building blocks for regenerating muscle tissue and repairing fiber damage. Add a banana or fresh berries for a nutrition-packed post workout snack.

7. Build Strong Bones

Greek yogurt provides important nutrients, such as calcium, magnesium, phosphorus, potassium and protein, which work together to promote strong, healthy bones.

8. Lactose Intolerance

Lactose intolerance is a sensitivity to the milk sugar called lactose. The National Institutes of Health and National Medical Association suggest that people with lactose intolerance should, however, keep milk and dairy products in their diet. The lower amount of lactose found in Greek yogurt is due to the straining process, making this rich, creamy food a lactose-intolerant friendly one. As a bonus, the probiotics found in Greek yogurt also help breakdown the lactose sugar, making it easier to digest.

Don’t care for the texture of Greek yogurt? Try to incorporate yogurt into a smoothie drink. Alternately, you can use it as a topping on other foods. Use it as a substitute for sour cream on top of chili or baked potatoes. You could also make your own popsicles at home by freezing Greek yogurt with fresh fruit.

Try our new Greek yogurt from Green Mountain Creamery and get cultured! Our new Greek yogurt will come in 8 flavors: Black Cherry, Maple, Strawberry, Blueberry, Peach, Vanilla, Plain, and Raspberry. This deliciously simple, smooth and creamy all-natural treat boasts five live and active yogurt cultures, probiotics, and lots of protein and calcium. Fresh from Green Mountain Creamery in Vermont, it’s the next hit on your snack list.

Sources:

http://www.livestrong.com/article/86488-benefits-greek-yogurt/

http://www.fitnessmagazine.com/recipes/healthy-eating/nutrition/health-benefits-of-yogurt/

A Dozen Reasons to Eat More Eggs

A Dozen Reasons to Eat More Eggs

1. PROTEIN On average, eggs have 6 grams of high-quality protein! The protein found in eggs is one of the highest-quality proteins of any food. Not all of the protein is found in the egg white—some of it is in the yolk! A protein-packed breakfast helps sustain mental and physical energy throughout the day. 

2. GLUTEN-FREE Eggs are naturally gluten-free. Always have been, always will be. 

3. CHOLINE Eggs are rich in choline, which promotes normal cell activity, liver function and the transportation of nutrients throughout the body. Choline is also essential to healthy fetal development. Choline may be a key factor in the development of an infant’s memory functions. It has also been linked with increasing memory retention and recall as well as improving alertness.

4. AMINO ACIDS Eggs have all 9 essential amino acids. Our cells, muscles and tissue are partly made up of amino acids. They also play a key role in transporting and the storing nutrients. Amino acids are essential for healing wounds and repairing tissue, especially in the muscles, bones, skin and hair.

5. CERTIFIED HUMANE South Mountain Creamery meets The Humane Farm Animal Care program standards. These standards include a nutritious diet without antibiotics or hormones, animals raised with shelter, resting areas, sufficient space, and the ability to engage in natural behaviors!

6. PACKAGED AT SMC All of our eggs are laid and packaged on the farm. Watch a video on the egg packaging process here.

7. VITAMINS Eggs are among the most nutritious foods on the planet. A single large boiled egg contains:

• Vitamin A: 6% of the Recommended Dietary Allowances.
• Folate: 5% of the Recommended Dietary Allowances.
• Vitamin B5: 7% of the Recommended Dietary Allowances.
• Vitamin B12: 9% of the Recommended Dietary Allowances.
• Vitamin B2: 15% of the Recommended Dietary Allowances.
• Phosphorus: 9% of the Recommended Dietary Allowances. 
• Selenium: 22% of the Recommended Dietary Allowances.

8. MINERALS Eggs are packed with phosphorus, iron and zinc, which are vital for your body. Iron helps to prevent you from feeling grumpy, tired and run down. Zinc keeps your immune system in top form and helps your body convert food into energy. Phosphorus is important for healthy teeth and bones. 

9. OMEGA-3S Our eggs are high in Omega-3s! Our hens are fed Omega-3 enriched feeds, made of grains and seeds that are grown and harvested at SMC!

10. HEALTHY EYES Two antioxidants, leutin and zeaxanthin, are present in eggs and have been linked to protecting eyes from damage related to UV exposure. They have also been associated with reducing the likelihood of developing cataracts in old age.

11. ZERO CARBS Eggs contain zero carbs and no sugar. 

12. FEEL FULL Eggs keep you feeling full much longer than cereal or toast. The protein and fat in eggs helps sustain your energy levels, keeping you satisfied for longer and reducing the need for a mid-morning snack.

Have South Mountain Creamery Certified Humane Eggs delivered straight to your door! www.southmountaincreamery.com

SMC Fresh Veggies

Meet Larry Gude, from Gude Brothers Greenhouses! 

Gude Brothers is a controlled environment farming venture, They are experts at growing greenhouse produce. With state-of-the-art growing facilities covering 1.5 acres, Gude Brothers combine constant sunshine, optimal temperatures, greenhouse protection and controls to create natural, wholesome produce season after season. They produce local, healthy food using sustainable, biological growing methods. Gude Brothers provide South Mountain Creamery with fresh Field Lettuce Mix, Asian Mix Lettuce, Arugula, and Kale daily!

Subscribe to South Mountain Creamery's YouTube page: www.youtube.com/user/SouthMtnCreamery

How SMC Milk is Made

At South Mountain Creamery, we do dairy differently! Our animals are raised from birth and cared for on the farm 24/7. SMC is a one-of-a-kind operation, allowing us to work from field to fork! 

Step 1 - Cows Grazing

One of our ladies enjoying a sunny afternoon in the fields!

In order for cows to produce milk – Cows have to eat…. And sleep.  Cows usually spend about 8 hours grazing, 12-14 hours sleeping and ruminating or chewing their cud, and 2 hours milking. Our cows get to graze in their pasture on our family farm.  They graze in the morning after milking and in the evening after milking, They get to relax and graze on grass. SMC cows eat a nutrient balanced ration of grains and grass that are grown and harvested right here at SMC. We raise our animals and grow and harvest our crops on six farms totaling over 2,000 acres.

Step 2 – Harvesting Milk

Karen explains the milking process in the Milking Parlor.

SMC cows are milked by hand two times each day at 1:30 am and 1:30 pm– rain or shine, 365 days a year. We also have an operational robotic farm, where our high producing cows can be milked up to six times per day! Milking time takes about 5 minutes per cow. We have a double ten herringbone milking machine, which allows us to milk 20 cows at one time.  This reduces the amount of time the cows wait to be milked. Nobody likes standing in line.  Milking machines mimic the action of a young calf by creating a pulsating vacuum around the teat, which causes the milk to be released from the udder.  Join us in the afternoon and watch the cows being milked in the milking parlor.

Step 3 – Storing Milk

The milk goes from the cow, through a pipe to our storage tank next door.  Milk is stored on farm at between 35 and 40 degrees Fahrenheit until it is pumped to our on-farm production facility. The milk in our storage vats is stirred constantly so it does not separate. 

Step 4 – Transporting Milk

Milk is pumped to our on-farm processing facility daily through stainless steel pipes.  We eliminate temperature changes and transporting time because everything is done right here on the farm.

SMC uses glass milk bottles instead of plastic.

Step 5 – Processing Milk

Whole milk, once approved for use, is pumped into storage silos where it undergoes pasteurization, homogenization and bottling.

Pasteurization:

Every particle of milk is heated to a specific temperature for a short period of time to ensure all of our milk and ice cream are safe for human consumption. We use a High Temperature/Short Time pasteurization process – or HTST. This eliminates all bacteria that may be harmful to your health and ensures the highest quality, best tasting milk.  HTST is more expensive than regular pasteurizing processes but this guarantees the freshest and best tasting milk.

Homogenization:

The fat in milk naturally separates from the water and collects at the top. Homogenization shrinks the cream globules and uses a screen to push and shrink these cream globules. This process breaks the fat into tiny particles so it no longer separates.  The cream is then suspended throughout the milk. 

Bottling:

The milk is then put into our glass bottles.  Glass bottles ensure that SMC milk is the best tasting milk on the market.  It’s just one more way that you can taste the SMC difference.

Fresh milk. Delivered straight to your door!

Step 6 – Delivering Milk

Then milk is sent off in our delivery trucks to be delivered to your door! Our glass bottled milk is also available at our farm store. We also sell milk to restaurants and specialty stores.  SMC milk is the only milk that comes to you straight from the cow to your door because we do everything right here on the farm!


Learn more about the SMC Difference at www.southmountaincreamery.com!