Florida Milk

🍌🍳🌭🧀 The Dominican Breakfast — also known as Mangù con los Tres Golpes — translates to mean "mashed green plantain with the three hits" or, more informally, "the most satisfying breakfast EVER 🤩." Those "hits" are a delectable trifecta of fried cheese, fried salami, and fried or scrambled eggs.

When it's time to celebrate a special occasion, like Hispanic Heritage Month, with a big, bountiful breakfast, this is the perfect recipe to break out! 🎊🍽️

🍳🧀 THE DOMINICAN BREAKFAST 🍳🧀
(serves 6)

✨ 4 green, unripe plantains, peeled and chopped
✨ 1 ½ teaspoons salt
✨ 2 tablespoons unsalted butter
✨ 2 large red onions, thinly sliced
✨ ¼ cup apple c***r vinegar
✨ 1 teaspoon salt
✨ 1 sliced avocado
✨ 12 eggs
✨ 1 pound queso de freir, panela or plain halloumi cheese, cut into rectangles
✨ 1 pound salami, cut into thin round slices
✨ Oil for frying

1️⃣ Add the peeled plantains to a large pot with 2 cups water. Bring to a boil, then reduce to medium heat and cook 10-12 minutes or until soft. Drain water, move to a serving bowl, add butter and salt, and mash the plantains with a fork.
2️⃣ In a medium sauté pan, cook sliced onions over medium-low heat until fragrant and translucent, about 5 minutes. Add vinegar and salt, stirring to combine. Remove from heat and plate with some sliced avocado.
3️⃣ In a new pan with a little oil, fry the cheese on both sides over medium-high heat until it’s golden and crispy, approximately 3-5 minutes per side.
4️⃣ Set aside on a plate. Then, using the same pan, fry both sides of the sliced salami until brown and crispy, approximately 2 minutes per piece. Remove from oil and rest on a paper towel to absorb excess oil. Lower heat to medium-low.
5️⃣ Add more oil and fry 1-2 eggs at a time, until desired doneness. Plate the eggs with the fried cheese and salami.
6️⃣ Serve cheese, meat, eggs, avocado, pickled veggies and mashed plantains family-style.

Pack a lunch for kindergarten with us! 🍱🚌

The only nutrition that counts is in the food that actually gets eaten, so here are some of our favorite tips to make sure your kid fuels up properly at lunchtime:
❇️ Include a variety of colors and textures to keep things interesting. 🤩
❇️ Food that's fun to eat is more likely to be eaten (like string cheese!). 🧀
❇️ Include milk as a beverage for protein, essential nutrients, and hydration! Water is great, but a cup of milk at mealtime adds 8 extra grams of protein into your little one's day, helping to keep them energized 'til the final bell rings. 🔔🥛
❇️ If you don't have time to pack a lunch, encourage your little one to try a school lunch! 🍴🏫🍎 School meals are tailored to meet specific dietary guidelines while also including delicious options that may surprise you. School lunches are a great way to save some time in your day while also making sure your little one is getting the energy they need to power through their day. 💪

Don't sleep on study snacks! 📚✏️🍎 A break and a boost of yummy fruit and dairy can help give your kiddos the energy to power through their homework without crashing. 🔋

Keep moods lifted, nourish their brains and bodies with high-quality protein, and you can have some, too — it's a win-win! 😋🎉

🍓🍰 STRAWBERRY CHEESECAKE YOGURT DIP 🍓🍰
(Serves 4)

🥛 INGREDIENTS
❇️ 1 cup Greek yogurt
❇️ 4 oz whipped cream cheese, softened
❇️ ½ cup cottage cheese
❇️ 1 cup fresh strawberries, hulled
❇️ (optional) honey or other sweetener, to taste
❇️ 1 medium apple, sliced, for dipping
❇️ 6 graham cracker sticks, for dipping
❇️ 1 cup milk, for serving

🥣 INSTRUCTIONS
❇️ Add the Greek yogurt, whipped cream cheese, cottage cheese, and strawberries to a blender or food processor. If desired, add honey to taste. Blend until smooth and creamy, scraping down the sides as needed.
❇️ Spoon the dip into a serving bowl. Arrange the apple slices and graham cracker sticks around the bowl for dipping.
❇️ Serve with a full glass of ice-cold milk on the side.

Pack a teen-friendly lunch with us! 🍱🚌

For a teen with a more "sophisticated" palate, lunchtime is a great opportunity to try new, exciting foods like brie cheese! A charcuterie-inspired lunchbox will add extra variety and interest to their day while offering dairy's high-quality protein and essential nutrients, too!

Here's how we liven up bento box for a teen to make sure they're happy at lunchtime:
❇️ "Fancy" cheese slices (like Brie, Havarti, or Gouda) + rice cakes, crackers, or other crunchy snacks for a charcuterie vibe. 🤩
❇️ Food that goes beyond the ordinary PB&J can help brighten up your teen's day — try unique bread options for sandwiches, like a chicken salad sandwich on a croissant (or sourdough, ciabatta, sprouted grain bread, or even a bagel!).
❇️ Experiment with fun flavors and varieties of yogurt — from fruity options to Greek yogurt with mix-ins to kefir chugs!
❇️ Include milk as a beverage for protein, essential nutrients, and hydration! Water is great, but a cup of milk at mealtime adds 8 extra grams of protein into your teen's day, helping to keep their brain and body going all day long. 🔔🥛
❇️ If you don't have time to pack a lunch, encourage your teen to try a school lunch! 🍴🏫🍎 School meals are tailored to meet specific dietary guidelines while also including delicious options that may surprise you. School lunches are a great way to save some time in your day while also making sure your kid is getting the energy they need to power through their studies and activities. 💪 Plus, school lunches are free in Michigan this school year, so it's a win for everyone!