Post Messenger Recorder -

Hello! My name is Sarah Blumer, and I am the 2018-2019 Monticello Dairy Queen. My parents are Ron and Jen Blumer.

With Christmas just a few days away, I would like to share some ideas on how you can incorporate dairy products in your favorite festivities, celebrations, and family gatherings. Family traditions are a huge part of the Christmas season, and, in my family, dairy products play an important role in many of our traditions.

The Christmas season is a great time for baking cookies, making candies, and creating beautiful desserts. Each year, my family spends a whole day baking and then we deliver baskets of our homemade treats to our neighbors. When we bake, we make sure to incorporate dairy products by using real butter. And, of course, we save a few cookies to serve to Santa on Christmas Eve, along with a glass of milk.

On Christmas morning, after we've had a chance to see what has been left in our stockings, we enjoy a breakfast casserole made with eggs, ham, milk, and cheese.

At Christmas and throughout the winter months, hot chocolate made with milk is a great way to warm up after enjoying some sledding or ice skating. I hope you'll try my family's favorite recipe for hot chocolate:

1 package (12 ounces) milk chocolate chips

1 teaspoon vanilla

1 can sweetened condensed milk

1.5 cups whipping cream

6 cups milk

Add all ingredients to a crock pot and cook on low for two hours. Stir every ten minutes or so to make sure it's well combined. Garnish with your favorite toppings and enjoy!

I am looking forward to continuing to share my love for Green County and the agricultural industry throughout my year as Monticello's Dairy Queen. If you have a community event that you would like me to attend as a representative of the Green County Ag Chest, please contact me at sjblumer@icloud.com.

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!