Cruze Farm Girl

Chicago Food Film Fest

2012-01-10T22:58:00.001-05:00

Click HERE to watch the film, "Buttermilk: It Can Help!"

Blackberry Farm Purveyors Appreciation Dinner

2012-01-09T20:33:00.001-05:00

Merry Christmas

2012-01-09T10:46:00.001-05:00

Joshua getting into the Egg Nog Ice Cream. Uh-oh!

My favorite Holiday Flavor is Peppermint Chip: Peppermint Ice Cream with crushed peppermint candies and chocolate chips.

Ayaka at Rush Strong School representing the 8th day of Christmas..

8 Maids a Milking!

Summer Shelton invited us to the Tennessee Virtual Academy's Gingerbread House Competition! We had fun serving mini cones of Peppermint Chip and milk shots!

Our Final Market for 2011 was on December 17. We are planning and looking forward for the first market of 2012 which will be the last Saturday of April which is the "Sneak Peek of the Market!"

Ayaka served up free mini cones for the Holiday Market- Peppermint Chip and Egg Nog!

..and even though, we had a very chilly market, we LOVED eating ice cream.

We were happy to have our Cousin Ida's help at the Holiday Market. She was a fun Cruze Farm Girl addition. She served up Hot Chocolate. Many said it was the best they ever tasted. :) Want to make it? It's simple!

Heat Cruze Farm Chocolate Milk and top with Real whipped cream. oolala.

Our final work day together before Christmas, the gals-Amber, Katie, Jill and Mika- ate ice cream and packed ice cream for their friends and family.

One of our sweetest milk drinkers, Robby. He is a light milk drinker and Three Rivers Market Shopper!

We were happy to have Amber back at the farm over Christmas! She helped us finish work at the dairy sooner than we would have. So, Ayaka and I got a longer Christmas Vacation!

Hope Santa was good to you.
He was very good to us, but we did leave very fresh milk and an egg nog ice cream sandwich.

Chicago Food Film Fest!

2011-11-20T11:03:00.001-05:00

Cruze Farm Lucky Dairy Farmer for a day contest!

2011-10-13T14:04:00.001-04:00

Win! Win! Win! Our contest!

You can be the Cruze Farm Corn Maze

“Dairy Farmer for a Day!”

Yes, this could be you learning to milk a cow!

That is only the beginning! You and your family (two adults and up to five children) will receive the royal treatment at the Cruze Farm Corn Maze on Saturday October 22nd!

The royal treatment includes:

Seven passes to both the adult and educational corn maze with a mini cone of Cruze Farm Girl ice cream for your hard work!
Seven passes for the hay ride to the pumpkin patch!
Five jack o lantern pumpkins!
A colorful mum for Mom!
On top of that, we will feed the entire family lunch!

You can try a delicious Cruze Burger and fries with Cruze Farm chocolate milk, or go for the best chili dog you ever ate with an old fashioned bottle of Coca Cola. If you want a real farm meal, grab a bowl of Ida’s pinto beans, slaw, and fried cornbread! Top it off with a pint of Cruze Farm milk or buttermilk. We promise to fill you up!

Anyone can enter! You can nominate yourself, your parents, your boss :) All you have to do to WIN is have the most votes/likes on our Cruze Farm Corn Maze page. How do you do that? Ask your friends (via Facebook, blogging or an old fashioned phone call to go to the Cruze Farm Corn Maze facebook page. First they must “like” the Cruze Farm Corn maze page and then vote for YOU by name. (Example: I choose Jane Doe to be the Lucky Dairy Farmer for a Day!) OR they can "like" your post on our wall. We will count up who has the most votes or "likes" on Thursday, October 20th at 8pm and contact the lucky winner! Good luck!

Don't miss out on the fun! We are open three more weekends! Saturday 10-6pm and Sunday 12-6pm. If you would like to schedule a private group, email cruzefarmcornmaze@gmail.com.

3 more weekends left to Visit

2011-10-11T07:58:00.003-04:00

3 more weekends left in October to visit the Cruze Farm Corn Maze!

Art by Melsa Stowers and Amy Campbell

Fun Childrens Activities

Book your school group at CruzeFarmCornMaze@gmail.com

Be a farmer in the Childrens Corn Maze.

Learn about Jersey Cows and see Maizy get milked

Bring all your friends. Fun for all ages.

Don't forget to book your group! CruzeFarmCornMaze@gmail.com

..and ask lots of questions!

Bring the family!

Ayaka, the Pumpkin Princess, is making balloon animals!

Hungry? Ms.Ida is making beans and cornbread! We have Cruze Burgers, fries, soup..

Try a couple scoops of Cruze Farm Girl Pumpkin Ice Cream!

Cruze Farm Corn Maze-Knoxville, TN

2011-09-27T19:34:00.002-04:00

October 1,2,8,9,15,16,22,23,30,31. Ten days of farm food and fun! This year we are delighted to be opening the bright red farm gates to all the friends of Cruze Farm. For the entire month of October we will be celebrating the bountiful harvest of 2011. Our gates will open every Saturday from 10-6 and Sunday from 12-6. We look forward to sharing our food, some fun, and most of all the tradition of family farming with you.

CHECK OUT OUR CORN MAZE FACEBOOK PAGE

Corn maze tickets will be $3 for children (12 and under), $6 for adults, children 2 and under are free. "OVERALL DAY" October 15, we will offer half price corn maze tickets for anyone dressed in overalls. Hayrides will be $2 and kid's activities will be free. There will be food, beverages, pumpkins and fall decorations for sale.

In the heart of the farm, we have created an 8 acre corn maze that overlooks the French Broad River. Inside the maze you will learn each step required to make our delicious farm-made ice cream. Calves, milk cows, chickens, and churns, they will all be hidden deep within the maze. Everyone who finds all of them and makes their way out of the corn maze, will be rewarded with a mini cone of Cruze farm-made ice cream.

After the corn maze, you can rest a bit by taking an old fashioned tractor-pulled hay ride around the farm. If you don't need the rest and your itching for a pumpkin to take home and carve, hotfoot it over to the pumpkin patch. You'll find the pumpkin surrounded by lots of fun farm activities for kids of all ages.

After the corn maze, hay ride, and the pumpkin patch you'll probably have worked up a farm sized appetite, so grab a picnic table under the big tent and get ready to enjoy some delicious farm food and beverages.

There will be lots of memory making, so don't forget to bring your camera along. Make sure everyone wears comfortable clothes and tennis shoes or better yet boots. Mark your calendar, tell your neighbors and friends, and bring the whole family for a day of farm fun at Cruze Farm in October. Y'all come, the gates will be wide open.

Cruze Farm Girls

2011-09-27T09:19:00.002-04:00

The Cruze Farm Girls have been quite busy this summer..

(L-R:Colleen, Clarinda, Stephanie, Emily)

Meet Clarinda Mosher, she made all our lovely aprons and scarves! She has a booth here. Check it out!

This summer, we did lots of taste-testing. Jack and Jake enjoyed this job. Here they are tasting: Buttermint Chip, Blackberry Briar, Vanilla, Buttermilk Lemon, Strawberry Buttermilk and Lavender Honey.

Meet Amy Campbell, she designed our lovely Cruze Farm Girl ice cream containers. We love Amy and her art!

Meet John Coykendall. John is the Master Gardener at Blackberry Farm in Walland, TN. He loves Cruze Farm Girl Ice Cream. He ate a pint and a half while he shared his garden knowledge.

Meet Dr. Joe DiPietro, University of TN President and who knew..a Buttermilk Drinker! We found this out at the UT Farmers Market!

Cruze Farm Girls Ayaka and Amber

Buttermilk facials anyone? Want Beautiful Skin? Put Buttermilk on it!

Cruze Farm Girl Frances

Welcome to the Market Square Farmer's Market!

Cruze Farm Girl Jaanki

Cruze Farm Girl Stephanie

Cruze Farm Girl Jill with Buddy Cruze

Cruze Farm Girl Beet Poppyseed mini cones!

Cruze Farm Girl Colleen

Meet Joseph and Kathryn Lenn. Joseph is the Chef of the Barn at Blackberry Farm.

Delivery!

Just Ripe sells Cruze Farm Milk and Ice Cream! Check Just Ripe out! Located in downtown Knoxville.

Archer's in Norris, TN sells Cruze Farm Girl Ice Cream!

Three Rivers Market has opened their NEW store!

Meet Governor Haslam and First Lady Crissy. Ayaka and I joined them for dinner with farmers from all over Tennessee.

Meet Slow Food Knoxville: Mika, Janet and Ayaka posing with one of the many mozzarella balls made for Pesto Festo!

Meet Artist Heather Jackson Scott. She is helping to get us ready for the Corn Maze which starts this Saturday!

This is the Spirit Family Reunion Band! We are hoping they will be at the Cruze Farm Corn Maze the last weekend in October!

We hope to see you all soon at the Maze!

Cruze Farm Corn Maze-Knoxville, TN

2011-09-15T00:24:00.001-04:00

Bring your lil farmers to the Cruze Farm Corn Maze! E-mail for more info and group reservations: CruzeFarmCornMaze@gmail.com

Mt.LeConte delivery!

2011-09-06T23:13:00.001-04:00

Made our 2nd Delivery of Ice Cream to Mt.LeConte! The Mountain Folks liked the Buttermilk Lemon and Lime Cardamom best! If you don't live on LeConte, you can find Cruze Farm Girl Ice Cream at Aisle Nine, Archer's in Norris, Butler and Bailey, Just Ripe, The Market in Maryville and Three Rivers Market!!

Cruze Farm Corn Maze

2011-09-06T11:48:00.000-04:00

Yippeee..we have PINTS!

2011-06-14T15:27:00.000-04:00

We are so HAPPY! The Pints have arrived! Find them soon at a store near you or order online (coming this August).

International Biscuit Fest

2011-05-31T18:29:00.002-04:00

Last weekend was the International Biscuit Fest, here in Knoxville. What a busy week! This was Cruze Farm Girl Ayaka's first week working at the farm. Ayaka is from Hokkaido, Japan. She has only been here one week, but we all are starting to hear a southern accent develop and she has tried buttermilk, grits, biscuits and gravy! :)

(Ayaka, Earl, Colleen)

Ayaka learned to make Buttermilk Biscuits which she, Stephanie and Amber have all mastered the art! She also learned how to scoop Ice Cream for 1,000 people. "Bless her heart" (which is one of the phrases we have taught Ayaka) is exactly what we said at the end of Saturday. Just look at her apron which is proof of the Hard Work.

(Amber and Cruze Farm Girl Buttermilk Biscuits)

All the girls worked very hard Saturday at Market Square: Jaanki, Jennifer, Jill, Stephanie, Amber, Frances, Emily, Ayaka and me (Colleen). Thanks Knoxville for the wonderful day! Please come see us every Saturday 9am-2pm and let us serve you a Hot Biscuit, a cold glass of Churned Buttermilk or Cream top milk and a homemade Buttermilk Waffle Cone of Riverdale Blackberry Ice Cream!

(Allan Benton enjoying Strawberry Buttermilk and Riverdale Blackberry Briar and Colleen)
At Biscuit Fest, we saw our Friend Allan Benton! What a wonderful man who makes the BEST BACON! Order his Bacon now! You will love it!

Finally, GREAT JOB to John Craig and the Biscuit Brain Trust! What a wonderful day in Knoxville. Thanks to ALL!
Love,
Cruze Farm Girl

Biscuit Fest is Saturday!

2011-05-26T23:51:00.001-04:00

Check out Biscuit Fest!

Biscuits rise Best in Knoxville, TN! Come to downtown Knoxville Saturday!

Cruze Farm Girl Ice Cream

2011-05-18T23:30:00.002-04:00

Come see us at the Farmers Market!
Wednesdays: UT Market at UT Gardens 4-7pm
Thursdays: New Harvest Market 3-6pm
Saturdays: Market Square Farmers Market 9-2pm

The Cruze Farm Girls

Our mini customers!

Papa Cruze enjoying his favorite flavor!

Cruze Farm Girl Ice Cream

2011-04-18T00:20:00.002-04:00

Thanks to Artist Amy Campbell for our lovely art that will be printed on our pints of ice cream!

The Cruze Farm Girls: Colleen, Elizabeth, Amber, Emily, Stephanie, Jaanki, Jennifer, Jill and Kairavi will be busy this summer churning, hand packaging and taking our Farm-Made Ice Cream to you at the Farmers Markets.

Which Markets?

Market Square Farmers Market on Saturdays 9-2 pm (beginning April 30)

New Harvest Farmers Market on Thursdays from 3-6 pm (beginning April 14)

UT Farmers Market on Wednesdays from 4-7 pm (beginning May 18)

Buttermilk Chess Pie

2011-03-28T23:13:00.003-04:00

Do you like Buttermilk Chess Pie? Kristina made 2 pies for a potluck and came home with nothing left. Read Kristina's blog for directions on how to make a delectable pie and have a laugh too.

Check out Kristina's blog:
Mouth from the South

(Photo by Mouth from the South)

Chattanooga tastes Cruze Farm Milk!

2011-03-13T13:18:00.000-04:00

Welcome to Chattanooga, the 4th largest city in Tennessee! When visiting Chattanooga, you might want to see the choo choo or the aquarium but what about The Chattanooga Market?

Chattanooga has a great Market and this year will be the 10th anniversary. This growing market is evidence of the dedicated support of Chattanoogans support for farmers and artisans.

Greenlife Grocery and Earth Fare are also supporting local farmers, like us!

Recently we visited both stores to sip our milk with dairy lovers.

Two Jersey heifer calves born yesterday!

2011-02-27T09:52:00.002-05:00

Robert Frost wrote this poem. I found this clipping from The Candy Shoppe on Etsy.

This is father, Earl Cruze, going out in the pasture to check on the calves.
By the time we found them, the sun was setting.

Milk Delivery Day

2011-02-19T10:39:00.004-05:00

Let's deliver milk..follow me around East Tennessee..

French's Market in Oliver Springs sells Cruze Farm Buttermilk. This store has been owned by the French family for many many years. While I am here, I like to get local honey for my biscuits and chat with Ray French!

Tomato Head -Maryville sells Cruze Farm Chocolate Milk. Tomato Head also uses our buttermilk to make their biscuits rise better! Check their site for daily specials. You can call ahead (865.981.1080) to order or even order online. The Pizza is always good and save room for key lime pie (yum). This day was an extra special day, I got to see Jeffrey's daughter, Lula!

The Market in Maryville is our next stop. February 28 is the Taste of the Market so mark your calendars. At the Market, you can find Laurel Creek Meats. Tracy has an assortment of meats from his farm and other farms. Come check it out! The Market also serves lunch! Lately, I have been a cracker and ginger ale customer if you know what I mean. I love the Boylan Ginger Ale.

Magpies Bakery uses Cruze Farm Buttermilk to make their cakes rise! This day, we see Miss Magpie herself, Peggy Hambright (pictured above), makin' Benton's Bacon chocolate chip cookies for Sweet P's BBQ. I love delivering here..so many yummy treats to take on the road.

Three Rivers Market was our first customer. Back in 1981, we bottled our first gallon of milk. Three Rivers Market (Knoxville's Food Coop) was the first place we delivered to. Thank you Three Rivers for 30 years of support. Three Rivers supports many other local farms: Kenny's Farmhouse Cheese, Sweetwater Valley Farms, Locust Grove Farm and TN Valley Eggs.

Next stop is The Bistro at the Bijou Theatre. The Bistro uses milk and buttermilk. Buttermilk for Martha's cornbread and Buttermilk Ranch dressing (and Chocolate milk for the gals). Check here for shows at the Bijou so you can make it an extra special night. See a show at the Bijou and dinner at The Bistro!

Greenlife Grocery in Chattanooga sells Cruze Farm milk. At Greenlife Grocery, you can find many local products like Sequatchie Cove cheese and Señor Shan's Hot Sauce. I love checking out the soups and even sampling a couple. Also, they have a huge assortment of delicious cheeses.

Last stop, class at UT with Dr. Hazari. This is my Chemistry professor. He loves biscuits and milk as you can see. He also loves Magic! Dr.Hazari is a passionate chemist.. watch this and you will see.

Happy Valentine's Day!

2011-02-14T23:39:00.003-05:00

Happy Valentine's Day from Cruze Dairy Farm.

If you like this button as much as me, go here and check out all the neat buttons from Busy Beaver Button Co.

Sean Brock's Husk Restaurant in New York Times

2011-02-09T23:28:00.005-05:00

Have you heard the Southern buzzz about Sean Brock? He is serving real Southern food. “If it doesn’t come from the South, it’s not coming through the door,” says Brock. Read the New York Times story about Husk Restaurant in Charleston, SC.

All this reading about Sean Brock and Husk Restaurant makes you want to go to Charleston, right? So, go next week for the SFA Potlikker.. (while tickets last).

Check out Husk Restaurant

Fannie Farmer makes Eggs a la Goldenrod

2011-02-08T01:42:00.003-05:00

Eggs a la goldenrod is a family favorite. It is a tradition from my Mother's side of the family, the Freeman's. My Mother made it better by changing the original recipe that uses toast to BUTTERMILK BISCUITS! Growing up, it was a great day when Mom made Eggs a la goldenrod. My sister, Frances, continues the tradition by serving it Christmas morning. I love making this for friends who have never had it before. It is a funny name, so they don't know what to expect. It is simple meal and so delicious. I really thought my Grandmother Freeman invented this meal..as you will see, it has been around for a long time!

You might remember White Lily? She was a Knoxvillian. Jack Neely wrote this story when she left.

It seems like Southern women stay loyal to their biscuit flour. While I was shopping for my flour, I met a real southern woman who tried to persuade me to buy White Lily. This lady uses "Nothin' but self rising White Lily and plain Crisco." Hmm.. I like Butter. I'm not big on Crisco. What would my Grandpa Cruze think of women using Crisco to make biscuits?

I told her I use "nothin' but Butter." It is kind of like Magpies Bakery: "All Butter, All the Time." (Love it!) Anyways, I haven't made my loyalty to flour.. yet. That is what I am working on.

Seems like Knoxville women haven't switched flour since White Lily moved North. My friend, Belinda Ellis introduced me to Midstate Mills via their Facebook page. Midstate Mills is in Newton, North Carolina and is a family owned business. I like that, and I like their flour.

I also like this family owned business, Tennessee Valley Eggs. I like their eggs, and I like the Swafford Family. They are hardworking folks. I love seeing their two sweet children delivering eggs with their parents around Knoxville.

So, I was excited to find a recipe for Eggs a la Goldenrod. It is from 1896, The Boston Cooking School Cookbook By Fannie Farmer. Here is a good NPR story about Chris Kimball's new book, Fannie's Last Supper.

Mrs. Farmer was a pioneer for precise measuring. She was known as the "Mother of Level Measurements."

Mrs.Farmer would scold me for my lack of measuring anything when I make biscuits, but my Mother taught me to feel the dough for when texture is perfect, stop working the dough.

I cut some butter into some flour, and I do not overwork this. I add some buttermilk to make it wet but not too much to make it soaked. Then, I add more flour until it is perfect. Then, I pat out my dough and cut them in rounds. Place close together in pan and bake at 450 degrees F until done.

Follow Fannie Farmer's recipe so you can try our family's favorite!

Ohlala..Eggs a la Goldenrod!

Month of Love at Old City Java

2011-02-05T10:27:00.005-05:00

Meg Parrish is the kind of friend you want to see every morning. She brews delicious coffee and she bakes goodies daily. Treat yourself and go see her at Old City Java. Not sure how to get there?..go here. Feeling lazy and want to know what she is baking before you go? Ask her on Facebook.

Are you curious about coffee? Read this Metro Pulse Article: Revenge of the Knoxville (Coffee) Nerds. You'll read about Meg and her hubby, Shaun at Old City Java and about our friend Jeff Scheafnocker of Three Bears Coffee Company: look here.

Lamar Amburn's Produce- Maryville, TN

2011-02-05T01:14:00.014-05:00

I delivered to Amburn's Produce in downtown Maryville today.

I met this cute little feller. It happens that he loves sweet milk. He has never tried Cruze Milk. So, I gave him a pint of our sweet milk. It passed his test. He told me he has poured out the past 2 gallons of the "other" milk he drinks cause it just didn't taste like milk.

He also said he has lived over 80 years and he knows what milk should taste like!

Ms. Jill has many decorations that I enjoy. .like this picture of a farmer from Holland and a lard bucket. I never see lard buckets. Where did they all go?

They sell mostly buttermilk, because the folks that shop at Amburn's are buttermilk drinkers. They also sell whole, light and chocolate. They have gallons of our milk too..priced at $4.99.

Visit

Amburn's:

222 West Church Avenue
Maryville, TN 37801-4934

or call Lamar:

(865) 984-2416

Ohhh.. I almost forgot to mention the best part. Lamar told me (years after I have been delivering here) that the Rule at Amburn's is the fruit you eat in the store is free. So, grab an Apple, Shop and Enjoy! I absolutely love this rule!

A and B Distributors

2011-01-26T22:33:00.005-05:00

We are happy to let our restaurant friends know that they can now order Cruze Farm Milk through A & B Distributors in Knoxville, Chattanooga and Nashville. They are a family owned business since 1972. Contact Fletcher Morrison at fletch@aandbdistributors.com for more information.

Cruze Dairy Farm milks Jersey Cows in East Knoxville. Cruze Farm milk is pasteurized at only 145 degrees F and never homogenized. Cruze Farm Churned Buttermilk is delicious for drinking and baking. If your restaurant is interested, ask A & B for a sample!

Jeni's Ice Cream and North Market- Columbus, Ohio

2011-01-26T19:24:00.013-05:00

If you travel to Columbus, Ohio, you must go to the North Market. It is described as 35 distinct personalities in 1 incredible place. This is true. Wonderful personalities and wonderful food.

I drove 6 hours to Columbus, Ohio to have Jeni's Splendid Ice Creams for Dinner and Breakfast!

These are the Jeni's Ice Cream Delivery Men.

Welcome to North Market!

A Touch of Earth uses Snowville Creamery.

Souvenirs.. I am coming home with Jeni's!

My Mother has a theory (she has a bunch actually). She believes Red Heads Love Buttermilk! Mother is always right.

Monday is Prep day for Omega Artisan Baking.

Best of the Wurst..so cute!

This was delicious Punjabi food at Flavors of India.

Meyer Dairy Store - State College, PA

2011-01-08T14:58:00.012-05:00

I found Meyer's Dairy Store. I have read about their ice cream. So, today I tried a cone of vanilla. I also tried their chocolate milk.

A few more turns and I saw the sign!

This is Vicki, a milk maid at Meyer's for 23 years.

I love their glass bottles. Glass bottles are a little tricky. I was their just long enough to experience a "BROKEN BOTTLE" incident.

This picture of the processing plant is taken from the observation window. Neat!

It is a brrr cold day in Pennsylvania, but folks (including me) were still eating ice cream!

Cheers for a Happy New Year

2010-12-29T22:03:00.006-05:00

We hope you and your families had a very Merry Christmas. Everyone at Cruze Farm is thankful for a wonderful 2010. We look forward to what 2011 brings. Happy New Year!

Today, I delivered fresh milk to Maryville, TN (Horn of Plenty Marketplace, Tomato Head and The Market at High st.).

At the Horn of Plenty, I met three lovely women.

These are the gals:
Donna, Dorris and Deborah. They are posing with Dwayne, owner of Horn of Plenty.

This mom and daughter team were a joy to meet! Dorris was buying buttermilk to drink..cheers to that! Deborah says she loves to give Cruze Farm milk to her friends in Atlanta. I think this means a road trip with Deborah to Star Provisions!

I have decided that Donna, Dorris and Deborah have a blast everywhere they go.. EVERYWHERE! The "D gals" told me a little about the fun they have: First, Donna's husband is a dairy farmer (Yeehaw!). And Deborah is becoming a farmer too! Momma Dorris told me they took about 14 of their family members to see the movie "Little Fockers." Deborah confessed to playing in the snow in her swim suit... :) And most recently, these gals climbed a hill (Dorris made it sound like a large hill) to take a picture with a church marquee in Athens, TN. The marquee announced "No Nativity due to sickness in the church." I hope Deborah will e-mail us one of these pics so we can all have a smile!!

The pear tree is loaded with fruit, and the horse loves pears.

2010-08-17T19:19:00.002-04:00

Got Peaches!

2010-08-14T12:21:00.001-04:00

Cruze Farm Peachy Buttermilk Sorbet

Beat the heat with Strawberry and Peach Sorbet!

2010-08-14T07:57:00.003-04:00

Market Square Farmers Market is fun and free and friendly! Be there!

Chicago Sun Times talks about Cruze Farm Buttermilk and posts recipe for buttermilk pie, buttermilk ice cream, and buttermilk bread.

2010-08-09T20:22:00.005-04:00

Click on the header to read the great article on buttermilk in the Chicago Sun Times, and try one of the three buttermilk recipes.

Let's all visit Chef John Fleer at Canyon Kitchen in North Carolina~

2010-08-09T19:27:00.008-04:00

Click on the header to check out Gwen Pratesi's food blog entitled "Bunkycooks", and while you are there, read her interview with Chef John Fleer. Her photos are striking, and her descriptions are inspiring, I'm ready to drop everything and head over the mountain. She posted John's recipe for Buttermilk Panna Cotta with Strawberry-Champagne Soup. She says it is one of the best desserts she has ever tasted! That says a lot!

Buttermilk Panna Cotta with Strawberry-Champagne Soup
Courtesy of Chef John Fleer
Serves 12

Buttermilk Panna Cotta
1 tablespoon (1/4 ounce package) unflavored, granulated gelatin
1/4 cup water
1 1/2 cups half-and-half
3/4 cup sugar
2 each vanilla beans, split, scraped
2 1/4 cups buttermilk (room temperature)
Bring half-and-half, sugar, and vanilla beans and scrapings to a simmer in a medium heavy-bottomed saucepot. Turn off heat and set aside.
Sprinkle gelatin over room temperature water. Bloom gelatin in water for five minutes. Warm the gelatin over water bath until gelatin is fully dissolved.
Whisk in dissolved gelatin and buttermilk and stir until fully combined.
Strain the mixture through a fine-meshed strainer.
Cool panna cotta mixture over ice, but do not let it set.
Ladle mixture into small ramekins or dishes.
Chill panna cottas for one hour in the refrigerator.
Strawberry-Champagne Soup
Yield: 1 1/2 quarts; Serves 12 4-ounce portions
2 pints strawberries, washed, cleaned of stems, and halved
4 ounces water
8 ounces orange juice
1/2 cup sugar
1 cinnamon stick
1/4 teaspoon kosher salt
8 green peppercorns
2 tablespoons honey
1 tablespoon lemon juice
10 ounces Champagne
Bring water, orange juice, sugar, cinnamon stick, salt, honey and green peppercorns to a simmer. Let stand for one hour. Strain mixture through a fine-meshed strainer and pour over the strawberries . Put the strawberries in a blender. Puree until mixture is smooth. Stir in the lemon juice and champagne. Serve chilled.
Assembly
1 pint strawberries, stems removed, washed, diced brunoise
To remove panna cottas from their dish: dip the bottom of the dish into warm water briefly and turn out onto your dessert bowl or plate. Serve cold.
Pour 4 ounces of the soup slowly to one side of the panna cotta.
Tilt the bowl to allow the soup to move to all areas surrounding the panna cotta.
Garnish with brunoise of fresh strawberries.

Come to the Fair in Jefferson County Tennessee~click here!

2010-08-06T05:20:00.004-04:00

Two more nights of fun and Cruze Farm Ice Cream. Hope to see you there.

Our customers say it best!

2010-08-03T16:14:00.004-04:00

Our customers say it best!

We are insane over your family’s products. For a treat we just pour about 2 oz. of whole milk and sip it like a fine bourbon. This weekend I am making up batches of pumpkin waffles made with your buttermilk. Yum!
Sissy Van Winkle

Cruze Farm Buttermilk Pound Cake recipe found its way to Seattle, Washington! click here!

2010-07-29T20:58:00.004-04:00

At Cruze Farm we love pound cake. We especially love a buttermilk pound cake. We were delighted to find a food blog entitled "17 and baking" written by Elissa a self professed baker and writer. She has written a delightful entry all about baking our buttermilk pound cake recipe. Go ahead and take the eggs, the buttermilk, and the butter out of the refrigerator to warm, preheat the oven to 325, and then sit down read her blog for yourself. I guarantee you will be baking a pound cake today.

Click on the header or go to http://17andbaking.com/2010/04/28/buttermilk-pound-cake/

Lap Dog or Miracle Man? click here to find out.

2010-07-28T14:43:00.009-04:00

Our Nashville friend, Thomas Williams put together a great event to raise money for two non profit agencies s trained by the recent flooding in Middle Tennessee. Emcee for the evening, John Egerton called Thomas a lap dog for chefs, and what a stellar group of Southern chefs it was. Here's a list of Thomas's go to guys.

John Fleer, Lonesome Valley, Cashiers, N.C.
John Currence, City Grocery, Oxford, Miss.
Lee Richardson, Capital Hotel, Little Rock, Ark.
Linton Hopkins, Restaurant Eugene, Atlanta
Kelly English, Restaurant Iris, Memphis
Nick Seabergh, Giardina's, Greenwood, Miss.
David Gaus, Washington, D.C.-based pastry chef and restaurant consultant (his company is called DamGoodSweet)

Local chefs Tandy Wilson of City House, Will Ulhorn of F. Scott's and Tyler Brown and Cole Ellis of Capitol Grille also contributed as hosting chefs by opening their kitchens to the visiting virtuosos.
If you want to read more about the event check out theNashvillescene.com and the south in my mouth blog..

Click here to read Dr. John Sconzo's Musings on Food and Life!

2010-07-28T14:16:00.008-04:00

Read the July 16 entry The patron referred to in the blog delivering Cruze Buttermilk to Town House is none other than smooth talking, food lovin, buttermilk drinking Mike "Rathead" Riley.

Click here for a desktop culinary treat! Warning- don't drool on the keyboard.

2010-07-28T14:10:00.004-04:00

Our friends at Town House Grill have put tiny Chilhowie, Virginia on the map! Enjoy their blog.

Click here if you missed the James Beard House dinner "The New South" with Atlanta's Linton Hopkins and Cruze Farm "buttermilk"!

2010-07-28T13:22:00.005-04:00

The menu for Linton Hopkins dinner at the James Beard House
entitled "The New South" and held on Wednesday May 5, 2010.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Hors d’Oeuvre

Altamaha River Sturgeon Roe and Clabber on Anson Mills Cornmeal Blini

Border Springs Farm Spring Lamb Terrine with Housemade Beer Mustard

Pimento Cheese and Bread and Butter Pickle Fritters with Pepper Jelly

Levain-Crusted Mountain Trout with Smoked Trout Roe and Dill Pollen

Sorghum-Glazed Veal Sweetbreads with Crushed Peanuts

Miner Rosato 2006

Dinner

Amuse > Red Beet Sorbet with Black Pepper Benne Crackers and Pickled Golden Beets
Miner Simpson Vineyard Viognier 2007

Coastal Georgia Celebration > Wild Shrimp, Island Clams, and Crab Toasts with Fennel and Cherokee Leek Broth
Miner Simpson Vineyard Viognier 2007

Skillet-Roasted Golden Tilefish with Creamed English Peas, Roasted Vidalia Onions, Crisp Benton’s Bacon, and Lettuces
Miner Wild Yeast Chardonnay 2007

Roast South Carolina Pigeon with Riverview Farms Cornbread, Cruze Farm Buttermilk, Wild Watercress, and Giblet Gravy
Miner Gary’s Vineyard Pinot Noir 2005

White Oak Pastures Beef Duo > Hickory-Smoked Pepper-Crusted Rib-Eye and Braised Short Ribs with Appalachian Ramps, Morel Fondue, Pickled Fiddleheads, and Marrow
Miner La Diligence Stagecoach Vineyard Syrah 2005

Assorted Southern Cheeses > Sweetgrass Dairy Green Hill; Blackberry Farm Singing Brook; and Spinning Spider Creamery Stackhouse, Served with Pecan Levain and Smoked Kumquats
Harrier Cocktail > Old Tom Gin with Lavender-Scented Grapefruit Juice

Dessert Trio > Woodland Strawberry Shortcake; Buttermilk–Lemon Chess Pie; and Cane Sugar–Coca-Cola Cake

Honk, I mean click here, if you are on a Chocolate Milk Diet!

2010-07-28T12:32:00.004-04:00

Our SFA friend and Nashville neighbor, Thomas Williams, keeps us abreast of all the latest food trends. We knew chocolate milk was good for the soul, but who knew chocolate milk was good for the waistline? According to the link, chocolate milk can turbo charge the metabolism and contribute to muscle building and weight loss. Thanks Thomas!

PS Recently Thomas provided pints of Cruze Farm Chocolate milk for a friend's wedding reception! Now that's a great friend :).

Is buttermilk an aquired taste? Ask a yankee blogger.

2010-07-28T01:53:00.007-04:00

Buttermilk is a Southern thing for sure, a "must have" ingredient in so many iconic southern dishes (biscuits, cornbread, and red velvet cake to name a few), but as a beverage buttermilk is for many timid souls unthinkable or merely a fond memory associated with rural relatives in the past.

Last June, Earl and Colleen hauled hundreds of pints of Cruze Farm buttermilk all the way to New York City for the opening night festivities of the NYC Food Film Festival. Immediately upon arrival at the Astor Center in midtown Manhattan, Earl and Colleen began giving buttermilk away to anyone and everyone brave enough to try a sip of the South's most under appreciated beverage. Read about one brave NYC blogger's reaction to her first encounter with buttermilk the beverage and buttermilk the ingredient. Click on the heading and go to Kimberly's entree for July 23, 2009.

New food friend Randolph Stafford from South Carolina

2010-07-28T00:34:00.006-04:00

Randolph Stafford is an ardent supporter of the preservation of southern cuisine. Recently he stopped by Cruze Farm on his route from Lexington, Kentucky to Sullivan's Island, South Carolina. He caught us working up a sweat in this summer's over ninety degree heat. We lunched at the dairy plant and cooled off with a serving of Cruze Farm ice cream. Randolph entertained us with amusing "food" stories and recollections about growing up in Virginia, the son and grandson of auctioneers. We all enjoyed the work break. Randolph returned to South Carolina with Cruze buttermilk in tow and later blogged, "Thank the Good Lord for Buttermilk." Here here!

Drop in and visit Randolph at his blog entitled Farm Table Catering at http://blog.farmtablecatering.com/

Cruze Farm Buttermilk really does make biscuits rise better!

2010-07-28T00:26:00.004-04:00

Biscuits rule, but don't forget what buttermilk can do for your cakes. Follow this link to a fun food blog called Give a Girl a Cookie, and enjoy the baking of a Cruze Farm Buttermilk Pound Cake complete with the recipe. Then try baking one yourself. Send pics.

http://www.giveagirlacookie.com/2010/06/cruze-farm-buttermilk-pound-cake.html

Market Square Farmers' Market-a place of beauty- be there!

2010-07-27T23:50:00.006-04:00

What happened to all the buttermilk? (click this link for the answer)

2010-07-27T21:31:00.004-04:00

According to the article written by Rosa Prince,
buttermilk was once considered valuable in England.

It was used in bread making, taken as a refreshing drink

and even sloshed over faces to treat teenage spots.

On top of that, it is low in fat and nourishing.

Try our FARM-MADE ICE CREAM!

2010-06-22T08:51:00.007-04:00

Hope you will come to Knoxville's Market Square Farmers Market! Cruze Farm is there on Saturdays 9am- 2pm Try our farmmade ice cream and sample our many flavors: vanilla, chocolate, blackberry, lemon custard, butter pecan, rum raisin, buttermilk, mint, and many more.

Town House Talk: (click here)

2010-05-14T00:41:00.006-04:00

Congratulations to Food and Wine's Top New Chefs for 2010, John Shields and Karen Urie Shields. Together they reign in the kitchen at Town House, one of the hottest destination restaurants in the U.S., located in Chilhowee, Virginia. We are proud that they have chosen to use Cruze Farm Buttermilk. In the Jetsetter article, John says, "It's the best buttermilk I've ever tasted."

Cruze Farm Buttermilk at BBQ Block Party in New York City

2010-03-19T00:15:00.009-04:00

Pat Martin of Martin's BBQ Joint located in Nashville, Tennessee is a buttermilk aficionado! Pat is "whole hog" crazy about Cruze Farm buttermilk.

Buttermilk for Beauty!

2010-03-15T10:54:00.001-04:00

This is Kathleen, a true buttermilk lover and only 3 years old, but already drinking the good stuff. Looks like Buttermilk has a bright future!

Buttermilk Helps!

2010-03-14T21:48:00.001-04:00

Buttermilk: It Can Help from Joe York on Vimeo.

Find Cruze Farm on Facebook

2010-01-26T21:18:00.004-05:00

Join us on facebook for updates from the farm!

Earth Fare Chattanooga Now Open

2009-12-09T22:02:00.012-05:00

Earth Fare-Chattanooga, our newest milk partner, is now open.

Cheese sampling in the "new" Earth Fare-Chattanooga.

A sign near the dairy case.
"Local" Cruze Farm chocolate milk, churned buttermilk, light milk and whole milk on the dairy shelf at the "new" Earth Fare location in Chattanooga, Tn.

Earth Fare-Chattanooga located at 1814 Gunbarrel Rd, Chattanooga, TN 37421

Listen to what people have said about Cruze Farm Dairy Products.

I just wanted to take a moment after finding this website to let you know how much I enjoy your products. They remind me of the way milk used to taste when I was younger. The buttermilk is wonderful to cook with.

Says Donita

My family bought our first gallon Saturday at the market of the light version. It is so much better than what we have been buying. I now realize we should have bought three gallons on Saturday to make it through the week.

Says Amy

Just wanted to say we love your (whole) sweet milk. My three year old loves the sweet milk and knows that it's good for him. We can't wait to try your other dairy products. I would love to try the light milk for my waistline.

Says Angi

I just wanted to first and foremost thank you for providing local, pasture-fed milk to our community and beyond. I love your products! I made yogurt with it and feel so good about eating it :o).

Says Amanda

The buttermilk you sell is the BEST! Yummy!

Says Karen

I purchased a gallon of your whole milk yesterday. I used it to make some homemade mozzarella cheese. WOW! During the process of making the cheese I noticed that it was working differently than the normal store bought milk. I really noticed the difference in the heating and stretching of the curd in the final steps. There is no comparison in the taste. The cheese has a more buttery flavor. I am planning to try my hand at making brie cheese with some of your milk. This will go great on my home made pizzas from my brick oven.

Says Joe

November market square market

2009-11-06T17:32:00.008-05:00

Come to the Farmers Market tomorrow!

9-2 pm at Market Square

I will be selling milk tomorrow,

my last market for the year!

Autumn

2009-10-25T16:57:00.010-04:00

This Tennessee Fall weather is wonderful.

Today, on this lovely Autumn day, my folks and I took a little trip down the road to Asbury. Asbury is the community where my father was born and raised.. just a hop, skip and jump from our dairy farm, but far enough away that my father misses the place he calls "home."

Going home..

My father talks about Asbury everyday.. milking cows in Asbury. Asbury is where he fell in love with milking cows and the idea of bottling milk.

Barn door to the milk barn where he started milking cows as a very young boy..eight years old.

I never knew so many memories could be a wall.

This Oak Tree is about the same age as my father, 66.. he is showing how small it was when he was 8.

We also looked at the spot where the house stood that he was born in.

Back home in Riverdale.

I was very happy to see Harry Pickel made it to church today. Mr.Pickel is my dear friend. He owns the H & H Service Mart in Riverdale. As a child, that was the one place I could talk my mom into buying me some bubblegum.

Mr.Pickel turned 94 this week. Happy Birthday Mr.Pickel!

French Broad United Methodist Church

I can see our cows from the church stairs.. it is nice living so close to church.

To market to market

2009-08-24T17:57:00.010-04:00

An August evening on the farm

2009-08-24T17:20:00.009-04:00

Our beautiful Jerseys grazing

The Guineas and their young preparing to roost

The King rooster

The hens finding their last bite before they roost

Food, Inc. .. a must see

2009-07-26T20:29:00.009-04:00

My mother and I were able to see Food Inc. today, and it was better than I anticipated.

Food Inc. is very educational and entertaining!!

Food Inc. is showing at Downtown West Regal Cinema in Knoxville.

I encourage you to go and take friends and older children.

This film helps to explain our food industry today saying, "The way we eat has changed more in the past 50 years than the past 10,000."

Now, that is something to chew on.

Happy 3rd Birthday Jack and Jake!

2009-06-30T16:06:00.009-04:00

These two cute cowboys turned 3 on June 28th, and even more exciting.. they are expecting a baby Brother!! Congratulations Justin and Frances!

Sunday Afternoon and We Are Homeward Bound

2009-06-17T14:55:00.014-04:00

On Sunday afternoon we headed out of NYC through the Lincoln Tunnel, back to Lancaster County Pennsylvania. On our drive we planned to stop at the historic Milky WayFarm in Chester Springs, Pennsylvania. We called ahead to arrange a tour and learned that no tours were given on Sunday. When we told Farmer Sam, the owner, that we were dairy farmers from Tennessee just passing through, he said, "Come on, I'll give you a tour." And what a tour it was.

Milky Way Farm is an historic and unique dairy farm complete with centuries old stone barns and the newest of dairy innovations. Their Holstein cows are milked by a robot, not by humans. The robot is made by the Lely company in Holland, and Dad wants one of his very own. Dad can't get over how much fun it was to watch the robot milk a cow. He has milked cows since he was a boy, and this was a dream come true. According to Dad, the robot actually does a very good job and with the help of a computer manages the health and well being of a dairy cow very well. In other words, Farmer Sam loves his robot, but his cows love the robot too!

Dad and Farmer Sam hit it off right away. They talk the same talk. Besides cows, Milky Way Farm boasts a beautiful ice cream parlor, and their delicious ice cream is made by family members from the milk produced on the farm. While we were visiting, many families wandered over the farm, petting the cows, and eating ice cream cones. It was a beautiful day and clearlymuch fun for everyone.

Come dinnertime, you guessed it, we were invited to join the family for dinner. Who knew we would find "real" Southern hospitality in the suburbs of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The food was so delicious, the family a delight, and we left around sundown thrilled to have visited this most wonderful dairy and friendly farm family.

Saying goodbye to Milky Way.

Check out their website:

http://www.milkywayfarm.com/

We arrived home early Tuesday morning June 16, and quickly got back to work pasteurizing whole milk and light milk. We thought that meant the vacation was over, but it turned out New York wasn't through with Dad.

On Wednesday June 17, 2009 at 6:45 am radio host JOHN HOCKENBERRY of PRI, Pubic Radio International and host of the WNYC FM morning show "THE TAKEAWAY", called my Dad to talk to him about our buttermilk! John even sampled our buttermilk on the air! Guess what Mikey, he liked it!

Here is a link to the "Takeaway" interview, a video made opening night of the New York City Food Film Festival, and Joe York's film Buttermilk: It Can Help. Enjoy all three.

www.thetakeaway.org/stories/2009/jun/17/b-u-t-t-e-r-milk-baby/

Buttermilk arrives in NYC

2009-06-12T23:19:00.012-04:00

2009 NYC Food Film Festival Trailer from George Motz on Vimeo.

Earl made it to New York..first time to the Big Apple.

Pennsylvania: first buttermilk stop

2009-06-12T23:05:00.003-04:00

Kreider's Dairy in Manheim

Nevin Boll and Earl

The Amish Country in Lancaster

Mrs. Lapp at Lapp Valley Dairy Farm

Earl heads to New York City

2009-06-10T14:14:00.002-04:00

Tomorrow, Earl is leaving his Jerseys for the big city.

He is taking a load of his Churned Buttermilk and Buttermilk Ice Cream to the third annual NYC Food Film Festival.

This will be a sight to see!

Jack and Jake.. heifers and hay

2009-05-21T21:35:00.006-04:00

Jack and Jake watching Papa and George bail hay

Jake and Jack with the Jersey heifers

Market Square Farmers Market starts today!

2009-05-02T15:46:00.006-04:00

Today was the first market of the season..

There were so many vendors!! (Good Job Charlotte!)

The rainy morning did not keep shoppers from buying lots of fresh groceries and goodies.

Colleen

Kay and Beth Logan shopping at the market

Forest enjoying milk

-If you didn't make it today, come next week 9 am- 2pm.

Knoxville's Market Square Farmers Market

Cruze Farm homemade ice cream coming soon to Market Square Farmers Market.

2009-04-25T22:39:00.010-04:00

See Cruze Farm in the Times Magazine today!

Happy Birthday Frances Louise

b. April 26,1981

From Jack and Jake and all your loving family and friends.

See Cruze Farm in the New York Times Online today! Click here.

2009-04-23T23:36:00.072-04:00

Got Buttermilk?

by Christine Muhlke

- - - - - - - - - - -

If you've got

"Pound Cake"

on your mind,

Tony Cenicola/The New York Times. Stylist: Jill Santopietro.

bake one today!

request a recipe for

Cruze Farm

Buttermilk Pound Cake

cruzefarm@gmail.com

- - - - -- - - - - - - - - -

Watch Joe York's film about Cruze Farm Buttermilk

Buttermilk: It Can Help

http://vimeo.com/2100891

- - - - - - - - - -

Bake up a batch of

Scott Peacock's

Watershed Restaurant in Decatur, Georgia

"Classic Buttermilk Biscuits"

-follow his recipe-

1 tablespoon cream of tartar
1 ‌1⁄2 teaspoons baking soda
5 cups sifted unbleached all-purpose flour, plus more as needed
1 tablespoon plus 1 teaspoon Diamond Crystal kosher salt
1⁄2 cup plus 2 tablespoons packed lard or unsalted butter, chilled and cut into pieces
2 cups chilled cultured buttermilk, plus more as needed
3 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted.
1. Set a rack in the upper third of the oven and preheat to 500 degrees. Sift together the cream of tartar and baking soda to make baking powder. In a large bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder and salt. Add the lard or butter. Working quickly, rub it between your fingertips until half is coarsely blended and the remaining pieces are 3/4-inch thick.
2. Make a well in center of the flour. Add all the buttermilk and stir the mixture quickly, just until it has blended and a sticky dough forms. (If the dough appears dry, add 1 to 2 tablespoons buttermilk.)
3. Immediately turn the dough onto a generously floured surface. Using floured hands, briskly knead about 10 times until a ball forms. Gently flatten the dough and, using a floured rolling pin, roll to 3/4-inch thick.
4. Using a fork dipped in flour, pierce the dough through at 1/2-inch intervals. Flour a 2 1/2- or 3-inch biscuit cutter. Stamp out rounds and arrange on a heavy, parchment-lined baking sheet. Bake until golden, about 12 minutes. Remove and brush with melted butter. Serve hot.
Makes 12 to 16 biscuits. Adapted from Scott Peacock at Watershed Restaurant in Decatur, Ga.
Note: Look for cultured buttermilk with the fewest ingredients, usually available at health-food stores. Shake well before pouring.

- - - - - - - - - - - - - -

Look what

Chef Sean Brock

and other Charleston South Carolina

chefs would do with a gallon of

Cruze Farm buttermilk ?

Read: Buttermilk Is A Girl For All Seasons In The Southern Kitchen

by Stephanie Barna

http://www.charlestoncitypaper.com/gyrobase/Content?oid=oid%3A63591

- - - - - - - - -

and then head for the kitchen!

* * *

WBIR comes to the farm

2009-03-07T19:52:00.015-05:00

(Colleen Cruze at Cruze Dairy Farm)

Click HERE for the WBIR News Story.

Thank you Alison Morrow for visiting the farm today!

-----------------------------------------

A Conference Just for Women ..

Homefront to Heartland

-Financial Education for Women in Small Business & Agriculture-

March 21, 2009, 9:00 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.

The University of Tennessee Institute of Agriculture Campus –Hollingsworth Auditorium
Registration Cost: $20 per person and includes conference materials,refreshments, and lunch
A brochure is attached for your information and you can find additional information including directions at http://www.homefronttoheartland.com/.

Registration Deadline is March 11!
I hope you will join me at this great event!

NY visits the farm for a Buttermilk Day

2009-02-26T09:03:00.010-05:00

Sally (Christine Muhlke) from the NY Times sipped some buttermilk with us yesterday...

Yesterday, Sally and I met with Sarah Elder at Blackberry Farm. We had a delicious buttermilk lunch (menu above) by Chef Josh Feathers. My favorite was the buttermilk mashed potatoes. Then we visited Allan Benton at Benton's Country Hams. We traded some milk for Benton's bacon, country ham and prosciutto. Finally, we joined Earl and Cheri (my parents) at the farm for buttermilk and buttermilk pound cake.

Archer's Food Center- Norris, TN

2009-02-25T22:32:00.007-05:00

Archer's Food Center is now carrying

Cruze Farm Milk!

Archers Food Center Inc
Town Sq

Norris, TN 37828

865-494-7181

February..a month to Love

2009-02-14T16:37:00.012-05:00

My mom enjoyed Valentine's with her two favorite cupids!

--------------------------------------

Celebrating Valentine's with my sister, Frances Vineyard and my two precious nephews Jack and Jake

We had lunch at the Tomato Head!

I love the Tomato Head.

--------------------------------------------

This week, my father and I adventured to Atlanta for a new milk truck.

Riding with him through rush hour traffic was quite the adventure..

I never needed a glass of buttermilk so bad.

Greenlife Grocery- Chattanooga

2009-02-11T19:31:00.008-05:00

Today we started selling Cruze Farm Milk at Greenlife Grocery in Chattanooga!

(me with my sister Frances Vineyard)

This is Chuck Pruett, he started Greenlife in 1999 in Chattanooga.

My Day at Greenlife:

Greenlife is a wonderful grocery store with a lot of fresh and local produce offered. They also have delicious pizza and pasta, bakery, cafe, and sushi bar. They also have a large selection of cheese..my favorite!

My family is very excited to introduce our milk to Chattanooga.. we will be the only TN supplier of local milk for Greenlife!

Slow Food Knoxville Feta Class!

2009-02-08T21:49:00.011-05:00

Yesterday was Slow Food winter workshop.. Feta time!

2/7/09 at Gourmet's Market

Thank you Mika Yoshida for the photos.

------------------------------------
The Mozzarella Recipe
30 minute Homemade mozzerella.
-1 Gallon Pasteurized Milk- not ultra pasteurized. I always use Cruze Farm Milk! :-)
-2 teaspoons citric acid
-1/4 teaspoon rennet dissolved in 1/4 cup cool water. in fridge section at any fresh market or co-op or whole foods.
-some salt.
Stir milk in stainless steel kettle, heating gently. AT 55 degrees add citric acid solution and mix. At 88 degrees it should start to curdle. Stir in rennet with up and down motion. Continue heating over 100 degrees, then turn of heat. Curds should be pulling away from sides, ready to scoop out. The whey should be clear. Press curds into microwavable bowl, getting all water out.Put in microwave for 1 minute then press out water. Put in microwave 2 more times for 35 seconds each. Press water out after each time. Stretch and knead into a ball. You can sprinkle 1 to 2 teaspoons salt into the cheese while kneading and stretching it. The cheese will become stretchy, smooth and shiny. And bada bing.. you have Mozzarella!!

My Aunt Margie has all the snow in Norway!

2009-02-08T20:20:00.010-05:00

This is a view of the Oslo Fjord.. the town of Filtvet..

results from yesterday's snowfall (2-7-09)

Aunt Margie and I on her back patio in June 2007.

I visited Aunt Margie, Uncle Knut and Cousin Jens a year and half ago. Norway is the most beautiful country with the most delicious CHEESE! They live on the Oslo Fjord where cruise ships pass by all day! I had so much fun with Aunt Margie, she took me everywhere.. even to Sweden on a "meat run."

..brunost.. yum!

Yesterday, this was the view from her kitchen window!!

I miss you Aunt Margie! Would love to come see you soon in Norway, but the dairy and school keeps me busy, however, I will be back to Norway!!
Every time I start to complain about Tennessee's winter weather (ha) , I always think of you..

While your digging your driveway, know your family in Tennessee is always thinking of you! Much Love to you Tante Margie!

Old City Java: Favorite Local Business of the Week

2009-02-02T10:44:00.013-05:00

-Sara the barista is also a Milk Model-

"specializing in espresso, drip coffee, french press, loose leaf teas, fresh baked goods, coffee culture, and education! voted knoxville's best coffee shop by metropulse readers!"

open early, open late, 7 days a week!

m-f: 7:30am-12 midnight

s-s: 9am-12 midnight

Old City Java is located in the heart of old downtown Knoxville:

109 S Central St

Knoxville, TN 37902

Old City Java has delicious coffee using locally roasted beans and homemade treats made by Meg Parrish, the owner!

Great place to catch up with friends and check e-mail!

try a Mint Mocha.. yum!

Visit Java for a treat!

At Last.. Light Milk and Chocolate Milk

2009-01-22T21:29:00.000-05:00

Everyone at Cruze Dairy Farm has been working very hard the past year to produce two New dairy products-

Chocolate Milk and Light Milk.

At Last, mission accomplished.

-The Chocolate Milk is made with our Whole Jersey Milk,

Forbes Premium Cocoa and Real Vanilla.

-The Light Milk is a low fat version of our Whole Jersey Milk. The butterfat content is only 1% - 2% and

now my drink of choice!

-All of our dairy products are pasteurized, but none are homogenized.

-Our 150 Jerseys graze on over 500 acres.

-We have never used Artificial Hormones.

------------

We are loving our new labels from Apking Printing!!

---------------

Three of the photographs are by the talented Jessica Leigh!

Thank you so much Jessica, we love your work!

Check out her work for yourself!

click here: {JessicaLeigh}

Want to learn to make Feta??

2009-01-22T21:02:00.000-05:00

Check out Slow Food Knoxville

Slow Food Knoxville Presents

Learn to Make Feta at Home

with Kristian Holbrook

Saturday February 7th, 4pm to 6pm

Gourmet's Market, 5107 Kingston Pike

..Kristian Holbrook making cheese..

"This workshop includes a cheese tasting, introduction to the basic principles of cheese making, and hands-on instruction for making delicious feta cheese at home. The class is instructed by Kristian Holbrook, cheese maker for Blackberry Farm. Colleen Cruze of Knoxville's own Cruze Dairy Farm will assist and provide fresh Jersey milk for the process. Guests will take home a portion of the the cheese made during this workshop."

For more info and to purchase tickets.. click Here

Snowfall on the farm...

2009-01-21T11:38:00.000-05:00

..Cruze Dairy Farm ..

..A view of Porterfield Gap from Cruze Farm..

Stopping By Woods On A Snowy Evening

Whose woods these are I think I know.
His house is in the village though;
He will not see me stopping here
To watch his woods fill up with snow.
My little horse must think it queer
To stop without a farmhouse near
Between the woods and frozen lake
The darkest evening of the year.
He gives his harness bells a shake
To ask if there is some mistake.
The only other sound's the sweep
Of easy wind and downy flake.
The woods are lovely, dark and deep.
But I have promises to keep,
And miles to go before I sleep,
And miles to go before I sleep.
-Robert Frost

Snow is just beautiful, and we don't see it very often in Tennessee...
Have Lovely Day!

We The People Love Cupcakes...

2009-01-21T10:55:00.000-05:00

I hope you were able to see a glimpse of the inauguration yesterday.. I stayed on the road delivering milk all day, but found a Yummy celebration at MagPies Bakery!

for sweet goodness check out:
...MagPies Bakery...

Peggy Hambright, owner of MagPies!

Brenna and her adorable sons helping out on this Snow Day..

The Presidential Cupcakes:

~Hawaiian cupcake: pina colada-flavored and sprinkled with coconut shavings

~Mr. Chicago cupcake: marble cupcake with swirled chocolate and vanilla frosting

~The White House cupcake: white cake topped with blueberry buttercream and a fresh red raspberry..so.. Red, White and Blue!

Peggy with her sweet niece..

Maren celebating this historical day by making delicious cupcakes!

I love MagPies, these gals are always Happy.. must be the Cupcakes!

"All Butter, All the Time".. wanna read more? click here

Blackberry Farm: Taste of The South

2009-01-13T00:49:00.003-05:00

Celebrating the South's Best at Blackberry Farm with the Southern Foodways Alliance

Earl & Cheri Cruze with Chef Adam Cooke

The Truffle Hunter...

Did you know Tennessee produces Truffles?

Earl and Cheri talking about Buttermilk!..also showed Joe York's film Buttermilk: It Can Help

From Cow to Consumer!

The cheese cave.. wow

These gals make it happen!

Mr. Rathead Riley.. he has the most Southern Charm

It was great meeting the Gallaher couple!

Sam Beall, proprietor of Blackberry Farm.

Dustin and Adam are the Chefs!

Our friends from Boston, The Hungry Mother

The Haygoods from Charleston

Carrie's mother Callie makes some amazing biscuits in Charleston... they Look Yummy! Check it out:

Callie's Biscuits

The best ham around is Benton's Ham!

Check it out.. Bentons

Mr. Rathead Riley selling to the highest bidder..

The Wine Expert, Ashley Hall!

With my Dad.

Earl and Cheri Cruze

..with John T. Edge posing prom style

Amy C. Evan's lovely painting.. Made in Mississippi

Nashville's Best Realtor, Thomas Williams

Sam Beall and my Dad

What a Great Event!

New Milk Labels!

2009-01-13T00:36:00.000-05:00

I am so Happy to start the New Year off

with two new products:

Light Milk

and

Chocolate Milk!!

I am extremely pleased with the New Labels!

My Dad suggested a picture of a Jersey cow on the label, but my Mom wanted family farm photos and Momma won!

Thank you Stephen at Apking Printing!

Merry Christmas to you and your family!!

2008-12-25T16:58:00.000-05:00

Thank you Fran for hosting Christmas Breakfast!!

She made delicious biscuits!!

Cousin Charlie from Atlanta visited the Farm and loved the Jerseys!

And Cousin Cwen loved the Straw! Come back soon!!

Check out Tennessee Ernie Ford's

Children Go Where I Send Thee

Saturday.. A day of Celebration 12/13

2008-12-15T13:41:00.000-05:00

Saturday morning, my brother Glenn Cruze graduated from the University of Tennessee with a degree in finance.. We are so proud of him!

The Family

Glenn, Jack, Jake..

Aunt Teri and Glenn!

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Saturday evening, The Cupp Family hosted an engagement party for Margaret Knight and Joe Rollins. It was so much fun and the food was delicious!!

Sweet Friends...

Baylor's Toy Room!

Laura Rannels ~ Carrie Cavens ~ Morgen Cupp

Thank you Morgen! check out her blog!

Yummy!

Andrea Knight and her daughter Margaret!

Pretty!

The Ladies:
Amy Gilbert

Carrie Cavens *Laura Rannels

Colleen Cruze *Morgen Cupp* Katy Blackburn

Rachel Edwards *Laura Edmunds *Mary Ellen Knight

Maggie Knight

Great way to display all your Christmas cards.. easel!

The Rollins and Knight Families

The Hostess with the mostest.. Sandy Cupp! Thank you Sandy, Morgen and T. Cupp!

Happy Birthday Papa Cruze!

2008-12-04T18:00:00.000-05:00

Today we celebrated my father's 66th Birthday!! Hooray!

Frances made a yummy coconut cake!! Thanks Fran!

Jack and Jake loved playing at the farm today..

even though it was raining!

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It's hard to find presents for a dairy farmer..

but I found a few things:

-Buttermilk Lotion (ofcourse this is what his hands need)......$10.00

-Old Milk Stool (Ebay find)....$21.00

**quickly became stool for Jake and Jack to milk their cow :-)

finally..

I returned a Tennessee Cooperative's magazine article he loaned to a friend 26 years ago... this was free!

... And he like it best of all my finds.

Happy Birthday Dad!

Kick-off to Christmas!

2008-11-29T21:37:00.001-05:00

Today Maggie and I had lunch at Pete's Coffee Shop.. it was Delicious!

Pete is super nice and has been serving his yummy food for 26 years in downtown Knoxville!

We also went to the Fantasy of Trees!!

We made it to the Gingerbread Village.. a must see!

Pink house was made by Carter High School's FCCLA!!

Greenback School won 1st Place for their Amazing Houses!

Wow!

Trees, Trees, Trees..

This was Maggie's Favorite!

Hey Mrs. Knight!! This was for you!

I love bliss Home! Need a sofa? click here

My Mom and I went to Yeehaw Industries.. Great Christmas Present Ideas!

Sara at Yeehaw!

We went to Christmas in the City Celebration!

This is Ashley Moore and her Southern Skirts..

check out her website.

Super cute!

Farmers' Market Friends!!

This is Jennifer Simpson and her fine art photography..

Check out Jen's Everyday Moments.. It's Awesome!

lovely..

I ran into my friend Carrie and her parents getting some Mayfield Snowcream!

It's beginning to feel like Christmas!!

Three Rivers Market: Favorite Local Business of the week!

2008-11-28T09:49:00.002-05:00

Three Rivers Market is Knoxville's Community Food Co-op!

Here is a look inside at one of my favorite places to buy groceries in Knoxville:

Local Honey.

delicious sheep milk cheese from

Locust Grove Farm..click here

The Knoxville Food Co-op was our first customer.

They have been selling Cruze Farm Milk since 1981.

Buy Local Tees.. cute!

The Friendliest Folk!

TRM is always supporting local farmers.

Good Reading.

Fresh. Fresh. Fresh.
Fruits and Veggies

Bulk is good.. They have the best almonds!

Happy Thanksgiving!

2008-11-28T09:49:00.000-05:00

We hope you and your family had a blessed Thanksgiving!

My family was thankful for the day we spent cooking

and eating together!

Momma's Buttermilk Biscuits..mmm.

Frances hard at work whipping her mashed potatoes.

Jake loving Uncle's pumpkin pie!

Justin and Glenn, refueled after a morning's hunt..

Frances, Jake, Jack, Justin :-)

Ida Bell Butter.. and photos from Market

2008-11-25T18:25:00.000-05:00

My Great-Grandmother Ida Bell Pratt-Cruze churned butter and my Great-Grandfather O.H. Cruze would sell her churned buttermilk and butter around downtown Knoxville on his mule pulled wagon.

I made some honey butter for Thanksgiving. I used Ida Bell's butter mold..

To make your own butter, click here

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To Market, to market...

Steve Rudder (my high school Pre Cal teacher :-).. ) stopped by the market for milk and a pumpkin!

Montessori Middle School.. is located in Blount County on a farm!!

I got the cutest scarf from these gals!

Snow's Fresh Produce is located in Vonore

Cheers to buttermilk!

It was a chilly day at the market!