Weeks ago I hopped onto a plane to head to Cleveland, OH for a cow adventure with the American Dairy Association Mideast group. It was my first time in Cleveland and definitely a first at spending some good quality time with dairy cows.
I grew up with Livestock and now living in a farming community, I understand just how much goes into a day to provide all of us with the things that we need. After hearing first hand from the dairy farmers, I gained a better understanding of dairy cows and just how much work goes into a farm just for a gallon of milk.
We started off bright and early on a big Winnebago fit for the stars. Our first stop was to Richmond Farms where we learned how they milk their cows. We even got our hands a little dirty by doing a little hand milking ourselves. This was a first and lets just say that it’s not as easy as it looks. In fact it took a couple of tries for me to just get a little milk out of the cow.
Our next stop was to Pearl Valley Cheese where we received insight on making cheese straight from the dairy farms nearby. It was definitely a cheesy adventure and we were able to load up on our favorite cheeses straight from their grocery store located at the factory. My personal favorite was the Oops Colby Jack Cheese and the freshly made Cheese Curds. Pearl Valley you really know how to make your cheese.
Before one last stop at a larger farm we stopped for lunch. It was an Amish meal provided by a sweet lady and her daughter at their home. This meal was more like a feast and definitely a meal that I won’t ever forget. It was just a good homemade meal with nothing fancy to it, but I’m pretty sure we all devoured our plates and got seconds.
[Tweet “Cheesy Hash Brown Sausage Quiche from @azestybite and a trip to a dairy farm!”]
Our last stop was to Andreas Dairy Farm. It’s another family owned farm that has been around since 1881. They have about 1300 Holstein cows and are already looking into expanding their current herd. We took a drive around the farm and then were able to stop and feed some baby calves. These calves were super hungry by the time we arrived and mine needed a little extra helping hand when I tried to feed the bottle.
That night we were able to freshen up and by that I mean leave the livestock smell in our hotel room. We headed to Cleveland Browns stadium for a chef prepared meal and our guest was Joe Thomas. He is the spokesman for the ADA and enjoys going to area schools and functions to talk about the importance of milk in your every day diet.
Right before heading back home we stopped at a local Elementary school in Cleveland. We were able to experience a hands-on breakfast with some of the kids that attended this school. Mrs. Watson, the principal, talked about how many of the students were autistic, homeless or lived in poverty. A breakfast was the perfect way to get them food and get them on the right track for the day.
Today I’m sharing this Cheesy Hash Brown Sausage Quiche in honor of my ADA Mideast trip. It’s an easy meal that can be made ahead of time and is great for brunch or breakfast. I highly suggest serving it with a cold glass of milk.
A huge thank you to the American Dairy Association Mideast Group. I had a lovely time and now think about what goes into milk every time I pour a glass for my kids. Cleveland does Rock as Drew Carey would say.
ENJOY ~ Meagan
Cheesy Hash Brown Sausage Quiche
Ingredients
- 1 pound lean sausage
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 2 cups shredded hash browns
- 8 large eggs, beaten
- 1/2 cup 2% milk
- 1 cup shredded mild cheddar cheese
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 teaspoon ground pepper
Instructions
Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
In a large skillet over medium heat brown the meat. Using a spatula make small crumbles with the meat and then set aside.
Add olive oil to another skillet over medium heat. Add hash browns and cook for 10 minutes flipping occasionally. Add meat to the hash browns and set everything aside.
In a large bowl add eggs, milk, cheese, salt and pepper. Mix until everything is well incorporated.
Add meat and hashbrowns to a greased pie baking dish and then top with egg mixture.
Bake in the oven for 40 minutes or until knife inserted comes out clean.
Disclosure: I went on a sponsored trip with the ADA Mideast Group. All opinions are 100% my own and I appreciate your support on the brands that I love.