GOT MILK? Holiday Latte Campaign Press Release

TOAST THE HOLIDAYS WITH LATTES

National Barista Champ Shares Recipes on Festive Holiday Drinks

SAN CLEMENTE, Calif., Nov. 9, 2009 – The holidays are just around the corner and Californians are already thinking about how they can make their celebrations unique, not only with the dishes they serve but with the drinks as well. While alcoholic beverages are top of mind during the holidays, two-time National Barista Champion Heather Perry has partnered with GOT MILK? to give drink enthusiasts another option to toasting the holidays with family and friends. Perry’s homemade latte recipes are not only economical compared to ordering drinks from coffee houses. The main ingredient in the lattes, milk, also contains the vitamins and calcium needed for strong bones, muscles, teeth, hair and nails.

“Lattes are flavorful, festive and easy to make,” says the 2007 and 2003 United States Barista Champ. “Serving lattes during the holidays is perfect because they bring comfort to guests as family and friends reminisce on memories of the past year.”

Perry, a California native, says people don’t need to spend hundreds of dollars on an espresso machine to make the perfect latte. She says making a strong brewed coffee with a coffee press or moka pot is all that latte enthusiasts need. Plus, people can easily find the basic latte ingredients such as coffee, chocolate and of course, milk in their kitchens.

Available exclusively on www.gotmilk.com/recipes, Perry shares her favorite holiday latte recipes with Californians which include:

• Pumpkin Spice Latte – A combination of milk, espresso or strong brewed coffee and pumpkin pie mix brings comfort to those who enjoy flavors of nutmeg and cinnamon in their drink.

• Peppermint Mocha Martini – This non-alcoholic beverage is made of milk, espresso or strong brewed coffee and chocolate syrup all shaken in a martini shaker with ice. Dip the rim of a martini glass in crushed peppermint candy and you have an elegant drink to serve to guests.

• Tres Leches Latte – Perry turns a popular Latin cake into a delectable latte. Mix steamed milk, condensed milk, espresso or strong brewed coffee and top with whipped cream, powdered sugar and maraschino cherry for a sweet holiday treat.

• .Holiday Frozen Hot Chocolate – No holiday celebration is complete without a chocolaty drink. This chocolate lover’s dream is made with milk, non-dairy creamer, powdered chocolate and ice all combined together until smooth in a blender and topped with whipped cream and sprinkles.

“Perry's festive, calcium-rich lattes are the perfect way to cap off a holiday celebration or to enjoy as a comforting winter treat,” says Steve James, executive director of the California Milk Processor Board (CMPB), the creator of GOT MILK? “Through her recipes, Perry shows how milk can be part of the season’s festivities with family and friends.”

To learn more about Perry’s holiday latte recipes, visit www.gotmilk.com/recipes.

About Heather Perry

Heather Perry is a two-time United States Barista Champion and a Western Region Champion in 2004, 2005, 2006 and 2007. She has also appeared on many TV shows including “What’s Hot What’s Cool” on the Food Network and BIG on the Discovery Channel where her name was put in the Guinness Book of World Records for building the world’s largest espresso machine. Perry is currently the Director of Training and Consulting at the Coffee Klatch. She also recently established the Heather Perry’s Best Barista Training and General Manages Coffee Klatch’s Southern California coffeehouses. She graduated from Cal Poly Pomona with a degree in International Business and Marketing.

About the CMPB

The California Milk Processor Board was established in 1993 to make milk more competitive and increase milk consumption in California. Awareness of GOT MILK? is over 90% nationally and it is considered one of the most important and successful campaigns in history. GOT MILK? is a federally registered trademark that has been licensed by the national dairy boards since 1995. The CMPB’s Spanish-language campaign began in 1994 using the tagline “Familia, Amor y Leche” (Family, Love and Milk). The TOMA LECHE (Drink Milk) campaign replaced it in 2006, following a growing trend in Hispanic food advertising that uses wit and humor to reach audiences. GOT MILK? gifts and recipes can be viewed at www.gotmilk.com and www.tomaleche.com. The CMPB is funded by all California milk processors and administered by the California Department of Food and Agriculture.

Holiday Cake Boss Episode

Y'all know I like cooking, so is it any surprise that I love TLC's Cake Boss? I know a lot of you are fans as well. You are sure to want to tune in tonight, as it is a special holiday episode. Check out some of the wonderful cakes they create for the holidays and enjoy the colorful characters as well!




A Cake Boss Marathon is coming! TLC is letting us fans decide which episodes will be aired in their upcoming Cake Boss marathon. So, click over to www.tlc.com/cakeboss and vote for your favorites to air on Monday 12/28.

So, curl up with a cup of cocoa and enjoy the show!

Salsa Verde Chicken Wraps Recipe

This is my favorite of all the National Leftovers Day recipes from Pace. The salsa verde is soooo tasty!

Salsa Verde Chicken Wraps

Prep: 15 minutes
Makes: 4 servings

1 cup Pace® Salsa Verde
2 cups diced cooked chicken or turkey
1 large red pepper, diced (about 1 cup)
1 large avocado, diced (about 1 cup)
1 / 2 cup sour cream
4 flour tortillas (10-inch), warmed
2 cups shredded lettuce

1. Stir 1/2 cup salsa, chicken, pepper and avocado in a large bowl. Stir the remaining salsa and sour cream in a small bowl.

2. Spread 1 / 4 cup sour cream mixture onto each tortilla to within 1/2 inch of the edge. Top each with 1 cup chicken mixture and 1/2 cup lettuce. Fold the sides of the tortillas over the filling and then fold up the ends to enclose the filling. Cut each wrap in half before serving.

Do you make "The Best Sandwich Ever"?

If so, you could be a winner. Check out the information below for all the details. I was sent samples of some wonderful Mezzetta products, peppers and olives, to experiment with and get my creative juices flowing. Mezzetta is a brand we buy regularly and I know they make quality products. It was fun sampling some delicious things I'd never tried before. I don't know if I'll create the big winning recipe, but we sure have enjoyed trying new things and savoring some wonderful flavor combinations. I'll let you know if I come up with anything truly spectacular!

Hurry on over and check it out for yourself! The deadline to enter is Labor Day!

No More Bland-wich

MEZZETTA MAKE THAT SANDWICH CONTEST 2009

Best sandwich recipe will win $25,000 and a trip to Napa Valley.

(Napa Valley, CA) – G.L. Mezzetta, Inc., America’s number one producer of imported and domestic peppers and olives, is challenging sandwich lovers and amateur cooks across the country to submit their recipe for “The Best Sandwich Ever” in the Second Annual Mezzetta Make That Sandwich Contest. The Grand Prize winner will receive $25,000 and a culinary trip and tour of the Napa Valley, home to G.L. Mezzetta, while two runners-up will each win $1,000.

“This contest officially marks the end of the bland-wich,” explains Jeff Mezzetta, President. “Mezzetta products easily add so much flavor that there’s no reason to ever eat another boring sandwich. Healthy sandwiches no longer need to be uninteresting.”

Contestants can enter the Mezzetta Make That Sandwich Contest at www.mezzetta.com in any or all of three categories: cold sandwich, hot sandwich, and vegetarian. The Grand Prize winner will be selected from the category finalists. Entries will be judged on appearance, taste, creativity, and use of Mezzetta products. Entries are being accepted from Memorial Day (May 25, 2009) to Labor Day 2009 (September 7, 2009).

The 2008 winner of the Mezzetta Make That Sandwich Contest, Edwina Gadsby, wowed judges with her hot “Spanish-Style Grilled Cheese Sandwich, with Smoky Paprika Roasted Pepper & Tomato Topping.” Combining innovative ingredients with the complementary flavors of Mezzetta® Brand Sun-Dried Tomatoes in Olive Oil, Roasted Red Pepper Strips, Crushed Garlic and Extra Virgin Olive Oil, Edwina created a sumptuous sandwich and took home the $25,000 grand prize and a trip to Napa Valley.

Contestants have a time-saving weapon in their sandwich-making arsenal, with Mezzetta® Brand Deli-Sliced products. Deli-Sliced peppers take the prep out of the process and makes sandwich-building a snap. Tailor-made fixings in the line include thinly sliced Hot or “Tamed” Jalapeños, Hot or Sweet Banana Wax Peppers, Roasted Bell Pepper Strips, Hot Cherry Peppers, and of course, Mezzetta’s signature Peperoncini.

With over 100 different specialty food products, the Mezzetta family offers a huge variety of great sandwich partners including olives, relishes, pickles, and peppers. With just a twist of a jar, Mezzetta will transform an average sandwich into a delicious masterpiece. One of Mezzetta’s most popular items, Deli-Sliced Tamed™ Jalapeños are completely unique. Their low heat allows the flavor of the peppers to shine through. A barbequed brisket or pulled pork sandwich are ideally suited for Mezzetta Tamed™ Jalapeños. And, Mezzetta Deli-Sliced Roasted Sweet Red Bell Pepper Strips have added color and flavor to many a Philadelphia Cheese Steak.

More information on the Mezzetta Make that Sandwich contest is available at www.mezzetta.com; on-line entry begins May 25, 2009.