6 Ways to Elevate Family-Favorite Holiday Recipes Using Kitchen Staples

From a Yule Time Cheese Log melting over an open fire to a 6-foot cheese board centerpiece, tips from Real California Milk to celebrate the "Holi-dairy" Season

News provided by

Real California Milk

Dec 14, 2017, 14:13 ET

TRACY, Calif., Dec. 14, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Take your holiday gatherings to the next level with modern twists on a few seasonal classics. Many of the secret ingredients to upgrade traditional recipes are already in your kitchen, including butter and cheese made with Real California Milk.Get in the holiday spirit and entertain Cali-style with the following tips made in partnership with Cooking Panda and Lifestyle Expert Rachel Hollis.

Experience the interactive Multichannel News Release here: https://www.multivu.com/players/English/8237551-real-california-milk-six-holiday-recipes/

Transform a classic dessert into a crowd-pleasing cheesy appetizer

Upgrade the go-to cheese plate and create a 6-foot cheese board that serves as a beautiful centerpiece

Put a grown-up spin on a childhood favorite

Stir up an after-dinner cocktail for dessert

Turn up the heat on the Holiday Yule Log with a Cheesy Alternative

Transform a classic dessert into a crowd-pleasing cheesy appetizer

Sweet meets savory meets holiday spice in this Cheddar Apple Pie Dip. Serve with assorted crackers or cinnamon pita chips for non-stop dipping.

Upgrade the go-to cheese plate and create a 6-foot cheese board that serves as a beautiful centerpiece

Using a variety of Real California cheeses, this larger than life cheese board takes center stage on the holiday table. Here are a few ideas for perfect pairings:

•      California Brie cheese and raspberries
•      California Blue cheese and honey
•      California Burrata with tomatoes and basil

Put a grown-up spin on a childhood favorite

Add fresh, festive flavors to a classic appetizer to create these irresistible Cran-Orange Mozzarella Sticks with Honey Whipped Cream Cheese Dip.

Turn up the heat on the Holiday Yule Log with a Cheesy Alternative

We've all heard of the Holiday Yule Log, but how about a Cheese Log? Ooey, gooey and melting over an open fire, what better ambiance for holiday gatherings? Play this video featured on the Real California Milk YouTube channel as a conversation starter to warm up the party.

Festive spirits are better with butter

Mixologists across the country are shaking up menus by adding butter to popular cocktails. This take on Hot Butternut Rum uses Earl Grey tea, homemade squash butter and maple syrup.

Stir up an after-dinner cocktail for dessert

Save the best for last with an eggnog cocktail complete with a scoop of peppermint ice cream. For the ultimate holiday drink, garnish the rim with crushed candy canes.

Purchase dairy ingredients with the Real California Milk seal to ensure quality products made with 100 percent milk produced by California's dairy farm families. Products with the seal are available in supermarkets and specialty stores across the U.S.

For more creative holiday inspiration visit www.RealCaliforniaMilk.com.

About Real California Milk
The California Milk Advisory Board (Real California Milk), an instrumentality of the California Department of Food and Agriculture, is funded by the state's dairy farm families. With headquarters in Tracy, the CMAB is one of the largest agricultural marketing boards in the United States. The CMAB executes advertising, public relations, research and retail and foodservice promotional programs on behalf of California dairy products, including Real California Milk and Real California Cheese, throughout the U.S. and internationally. For more information and to connect with the CMAB through social media, visit RealCaliforniaMilk.com, like at Facebook, view videos at YouTube, follow at Twitter and Instagram, and pin at Pinterest.

SOURCE Real California Milk