The weather is turning cold, the barn doors are closed up and the holidays are getting near, so it's time to warm up with some more great dairy recipes. This is my favorite time of the year to drink - you know it - hot chocolate.

I really enjoyed visiting the students at A.J.Smith this past month and helping them out with their “milk mustache” contest.

We drank a lot of great milk for those mustaches! (Unfortunately, chocolate milk doesn't make good mustaches).

I also appeared at several local annual farm meetings to update them on my schedule and review the 𔄛-A-Day” information they know and love so well.

I would guess that most all farmers do get their three servings of milk, cheese and yogurt every day.

My most interesting appearance date had to be for the North East Dairy Challenge held at Patterson's Farm.

We brought hot chocolate and real whipped cream for some 100 chilled college students attending the event, but found the dissected animal nearby was not helping anyone's appetite.

Well, really, all these college students were being tested on their knowledge of various farm-related subjects and there were many interesting stations set up around the building we were in.

We were amazed at all the effort that had obviously gone into this event, and I think we actually might have learned something from it.

Now back to some great dairy hot chocolate recipes to warm you up.

Did you know that hot chocolate and homemade or canned soups made with real milk offer the greatest package of calcium and eight other essential nutrients for you and your family to enjoy for just pennies per ounce?

So next time you are looking for something to warm you up on a chilly winter evening, be sure to add milk to your favorite recipes.

Its powerful combination of nutrition and taste can't be beat.

Real hot chocolate recipes begin by heating one cup of chocolate milk in a 2-cup microwave-safe glass measuring cup.

For each of the variations below, stir the listed ingredients into the milk. Microwave on high for 2 to 3 minutes until heated. Stir carefully before serving.

€ Peanut Butter Cup Hot Chocolate - Thoroughly mix in 1 tablespoon creamy peanut butter.

€ Strawberry Hot Chocolate - Add 2 tablespoons strawberry milk-flavoring powder or syrup and 1/2 teaspoon honey

€ Turtle Hot Chocolate - Spoon 1 tablespoon caramel ice cream topping and 1 tablespoon chocolate syrup into milk.

€ Minty Hot Chocolate - Add 8 miniature chocolate-covered mint patties, quartered, to the milk before heating. Mix well.

You can also warm milk on top of the stove. By simmering, some of the water evaporates and the milk tastes richer.

For a new twist, boil a cinnamon stick or whole vanilla bean in the milk to flavor it.

It isn't chocolate but there are people out there (like my brother) who somehow don't like chocolate. Can you believe it?

Lindsay Young is the Cayuga County Dairy Princess