Even with the hectic holiday shopping, gift wrapping and baking is behind us, now there is a new challenge. Once again it's time to make resolutions for the new year. New Year's resolutions are great chance to take a look at your life and decide what can be done to make it better. Dairy works well with many popular resolutions.

After all the holiday hoopla, it can be hard to shed stubborn pounds from the many season's treats. Losing weight is a very common resolution, and there are several non-fat and low-fat dairy products to accomplish weight-loss goals while getting the nutrients you need. Recent studies have shown that diets rich in calcium can help you lose weight - specifically around the waist. Studies also suggest that those who drink enough milk are more likely to weigh less and have less body fat than those who don't.

Once you lose the weight, combining dairy products with regular exercise can help your body look toned and healthy as well. The protein found in dairy products plays an important role in building and maintaining muscle.

Eating dairy products can be a resolution in itself as well - resolve to meet your body's calcium requirements each day. Consume three servings of dairy every day throughout 2008 to meet your daily calcium quota. Exciting and distinct combinations can be made each day with milk, cheese, and yogurt. Creating your own 3-A-Day of Dairy calendar is an excellent way to keep track of how many servings you have had.

If you opt for a more general resolution of eating healthier, don't forget the dairy either. In addition to calcium and protein, milk, cheese, and yogurt provide seven other nutrients. Eating more dairy will reduce your risk for high blood pressure, osteoporosis and even certain cancers.

Now is the perfect time to vow to make dairy a bigger part of your life. I wish you a very happy and healthy new year.

Here are some recipes to get you well on your way to consuming more dairy.

Molly O'Hara is the Cayuga County Dairy Princess.

Blue Cheese Onion Soup

3 tablespoons butter

5 cups (about four large) thinly sliced onions

2 tablespoons flour

2 cans (13 3/4 ounce each) ready to serve beef broth

2 cups milk

4 slices (1/2-inch thick) French bread

1/2 cup crumbled blue cheese

1/2 cup shredded Muenster cheese

Preheat broiler. In a large saucepan over medium heat, melt butter. Add onions; cook covered, stirring occasionally, until tender, about 10 minutes. Stir in flour until blended; add beef broth. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat to medium; simmer covered, for 10 minutes, stirring occasionally. Stir in milk; cook until hot, 2 to 3 minutes. Meanwhile, on a baking sheet place bread slices. Broil until brown, about 1 minute on each side. Sprinkle each slice with blue cheese and Muenster cheese; broil until cheese melts, about 1 minute. Ladle soup into four serving bowls; place one cheese-topped bread slice in each bowl and serve immediately.

Buncha Banana Pudding

2 3-ounce packages vanilla pudding mix

4 cups low-fat milk

20 vanilla wafer cookies

3 bananas, sliced

Optional garnish, light whipped cream and graham cracker crumbs

Prepare pudding with low-fat milk as directed on package. Spoon one cup of pudding into 2-quart serving bowl and top with 10 cookies and half the banana slices. Continue layering with 2 cups of pudding, remaining cookies and bananas. Top with remaining pudding, cover and refrigerate three hours or overnight. Garnish with whipped cream, graham cracker crumbs or banana slices if desired.

Brazilian Mocha

Makes 4 servings

1 cup strong coffee

1 square (1 ounce) unsweetened chocolate

1/4 cup sugar

3 cups milk

Dash of salt

Melt chocolate in coffee over low heat in 2 quart saucepan. Add sugar and salt; stir to dissolve. Gradually add milk, stirring constantly. Heat to serving temperature. Beat with a rotary beater or whisk until frothy. Serve hot, topped with a spoonful of whipped cream if desired.