Hello everyone, my name is Emily Young, and I am the new 2008-2009 Cayuga County Dairy Princess.

I am incredibly excited to be your new dairy princess and look forward to seeing you all in my future events throughout the year.

A little bit about myself: I am the daughter of Jim and Larraine Young, and we live on a small dairy farm in southern Cayuga County. The dairy princess program is nothing new to me, as I have had four other relatives hold this awesome title.

However, I am sure that as you are reading this, it is most likely close to 100 degrees outside, and you are trying to think of anything to do in order to stay cool. Well have no fear, because the dairy princess has some helpful tips to help you beat the heat.

My personal favorite way to stay cool is to make myself a nice cold drink. And what better drink is out there than milk? What other tasty beverage can you say has more than nine essential vitamins and minerals, which in this heat, will help you to maintain your body's regular temperature? None that I can think of.

However, you do not need to simply drink milk; you can use other dairy products such as yogurt and ice cream to help make nice cool smoothies for you and your family to enjoy. Not only can smoothies and other milk beverages help you to get your three a day, but you can also blend in fresh fruits to help you get your daily fruit and vegetable needs as well. A simply win win situation!

I hope that these tips will help you to beat this summer heat. To help you get started enjoying these cool treats, I have enclosed some of my personal favorite dairy inspired drinks that I frequently enjoy throughout the summer. I look forward to a great year with you all and most importantly, I hope to help you get your three a day of dairy today.

Emily Young is the current Dairy Princess for Cayuga County.

Why 3-A-Day?

According to the American Dairy Association, research shows that on average, Americans are eating only half the daily

recommended servings of dairy. 3-A-Day of Dairy was created as a simple reminder for families to get three daily servings of milk, cheese or yogurt for stronger bones and better bodies. Dairy provides nine essential nutrients, including calcium, potassium, phosphorus, protein, vitamins A, D and B12, riboflavin and niacin (niacin equivalents).

Caribbean Milk Cooler

2 cups skim or 1 percent milk

2 cups unsweetened pineapple juice

1 tablespoon vanilla extract

1 tablespoon coconut extract

2 tablespoons sugar

Ice cubes

Mint sprig (optional)

In a blender container, combine all ingredients except ice cubes and mint and blend on high speed until frothy. Pour into four tall glasses filled with ice cubes. Garnish with mint sprigs is desired.

Note: For a thicker drink, freeze pineapple juice in an ice cube tray. Blend these ice cubes with other ingredients except mint. Omit regular cubes and serve in chilled glasses.

Mango Yogurt Smoothie

4-7 ice cubes

1 cup (8 ounces) plain fat-free yogurt

3/4 cup mango slices in extra light syrup, drained *

1 teaspoon sugar substitute (optional)

Mango slices for garnish (optional)

Place ice in bottom of blender. Add yogurt, mango and sugar substitute if desired. Blend ingredients until smooth.

Pour into a tall glass and garnish with mango slices, if desired.

Serve immediately

* Mango slices can be found in jars in your grocery store's

produce section