Berry Dairy Salad

Remember going to potlucks as a child and there would be an entire table of salads… but not a vegetable in sight? These “salads” featured everything from Jello (gelatin) and Cool Whip (non-dairy whipped topping) to fruit, pudding, whipping cream, marshmallows, and more. What a time to be alive! While a “Jello Salad” is now considered a “retro American dessert,” we think the Berry Dairy Salad has some staying power- and here’s why! (Also, I am not kidding about the retro thing- look it up!)

The best thing about this recipe is that it is delicious. It is so good. The second-best thing is that it features real dairy products and real fruit. Brittany, a quality assurance supervisor and licensed cheese grader, knows a thing or two about real dairy products. Having spent her whole life involved in the dairy industry, a degree in dairy science, and years of experience at dairy processing facilities, she presents this recipe as an excellent option for a potluck or a delicious summer dessert. It’s also pretty easy to make- the hard work happens before you pick up the ingredients at the grocery store.

Cows are mammals, and begin producing milk after they give birth. Over time, dairy cattle genetics and improved care have allowed cows to produce an average of 8 gallons of milk per day! Any negative impacts to their health- including illness and even stress- impacts their milk output, so farmers work hard to make sure their cattle are living the good life.

Milk is picked up from the farms typically every day or every other day, hauled to the production plant, tested for antibiotics, and unloaded if it passes all requirements (temperature, appearance, etc.). That milk is then bottled or turned into a new product within a few days. These products are all great on their own, but mixing a few dairy products together usually leads to a pretty tasty recipe!

Once you pick up the ingredients from the store, all you need to do is whip the cream, combine the yogurt and pudding mix, fold them together, add the fruit and you’re ready to go!