1. Who doesn’t love a milkshake? But when you use the highest quality full fat dairy and combine the unique flavors and health benefits of matcha green tea powder and fresh ginger root, you have a unique and special treat to remember. Try this honey-sweetened delight from DairyGoodness.com.

2. Caramel sauce is a delicious use for cream and butter, but this unique recipe twists the idea of salted caramel by adding white miso to the mix.

3. Our low-carb pancakes include ricotta cheese, whey, and cream for a good dose of dairy in an unexpected place. And when you top them with this maple bacon butter sauce, you have a breakfast treat made in heaven. This sauce also makes a tasty topper for fresh fruit, ice cream, or even meat!

4. Now that the weather has started to warm up, try this traditional cold Russian soup from culturesforhealth.com. Fermented milk kefir is the fluid that combines the flavors from scallions, dill, radishes, cucumber, cooked potato, and hard boiled eggs to make this a refreshing and light meal for the hot days ahead.

5. Mediterranean dishes are known for their prodigious use of yogurt. This cucumber-walnut raitarecipe from Health.com combines yogurt, cucumber, and walnuts with cumin, garlic, and lemon to create a refreshing salad you can pair with grilled meats and veggies all summer long.

6. Among all the amazing uses for cheese, one to notice is as a substitute for grain-based crackers. Parmesan cheese crisps are easy to make and delicious. Once you try this recipe from eatingwell.com, your parties will never be the same!

7. Before you fire up the grill for pork chops, try this buttermilk marinade recipe from marksdailyapple.com. The slight acidity of the buttermilk along with its mineral content helps to tenderize and leave your pork chops moist and delicious!

8. I can’t talk about dairy without mentioning the creamy mouthfeel and tangy flavor of sour cream. This recipe for potato nests with sour cream and smoked salmon from myrecipes.com contrasts creamy sour cream with a crisp potato nest for a texture and flavor explosion in a dainty bite-sized package.

I hope at least one of these recipes got your mouth watering. I know mine sure is! There are endless possibilities for using dairy, and when the dairy comes from cows raised on managed pasture, including these foods is a delicious part of a healthy diet.

What is your favorite use for dairy foods? If you don’t or can’t eat dairy, what is your favorite dairy replacement? Share the role dairy foods play in your healthy diet in the comments section below.