The California Fire Foundation and California’s dairy families have partnered to create the 2005 Milk & Cookies Calendar, which pairs fire fighter’s best-kept kitchen secrets with tall glasses of cold and delicious milk. Produced for the first time in 2004, the recipes for the 2005 calendar were selected through the second annual statewide fire fighter cookie recipe contest.

Sales of the calendar benefit the California Firefighters Memorial and the families of fallen fire fighters. More than $10,000 was raised in 2004, and sales of the 2005 calendar will benefit this great cause again in 2005.

California Professional Firefighters from across the state submitted recipes, and 12 of the tastiest are featured in the 2005 calendar.

Among the cookie recipes:

Contra Costa County Local 1230 member Michael Espinoza’s Third Alarm Chocolate Covered Raisin Oatmeal Cookies. He says, “I keep two cookies in the freezer at all times. They taste best that way and it’s easy to grab a cold glass of milk to wash them down.”

San Francisco Local 798 fire fighter Mariano Elias Jr.’s Super Chocolate Chip Peanut Butter Cookies. Elias comments, “Fire fighting is a dream come true. Being in a fire fighter calendar is icing on the cake (or cookie!).”

Chula Vista Local 2180 fire fighter Dangkhoa Nguyen’s Dalmations. “Winning a spot in the calendar is a huge honor,” says Nguyen. “Even though I’m taking a little heat from the guys at the station, I’m proud that the calendar benefits the Firefighters Memorial.” As the nation’s leading dairy state, California ranks number one in the United States in the production of fluid milk, butter, ice cream, nonfat dry milk, cottage cheese and whey protein concentrate, and is the second-largest cheese producer.

The California dairy industry contributes more than $35 billion in economic activity and generates more than 257,000 jobs in California. The California Milk Advisory Board supports California’s 2,100 dairy families through generic advertising, retail and foodservice promotions, milk quality improvement and research. For more recipes and information, visit www.RealCaliforniaCheese.com.

The 2006 Milk & Cookies Calendar will be available beginning in October 2005. To order, visit www.memorial.cpf.org or call (800) 890-3213.

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