7 Ways With Milk

Don't let that milk in the fridge go to waste! Discover the many ways you can incorporate milk into daily cooking, from chicken-fried steak and casseroles to soup and hot chocolate.

The addition of eggs and a generous dose of vanilla transforms even lowfat milk into a silken dessert. Since it can chill indefinitely in the fridge before serving, this recipe lets you spend time with guests at the table instead of in the kitchen.

Recipe: Classic Crème Caramel

Think cauliflower is boring? You won't after tasting this delectable gratin, where the vegetable is coated in a leek-and-parmesan sauce made with low-fat milk then topped with herbed, buttered crumbs. Bring it to potlucks and watch it disappear.

Recipe: Creamed Cauliflower with Herbed Crumb Topping

The Ferrari of hot chocolates, this sophisticated European version includes bittersweet chocolate, espresso, and a strip of orange rind, making a perfect after-dinner drink. Be sure to remove from heat when a string of tiny bubbles forms around the edge of the pan, because boiling might cause the milk to curdle.

Recipe: Barcelona Hot Chocolate

Dipping cube steaks in a mixture of milk and eggs helps cracker crumbs adhere to the meat and results in a thick, even coating. Once the steaks are crisply fried, pour more milk into the pan drippings to create the gravy that makes this top-rated Southern specialty so distinctive.

Recipe: Chicken-Fried Steak

This recipe features an Italian technique of slowly cooking a whole pork roast in milk, and the result is succulent meat with a nutty, intensely flavorful sauce. Because it braises in a slow cooker for hours with virtually no attention, it's an ideal make-ahead dish.

Recipe: Braised Pork with Lemon and Sage

Don't fret if you have a crowd to feed. A no-cook roux makes this luxuriously creamy mac and cheese a snap to fix: just stir boiled macaroni into a mixture of flour, milk, and cheese then stick it in the oven–voilà! Dinner for eight.

Recipe: Golden Macaroni and Cheese

Pieces of smoked turkey breast give this dish an alluring aroma that complements the nutty flavor of wild rice. A milk-and-flour slurry added towards the end of cooking gives the soup a voluptuous consistency.

Recipe: Creamy Wild-Rice Soup with Smoked Turkey