Fat-free milk, with the taste of whole milk

I've been using skim milk for years -- and always felt a little disappointed when I poured the anemic moo juice into my coffee. I steered away from so-called fat-free creamers because they get their creaminess from corn syrup -- and after all, a gal needs her dairy, not some engineered stuff.

Now, thanks to the process of ultrapasteurization, I can buy fat-free milk that tastes as rich as the real deal. Start pouring the Cheerios and fire up Mister Coffee!

In traditional pasteurization, milk is heated to a minimum of 161 degrees and then chilled. In the ultra process, the milk is superheated to 280 degrees. The additional heat does more than distill the flavor. Ultra milk has a shelf life of 60 days, compared to 15-17 days for regular milk. All milk should be consumed within 10 days of opening the carton.

Expect to pay more for the extra flavor. At ShopRite, a quart of regular fat-free milk lists for $1.19. The ultra is $1.99.