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Posts tagged ‘summer treat’

Jul 1

84 Comments

Boozy Strawberry Rhubarb Yogurt Pops

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I am dedicating the next few posts to frozen treats, ice cream. sorbet and popsicles.  These popsicles are so simple to make and sort of nutritionally sound because they contain very little sugar and if you omit the booze it’s like a frozen breakfast popsicle. A few posts back I told you I made a rhubarb cordial, I used it in the Pavlova and now in these popsicles. They are so easy to make, all you need is a popsicle mold and a few ingredients, no cooking required. You don’t need to use any alcohol in your pops, honestly there is so little in this it’s almost not there,  but for a family friendly popsicle simply omit. I didn’t really use a recipe for this, eyeballed and the measurements below are approximate, it just happens that it made pretty much the right amount to fill the molds. I added and tasted so bear in mind that this is not exact.

I just got a great popsicle mold made my onyx, it’s stainless steel, freezes quickly and the popsicles come out like a dream. I am very happy with it because it also has a feature that ensures the stick remains in place and can be inserted when you first place it in the freezer, genius.

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I’ve got my ice packs and insulated carrier ready because I’m bringing these beauties to Fiesta Friday #126. This is a holiday weekend and Angie’s co hosts are all of us. It is up to us to vote on our favorite recipes.

Strawberry Rhubarb Yogurt Popsicles

Makes 8

measurements are approximate

Strawberries

2 cups strawberries cleaned and sliced

2 tbs sugar (use if you like and sweeten to taste)

1/4 cup rhubarb cordial

Yogurt

2 cups whole milk greek yogurt (approximately 14 oz)

sugar to taste

2 tbs rhubarb cordial

1 tsp vanilla

Mash the macerated strawberries with a fork. Mix the yogurt with the sugar, rhubarb cordial and vanilla. The cordial thins the very thick greek yogurt slightly, if using greek yogurt you will want to thin it a bit with either the cordial or a liquor, water, milk or cream or fruit juice, your choice. Layer the strawberries first, then the yogurt and end with the yogurt. Place in freezer and enjoy in 4+ hours. See how easy this is.

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Jun 3

85 Comments

Ice Cream Cake With Hot Fudge Sauce, A Guest Post And Fiesta Friday #122

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This is a very special post, first of all it’s a guest post for my dear friend Cheryl of Cheryl “Cheffie Cooks” Wiser. Now if you don’t know Cheryl, in a nutshell she is Super Woman, mother of 5 (including twins), she has 9 (yes NINE) blogs that she keeps up with daily. I can barely manage one, how does she do it, like I said she is Super Woman. Well, Cheryl is going away on a much needed family vacation and has asked some of her friends to do guest posts, I am honored and thrilled to be the first guest post while Cheryl is away. She lives in Florida and her recipes are family friendly, simple, tasty and are made with readily available ingredients. I also have to mention that she has published 1477 (maybe more now) recipes on the Tasty Kitchen website. Visit Cheryl and her 9 blogs, you will be amazed as I am and she is one of the nicest people you will meet.

I wanted to make dessert, a cake,the first cake in theory would have been great but it flopped big time and went straight to the circular file if you know what I mean, as I lamented my failure I got an email from the editors at Food 52, my recipe for Brooklyn Blackout Semifreddo Cake is going to be in their new Ice Cream cookbook, what an incredible honor, it gave me an idea, an Ice Cream Cake will be the perfect dessert. I used the same sponge cake recipe for the blackout cake but instead of a semifreddo I decided to just use ice cream from the supermarket. Lazy, maybe but it’s ok it’s still delicious. You can use what ever ice cream you like, homemade is wonderful but if not, buy your favorite flavors. It is served with a rich, thick warm hot fudge sauce that I like to spike with kahlua, that is purely optional of course but it’s really good.

This special ice cream cake is going to be rushed (before it melts) over to Angie’s for Fiesta Friday #122. This week’s co hosts are Mollie @ The Frugal Hausfrau and Aruna @ Aharam

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Chocolate Sponge Cake

Makes 1 large (10-inch) loaf cake plus extra scraps

  • 1/4 cup milk
  • 2 tablespoons unsalted butter
  • 8 large eggs at room temperature
  • 2 cups sugar
  • 3/4 cups flour
  • 1/2 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
  • 1 teaspoon baking powder
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Place milk and butter in a glass measuring cup and microwave for 45 seconds, or until the butter is melted. Using a stand mixer with the wire whisk attachment (or a hand-held electric mixer), whip the eggs and sugar on medium-high for approximately 8 minutes, or until the mixture is pale yellow, tripled in volume, and thick.
  2. With the machine still running, slowly add the heated milk and butter. Sift together the flour, cocoa, baking powder, and salt. Fold it into the egg mixture; there should be no lumps. Fold in the vanilla.
  3. Grease a 1/2 sheet pan, line with parchment, grease the parchment, and sprinkle with sugar or dust with flour. Pour batter into the pan, spread so that it is evenly distributed, and bake for 20 to 25 minutes. Allow to cool for a couple of minutes in the pan, then run a knife or flexible offset spatula around the edges to loosen. Invert onto a wire rack, remove parchment, and let cool completely.

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Hot Fudge Sauce:

4 oz milk chocolate cut into pieces

4 oz dark chocolate cut into pieces

1/2 cup heavy cream

1 tbs vanilla extract( or optional 2 tbs kahlua coffee liquor)

Place chocolate pieces in mixing bowl, bring cream almost to a boil, scalding. Pour over the chocolate and let sit for 5 minutes. Stir until smooth and creamy, add the vanilla or optional kailua if like

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Assembling the cake:

2 pints of your favorite ice cream flavors softened. I used Il laboratorio del Gelato brand (made right here in NYC, it’s amazing),the flavors are malt and bourbon pecan.

The cake should be cut into rectangular slices that will fit snuggly into the loaf pan, I used a 10 in pan and cut three 5×9 1/2 inch slices, make sure to save the scraps.  Line the pan with plastic wrap with enough overhang so that it will cover the top of the cake.

Soften the ice cream so that it is spreadable consistency. Place first layer of cake at the bottom of the pan add ice cream and smooth. If the ice cream is melting place in freezer between layers. Add another layer on top of the ice cream and repeat. Place top layer of cake on, cover with plastic wrap and place in freezer all day or overnight or at a minimum 2-4 hours. NOTE: I use a pint of ice cream in between each layer

To serve, take the cake out of the freezer about 10-15 minutes before serving. Slice and spoon some of the hot fudge sauce on top.

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Jun 26

12 Comments

Blackberry,Peach Ice Cream With a Hint of Basil

One of my favorite summer fruit pies is the combination of blackberries and peaches. I also really love blackberries with basil and I make a blackberry basil simple syrup that I use for drinks and as a flavoring in many sweet dishes. It’s been really hot here in NYC and my thoughts have turned to ice cream so I took my favorite pie and turned it into a frozen treat. I made a custard base, added some of the blackberry basil syrup before pouring into the ice cream maker and then some sweet ripe peaches that I got at the farmers market. It’s really delicious, you only get a hint of the basil, and I think it adds a depth of flavor to the ice cream that is wonderful. The syrup can be used to drizzle on the ice cream, make a shake or ice cream soda it’s very versatile.

Blackberry Basil Syrup

2 cups blackberries

1  cup + 2 tbs sugar

4 basil leaves

2/3 cup water

Add everything to a saucepan and bring to a boil, continue to boil for 4-5 minutes. Remove from heat and let cool for about 15 minutes. Strain into a bowl pressing the blackberries so all that is left is seeds and a very small amount of pulp. Pour into a jar and refrigerate until cold. Overnight is best. Then you can proceed to clean the strainer removing every seed that is stuck in every tiny little whole.

Custard

1 1/2 cup heavy cream

1 1/2 cup whole milk

5 egg yolks

1/3 cup sugar

Place heavy cream and milk into non reactive saucepan and scald. Add egg yolks and sugar to a mixing bowl and whisk until thick and a lovely light yellow color. Add half of the hot liquid into the yolks whisking constantly (tempering the egg yolks) Pour back into the pan with the rest of the milk/cream, turn flame to med/high stir constantly until it becomes thick and coats the back of your spoon. You should be able to run your finger making a line on the back of the spoon that stays intact. If using a thermometer it should be 170 degrees.

Strain into bowl, cover with plastic directly on top of the custard and let it come to room temperature, then refrigerate overnight or until it reaches 40 degree’s or lower.

Making the Ice Cream

Cold custard

3/4 cup blackberry basil syrup

1 cup chopped peaches (peeled)

Mix the blackberry syrup with the custard and pour into ice cream maker, follow manufacturers instructions. When ice cream is the consistency of soft serve add the peaches and continue churning for a few more minutes or until it’s the right consistency.

Spoon into container and place in freezer for at least 2 hours or until it reaches a scoopable consistency.