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Cappuccino Crunch Ice Cream

February 5, 2012 By 36 Comments

“HE WAS MY CREAM, AND I WAS HIS COFFEE – AND WHEN YOU POURED US TOGETHER IT WAS SOMETHING.”  Josephine Baker

I love my coffee with lots of cream.  Actually, to say I like a little coffee with my cream may be more accurate!  But to pour my coffee flavored cream in an ice cream maker and then freeze it…..now that is something!  I love this cappuccino ice cream.  Just a hint of cocoa and cinnamon give it depth and richness.  And chopped chocolate covered coffee beans and bittersweet chocolate pieces lend a sweet, soft crunch to this cool creamy treat!  So good as an after dinner treat.  But I can hardly wait to…… [Read more...]

Filed Under: Chilly Treats Tagged With: ,

Toasted Mochalaska

August 30, 2011 By 42 Comments

“EVERY GREAT ACHIEVEMENT IS THE VICTORY OF A FLAMING HEAT.”  Ralph Waldo Emerson

Well I decided what to do with the leftover coffee ice cream from the Baked Sunday Mornings.  As you may recall, I felt that the ice cream had an unusual, but tasty, salty quality to it.  So I felt pairing it with something sweeter might help round it out a bit.  And what better sweet thing than chocolate!  The traditional baked alaska is such a ’50s dessert.  But sometimes nostalgia is a good thing if we can put a slightly new twist on it.  So I decided to use brownies studded with toffee bits in place of cake.  And coffee ice cream covered in sweet meringue that is not baked, but toasted with my kitchen blowtorch!  (I’ve been dying to pull that out again).  You know…this can be a quick weeknight dessert by using your favorite bakery or store bought brownie; and your favorite flavor of ice cream from your grocer’s freezer.  (I sound like a commercial here!)  And all you would have to do is whip up the meringue and torch it.  All in all….a pretty quick assembly.  But here’s what to do if you want to make this yummy treat from scratch….. [Read more...]

Filed Under: Frozen Treats Tagged With: , , ,

Coffee Ice Cream

August 28, 2011 By 41 Comments

BAKED SUNDAY MORNINGS:  COFFEE ICE CREAM

So I joined a baking group called Baked Sunday Mornings.  The members of this group will post a featured recipe from the wonderful cookbook, Baked Explorations, by Matt Lewis and Renato Poliafito.  Ironically, the first baking assignment is Coffee Ice Cream!  Which is okay in my book because I happen to LOVE coffee ice cream.  And I needed to make this for another recipe I will be posting later in the week.

This coffee ice cream is different from the one I usually make because I don’t often use an egg base in my ice cream. I did like the creaminess of this ice cream.  But I should have listened to my gut regarding the amount of salt this recipe called for.  While I usually add a pinch or more, depending on the flavor I am creating….this recipe called for an entire teaspoon!!!  So while there is a nice coffee flavor (Kahlua is added!)….it almost took on a smoky, salted caramel quality. Unusual….but in a good way.  The recipe can be found soon on Baked Sunday Mornings.  I have been wanting to own this cookbook for some time.  And so I was very happy for the ‘excuse’ to have to purchase it!  This group will feature a new recipe to be posted every other Sunday.  And after perusing the many wonderful recipes from this book, I am definitely looking forward to many future posts! 
On a scale of 1-5, I will give this 3 whisks.

Filed Under: Baked Sunday Mornings, Creamy Ice Cream Tagged With: ,

Macarons Au Cafe-Creme

July 17, 2011 By 31 Comments

“THOUGH THIS BE MADNESS, YET THERE IS A METHOD.”  William Shakespeare

Well this is my first attempt at making macarons!  You know, for such a perfect little cookie, you hear so many horror stories about how difficult it is to make them!  But actually, it really wasn’t so difficult after all.  You simply must follow the instructions as exactly as you can.  I let my egg whites age for several days.  I measured everything (in grams)!  I even purchased thermometers for both ovens!  The only thing I would do differently is pipe them smaller.  (I know my piping skills are sorely lacking, so I should have measured here, too)!

But all the effort you will put forth will be worth it.  This delicately sweet, chewy cookie filled with rich coffee cream is like no other baked good in all this world!  While my first love is for cupcakes, I believe I am developing a passion for these amazing and special little cookies!  And I can see how some are inspired, by the most ordinary visual stimulus, to create these little sensations!  The possibilities are endless!  And here’s how you can be inspired, too…….. [Read more...]

Filed Under: Cookies, Great Kitchen Reads Tagged With: , , , , ,