Easy Eggnog Icecream

Baby, it's cold outside! Very cold, I mean, it is 19 degrees outside right now. BRRR. And even in this cold I still crave homemade icecream. I made this the other night and it felt very Holiday-ish. Eggnog icecream, perfect for this time of year. It was super easy to make, no cooking involved because eggnog is essentially a custardy drink- which makes this icecream all the more creamy and delectable. OH and by the way it is super healthy- NOT- is anything healthy during the holidays??

Eggnog Icecream Recipe


1/2 C sugar
1/2 C milk
2 C eggnog
1 3/4 C heavy cream
1/4 tsp nutmeg
1 tsp vanilla

Combine sugar, milk, eggnog, cinnamon, vanilla in a bowl. Using a hand mixer on medium speed whisk ingredients for 2 minutes or until sugar is dissolved. Stir in heavy cream. Pour into icecream maker and follow machine instructions. Freeze after removing from icecream machine and enjoy ALL week long!

Fresh White Peach Icecream {Drizzled with Homemade Raspberry Jam}

I have a confession to make. I used to hate peaches. Yes, hate, almost as much as I hate bacon. {Which I think is the most disgusting food ever} But that all changed last year on our trip to Kauai. We bought some fresh ripe white peaches at the Costco there. They looked delicious and juicy so I decided to try one. A.M.A.Z.I.N.G. I am so glad I tried them and was bummed that I had been missing out on something so delicious. To make up for lost time I look for peaches every time I go to Costco and if they have some I usually buy them, I just can't help it. My little family loves  them. I bought some last week and after eating a few I decided to make some homemade Peach icecream with the remaining peaches... it is Summer after all! The easy thing about this was that I just used my Fresh Strawberry Ice cream recipe and substituted with white peaches. The same day that I made this icecream I had also made some Fresh Raspberry freezer jam so I decided to top my icecream with that. I love the combination of peaches and raspberries, it screams summertime!

Happy Summer!

XOXO,
Whitney

RECIPE

Fresh White Peach Ice-Cream Recipe

3 cups fresh ripe white peaches, peeled and sliced
2 T freshly squeezed lemon juice
1 1/2 C sugar, divided
1 1/2 C whole milk
1/2 C lowfat milk
2 C heavy cream
3/4 C half & half
1 1/2 tsp pure vanilla extract

In a small bowl combine the peaches with the lemon juice and 1/2 C of sugar. Stir gently. Place in the refrigerator for about 2 hours to allow the peaches to make juices. Then, strain the peaches reserving the juice. In a food processor, pulse 1/2 of the peaches and set aside.

In a mixing bowl, use a hand mixer on medium speed and combine milk with the remaining sugar. Mix until sugar is dissolved, about 2 minutes. Stir in the cream, half & half, vanilla, peache juices & pulsed peaches. Pour mixture into your ice cream machine for the amount of time suggested per the manufacturer.  (Mine takes about 25 minutes)  5 minutes before mixture is done mixing add in the remaining sliced peaches.

Place in a freezer safe bowl and freeze to harden just slightly... or eat right away if you like your ice cream really soft!

Top with Fresh Raspberry Jam!!!

Pineapple Coconut Ice Cream

Two days hiatus.... we apologize. It's been a little bit crazy around here. We had a Bridal Shower at our house and planning prepping and preparing the food took first priority. Today we have been recuperating. We had many things on the menu let me tell you. It started with fruit kabobs, then a Pink lady salad, Lemon Orzo Pasta, BLT bites, French Bread Bruschetta, Mini Cupcakes, and of course Homemade Ice cream. Not just any ice cream but Pineapple Coconut Ice cream. Amazing.
We found the recipe over at A Sweet Pea Chef and we are so excited that we did find it!

The Recipe.

1 can cream of coconut

1 cup coconut milk

1/2 cup whole milk

2 Tb. pineapple juice

3/4 cup finely chopped freshed pineapple.

Directions.

Combine cream of coconut, coconut milk, whole milk, and pineapple juice in a large mixing bowl. Add coconut flakes and stir to comhine. Pour into ice cream maker and freeze according to the manufactuers instructions.

When Mixture is about 5 minutes from finishing, add pineapple. Freeze in container for at least 5-6 hours (overnight)

Loved this ice cream for the shower! So refreshing on a hot summer day in the 90 degrees. You have to give it a try!

nicole

Dark Chocolate Banana Icecream

So this morning on my jog I was listening to the radio and they were talking about weird and gross ingredients found in food products. Then they started talking about how some of these gross ingredients are found in things such as icecream. {Gasp} How can they put such things in our food? All the more reason to go ahead and make your own icecream all from scratch...that way you can avoid eating things like beaver byproduct and sawdust. YUCK. If that isn't a reason to make your own homemade icecream this recipe just might be! I had a few leftover bananas that were getting pretty ripe. I wasn't in the mood to bake up any banana bread so I decided to experiment and make some dark chocolate banana icecream. Delish & decadent. Such a yummy combination. When I was pregnant I used to eat a banana with chocolate sauce for dessert. Semi-healthy, right?

Yum. Also, when I make my icecreams I use a mixture of whole and skim milk. This makes it lighter in calories but you still get the richness of the whole milk.  I love icecream anytime but it's even better when it is almost 100 degrees outside!

Here is the recipe!

Dark Chocolate Banana Icecream

1 C unsweetened dark cocoa powder
2/3 C sugar
1/2 C brown sugar
1 C mashed ripe bananas (approx 2 medium bananas)
1 C skim milk
1 C whole milk
1 3/4 C heavy cream
1 T pure vanilla extract

Combine cocoa, sugars, and milks together in a bowl. Using a hand mixer, mix together on low/medium speed for about 2 minutes. Stir in heavy cream and vanilla. Pour into icecream machine and follow machine instructions for freezing.

XOXO,
Whitney

Homemade Red Velvet Cake Icecream

Ever since my hubby gave me my Cuisinart Icecream & Sorbet maker I have not purchased any store bought icecream. I now make all my own icecream because let's face it, once you go homemade you just can't go back to store bought. It's not the same, at all. My hubby is now spoiled with homemade icecream. He sure knows how to give gifts well, it was not only something I love but it also benefits him in a yummy way.
Have you seen the commercials for the new Blue Bunny "Duff" inspired Red Velvet Cake icecream?

When I saw this commercial I was literally salivating. Red Velvet icecream with cream cheese icecream swirls? I have never heard of such a thing but it sounded amazing and I wanted to try and make my own. I found a cake batter recipe and just substituted yellow cake mix with Red Velvet Cake mix. Then for the cream cheese icecream I found a decadent recipe. I decided not to swirl them together in fear that they might just get muddled up. So I left the two icecreams separate but then serve them side by side. I can't believe how much it tastes like I'm eating Red Velvet Cake with Cream cheese icing...only it's icecream, not cake! Which makes it that much better!!

Hope you are all enjoying your Memorial Day weekend!

XOXO,
Whitney

Here are the recipes!

Red Velvet Icecream
Adapted from Cake Batter Icecream recipe from Kitchy Kitchen

1/2 cup Red Velvet Cake mix
3/4 cup sugar

Pinch of salt
3 egg yolks

2 teaspoons vanilla extract
2 cups heavy cream
1 1/2 cups milk

Over medium heat, bring 1 cup of heavy cream, sugar, salt, and cake mix to a simmer. Separately, beat the egg yolks lightly in a medium sized bowl. Add a 1/4 cup of the simmered cream mixture to the egg yolks and mix. This is to temper the eggs and prevent them from curdling when added to the whole mixture. Add a bit more and mix, then add the entire egg mixture to the simmered cream. Stir with a whisk until the mixture forms a thin custard, about 5 to 10 minutes (or it reaches about 175 on a thermometer). Take off heat and add the remaining milk and heavy cream. Stir, then chill in the fridge.

Once the mixture is completely chilled, add the mixture to your ice cream machine and chill accordingly.

Cream Cheese Icecream

Recipe courtesy of Epicurous

8 oz cream cheese, softened

1 cup milk

1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice

3/4 cup sugar

1/8 teaspoon salt

1/2 cup heavy cream

Blend cream cheese, milk, lemon juice, sugar, and salt in a blender until smooth. Transfer to a bowl, then stir in cream. Freeze cream cheese mixture in ice cream maker. Transfer to an airtight container and put in freezer to harden, at least 2 hours. Let ice cream soften 5 minutes before serving

atlanta

Hotlanta was really good to us two weeks ago. Every morning after breakfast we sat ourselves down on the balcony and soaked up 80 degree weather. amazingness.

J.Biebslanta also supplied me with my hot BF when I suddenly ran into him at the mall, he shouldn't have surprised me like that. but I didn't stop him from taking a pic with me.

Shoptlanta provided some nautical shoes for spring and summer. To look cute you gotta dress cute, to dress cute you gotta shop cute. In addition to the shoes I got a striped shirt continue the nautical esque theme as well as some camel colored capris.

Bluelanta accompanied every one of our nights spent in Atlanta. The pumpkin pecan was perfect to top off everyday we had spent shopping.

Chiclanta, because we eat closer to where it's from, founded, and started. This families motto is always eat mor chikin. Chic-fil-A, do I dare admit was our dinner for 2 out of the five days we spent in Atlanta. If you are judging us right now it is most definitely because you are jealous.

Atlanta was fun and awesome. Loved going and can't wait to go back real soon.

nicole





Treats for my Valentine's!

Happy Valentine's Day! I have been celebrating Valentine's Day for the last month. I LOVE love! Yep.  I love all the cheesy, sappiness of it all. But the best thing about my Valentine's Day?

1. I get to spend the day with this MOST special Valentines ever:

2. My Mr. has to leave for work super early but when I woke up and went into the bathroom he had left the sweetest note for me on the mirror. Can't wait until he gets home tonight!

3. Treats. I love me some V-Day treats. For our Girls night we made these delicious cake pops. Oh man were they yummy.

But something special for my Valentine? Fresh Strawberry Ice Cream. I know it is still cold outside but seriously me & my Mr. love ice cream. Definitely my most favorite treat. I tried to make it a little bit "lighter" but it is still just as delicious. It tastes fresh and creamy!

And a flashback of Valentine's past: We like to make each other special dinners for Valentine's day. We have made this dessert twice! Molten Lava Cakes- Thank you Paula Deen! Seriously, so easy and amazing. The recipe calls for a hint of orange......mmmmmmmmmmmm.

How are you celebrating Valentine's Day? I really feel that every day you should let those you love and care for know how special they are, not just once a year. But that is the fun thing about Valentine's day... you get to go a little over board. And who doesn't love celebrating?

Happy Valentine's Day,

Whitney

My favorite Love quote:
Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; it does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth. Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. Love never ends

Recipes:

Fresh Strawberry Ice-Cream Recipe

3 cups fresh ripe strawberries, stemmed and sliced
2 T freshly squeezed lemon juice
1 1/2 C sugar, divided
1 C whole milk
1 C lowfat milk
2 C heavy cream
3/4 C half & half
1 1/2 tsp pure vanilla extract

In a small bowl combine the strawberries with the lemon juice and 1/2 C of sugar. Stir gently. Place in the refrigerator for about 2 hours to allow the strawberries to make juices. Then, strain the berries reserving the juice. In a food processor, puree the strawberries and set aside.

In a mixing bowl, use a hand mixer on medium speed and combine milk with the remaining sugar. Mix until sugar is dissolved,  about 2 minutes.  Stir in the cream, half & half, vanilla, strawberries & strawberry juice. Pour mixture into your ice cream machine for the amount of time suggested per the manufacturer. (Mine takes about 25 minutes)

Place in a freezer safe bowl and freeze to harden just slightly... or eat right away if you like your ice cream really soft!

*********************************************************************************

Molten Lava Cakes
Recipe from Food Network - Paula Deen

Ingredients
6 (1-ounce) squares bittersweet chocolate
2 (1-ounce) squares semisweet chocolate
10 tablespoons (1 1/4 stick) butter
1/2 cup all-purpose flour
1 1/2 cups confectioners' sugar
3 large eggs
3 egg yolks
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
2 tablespoons orange liqueur - We used 1 teaspoon of orange extract instead and it was a perfect amount
Directions

Preheat oven to 425 degrees F.
Grease 6 (6-ounce) custard cups. Melt the chocolates and butter in the microwave, or in a double boiler. Add the flour and sugar to chocolate mixture. Stir in the eggs and yolks until smooth. Stir in the vanilla and orange liqueur. Divide the batter evenly among the custard cups. Place in the oven and bake for 14 minutes. The edges should be firm but the center will be runny. Run a knife around the edges to loosen and invert onto dessert plates.

Do's & Dont's of Dark Chocolate

Do:

Make some homemade Dark Chocolate ice cream in your new icecream machine. It is decadent and delicious.

 Don't:

Think that you love dark chocolate so much that you buy yourself the darkest of dark chocolate that is 90% cocoa. It tastes like chalk. And you will be gagging.

 Do:

Enjoy one square of Dark Chocolate with Sea Salt per day. Besides, a small amount of dark chocolate per day is good for you.

Hope you are all having a fantastic weekend!

XOXO,

Whitney