Today Holiday Recipe Club is celebrating the Queen’s Diamond Jubliee.
The required ingredients were tea, jam or Worcestershire sauce.
As you can see, I ended up going the tea route. But I was very tempted to do a homemade jam.
This chai ice cream was inspired by a black currant tea ice cream recipe in my favorite ice cream book, The Perfect Scoop.
Thank you, Erin, for allowing me to spread a little of the ice cream love over here at Big Fat Baker. It’s been a pleasure getting to know Erin the past several months – she was one of the first foodie friends I met from Foodbuzz, as well as one of the first people who tried a recipe I posted. Erin is a sweetheart and a talented baker. Thanks again for having me here! Now onto the ice cream…
If you’re familiar with my blog, then you know that I recently got my hands on the KitchenAid ice cream maker attachment. I’ve had fun this month (which just happens to be National Ice Cream month) testing different recipes, to my husband’s delight. Honestly, it’s been so hot this last week in New York that we’re both delighted to have a frozen treat within arm’s reach!
Green tea ice cream has always been a favorite of mine – I love the slight bitter but fragrant flavor of the tea mixed with the sweetness of the sugar and cream. It’s a natural combination – tea and milk, so even in this crazy summer heat, you can enjoy a cup of your favorite tea.
The other day something crazy happened. Marnely was tweeting away about mangoes and how delicious they are, and out of nowhere (to me..I was traveling) she mentioned something about a mango madness post day. After having delicious mango after mango in Maui I wanted to join immediately. Ultimately eight of us joined in on the madness and are here today to tell you about it.
Initially I thought, mango candy.
It’s not often I see mango candy around this area and it sounded delicious, so why not? Once I realized that Friday was quickly approaching and time was running out, I went with something that would be a little less intimidating. And something that I could make a night, and would be ready in the morning.
Ice cream was my first thought and I stuck with it.
So using my slightly under ripe mangoes (tear, tear) I made mango ice cream.
I was a little nervous at how this was going to go. Curd is easy, you slowly raise the temperature to avoid cooking the eggs and having slimy scrambled eggs. But making the custard part for the ice cream was slightly different. You have to cook everything to the proper consistency but if it boils, you are done.
Unfortunately, when I looked away for a second to get a strainer my first custard boiled. It was done.
I tried again, and the next time it was perfect. No cooked eggs, and no wasted mango! Due to my lack of an ice cream maker I had to do this the more labor intensive way.
After cooking everything to the proper temperature and consistency, I mixed in the mango then let it cool down in the refrigerator. I added the cream and chopped dark chocolate then allowed the mixture some time to freeze in the freezer. A few hours later (and quite a bit of stirring) we had mango ice cream.
I apologize for my absence lately. I’m sure as many of you know/ remember this is finals time…
Time to buckle down and remember what my professors attempted to teach me, and what I (may or may not) have learned.
Instead of sharing one of my recipes, I thought I would share I have noticed around the internet. These are recipes that are just fabulous.
First, Lindsey from Gingerbread Bagels has been on a bit of an ice cream kick. She recently posted a recipe for an amazing looking funfetti birthday cake ice cream. It looks so fun, and I can only imagine how it tastes! Funfetti is one of my favorite cake mixes and makes me think of one of my good friends, Kelly. I know she will swoon over this recipe.
image credit: gingerbread bagels
Second, Marnely from Cooking with Books posted an easy to follow tutorial on how to make your on cheese at home. It sounds so much simpler then I ever thought it would be. The possibilities with cheese making seem endless. This is something I have been interested in learning for a long time, and I want to try my hand at it as soon as possible.
Third, Lillian from Sweets by Sillianah has been doing a section on yeast doughs and recently posted a recipe for homemade bagels. I saw this and I was amazed! I am definitely a bagel fan, but I don’t eat them often. Her homemade recipe is sure to change my mind as I’m sure it will anyone with a fear of carbs.
Fourth, Vicki from Wilde in the Kitchen made a fresh and delicious sounding muffin with mango and lime. I don’t know about you but I am a huge tropical fruit fan. My parents taught me when I was younger to squeeze a little fresh lime on papaya and mango before you eat it to cut a little of the sweetness, so when I saw her amazing muffin recipe I knew it was a winner.
And finally, Maureen at The Orgasmic Chef recently posted a recipe for a candy that is completely new to me, Maine Needhams. Have you guys heard of these little chocolate covered confections? They incorporate potatoes, powdered sugar, and coconut to create a completely different type of candy. I really want to give them a try. I love new recipe ideas!
