Friday, June 8, 2012

Chocolate Ice Cream

4 oz unsweetened chocolate
1 cup milk
2 large eggs
1 cup sugar
1 cup heavy cream
1 tsp vanilla extract
1 pinch salt

Melt the unsweetened chocolate in the top of a double boiler over hot, not boiling water.  Gradually whisk in the milk and heat, stirring constantly, unitl smooth.  Remove from heat and let cool.

Whisk the eggs in a mixing bowl until light and fluffy, 1 to 2 minutes.  Whisk in the sugar, a little at a time, then continue whisking until completely blended, about 1 minutes more.  Add the cream, vanilla, and salt and whisk to blend.

Pour the chocolate mixuture into the cream mixture and blend.  Cover and refrigerate until cold, about 1 to 3 hours, depending on your refrigerator.

Transfer the mixture to an ice cream maker and freeze according to manufacturer's instructions.

Yeild: 1 quart

Note:  This is our favorite chocolate ice cream.  It is great alone, but we also like it with crushed mint oreo's or as Rocky Road with marshmallows, mini-chocolate chips and chopped nuts.

Sweet Cream Base

2 large eggs
3/4 cup sugar
2 cups heavy cream
1 cup milk

Whisk the eggs in a mixing bowl until light and fluffy, 1 to 2 minutes.  Whisk in the sugar, a little at a time, then continue whisking until completely blended, about 1 minutes more.  Pour in the cream and milk and whisk to blend.  Freeze according to manufacturer's instructions.

Note:  This is a great ice cream base - it is especially good as a background for fruit, cookies, and candy.

Cheesecake Ice Cream

6 oz cream cheese, softened
3/4 cup granulated sugar
1 cup sour cream
1 cup heavy cream
1/4 tsp vanilla
1 TB lemon juice
2 oz grated chocolate

Place cream chees in a mixing bowl and beat until soft and smooth.  Slowly add sugar and then beat in the sour cream followed by the heavy cream.  Add vanilla and lemon juice and mix unitl thick and smooth.  Cover and chill for 2-3 hours or overnight.  Remove from fridge and beat until cream, then freeze in ice cream freezer according to manufacturer's directions.  Stir in grated chocolate when ice cream is finished.

Dulce de Leche Ice Cream

1 can (10 oz) sweetened condensed milk
1 cup whipping cream
1 cup milk
1 cinnamon stick (optional)
2 tsp vanilla
1 cup English Toffee bits (optional)

In a medium saucepan over mediu heat, cook sweetened condensed milk, stirring constantly, until thick and golden brown, about 15 minutes.  Remove from heat.  Meanwhile, in a separate medium saucepan over medium-low heat, bring cream, milk, and cinnamon stick to simmer.  Remove cinnamon stick and discard.

Very slowly and carefully to prevent spattering, pour condensed milk into a large, clean bowl.  Gradually whisk in cream mixture, holding the saucepan at arm's length and averting your face when adding the cream.  Whisk in vanilla.  Cover and refrigerate until completely cold or overnight.

Stir cream mixture.  Transfer to an ice cream maker and freeze according to manufacturer's directions.  Add English Toffee bits when ice cream has finished.

Yield:  1 quart

Raspberry Sour Cream Ice Cream

20 oz. fresh or frozen raspberries (if frozen, they will need to be thawed)
4 cups sugar
5 tsp vanilla extract
1 (12 oz) can evaporated milk
6 eggs
1 quart heavy cream

Combine raspberries and sugar.  Beat together vanilla, evaporated milk, sour cream, eggs and heavy cream.  Add the raspberries and sugar and whisk to combine.  Freeze according to manufacturer's instructions. 

Note:  This makes a lot of ice cream - I have to freeze it in two batches.  It does work well to halve the recipe.  My family loves this ice cream - it is one of our favorites!

Friday, March 16, 2012

Wheat Thin Crackers

If you like the Wheat Thins you buy from the store, give these a try. They're really good!! Almost identical, but better.

3/4 cup whole wheat flour
3/4 cup all-purpose flour
1/4 tsp salt
1/4 tsp baking soda
2 TB brown sugar
1 1/2 TB dry buttermilk powder*
2 TB sesame or poppy seeds (optional)
1/2 cup water
3 TB oil or melted butter

In a medium bowl, whisk together flours, salt, baking soda, brown sugar, buttermilk powder and seeds (if using). Add water and oil or melted butter and stir together just until the flour is absorbed to make a soft dough. It will be very sticky. Don't over mix!! Cover the bowl with plastic wrap and let sit for about 10 minutes.

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Divide the dough in half. Take an 11x15-inch baking sheet (jelly roll pan) and flip it over. Grease the bottom of the pan and place half the dough on the greased pan. Place a piece of plastic wrap over the dough and roll with a rolling pin right over the wrap. One half of the dough will cover the pan entirely. It will be very thin. When smoothed out, remove plastic wrap. Lightly score the dough into cracker squares with a pizza cutter. Sprinkle dough generously with sal and extra seeds, if desired. Bake fore 14-15 minutes or until golden brown and crisp. They might be slightly soft right out of the oven, but should crisp up as they sit. Store in an airtight container.

Note: If you would rather use frest buttermilk, leave out the powder and use 1/2 cup buttermilk in place of the water.

Blender Pancakes

These pancakes are surprisinly light and mild. And the best part is that they are 100% Whole Wheat!!! They are the favorite pancake at the Brewer house.

In blender, process on high (or grind) for 3 minutes:
1 cup whole wheat kernels
1 cup milk

Add: 1/2 cup milk - and grind for another 2 minutes

Add: 2 eggs
1/2 tsp salt
1/2 cup oil
1 TB baking powder
2 TB sugar

Process until well combined. Pour about 1/4 cup batter per pancake onto a hot griddle. Bake on the griddle until the cakes are full of bubbles on the top and the undersides are lightly browned. Turn with a spatula and brown the other side. Serve with butter and syrup, jam or honey.