06 June

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June 7, 2015

No-Churn Chocolate Ice Cream

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No-Churn Chocolate Ice Cream

Chocolate Ice Cream

June 7: National Chocolate Ice Cream Day

Earlier this spring, we took a road trip to Brenham, Texas (about an hour-and-a-half’s drive northwest from where we currently live), with our Hawaii ex-patriate friends Pat and Phyllis S. from San Antonio. We wanted to see blue bonnets and the Blue Bell Creameries. We did see a few of the wildflower fields but, unfortunately, the ice cream factory tour was cancelled due to listeria. News crews were in front of the creamery ready to report about the recalls. 

Lately we have been experimenting with making ice cream at home. At least we know what ingredients are going into our recipe—no listeria hysteria! We do not have an ice cream maker and do not want to buy one. But the no-churn method of making ice cream seems to work just fine!

For a no-churn chocolate ice cream, we tried mixing cocoa powder and melted chocolate in the basic recipe. The colors varied from pale cocoa to muddy brown, depending on what was added. The tastes ranged from milk chocolate to intensely dark. The textures went from icy-chunky to smooth and creamy. All versions were delicious!

As the hot summer season approaches, stay cool and safe from listeria by trying a homemade no-churn chocolate ice cream recipe for National Chocolate Ice Cream Day.

Recipe

(Adapted from Nigella.com)

 Ingredients

  • 1 pint heavy whipping cream, whipped
  • 1 can (14 ounces) sweetened condensed milk
  • 3-4 tablespoons cocoa powder OR 3-4 ounces melted semi-sweet/bittersweet/unsweetened chocolate (we used Baker’s brand)
  • pinch of salt (optional)
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract OR ½ tablespoon of crème de cacao liqueur (optional)
  • chocolate syrup to drizzle on top (optional)

Directions

Whip the whipping cream until stiff peaks form. Set aside. In a large bowl, combine the condensed milk with the cocoa powder OR melted chocolate. Stir well. Add a pinch of salt (optional). Mix in the vanilla extract or liqueur (optional).

Chocolate Ice Cream

Fold the whipped cream into this mixture until smooth, being careful not to whip more air into it. Place in a loaf pan. Cover with plastic wrap and freeze for at least six hours or overnight. Remove from the freezer. Let stand for a few minutes and scoop into cones or dessert dishes. Drizzle with chocolate syrup (optional).

Chocolate Ice Cream

Notes

  • If using melted chocolate, let cool slighty before mixing with the condensed milk and whipped cream.
  • National Ice Cream Day is also celebrated on the third Sunday of July.
  • Search our blog for other no-churn ice cream and chocolate recipes.
 

June 21, 2014

Swedish Heirloom Cookies

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Swedish Heirloom Cookies

Swedish Heirloom Cookies

June 21: Summer Solstice/Midsummer

We blogged before about Mexican wedding cookies (also known as Danish wedding cookies, Russian tea cakes and Hawaiian snow balls). A similar sweet is the Swedish heirloom cookie, which includes walnuts instead of pecans. These beloved wedding cookies are rife with symbolism—white for bridal purity, sugar for a sweet married life and nuts for fertility.

Although these cookies are popular during the holiday season (Christmas and the winter solstice), we make Swedish heirloom cookies for the midsummer season (midsommar in Swedish) and the summer solstice. We also serve them to our June brides and the engaged couples we sponsor through our church’s marriage preparation program.

Coincidentally, the famous “Wedding March” by Felix Mendelssohn was composed for William Shakespeare’s play titled “Midsummer Night’s Dream”! Summer seems to be an ideal time for weddings. So make these simple and sweet Swedish heirloom cookies for summer weddings and summer solstice celebrations.

Recipe

(Adapted from Saveur)

Ingredients

  • ¼ cup walnuts, chopped
  • ½ cup (1 stick) butter, softened
  • ½ cup powdered sugar
  • ½ tablespoon vanilla
  • 1 cup flour
  • ¼ teaspoon salt

Directions

In a small skillet, toast the walnuts. Set aside to cool. In a large bowl, cream the butter with the sugar until smooth. Stir in the vanilla.

Swedish Heirloom Cookies

Add the flour and salt and blend well. Mix in the walnuts. Form into a cookie dough. Roll into balls between ¾-1 inch.

Swedish Heirloom Cookies

Place on a parchment paper-lined cookie sheet about two inches apart to allow the cookies to expand. Bake in a preheated oven at 325 degrees F for 15 minutes. Remove from the oven and cool slightly. Roll warm cookies in powdered sugar. Cool completely and place in mini cupcake papers.

Swedish Heirloom Cookies

Notes

 

June 21, 2014

Swedish Visiting Cake

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Swedish Visiting Cake

Swedish Visiting Cake

June 21: Midsommar/Summer Solstice

We used to attend the Swedish Day Midsommar Festival when we lived in Illinois. Hailed as the Midwest’s oldest and largest “midsommar” (midsummer) festival, the city of Geneva, where it took place, was less than a half-hour drive from our home. We enjoyed the Swedish cultural costumes and performances, the colorful maypole-raising ritual and, of course, the smörgåsbord of Swedish foods!

To celebrate the summer solstice—the longest day of the year—we baked a simple “Swedish Visiting Cake”. Reminiscent of other European almond cakes, like the German Magdalenenstriezeln (for St. Mary Magdalene), Greek Vasilopita (for St. Basil) and Spanish Tarta de Santiago (for St. James), this “Swedish Visiting Cake” could be made for St. John, whose feast day on June 24 is also associated with midsummer.

This is a quick and easy cake to make, especially when visitors are arriving at short notice (hence, the name of “visiting cake”). Serve this Swedish sweet with coffee and tea to show hospitality to guests—or to welcome the summer season.

Recipe

(Adapted from Dorie Greenspan)

Ingredients

  • grated zest of 1 lemon
  • ¾ – 1 cup sugar
  • 2 eggs
  • ¼ teaspoon salt
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract (we used vanilla paste)
  • ½ teaspoon almond extract
  • 1 cup flour
  • ½ cup (1 stick) butter, melted and cooled slightly
  • ¼ cup sliced almonds (we used slivered almonds)

Directions

Grate a lemon. In a large bowl, mix the sugar with the freshly grated lemon zest. Beat in the eggs. Add the salt. Mix well. Meanwhile, melt the butter and cool slightly.

Swedish Visiting Cake

Stir in the vanilla and almond extracts. Mix in the flour. Pour the melted butter into the flour mixture and blend until the batter is smooth.

Swedish Visiting Cake

Pour into a greased pie pan or 9-inch cake pan. Sprinkle with almonds and a little granulated sugar on top. Bake in a preheated oven at 350 degrees F for 30 minutes or until golden brown (the edges will be lightly crisp but the middle should be soft and moist). Remove the cake from the oven and let cool slightly before loosening the sides with a knife or spatula. Slice into wedges. Serve warm or cool.

Swedish Visiting Cake

Notes

  • “Swedish Visiting Cake” is traditionally baked in a cast iron pan.
 

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