CMP : chocolate, marshmallow & peanuts ice cream

CMP -CMP -

in our Real Life
it’s no secret that
woodberry kitchen is dw’s favorite restaurant.
i like it just fine,
(ahem. fine enough that we had our wedding there…)
but dw really likes wk.

they have this dessert
that is simply put:
amazing.
so good that it made it on
The Best Thing I Ever Ate
so delicious that
we requested it for our wedding.
the recipe changes every so often:
i’ve had it with chocolate mint sorbet,
in the video malt ice cream is used,
it’s whatever ice cream flavor they have
and for me,
i can request it made dairy free
and that, friends,
is why i usually have one all to myself.
and then i stare longingly at dw’s too.

we made this version in preparation
of Ice Cream For Breakfast Day.
the marshmallow fluff recipe made an assload amount,
so that’ll be coming with us to the party
the ice cream base is vegan
and as such, we upped the chocolate flavor.
and the wet peanuts:
well. we used a combo of honey+water
though the first time we attempted it
it was all just honey and it solidified.
oops.

CMP -

super chocolate ice cream – vegan
*note: i made the ice cream base less sweet than usual, because i knew it was being consumed with sweetened nuts and fluff. if eaten alone, i’d up the sugar amount to maybe 1/2 cup or even 2/3 cup.
**note: we used king arthur’s marshmallow fluff recipe, using honey instead of corn syrup, without the vanilla, and used organic, cage free, free range eggs
***note: the wet peanuts was just raw peanuts that were coarsely chopped, roasted in a dry frying pan and then doused in some water and smidge of honey

2 cans of full fat coconut milk
1/3 cup sugar
2 generous TBL cocoa powder, we used Scharffen Berger
1 cup semi-sweet vegan chocolate chips, we used enjoy life
2 tsps pure chocolate extract, we used Nielsen-Massey
1/2 TBL cornstarch

in a saucepan, heat the sugar with 1 1/2 cans of the coconut milk. don’t scald the liquid, you want it to be just warmed through and the sugar to dissolve and be fully incorporated.

mix in the cocoa powder, stir for a minute or two, just until the coconut milk is a lovely shade of brown. next add in the chocolate chips. you want the chips to melt and to be fully mixed in. it’s going to look all fleck-y as the chips melt, just keep a consistent stir. add in the extract.

with the remaining coconut milk stir in the cornstarch, then add to the hot liquid. mix thoroughly.

pour into bowl and allow to cool completely befor covering with plastic wrap. store in fridge over night.

when ready, pour into ice cream maker and churn according to machine’s directions.

to assemble, layer the wet peanuts and ice cream and top with marshmallow fluff. if you’re feeling fancy, you can make sugar shards and/or torch the fluff.

BAM!

lan-devin-eng-00798photo courtesy of luke eshelman

other ice cream concoctions:
coffee chocolate chip ice cream – lactose free
peppermint chocolate chip ice cream – lactose free
spiced coconut pecan ice cream – dairy free, gluten free
strawberry ice cream + almond waffle cones – gluten free, dairy free

apple molasses cookies

Apple Molasses Cookies

to combat the cold
that has permeated the east coast
turn your ovens on.
create bread.
make soup.
roast something.
bake cookies!

these warm gems are a riff on a dear friend’s
recipe, shared years ago,
now recreated.

for the full recipe, go here.

flan – dairy free

Flan

over the holiday season
we had a phamily reunion of sorts,
laughing and judging and
talking in loud voices that sound
like we’re arguing but what we
were really doing was
just talking loudly and normally.
we had flan for dessert,
which i always call Flan for Lan
because it’s all about me
because it just rhymes with my name.

Flan recipe

flan for Lan
18 individual ramekins

*note: to invert the flan onto plate, run a knife along the rim of the ramekin to loosen it. this recipe can easily be halved.

4 cups coconut creamer (i used So Delicious)
1 1/2 cup sugar, divided
juice of one clementine
8 eggs

1. heat oven to 350°. melt ½ cup sugar in a small saucepan over medium-high heat. cook until sugar is a golden brown, 12–13 minutes. DO NOT STIR.
gently pour caramel into individual serving size oven safe ramekins; place inside a roasting pan.

2. whisk remaining 1 cup sugar with eggs in a bowl until thick. add creamer and​ ​clementine juice; whisk into a smooth custard. ladle custard into ramekins; transfer roasting pan to oven. pour hot water into roasting pan to come halfway up ramekins. bake until custard is set but still slightly loose in the center, about 1 hour. carefully transfer ramekins to a wire rack; let cool. chill at least 2 hours or up to overnight. invert flan onto serving plates.

BAM!

Flan

Chocolate Chip Cookies w Sesame Topping

Chocolate Chip Cookies w Sesame Topping

wishing you and yours a:
joyful
festive
peaceful
(please, peace)
holiday season

i’m excited to share
that the above cookie,
as well as the
inside out pb cups,
were included in
SOOM FOOD’s eCookbook.
and it’s FREE.

head over there for the full recipe.

cranberry swirl mini-loaves

Cranberry Swirl Mini Loaves

there’s been talk lately
about cancelling our cable.
and in preparation for it
we’ve been watching more netflix.
thus far,
i haven’t missed television,
not when most shows i enjoy
can be viewed in hd
and sans commercials.
so far, we’ve enjoyed:
spinning plates
sushi: the global catch
haute cuisine
repeats of: The Mind of a Chef, Bizarre Foods, Chopped, & Parts Unknown

what are some of your favorite netflix shows or online viewing pleasures?

Cranberry Swirl Mini Loaves

cranberry swirl mini-loaves – vegan
makes 7 mini loaves + 2 muffins

these are a riff from the blueberry swirl muffins, making use of the season’s cranberries, and of course, making use of our new mini-loaf pan.

muffins/loaves:
2 cups cranberries​, divided​
a few sprigs of thyme (optional)
1 cup sugar
2 1/2 cups flour
2 1/2 tsp baking powder
1 tsp salt
2 flax seed eggs (1 egg = 1 TBL ground flax seed + 3 TBL water)
1/4 cup vegetable oil
3/4 cup mayo, i used veganese
1/4 cup almond milk

streusel topping:
1 1/2 TBL sugar
1 1/2 TBL brown sugar
1/4 cup flour
2 1/2 TBL warm ​coconut oil

Directions:

in a small bowl make the streusel topping by combining everything and mix evenly. set aside.

in a small sauce pan reduce 1 cup of cranberries (+ sprigs of thyme, if using), mashing with a fork and stirring. you want the berries to break down, the sauce to be thick. strain through a sieve if you’re not keen on the skin/pulp. set aside and cool to room temp.

prepare mini-loaf pan by greasing with coconut oil, or vegan butter.

preheat oven 425F.

in a mixing bowl whisk the flour, baking powder, and salt. in another bowl whisk flax seed eggs + sugar until thick and then add in the veggie oil, veganese mayo, and almond milk. now combine the liquid to dry ingredients, with the remaining cranberries. the mixture will be all sorts of fug, but try not to over mix. seriously, it’s a rather dense looking batter.

fill mini loaf pan a little over 3/4 way up, these will expand/rise. spoon about a teaspoon, more or less, of the reduced cranberry sauce on top of each muffin. use a toothpick or some stick-like kitchen tool and swirl the sauce into the batter. finally, top with streusel topping, amount at your discretion.

bake 17 – 20 minutes​, i started hawking them around the 15 minute mark.

remove from oven, allow to cool for a few minutes and then remove from pans to cool completely.

will keep for a week, covered, in fridge.

BAM!

Cranberry Swirl Mini Loaves