Roasted Hazelnut Ice Cream

This past weekend we went to Vermont to visit family. Since our children were well behaved, we decided to take them to tour an ice cream factory. I know the children thought it was neat but I know my husband loved it. Since my husband believes there is never enough ice cream in the house, I made some homemade ice cream of our own. I can tell you the factory didn't offer this flavor. It is so good.

Roasted Hazelnut Ice Cream
4 egg yolk
3/4 cup sugar
3 cups heavy cream
1/2 tsp vanilla extract
3/4 cup semi sweet chocolate chips
1/2 cup hazelnuts, roasted

Directions:
In a medium saucepan, mix the egg yolks, sugar, 2 cups heavy cream over medium low heat.
Stir the mixture constantly until the mixture reaches 160 degrees F.
Remove the mixture from heat and add the remaining 1 cup heavy cream with the vanilla extract. Stir until well incorporated.
Pour the mixture through a strainer. 
Refrigerate the mixture for 1 hour to chill. 
Once chilled, add the mixture into an ice cream maker according to the manufacturer's directions.
When the mixture is soft serve consistency, add the chocolate chips and hazelnuts.
Fold the mixture into a container. Place plastic wrap touching the ice cream before sealing with a tight cover. 
Place in the freezer for several hours until hardened.

Recipe by Jen of Sweet Morris.

One year ago................................I made Stove Top Chili Mac.

I love this picture!

Did you already know..................
-Ben & Jerry became friends during their 7th grade gym class in NY.
-The first Ben & Jerry's ice cream shop opened on May 5th, 1978.
-The first ice cream shop was a renovated gas station in Burlington, Vermont.

Fried Cheese Stick

My oldest daughter loves fried mozzarella sticks. She loves them. I actually think she could live off apples and fried mozzarella sticks. So, she decided to make her own. I suggest she should try other cheeses. She decided cheddar and it takes like a very rich grill cheese. The mozzarella sticks were wonderful with the gooey inside. They are very rich and delicious. 

Cheddar sticks

Fried Cheese Sticks
1 cup vegetable oil
1 cup all purpose flour
2 eggs, lightly beaten
1 cup bread crumbs
2 Tbsp dried oregano (or Italian seasoning)
4 oz. mozzarella cheese
4 oz. cheddar cheese

Directions:

1. Heat the vegetable oil in a pot over medium heat. 
2. Place the flour spread out onto a plate.
3. Place the two eggs in a bowl next to the flour plate.
4. Place the bread crumbs with the oregano onto another plate next to the egg bowl.
5. Slice the cheese into 1 inch strips.
6. Dip the cheese one at a time into the flour and coat on all sides. 
7. Dip the floured cheese strip into the beaten eggs to lightly coat.
8. Dip the egg dipped cheese strip into the bread crumbs and coat well.
9. Carefully add the cheese strip into the heated oil. 
10. Cook for about 1 minute and then carefully turn the cheese stick over. 
11. Cook the cheese stick on the other side for about one minute or until golden brown on all sides. If the oil becomes too hot, turn it down or the cheese will escape the bread coating.
12. Remove the golden cheese sticks from the heated oil and place on a lined paper toweled plate.
13. Allow the cheese stick to cool for a few minutes before serving since they will be very hot. 

Recipe created by Allie of Sweet Morris.

One year ago............................I made Burritos.

Mozzarella Sticks

Did you already know..............
-Mozzarella cheese originates from Southern Italy.
-The cheese was historically made from the milk of the Mediterranean buffalo then later from cow's milk.
-In the U.S., fried cheese sticks are usually served as an appetizer.

Steak Sandwich

Sometimes I look for the easiest way to speed up a process like making steak sandwiches. I decided to try using my food processor to slice up the meat. I actually didn't think it would work. It worked pretty nicely. I did put the flank steak in the freezer for about 10 minutes before I did it. This is a really good sandwich. Since I now know how to speed up the process, we just be having them more often.

Steak Sandwiches
2 Tbsp vegetable oil
1 Tbsp unsalted butter
1 1/2 lb. flank steak, sliced and chopped into small pieces
8 oz. button mushrooms, sliced
2 Portobello caps, sliced
1/2 onion, chopped
1/4 cup white wine
salt and pepper
4 hoagie rolls
8 slices of provolone cheese 

Directions:

1. Preheat the oven to broil.
2. Line the rolls on a baking sheet.
3. In a medium skillet, heat the vegetable oil over medium heat.
4. Add the butter and melt.
5. Add the onion and mushrooms. Cook for about 5 minutes and the onions start to caramelize.
6. Add the steak and cook until browned. Salt and pepper to taste.
7. Stir in the wine and simmer for about 3 minutes.
8. Remove from heat and spoon the meat mixture into the rolls.
9. Top the meat with the cheese slices.
10. Broil for a few minutes until the cheese has melted.
11. Serve warm.

Recipe adapted with permission from The Little Kitchen.

One year ago.......................I made Banana Split Cake.

Did you already know.........
-Pierre Verdun created the first household version of the food processor according to Encyclopedia Britannica.
-Cuisinart was created after Carl Sontheimer saw a cooking show in France using a food processor. 
-Carl Sontheimer did receiving licensing rights before innovating Pierre Verdun's food processor.

Mixed Berry Lemonade

Do you have any plans to celebrate Patriot's Day? If you live in Massachusetts and Maine, Patriot's Day is an observed state holiday. The children have no school. Battles of the American Revolutionary War are reenacted. One of the oldest annual marathon is happening in Boston. If one is interested, they can see a Boston Red Sox Game at Fenway. Or one can just relax and enjoy a drink of their choice. This drink is one of my favorite drinks. I love lemonade and I love berries so this is my ideal drink next to ice tea. 

Mixed Berry Lemonade
5 large lemons
1 1/2 cups frozen mixed berries
1 1/4 cups sugar
6 cups cold water

Directions:

1. Using a juicer or squeezer, squeeze the lemons to extract the juice into a pitcher. (Make sure to remove the seeds-it is easier to do it now.)
2. Defrost the berries for a few seconds in a microwave or under warm water.
3. Place half of the mixed berries with the sugar into the pitcher. 
4. Smash the berries a few times.
5. Add the remaining berries with the water. Mix well.

Recipe created by Allie of Sweet Morris (because she loves her Mom).

One year ago.........................I made Peanut Butter Cupcakes.

Did you already know...........
-Patriot's Day is to observe the first battle of the American Revolutionary War.
-The Battles of Lexington and Concord occurred in Massachusetts.
-On April 19, 1775, the battles began at Lexington around 4:30 am before proceeding to Concord.

Baps Breakfast Sandwiches

Do you ever have breakfast for supper? Once in a while, we do but not very often. When we sat down for supper, my son asked why we didn't have these for breakfast. I told him that the bread took a couple of hours to make. It was way to early for me to wake up. I think he wouldn't mind eating these sandwiches anytime of the day.  Since it was so late, I wrapped up a sandwich and put it in the refrigerator so I could take the photo later when there was light out. Well, my daughter didn't want to wait until I took the photo because she wanted to eat it. She was so kind to take these photos for me while I was at work. What do you think? Didn't she do a great job?

Photo by Allie

Baps Breakfast Sandwiches
Baps:
4 cups all purpose flour
2 cups bread flour
1/4 cup shortening
1 (.25 oz) package of active dry yeast
1 tsp sugar
1 cup water (about 110 degrees F)
3/4 cups lukewarm milk (I microwaved the milk for about 30 seconds.)
additional flour and milk for the top of the bread

Directions for the Baps Bread:

1. In a small bowl, add the yeast with the sugar to the warm water. Mix quickly and set aside for 5 minutes to proof.
2. In a large bowl, combine 3 cups of all purpose flour with the 2 cups of bread flour.
3. Cut in the flour with your fingers, food processor, or pastry cutter until the mixture resembles fine crumbs.
4. Add the yeast water and the lukewarm milk to the flour mixture.
5. Mix until a soft dough forms. Add the last cup of flour in 1/4 cup intervals until the dough isn't too sticky or dry. 
6. Knead the dough for 10 minutes on a clean, lightly floured surface.
7. Place the dough into a lightly greased bowl. Flip the dough and cover with plastic wrap that has been lightly sprayed with nonstick cooking spray.
8. Allow the dough to rise for at least 1 hour until it has roughly doubled in size. (I let it rise for a couple of hours since I had left the house.) 
9. Punch down the dough.
10. Place the dough onto a clean, lightly floured surface and knead a few times.
11. Divide the dough into 12 equal oval shaped pieces.
12. Place the dough onto parchment lined baking sheet about 4 inches apart.
13. Lightly brush each oval dough with milk and then lightly dust the dough with sifted flour.
14. Allow the dough to rise for about 30 minutes or until doubled in size.
15. Preheat the oven to 425 degrees F.
16. In the center of each piece of dough, lightly press your thumb in the center so the surface will be more flatten than domed.
17. Dust another layer of sifted flour on top of each dough piece.
18. Bake immediately for 15 minutes or until golden brown and cooked underneath.
19. Allow the bap rolls to cool for a few minutes before assembling into the breakfast sandwiches.

Assembly:
1 Bap roll
1 tsp butter
1 egg fried 
1 strip of bacon
1 slice of cheddar cheese
1/4 cup mixed greens (this was my topping)

1. Slice the warm roll in half horizontally.
2. Lightly butter the roll in the center before adding the toppings.
3. In the center of the slices of bread place the desired toppings of: egg, bacon, cheese, and then the desired mixed greens. 
4. Serve immediately.

Recipe adapted from The Ultimate Bread & Baking Book.

One year ago............................I made Sand Dollar Cookies.

Photo by Allie

Did you already know...........
-Baps are Scottish breakfast rolls.
-Baps are a soft, floured roll.
-Baps can vary in shape and size but are usually round in  Scotland.