Sunday, July 15, 2018

No Churn Blueberry Crumble Ice Cream

It has been unseasonably warm here in Oceanside, even on the coast.  But I am happy to say that after a 2 1/2 year fight with the HOA here, I finally have air conditioning!  I will just say that the last week has been much more bearable with cool air blowing through the condo.  I am so very grateful...phew!  It was worth the struggle to finally be able to live comfortably when the temperature rises here.

Another thing that makes life more bearable when the sun is blazing is ice cream.  Yes - a year round treat for sure - and although it can be an indulgent sweet, it becomes a bit of a necessity in the summer.  Right?  And this no churn method that I turn to often, keeps the electricity off and produces the most delicious, creamy spoon licking dessert in no time at all!




NO CHURN BLUEBERRY CRUMBLE ICE CREAM

adapted from Sally's Baking Addiction

Ice Cream Base:

2 c. heavy cream
1 - 14 oz can sweetened condensed milk (full fat)
1 1/2 t. vanilla bean paste


Blueberry Sauce:

1/2 t. cornstarch (I use arrowroot starch)
2 t. water
1 1/2 c. fresh blueberries (if using frozen, do not thaw)
1 T. organic cane sugar


Crumble "Topping":

1/4 c. flour
2 T. packed brown sugar (light or dark)
1/4 t. cinnamon
2 T. unsalted butter, melted

To Make the Blueberry Sauce:

Mix the arrowroot starch (or cornstarch), and water together in a very small bowl. I like to use a custard cup.  Set aside.
Combine blueberries and sugar together and heat in a small saucepan over medium low heat.
Stir constantly and break up the blueberries as they heat up and start to burst.  When the blueberries have released some liquid (when you gently smash them with the spoon), add the cornstarch/water mixture. Increase the heat to medium and stir well for about 3 minutes.  Remove from the heat and let the blueberries cool completely.  The mixture will thicken as it cools. (Putting it in the refrigerator will help it cool down quicker).
Before or after cooling, the mixture can be placed in a strainer so you just have the blueberry gel.  I left it as is because I like the blueberry pieces!

To Make the Crumble:

Mix the flour, brown sugar and cinnamon together with a fork.  Add the melted butter and mix again until a small clumps form.

To Make the Ice Cream:

In a small bowl, combine the sweetened condensed milk and vanilla bean paste. Set aside.

In a medium-large bowl, beat the heavy cream on medium high speed with a stand or hand mixer until stiff peaks form, about 3-4 minutes.  Add the sweetened condensed mixture and beat on low until just combined, or fold gently together until well mixed.


I know......... YUMMMMM

Spoon about half the ice cream into a freezer container.  (I use the Tevolo tub).  Spoon about 1/4 c. blueberry sauce and half of the crumble mixture and gently swirl into the ice cream with a knife a few times.  Repeat with the remaining ice cream, 1/4 c. sauce and remaining crumble making another layer of swirls (don't insert the knife all the way down - just swirl the top layer).  Freeze until firm. at least 5-6 hours.

Save the remaining blueberry sauce to serve over the ice cream.

This is so good and you can make change it completely by utilizing a different fruit (strawberry swirl ice cream to come!)



This is SOOOOO good!

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Wednesday, July 11, 2018

Losing a Second Mom...... Card...

Several weeks ago a dear lady left this earth and the world is not quite as bright as it was.  She was like a second Mom to me when I was growing up, and I adored her.  Her family and mine lived on the same block and I think I spent as much time at her home as I did at my own!  Her oldest child was my best friend from the time we were 3 years old.  All of these years later, she is still one of my dearest friends.  How lucky and blessed am I?


My girlfriend should have been my mother's daughter.  My Mom loved that she was so career oriented and a real entrepreneur.  My mom started a children's clothing store pretty much on her own in the 1940s downtown here - and it was unheard of then for a woman to have her own business, let alone have it become successful!

My girlfriend's mother was a teacher before her children were born, and then stayed home with them as her family grew.  She was a homemaker in every sense which I loved as well in later years. She spent hours knitting and doing needlework, especially needlepoint, which was also one of my favorite things to do.  She was an inspiration to me and I loved her dearly.

Sympathy cards are not anything I enjoy making, but this one was especially different.  I used a 3D embossing folder from Crafter's Companion coupled with a beautiful digi image from Graciellie Designs.I wanted something simple and elegant and I think I achieved that.


Here is a closeup of the beautiful digi image from Graciellie Designs.
                        I printed it on a laser printer, cut it out with the Silver Bullet Platinum 
and then foiled it with sparkling silver.
You can see how that foil reflects the light beautifully.


I used Nuvo embossing paste to highlight the dimension  
from the embossing folder and added small white pearls.

Again, I am painfully reminded to take time to tell my family and friends how special they are to me and to cherish every moment of every day.  Life is an amazing gift, but it has an expiration.

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