It’s certainly been a busy week around here. We’ve added a new theme on Orgasmic Chef and tarted the whole place up a bit. I hope you like the changes because honestly, I’m way too tired to do it over. If you find any oopses though, I’d love to hear about them.
We’ve also added a visual index down the side. I saw one on thepioneerwoman.com and thought, wow, I’d like one of those. I must have said it out loud because John, my very understanding and darling husband, said in a very loving tone (not), “what do you want this time?”
I showed him the page and he said, “but the thumbnails aren’t clickable except to a big page, why not have them clickable?” All the while I’m thinking, click, schmick, I don’t care how it works as long as I could have one. He went back to his office and I kept on cleaning up the bits that didn’t travel to the new theme very well and about 3 hours later he said, “Come here and have a look at this.”
He’d been working on a new version of Easy Recipe so I expected to see the bells and whistles I’ve asked for and then I would give the appropriate oohs and aahs (that’s my job – I do the cooking, the clothes picking up off the floor, the blogging and most especially the oohing and aahing when he comes up with something clever.) I went to his office and when, what did my wondering eyes should appear on his screen but my visual index! (makes me feel all Christmasy to say that.) It’s not perfect yet. I don’t have a way to specify which photos appear but that’s a minor detail as I’ve been told.
“What do you mean I can’t edit them???”
“It’s day one, gimme a break!”
“So tomorrow — I can edit them tomorrow?”
“We’ll see.”
Summer is over down under and it’s rolling in fast in the Northern Hemisphere – won’t be long before fresh strawberries will be abundant everywhere up there and what’s the best thing to do with them other than au naturel, pies, tarts, smoothies or jam? Ice Cream!
I did a guest post for Roberta at MoreThymeThanDough where I posted about these coconut macaroon ice cream sandwiches for her favorite memories of the 4th of July. Some people need summer to enjoy ice cream but I only need a spoon and it can be any day of the year. I love the stuff. I’m careful and I don’t eat it every day but I certainly could.
I’m not sure if I get any points for making all our ice cream at home. It still has all the sugar and fat and I suppose that’s probably not what we should be eating. I’m a believer in not denying ourselves anything but eating everything in moderation and with common sense. Watch how the French women eat and they’re slender.
These ice cream sandwiches are great for coconut lovers. It takes only 5 minutes to get the cookies on the sheet and only 10-12 minutes in the oven and bam.. they’re done. Well, it’s done if you buy your ice cream. I decided to make my own strawberry ice cream.
We went to the big farmers market and bought heaps of first of the season strawberries. They were big and red and juicy – here I’ll show you. I will admit that a few of them went in my mouth and not in the ice cream. I bought heaps because I knew I couldn’t resist. Fresh berries are good for us. It’s when they’re mixed with sugar and cream that they get a bit iffy.
I saw these coconut macaroon ice cream sandwiches on the Donna Hay show and knew I had to try them. Normally I just watch the show while I’m folding laundry or ironing (heaven forbid) but this time I wrote down the recipe because I knew it was “mine.” Donna was speaking to me, I was sure of it. Not in the same way my dearly departed grandmother got dressed up because Gomer Pyle was coming on TV and she was sure he could see her — but this combination sounded yummy to me.
Since I had these lovely strawberries I decided to make ice cream from my favorite strawberry ice cream recipe. While the ice cream machine was doing its thing I mixed the coconut macaroon cookies. Only three ingredients in these nifty cookies! Mix the ingredients together and then use an egg ring. The only ones I own are silicone and they are oval – so mine aren’t as cute as they could be if I had nice round metal egg rings. My breakfast eggs don’t stick to the silicone though!
The recipe calls for dessicated coconut and all I had was flaked, so it will take a bit longer to chew for us. Put enough mixture in the ring for the cookie and then with the back of a spoon, flatten it and smooth it and remove the egg ring and move to the next cookie. There will be enough for 6 cookies which will make 3 ice cream sandwiches. If you need more than three, for every egg white you’ll need 1 cup of coconut and 1/4 cup of caster (super fine) sugar.
Bake for 10 to 12 minutes until brown and caramelized on the edges and let cool completely.
Place one macaroon bottom side up on a plate and put one scoop of softened ice cream on it. Take another macaroom and place over the ice cream and push down til ice cream reaches the edges. Enjoy!
p.s. I made these the same size Donna Hay did but I next time I would make them thinner and smaller. I had to put half of mine back in the freezer because it was too big. It might be okay as a treat but it was too much after dinner.
Here’s the recipe for coconut macaroons for the ice cream sandwiches:
- 2 cups dessicated coconut
- ½ cup caster (super fine) sugar
- 2 egg whites
- Pre-heat oven to 320°F (160° C)
- Mix all ingredients together
- divide into 6 portions
- shape using an egg ring and smooth with the back of a spoon
- bake for 10 to 12 minutes until edges are nicely caramelized
- Match the macaroons by size and turn one upside down and place one scoop of ice cream on it and place the other macaroon right side up on top and gently press down til the ice cream reaches the edges.
- You should freeze them for a few hours if you can stand it, but we always eat them right away and use lots of napkins for the drips.
Thanks very much to Choc Chip Uru from Go Bake Yourself for awarding me with the Kreativ Blogger Award and Then Sunshine Award. She received hers from Terra at Cafe Terra Blog and from Donna at The Sugared Pecan. Both very lovely ladies and if you aren’t acquainted with them already, check them out. The Kreativ Blogger requires me to write 10 facts about myself — but my life’s an open book so there are few surprises. So sorry.
In 1994 before the www existed in Orlando where I lived at the time, I went 10,000 miles to Australia for my first date with my now husband. My children were certain he was an axe murderer.
My youngest grandchildren (yes, really) believe I live in their mother’s laptop. (sad)
I have 7 gray hairs. Good hair genes I guess.
When I was 8 I farted in front of the priest and said, “It wasn’t me!!!” He asked me to go to confession.
I read my home town newspaper in Waterville, Maine every morning to see if any of my old friends have died.
Rude or negative people have no place in my life. Whiners to the back of the bus.
I’m afraid of anything that tickles – bugs, lizards, etc.
I love the ~ and wish there were more opportunities to use it.
The dog takes me to the beach every afternoon whether I want to go or not.
I’m the neglected middle child in my family.
and a freebie – I have a cat who thinks she can type because she’s always on the freakin keyboard.
The Sunshine Award rquires that I follow these rules.
The Rules
- Include the award logo in a post or on your blog
- Answer 10 questions about yourself
- Nominate 10-12 other fabulous bloggers
- Link your nominees to the post and comment on their blogs letting them know they have been nominated
- Share the love and link the person who nominated you
The Ten Questions
- Favourite Colour – Red
- Favourite Animal – Dog
- Favourite Number – 21
- Favourite Non-Alcoholic Drink – Apple and mango juice/
- Prefer Facebook or Twitter – Twitter, Facebook is over my head much of the time.
- My Passion – Entertaining.
- Prefer Getting or Giving Presents – I’ll sound bad but I’ll be honest, I love getting presents.
- Favourite Pattern – Drawing a blank on this. I don’t think I have a favorite.
- Favourite Day of the Week – Sunday, the only day I take a few hours off.
- Favourite Flower – Tuberose. I could smell them every day of my life.
I’m passing both of these awards on to some wonderful food writers.
1. CookingWithBooks – One of the most qualified and absolutely delightful food writers I know. She’s shown me kindness I probably don’t deserve.
2. Wholesome Cook – Martyna cooks the most delicious food. She’s also turning into a fab photographer. I’m very envious of her talent.
3. The German Foodie – Just take a look at her blog and you’ll know why Sofie deserves heaps of awards.
4. The Food Mentalist – Anyone who can make a healthy chocolate cake deserves an award!
5. Our Daily Salt – Chef Felisha Wild cooks wonderful healthy food AND she’s just created a hand made with love wooden cutting board just for me! That deserves an award for sure.
6. Dining Alone – She’s already got all the answers to the questions so she’s ahead of the game.
7. In Katrina’s Kitchen – I love her baking and she’s such a friendly person.
Sadly this is all I have time for but if I left you out, I didn’t intend to. I’m exhausted and it’s midnight. Email me and I’ll add you 🙂
Dear Maureen, Good work!! Your blog looks beautiful.
These macaroons look soooooo good!! I love coconut and I love strawberry~ for me this is heaven.
Blessings my dear, Catherine xoxo
Thanks Catherine, I really appreciate it.
What yummy and delicious looking ice cream sandwiches! And congrats on all the awards.
Thank you so much for the award 🙂 You are very kind. You would be more kind if you mailed me some of those ice cream sandwiches!! 😉
Rhonda, I’m thinkin’ they’d melt on the trip over 🙂 Thankfully if you have the ice cream already they take less than 15 minutes to go from the pantry to your mouth 🙂
wow Maureen so many awards, allow me to say that your blog fully deserves them. Astonishing recipes and I love the new look of your blog :). Kisses.
Thanks a lot. I just got back from the supermarket and thought, now if I had those photos on my fridge like you have I wouldn’t have gone to the store at all !
Those ice-cream sandwiches look unbelievable!!!! I’m gonna def buy some coconut tomorrow because I HAVE TO try them.
Peace
Mike
Lol you crack me up. That sounds similar to conversations me and my BF have. (But I’m usually to afraid to ask for anything once he’s done something. I don’t think he likes to help me much!) But I am loving the changes – it looks gorgeous! And the visual index is lovely. I was thinking the same thing when I saw yours (oooooo – I like!). And of course the coconut macaroon sandwiches look amazing. Strawberries are just about to come in season here!
If you’d ever like to try the visual index, let me know and when he’s finished tweaking I’ll give you a copy of the plugin. At the moment it’s all automatic – every post is included.
First of all, these ice cream sandwiches are right up my alley–didn’t think there was anything that could improve coconut macaroons until you sandwiched strawberry ice cream between them. 🙂
Secondly, I guess I’m really late to the party. I have been looking for a recipe plugin for my blog forever but it wasn’t until I was getting ready to move to my new site last week that I noticed yours. I can’t tell you how excited I was. I downloaded the plugin yesterday and watched the video for the additional layout options (I really wanted to be able to customize the color and fonts and I’m so happy that can be done). I’m a tech dummy and I’m afraid of each move I make for fear that I’ll mess up all the work that’s been done on the new site. So far, though, it’s been great! Can’t wait to use it on my next post. Thanks so much to you and John! 🙂
Hi Jean, if you need any help at all getting it set up, John is happy to help you. Seriously, don’t hesitate to ask. He wouldn’t do it for anyone but for followers/friends of Orgasmic Chef he’d do whatever he could. Loyalty matters to us. 🙂
Maureen, thanks so much for that. I will work on my next post tomorrow and play around with the colors and fonts. You both have made it easy but I will not hesitate to take you up on your generous offer to help me. I really appreciate it–thank you! 🙂
And I like your new design–love the colors and the features on your sidebar, especially the photo index. Very nice. 🙂
this look fab and love the new design
Thanks Rebecca, it means a lot for you to say that.
The changes look great! Now I want a clickable thingy too but I’m not sure how that comment would be received by my partner 😛 And I love the look of these ice cream sandwiches…plus, as someone who thinks it entirely appropriate to eat chocolate everyday, I am more than happy to support the notion of eating ice cream all year round!
WOW! This looks amazing.
First of all, THANK YOU for the honors. Not sure I truly deserve that, but if you say so! I’ll pass them on dutifully to some other deserving bloggers.
The recipe looks fabulous, and probably the best ice cream recipe I’ve seen lately, and not just b/c it combines strawberry and coconut. 5 STARS.
Last but not least, you can’t tell me you’re a GRANDMA?! I figured that the avatar was probably “just” an avatar (after all, I don’t have utensils running up and down my face and “German Foodie” tattooed on it), but you sound WAY younger than that?! 🙂
Sad, I know. I’m old enough to be everyone’s mother 🙂 In my heart I’m 25. LOL I plan on being a sexy old broad til I die. Auntie Mame is my idol.
That’s how you come across, so you’re succeeding! Nobody believes me how old I am, either – not b/c I look so young anymore, but they go by the age of my kids and can’t figure it out… 🙂
LOL I just don’t tell them how old my kids are and I have very few gray hairs.. I stopped coloring my hair about 5 years ago to see how gray I really was and there weren’t any. 🙂 I’ve got some now but mostly my hair is black.
Maureen,
It’s been so much fun learning a bit more about you. I’m sorry your summer is winding down, but I’m thankful it’s our turn. Your ice cream sandwiches look so delish. And the changes to your blog!
Eileen, I was kidding about not wanting to let summer go. I know which battles I can win. LOL Thanks for the kind words!
Your sandwiches look amazing. I love macaroons, even better as a sandwich with ice cream, fantastic idea!
Dear Maureen,
This is a delightful and clever contrast of taste and textures. How cool is an ice-cream sandwich!! Well done.
Hi Maureen, MACAROONS!!!!!! I’ve not seen them in flatten shape before but this makes total sense, oh and isn’t it great that it’s strawberry season? I took my little girl and her BFF strawberry picking last week during her Spring Break, it was a bit hot so the girls started goofing around instead of picking, thank goodness the Moms did what we were suppose to do so we each went home with a full bucket! Thank you for sharing this recipe!
oh yum! I love coconut macaroons!! This is a really creative idea! Great job! Would never have thunk it! haha..
These ice cream sandwiches look absolutely amazing…I love the story about your grandma and Gomer Pyle…and, will you please send your husband out to help me with bloggie things, because as much as I love my hubby, he knows zilch about blogging and techy stuff!!
I don’t know that I could send him anywhere but if you ever need someone to talk geeky with, he’s pretty good. 🙂
The story about my grandmother is true. She used to take a bath, get dressed up in her Sunday church clothes, heels and jewelry too and then sit in her favorite chair and wait for Gomer to come on tv. It’s really sad but we thought it was hilarious at the time. She was very old. She had my mother when she was 47.
Congratulations on your award Maureen and I’m sure there are plenty more to come 😀 And I love the new design too. The images on the right look fantastic! 😀
Thanks Lorraine. We’re working on the visual index and the visual blogroll today. I suppose I should go start dinner so my programmer doesn’t have to go hungry while he does my work. 🙂
Oh my! Coco macroons and strawberry ice cream is just a brilliant concoction. these look so so delicious maureen! 🙂
Congrats on the new-look site. I love the look of it. And congrats on the award too. Great getting to know more about you. And I’ll look forward to checking out the blogs you’ve recognised. And your strawberry ice cream macarons are amazing – great recipe and I’ll look forward to making these xx
You are SO cool. I crack up nearly every time I visit your blog. I wish I could be half as witty. 🙂
Oh dear… another food blog to drool over… Love it!
Your blog looks wonderful. I love the photo index. My blog is like the stone age because I am not a programmer or web designer. I am seriously contemplating shelling some money out for one…
Now that I have seen this, mu mind is reeling with all the wonderful flavor pairings you can do with the macaroon sandwiches. This does look delicious, wish I had came up with this idea. The photo here is making me want to taste this.
Congrats on the awards and I enjoyed getting to know you a little better. Ha-you would be a tough boss-no whiners.. reminds me of an old boss of mine and I quote ” I did not hire you to hear about problems, no excuses!
Have a great day Maureen!
You are too cute for words and I loved reading your answers to the 10 ?’s. After reading Jean’s comment…I’m curious to download your recipe plug-in! Your sandwiches are tempting me for breakfast. I adore any thing coconut and the ice-cream filling is just divine!xx
Eating everything in moderation is the key to a good health and body. well said Maureen! 😉
I saw it earlier and I was mesmerized by the thought of macaroo strawberry ice cream sandwich, know that I see it, I need it!!
LOVE coconut macaroon — looks so delish sandwiched with ice cream!!
Congrats on the award!
Laughed out so loud reading about your ten facts. Never knew you lived in Orlando before 😀
I lived in Winter Park first, then Longwood (In Sleepy Hollow, I might add 🙂 ) and finally to some acreage out in Geneva. My daughter lives in College Park.
Yum We love coconut macaroons and the ice cream will make them even better!
My dad is obsessed with coconut. I think perhaps a “Daddy, I love you,” dessert making session is in order!
Maureen, you are after my heart, aren’t you? This looks incredible!!!
Hi Maureen! I love coconut macaroons and always pick the one with chocolate covered (I said “picked” because I have been “buying” these) but your version is ridiculously easy to make! :O Must try. I go crazy with coconut flavor and could be dangerous…
I love the new blog look, the photo index is great! I absolutely adore macaroons, but I haven’t made them in a while, your recipe looks delicious!
Congrats on all the awards! holy cow do these sound AMAZING! we just adore ice cream in this house, doesn’t matter how cold it is, we always want it 🙂
Maureen- yum I would take the strawberries or the macaroons or the ice cream but put them all together and you’ve got me drooling! What a delicious and fun recipe!
ps I’m with you regarding the ironing 🙂
Your photo index looks really good (i’d love to have handy tech support in house :)) and the macaroons… love them… especially the ice cream part, well ok everything! 🙂
Hi Maureen! First of all….your blog is beautiful!!! Second….congrats on your well deserved awards! And last….there can be no better vehicle to eat your luscious strawberry ice cream then sandwiched between these amazing macaroons! I love coconut and strawberry season will be here soon. So I really can’t wait to try this awesome recipe! : )
Well, I was a good blogger and followed all the instructions – AAANNDD awarded you a “Liebster Blog”, too! So there. 🙂
what?? wow, thanks heaps. On my way 🙂
Oh. My. God. Those look incredible. Especially today, it was so warm here, those would have been perfect!
How lucky are you to have a hubby with such talent! I adore coconut and would never have thought to make an ice cream sandwich. Delish!
He has lots of talents 🙂
Congratulations on your awards Maureen, very well deserved and I LOVE the new look, so professional
Now the macaroon sandwiches are a MUST try and really soon
Ah yes! I was at the market this morning and saw punnets and punnets of fresh strawberries and cheered silently to myself. I’m normally one to eat them straight from the punnet, but I reckon I ought to start experimenting with them and this recipe looks like a great place to start.
I don’t even like coconut and I’ve already bookmarked this recipe! Yeah, it looks that good. Well done! 🙂
Maureen, love the new look. Really gorgeous photos.
Great idea to pair coconut macarons with strawberries. Also love how quick it is to put together.
Definitely replacing my icecream maker!
Ooooh these look wonderful! I love the new look of the site, it really is fab. And I LOVE the visual recipe index – I’ve been wanting to do something like this for some time but just don’t have the coding know how. I would love love love if you rolled out something like this for easy recipe, which is my favorite plugin ever 🙂
O.M.G. Macaroon + Ice Cream = Paradise!
“Happy Cooking”
Maureen: These coconut macaroon ice cream sandwiches would surely get me in trouble…I wouldn’t be able to stop at one! What a great idea and I can imagine how coconutty tasty it has to be! 🙂
I’m a big coconut fan (not to mention strawberries…) so these sandwiches look fabulous for me. I love the new look of your blog (actually at the beginning I didn’t recognise it!) and the photo index looks great (now I’m jealous 😉 )
Congratulations for the awards!
Maureen, this is marvelous! Your new blog format is bright, lovely and (despite your disclaimer)… sexy! I also loved everything you wrote. Congratulations on your awards, on the blog re-do, and on this recipe — the photos LEAP off the page! Now, go put your feet up. 🙂
lol you made my day with this comment! I’m off to put my feet up but I’ll bring the iPad with me. 🙂
One of my favorite cookies and favorite ice creams. Why didn’t I think of this?
What a fun idea! I love ice cream sandwiches, but never thought to use macaroons. They look delicious!!! Hugs, Terra
These ice cream sandwiches look fantastic Maureen! They offer coconut macaroon ice cream sandwiches in this little restaurant in NYC, and immediately fell in love when I tried one! I love coconut, and the strawberry ice cream looks divine!
Where do I begin!!
I am drooling over the ice cream sandwiches. I want to make everything that you put out. If I don’t, it’s not for want of desire. This one gets a 5 star again.
I am so very happy for the awards you got, you deserve them and more. As I told you, if you ever write a book, I’ll be the first one to buy it.
I always loved the way your blog looks, the very first thing that attracted me to it. I love the visual index think. Another fab plugin on the way for the grateful us?
I cracked up laughing about the 10 points you wrote….you are such a ray of sunshine!
Great! I’ll make this ice-cream as soon as I can!