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 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 🙂