Vol au Vent Filled with Cherry Ice Cream

I love the combination of dark Morello cherries and balsamic vinegar. Since I have balsamic cherry vinegar from Bellindora on hand, I thought I would use the pairing in a dish. I made cherry vol au vent drizzled with Bellindora balsamic cherry chocolate sauce. If you've had balsamic syrup with fruits in the past, you will certainly love this uncommon flavoring as the balsamic cherry vinegar brings out the flavor of the sweet cherries. 

The vol au vent consists of a puff pastry cup that is formed using two different sizes of cookie cutters. I filled it with homemade dark Morel ice cream. As you can see from the photo, I should have been more patient and waited for the ice cream to harden a bit in the freezer and not transfer the churned cherry ice cream directly from the ice cream machine to the cooled puff pastry. Live and learn...

Frozen Dessert Ideas

According to Wikipedia, Ronald Reagan designated July as National Ice Cream Month in 1984. He also appointed the third Sunday in July as National Ice Cream Day. Reagan recognized the popularity of ice cream in the United States (90% of the nation's population consumes ice cream).

Mother Nature is finally smiling on us in Northern California, let's hope she'll continue to supply us with a good excuse to consume our favorite frozen treat.

Goat Milk Ice Cream with Molasses Syrup Swirl

You've probably noticed, I'm addicted to anything and everything goat. Whether it's goat ricotta cheese, goat cheese Gouda or simple chèvre, I cannot get enough of goat’s milk unique flavor profile. I often use goat dairy products in savory dishes, but I thought it would be fun to experiment with goat milk in desserts. After some thought, it occurred to me that there is no better showcase for goat milk than making ice cream.

I made a simple custard using goat milk and chilled it overnight. I churned the ice cream and finished it with swirls of molasses and raisin syrup. The result was silky, delicious and not too rich. I've heard that goat milk is more easily digestible than regular cow's milk, which is good for the lactose-intolerant members of my family. The only downside: there wasn't enough to feed everyone! 

Earl Grey Ice Cream Sandwich Recipe

I made Earl Grey ice cream sandwiches today with homemade Earl Grey tea ice cream. One member in my family is allergic to eggs, so this recipe suits her perfectly, as no eggs are involved in this dessert. I used chocolate chip Walkers shortbread cookies, which are eggless as well. At the same time, I thought I'd experiment a bit in advance of my little munchkin's big birthday party at the end of the month. She's been such a good girl, helping me out all week long since she's on vacation. I thought this would be the perfect treat to reward her because the sandwiches are perfect for little hands and fingers!

I absolutely adore the flavor combination; the bergamot in Earl Grey tea has a truly distinctive flavor which, -interestingly- tastes almost like Fruit Loops cereal when mixed in ice cream batter. For convenience, and because they taste great, I made ice cream sandwiches using packs of Walkers chocolate chip cookies. If you have time, you could also make homemade chocolate chip cookies for the sandwiches.

Vietnamese Coffee Ice Cream Recipe (Ca Rem Ca Phe)

Vietnamese coffee and ice cream are two of my family’s favorite foods, so it made sense to try and make some at home. Since one of the girls is allergic to eggs, I made the ice cream eggless. The ice cream base is made with half and half and sweetened with condensed milk. Usually Vietnamese-style coffee is made with boiling water, but the half and half produces a much richer mouth-feel. Coffee made with water could make a nice sorbet, but that’s a different recipe!

As I mentioned previously, making Vietnamese coffee (cà phê sữa  in Vietnamese) reminds me of mon papa (I usually call him Papounet). When I was a little girl growing up in Paris, I would make coffee and bring breakfast to my dad every morning. Making the coffee for the ice cream took me back in time. If you cook long enough, food will have that power over you too.