Chocolate chip cookie ice cream

I've been having so much fun with the ice cream maker. It has even infected X - he, of course has an industrial size ice cream maker & has attempted to make some on the boat.

Right after my success with green tea ice cream, the next flavour I wanted to attempt was cookies. After all one of my favorite is Haagen Dazs Cookies & Cream & they don't sell it here.

I used the basic custard recipe but just added 4 Tbsp of vanilla to it. The crushed cookies were added about 5 mins before the ice cream is finished churning in the machine.

This turned out even better than the green tea ice cream !! Strangely enough, the cookies were not great but when mixed with the ice cream, heavenly. I can imagine what it would be like if I got my hands on some good quality chocolate chip cookies. Only comment was X prefers bigger chunks of cookies (will remember to crush them less the next round). I don't think we need to ever buy any ice cream again.




On the other hand, my attempt at blueberry ice cream didn't turn out so great. Instead of using the basic custard recipe, I tried with only heavy cream. Although it looked great (bright purple), it tasted too much of cream & not enough of blueberries. Back to the drawing board. I'll put up the recipe only after I'd gotten it right.

Chocolate chip cookie ice cream

250 ml milk
250 ml heavy cream
180 g sugar
5 egg yolks
4 Tbsp vanilla
4-5 chocolate chip cookies


1. Beat egg yokes then add in the sugar
2. Heat milk in a small pan over low heat. Do not boil
3. Remove from fire & pour in the egg mixture
4. Put it back over the stove & continue cooking over low heat. It is very important that it does not boil else you'll end up with bits of scrambled eggs. Stirring constantly until mixture thickens. This is how I check - I'll tilt the pan & if a thin film stays at the bottom of the pan, it's ready.
5. Remove & strain through a fine sieve.
6. Let this cool completely.
7. Lightly whip the cream & add 4 Tbsp vanilla. Add this to the cold custard.
8. Pour into ice cream maker & prepare as per instructions. Add the crushed cookies 5 mins before the cycle ends.

Beef Fajita

Beef Fajita

Every Friday night, X returns home for the weekend. By the time, he's back it's time for the Girl to go to bed. So it's kind of our date night & I'll try to prepare something special. I've even decided to name this our Friday Night Dinners (which will be known henceforth simply as FND).

This week it was inspired by a pineapple salsa. When Sri of Feedmyworld shared this on a forum, I immediately wanted to try it. Besides, it has been a while since I made Mexican. After I tried it for the first time, I knew I wanted to do this again for FND.


I cooked the beef as per Sri's recipe but fried the peppers & onions with Mexican seasoning. Along with the pineapple salsa, I also prepared a tomato salsa. So this time round, I didn't do a guacamole which I would normally have done.

The pineapple salsa was a big hit with the chef (thanks again Sri), not that I had any doubt. He really liked the refreshing taste & preferred it over the tomato salsa. I'm sure I'll be making this again & again. Plus it's just fun - lay out the beef, peppers, pineapple salsa, cheese separately, let each person wrap their own beef fajita. Sit back & watch them lick their fingers after. Ole !

Charcuterie

Charcuterie (from either the French chair cuite, cooked meat, or the French cuiseur de chair, cooker of meat) is the branch of cooking devoted to prepared meat products such as sausage and confit, primarily from pork. The practice goes back to ancient times and can involve the chemical preservation, or curing, of meats.

excerpt from Wikipedia

We recently had a charcuterie session. Unfortunately it happened pre-blog else it would have made one helluva post.

We do it at least once a year. X's father would buy a whole pig & we would spend the weekend making sausages, caillettes, hams, pates, rillettes, boudin, the works. For a city girl from Singapore who only buys these from the supermarkets, it was a real eye opening experience. I will blog about it when we next make charcuterie.

Right after, X's father gave me this book which he has had for years. It's everything you need to know about charcuterie. Recipes, techniques, cuts of meat, storage etc. I've only had a chance to flip through the book & it's chokeful of information. I guess once I start making charcuterie on my own, this will be a good reference book. Until then, I'm just going to enjoy looking at the pictures.

International Francophone Day

For those of you who may not be aware, March is the month of La Fete de la Francophonie. Throughout the month, all over the world, events are being held to celebrate all things Frenchie. And today is the International Francophone Day. So if you're interested, go to the official website to see what's happening in your area.

Decoration Ceremony

Last night, for the first time in my life, I attended a decoration ceremony. X's father was decorated for fighting in the Algerian war. The war lasted for 8 years from 1954-1962 where the Algerians fought to gain liberation from their French colonial rulers.

It started off with a mass held in the church of St Julien du Serre. Even tho we moved here a year ago, I've never been inside the church. It's only open for special occasions so I was naturally excited to be there (I will do a later post featuring the church).

The church was packed. It felt like the entire commune was there. I've never seen so many people in the neighbourhood. Needless to say, the Girl & I were the 2 youngest amongst them. Aside from the fact that we live right there, I think I was asked to attend so that I could be the photographer. Funnily enough, the journalist from La Tribune, the local weekly came up to me to asked which newspaper I represented. It might have something to do with the fact that I have a kick ass camera (thank you X).

After the mass & service honouring those who had served & died, we proceeded to the hall for the actual decoration ceremony. It was a simple ceremony with the band playing military tunes & of course, La Marseillaise (the national anthem of France) followed by the recipients getting their medals.

Look at that crowd

The guy who was in charged of the medals was standing right next to me & he graciously let me take a picture of them before the ceremony started.

The recipients

Tag

I got Tagged. By Sri.

Okay so here goes.

1. Name one person who made you laugh last night?
The Girl

2. What were you doing at 0800?
Lying in bed trying to figure out if I should get up

3. What were you doing 30 minutes ago?
Trying to get the Girl to take a nap

4. What happened to you in 2006?
Grew older

5. What was the last thing you said out loud?
Don't put playdoh up your nose

6. How many beverages did you have today?
Orange Juice for breakfast, water & a glass of wine during lunch

7. What color is your hairbrush?
Wood (is that a colour ?)

8. What was the last thing you paid for?
I just ordered a basket on the internet

9. Where were you last night?
At home

10. What color is your front door?
Wood

11. Where do you keep your change?
In my wallet

12. What’s the weather like today?
Sunny & cold

13. What’s the best ice-cream flavor?
Right now, green tea

14. What excites you?
Travel. Food photos.

15. Do you want to cut your hair?
Not just yet

16. Are you over the age of 25?
Oh yes !

17. Do you talk a lot?
In French, not so much. In English, depends on whom I'm talking to.

18. Do you watch the O.C.?
What's that ? A TV show ? I guess the answer is No

19. Do you know anyone named Steven?
Yes.

20. Do you make up your own words?
No.

21. Are you a jealous person?
No.

22. Name a friend whose name starts with the letter ‘A’.
Adelyne

23. Name a friend whose name starts with the letter ‘K’.
Kim

24. Who’s the first person on your received call list?
X

25. What does the last text message you received say?
Too long ago to remember. I don't text message that much.

26. Do you chew on your straw?
No.

27. Do you have curly hair?
No.

28. Where’s the next place you’re going to?
Paris in May.

29. Who’s the rudest person in your life?
I'll refrain from answering this in case that person is reading my blog.

30. What was the last thing you ate?
Green tea ice cream.

31. Will you get married in the future?
I hope so.

32. What’s the best movie you’ve seen in the past 2 weeks?
I haven't watched any the past 2 weeks.

33. Is there anyone you like right now?
Maybe I should be answering if there is anyone I don't like right now.

34. When was the last time you did the dishes?
Today after lunch

35. Are you currently depressed?
No.

36. Did you cry today?
No. Should I ?

37. Why did you answer and post this?
Oh you mean I didn't have to do this.

38. Tag 5 people who would do this survey.
Can't think of anybody right now. I'm still new at this.

Mother & Child meal

This is what we had for lunch today. Wonton mee with home made wontons & char siew. The 2 dishes are not identical cos the Girl doesn't like wontons (so strange).

That's what I call comfort food.