Piña Colada Ice Cream

Cue the Pina Colada song, kick off your shoes and get that Hawaiian shirt on, it's time for Piña Colada ice cream!

Since I first got my hands on Nigella's latest book, I new I just had to try this ice cream recipe.This is another one of her fantastic no-churn recipes, so it's great if you don't have an ice cream machine (and even if you do have one)! I really love her no-churn margarita and pomegranate ice cream recipes, so I was sure this one would be good too...

No-churn pina colada ice cream
Recipe from 'Kitchen' by Nigella Lawson

125ml pineapple juice, from a carton
80ml Malibu (white coconut rum)
generous few drops coconut flavouring
2 teaspoons lime juice
100g icing sugar
500ml double cream*
75g sweetened shredded coconut (but not dessicated), to serve
* I used thickened cream as double cream in Australia has a much higher fat content than the UK equivalent

1. Pour the pineapple juice and Malibu into a large bowl, and add the coconut flavouring and lime juice.
2. Add the icing sugar and whisk to dissolve.
3. Whisk in the cream and keep whisking until soft peaks form.
4. Taste to see if you need more coconut flavouring or a squeeze of lime juice (and remember it won't be as strong once frozen), then spoon and smooth the ice cream into an airtight container and freeze.
5. Toast the shredded coconut in a dry hot pan until just turning golden and remove to a bowl. Sprinkle a little over each person's portion and leave the rest for people to add as they eat.

Freeze Note
The ice cream can keep for up to 3 months in the freezer, but will become icy, so it's better up to 1 month only and at its best within 1 week of making.

The Verdict
As with Nigella's other no-churn recipes, this one is quick and easy, and offers a pretty creamy result without the effort of making a creme anglaise and so on. I don't think it's quite as good as Nigella pomegranate ice cream, but this isn't bad at all. Flavoured with Malibu, lime and pineapple juice the ice cream is certainly a good tribute to its namesake cocktail. So if you like Piña Coladas (and getting caught in the rain) I say give this one a go!

Ladybird x

Classic Vanilla Ice Cream

Sometimes life gets in the way of cooking and blogging... By day I work full-time in education. By night and by weekends I squeeze in as much cooking and blogging as I can, but it can be difficult. When I can't blog as much as I'd like to, I get withdrawal symptoms.. I get the itch, the urge.. the need to create. Does anyone else experience this, or do I need professional help?!

This week I had planned to participate in my first Daring Bakers Challenge. For August, the challenge was Baked Alaska / Ice Cream Petit Fours... either way, there was going to be delicious butter pound cake and ice cream made from scratch. I got as far as making the ice cream, but after that the week got a bit stressful.

But nevermind, I'm so glad I made this delicious vanilla ice cream! I've tried many vanilla ice cream recipes in the past, but this one takes the cake (or cone, as it were). It's soft, creamy and perfectly balanced. Definitely a good classic ice cream to have on standby in the freezer.

There are no surprises that this gem of a recipe come from David Lebovitz.. here it is for you to try out for yourself! I hope you love it as much as I do :)

Vanilla Ice Cream
The Perfect Scoop (David Lebovitz)

1 cup full cream milk
pinch salt
3/4 c caster sugar
1 vanilla bean
5 egg yolks
2 cups heavy (approx 35% fat) cream
few drops natural vanilla extract

1. Heat the milk, salt and sugar in a saucepan. Split the vanilla bean lengthwise and scrape the seeds into the milk with the tip of a pairing knife. Add the bean pod to the milk.

2. Stir together the egg yolks in a bowl and gradually add some of the warmed milk, stirring constantly as you pour. Pour the warmed yolks back into the saucepan.

3. Cook over low heat, stirring constantly and scarping the bottom with a heat resistant spatula until the custard thickens enough to coat the spatula. Strain the custard into the heavy cream. Rinse the vanilla bean and put it back into the custard and cream to continue steeping. Chill thoroughly, them remove the vanilla bean and freeze in your ice cream maker according to the manufacturer's instructions.

I served the ice cream in these lovely mini waffle cones from The Essential Ingredient in Rozelle, Sydney. To give you an idea of the size of these itty-bitty cones, I've photographed them sitting in shot glasses. To scoop ice cream for mini cones, I use a melon baller heated in a cup of hot water.

*** Giveaways Reminder ***

Before I sign off for today, I wanted to remind you about the 2 giveaways I have running at the moment... Have you entered?!!!

The Bakers Delight Giveaway closes on September 8. You could win one of nine $5 Bakers Delight vouchers! For more details, click here.

My 100th post and 1st blog-birthday giveaway closes on September 15. You could win a great cupcake cookbook! Anyone can enter, so for more details, click here.


Ladybird x

Rum & Raisin Ice Cream

I love having visitors from overseas... There is great excitment in heading to the airport to collect family/friends whom you haven't seen for a long time, and all that chat and catching up on lost time is something to look forward to and cherish.
There's also the duty-free alcohol. Oh yeah...

Thanks to my very kind and generous brother-in-law 'R', my linen cupboard now looks like quite the alcoholic's stash, and now includes some beeeautiful Barbados rum. As soon as I lay eyes on it, I knew it had to be made - Rum and Raisin Ice Cream.

Rum and raisin also happens to be Mr Ladybird's all time favourite ice cream flavour, and he has long requested a home made version of the icy treat. Being the wonderful (and ever modest!) wife that I am, I at last got around to it. And with such lovely rum on hand, there was no better time...

Lemon Gelato

It's official - gelato is the most difficult thing to photograph. Ever!

I was reading an online article during the week in which a photographer described the challenges of his work, particularly when it comes to capturing shots of children or animals. Ridiculously, I scoffed.. "Clearly he has never tried to photograph gelato!"

The previous day I had pre-scooped and frozen the gelato, hollowed out and cleaned a lemon and set up my scene to photograph this lemon gelato. Despite being organised, it was nothing short of frantic chaos. You see, gelato melts incredibly quickly. Once you've served it, it's Go! Go! GO! It was worth it though. I managed to get some shots of gelato (as opposed to chilled lemon soup) hehe...

There are two main reasons why gelato melts so quickly. First, gelato typically has a low fat content than regular ice cream and secondly, its semi-frozen consistency. I really enjoy gelato, particulary after dinner because it is so light yet so flavoursome.

I adore all things lemony, and I especially love the refreshing and zingy hit of lemon gelato. I'm getting a bit sick of the cold weather here in Sydney, so perhaps a summery gelato will help bring on summer (?). A bit like a home cook's rain dance, only for warm weather! haha..

Lemon Gelato
Makes approximately 1L

1 cup water
220g caster sugar
1/3 lemon zest
2/3 cup freshly squeezed lemon juice
2/3 cup double cream

1. Place the water, sugar, lemon zest and juice in a small saucepan.
2. Stir over a low heat until the sugar dissolves. Bring to the boil and cook for 2 minutes, then remove from heat.
3. Strain the mixture through a fine sieve and refrigerate for several hours or overnight.
4. Whisk together the lemon mixture and cream in a large jug.
5. Churn in an ice cream machine following the manufacturer's instructions, before transferring to a container then freezing. Mine was a little runny after churning, but was ok once frozen.

Note: If you don't have an ice cream machine, never fear. To read advice from David Lebovitz (in my home, referred to as 'The Ice Cream Guru') about how to make ice cream without a machine, click here.

Have a lovely weekend, everyone :) If the weather is warm in Sydney, perhaps it will be the gelato that brings it on! Let's wait and see...


Ladybird x

Classic Chocolate Ice Cream

When food blogging I am conscious of hyperbole, and try to use it sparingly. On this occasion, I simply cannot restrain myself - this is the best chocolate ice cream ever! It is rich, decadent, and oh so velvety... almost too good to share! I admit, I do hesitate when serving this to guests at home.. I think it's my inner ice cream demon saying "No! It's mine!" To counter the demon's taunts, I make sure I have a stash of this ice cream in the freezer at all times :) Then everyone's happy!

This is an adapted recipe from the instruction booklet that came with my Sunbeam 'Snowy'. In don't usually try recipes that come in appliances' instruction manuals, but I have found these recipes to be very reliable. This makes approx. 1 L and there's no telling how long it will last...

Ingredients
1 cup full cream milk
2 cups double cream
150 g dark chocolate (I used Lindt 70% cocoa)
4 egg yolks
130 g caster sugar

Method
1. Stir milk, cream and chocolate in a saucepan over a medium heat until the chocolate melts; increase heat and almost bring to the boil.
2. In a large bowl whisk egg yolks and sugar until well combined. The mixture should become creamy and pale in colour, as depicted below.

3. Slowly whisk hot chocolate mixture into yolk mixture until well combined.

4. Place the bowl of a pot of simmering water (water not touching the bowl), and cook over a low heat until the mixture has thickened and coats the back of a wooden spoon.

5. Transfer to a large bowl and allow to cool before covering and placing in the fridge to chill for several hours.
6. Churn in ice cream machine for about 30 minutes then transfer to a container and place in the freezer.
7. To serve, transfer to the fridge about 20 minutes prior to serving.

If you don't own an ice cream machine, I would recommend considering getting one. You really can't compare homemade ice cream to the bought stuff... It's superb! Hand on heart, getting an ice cream machine is probably the best $50 I have ever spent. Again, sorry about the hyperbole, but it's true!!!


Ladybird x

Zabaglione Ice Cream with Biscotti

"Zaba-what??" said a bleary-eyed Mr Ladybird early one Sunday morning as I read out this ice-cream recipe title. "Zaa-bag-lion-e!" I say in a terrible fake italian accent (along with some over the top hand gestures for good measure).

I came across this Delia Smith recipe not long ago and thought it was worth a try. If you enjoy almond biscotti and the flavour of marsala (fortified wine best known for its addition to tiramisu), you'll love this! I think of my mum when I serve this because I know she'd love it - she adores almonds :)

Ingredients

415ml double cream

6 large egg yolks

75g golden caster sugar (or regular caster sugar)

100ml marsala

90g almond biscotti, crushed plus

extra whole biscotti

Method

1. Whip the cream to the floppy stage then refrigerate.

2. Meanwhile, whisk togethereg yolks and sugar in a bowl until pale and creamy.

3. Whisk in the marsala one tablespoon at a time.

4. Place the bowl over a saucepan of simmering water (don't let the bowl touch the water) and whisk for 10-15 minutes until the mixture thickens to custard consistency. It should coat the back of a wooden spoon.

5. Remove the bowl from the heat, cover and set aside for about 30 minutes to cool completely.

6. Gently stir the mixture and fold in the whipped cream.

7. Transfer to an ice-cream machine and churn for 10 minutes, then add the crushed biscotti and continue to churn for around another 20 minutes.

8. Transfer to a container and freeze.

9. Transfer to the fridge 30 minutes prior to serving, and serve the ice-cream with extra biscotti.

Tips

• 
  
  Until relatively recently, I thought double cream was the same thing as thickened cream - but it's not! Thickened cream is cream that's been thickened with vegetable gum or gelatin. Double cream is not as readily available in supermarkets, and is slightly more expensive, but it is sooo worth the result.
• 
  
  If you can't get biscotti, use almond bread instead (as pictured above).
• 
  
  If you're using purchased biscotti, choose one that doesn't contain almond essence. It tends to have a weird aftertaste - definitely of those fake flavours to avoid...

Till next time!

Ladybird x

Pomegranate Ice-cream

Hi everyone :)

Hope your new year is off to a great start! I have been having a great time getting back to cooking since returning from holidays.. although I am still nursing my strange summertime cold/flu symptoms. Ice cream probably isn't the best thing for it, but what the heck! I saw this recipe on a cooking channel while sitting in a hotel room in Delhi and I promised myself I'd make it upon my return to Sydney.

Although I do love using my new ice-cream maker machine, the great thing about this recipe is that I don't have to get it out! This is a 'no-churn' recipe from Nigella Lawson, and I think it's a great way to use the beautiful pomegranates that are available at the moment. Plus, did you know that pomegranates contain more antioxidants than green tea or red wine?!

Ingredients
2 pomegranates

1 lime

150g powdered/icing sugar

2 cups double/thickened cream

Method

1. Half the pomegranates and reserve and few seeds for decoration. Squeeze pomegranate halves over a sieve in a bowl.

2. Squeeze lime into same bowl.

3. Put icing sugar in medium to large size bowl, and gradually whisk in juice.

4. Add cream and whisk until 'billowy' or 'floppy' as I would describe. So the cream should hold its shape loosely - it should not have reached the 'peaky' stage.

5. Pour into freezeable container and freeze overnight.

So, the result? Soft, creamy and delicately flavoured ice-cream. I am so impressed with this no-churn method of Nigella's, I will definitely be trying some of her other no-churn recipes.

Take care for now!

Love,

Ladybird x

Mangoes & Cream Ice Cream

I scream, you scream, we all scream for ice cream!!! Oh yes we do, especially if it involves mangoes... I am loving the mangoes available right now. They are so decadent and summery, and I've wanted to make my own ice cream for ages, so yesterday I finally got the chance :)

I bought a Sunbeam 'Snowy' on Saturday and decided to christen it yesterday using a recipe I saw on Not Quite Nigella's blog a while ago. After 25 minutes of churning the mixture had thickened but was too runny to be softserve, so I scooped it out into a container and popped it in the freezer overnight. I took it out this evening and it was well frozen, so I put it in the fridge for about 15 minutes to allow it to soften a little.

Snowy in action

I served it up using the ice cream scoop that came with the Snowy (very handy!) in martini glasses for a little 'posh factor' - another thing I've been wanting to do for ages! Thanks for the recipe, NQN (a.k.a Lorraine)! To check out the recipe, click here.

The scent was delectable and the texture was creamy but a lot denser than commercial ice-cream. The other great thing about this ice cream is that it is egg free - perfect for when my hubby's family are visiting.

Am definitely looking forward to making more ice cream in the summer months! :)

By the way, an interesting fact for you that might help when making frozen desserts like ice cream...

Did you know that cold temperatures numb the tastebuds? That's why frozen ice cream or yoghurt tastes sweeter when it's melted. So when you're making ice-cream and you want to make sure the level is sweetness is right for you before you churn and freeze it, just remember - having it on the sweeter side is fine because when you eat it frozen it won't taste as sweet.

Ladybird x