caramel s'mores ice cream

 

i think you know how much i love anything s'mores inspired by now, but caramel s'mores ice cream.. where have you been all my life? this is a traditional churrned ice cream which does require the use of an ice-cream machine, but the results you get are seriously store-bought quality! my version of s'mores ice-cream features a marshmallow base (made simple with the use of marshmallow fluff), buttery graham cracker crumbs, ghirardelli's (60%) dark chocolate & swirls of ghirardelli's caramel sauce.

justin gave this recipe a 20/10, so it might just be that good! i like to serve it with a drizzle of ghirardelli's caramel sauce as well because it elevates this recipe that much more. now you can enjoy s'mores without a campfire year round! i should probably just start a s'mores baking blog.. right?

p.s. it is very important that you let the ice cream base chill completely before churning. i suggest a minimum of 6 to 8 hours, otherwise it will not churn properly & the final texture will be off.

ingredients

  • 1 ½ cups whole milk
  • 4 large egg yolks
  • 3/4 cup granulated sugar
  • 1/2 cup marshmallow fluff
  • 1 ½ cups whipping cream
  • 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
  • 1 pinch fine salt
  • 2 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted
  • 1/2 cup graham cracker crumbs
  • 1/2 cup ghirardelli's caramel sauce, plus more for serving
  • 4 ounces ghirardelli's 60% dark chocolate, roughly chopped
  • 4 whole graham crackers, for topping

directions

  • in a large saucepan over low heat bring the milk to a gentle simmer, do not boil.
  • in a separate mixing bowl whisk together the eggs & sugar. once the milk reaches a simmer, slowly temper it into the egg mixture & transfer everything back to the saucepan. whisk in the marshmallow fluff until melted.
  • continue whisking over medium heat until mixture slightly thickens. remove from heat. stir in cream, vanilla & salt. run mixture through a fine mesh strainer, cover bowl with plastic wrap & refrigerate for a minimum of 8 hours.
  • once mixture is chilled simply transfer it to an ice-cream maker (following the manufacturer directions) & churn for 20 to 25 minutes, until mixture resembles a soft serve ice-cream.
  • as the ice-cream churns, mix together the butter & graham cracker crumbs.
  • fold in the graham cracker crumbs & dark chocolate. transfer to a loaf pan & swirl in the caramel sauce. i like to do this step in layers so there is an even amount of caramel throughout. top with additional chocolate & graham crackers if desired.
  • refrigerate until firm, about 6 to 8 hours. serve with a drizzle of caramel sauce!
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tomato, peach + corn couscous salad

 

my love for sweet summer corn goes in phases & right now the cravings are strong! this colourful salad is basically summer in a bowl. it makes for a super simple BBQ side dish that features bob's red mill natural pearl couscous. if you aren't familiar with pearl couscous it is basically oversized couscous. also known as israeli couscous, it is larger in size than regular couscous with a soft & chewy texture. i think it makes this salad what it is, so i wouldn't recommend substituing it for traditional couscous! i like to toast the couscous pearls in butter before cooking to really bring out the nutty flavour.

lastly, the dressing is a super simple vinaigrette that i like to use for most of my summer salads. it isn't over powering in flavour & really allows the ingredients to shine. especially the sweet flavours of the corn, tomatoes & peaches. enjoy!

ingredients

for the dressing:

  • 1/4 cup extra virgin olive oil
  • 1/3 cup apple cider vinegar
  • 2 tablespoons honey
  • 1 clove of garlic, minced
  • Salt & pepper, to taste

for the salad

  • 2 cups bob’s red mill natural pearl couscous, cooked to package directions
  • 2 cups fresh corn kernels
  • 2 cups cherry tomatoes, halved
  • 2 peaches, pitted & sliced
  • 1 avocado, diced
  • salt & pepper, to taste
  • crumbled feta cheese, to garnish
  • fresh basil or parsely, to garnish

directions

for the dressing

  • in a small mixing bowl whisk together the olive oil, vinegar, honey, garlic, salt & pepper until well blended. set aside until ready to use.

for the salad

  • to a large serving bowl add the couscous, corn, tomatoes, peaches, avocado, salt & pepper. drizzle with dressing & toss until well coated.
  • finish with a sprinkle of feta cheese & garnish with fresh herbs. serve immediately!

tropical summer smoothie

 

hello friends! i hope your summers have been off to a great start & that you are staying cool. as the heat waves of summer continue to strike in niagara, give me all the frozen smoothies! this tropical smoothie features banana, pineapple, mango & coconut. the perfect pool side treat that is good for you too. one sip & you will instantly feel transported to the beach! if i'm not drinking an iced coffee, you can bet i have a fresh fruit smoothie in hand.

this recipe features naked nutrition's collagen peptide packets which are loaded with health benefits. think radiant skin, strong hair + nails, boosted joint health & more. the perfectly portioned stick packs are great for on the go as they are highy soluble & tasteless. you can even add it to your hot morning coffee (ok, iced coffee) or bedtime tea! naked nutrition also has an amazing grass-fed whey protein powder that would be a great addition to this smoothie too if you are looking for a post workout protein kick. a splash of coconut rum would be good in it too, but i'll leave that part up to you.

cheers!

ingredients

  • 1 naked nutrition collagen peptides packet (9.5 grams)
  • 1 frozen banana, diced
  • 1/2 cup diced frozen pineapple
  • 1/2 cup diced frozen mango
  • 1/2 cup coconut yogurt
  • 1 cup orange juice, freshly squeezed
  • 1 teaspoon lime zest
  • hemp hearts, to garnish
  • coconut flakes, to garnish
  • sliced lime, to garnish

directions

  • place all ingredients in a blender or food processor. puree until smooth. if smoothie appears thick, add an extra splash of orange juice.
  • transfer to a serving glass. garnish with hemp hearts, coconut & a wedge of lime. enjoy!