Mock Fried Ice Cream

From the kitchen of One Perfect Bite...Serendipity. I love the word and the happy accidents that it defines. I've had more than my share of kitchen disasters, but they are outnumbered by mishaps that end happily and lead to something new or absolutely delicious. My recipe tonight is the result of a serendipitous kitchen mishap. Several years ago, I had planned to make a Nordic-type cookie. As I set to work, I had a vague recollection of the ingredients I'd need, but drew a blank when it came to their assembly. A search for the recipe was neither quick nor successful, but I was stubbornly determined to use the ingredients I'd set out and decided to create something new. For some reason, candy came to mind and I started to make an oatmeal brittle. I experimented a bit to get the proportions right, but within the hour I had an oatmeal brittle that was really tasty. There was, however, a problem. What do you do with oatmeal brittle? It may be delicious, but it doesn't exactly scream "eat me". I decided to break it into coarse crumbs and use it as a topping. I had some ice cream in the freezer and quickly shaped it into balls that I rolled in the brittle crumbs. I called the Silver Fox into the kitchen for a consultation and taste test. I was still actively participating in recipe contests at that time and he was my best and most honest critic. He was also use to being called into the kitchen at all hours of the day and night. He had several spoonfuls before opining that it tasted like fried ice cream to him. That's basically how oatmeal brittle morphed into mock fried ice cream.

This is one of those stupid-simple recipes that somehow manages to produce a dish that can make your socks go up and down. It is made from readily available ingredients and it will take less than 30 minutes of your time to complete. Not much can go wrong here if you keep your eye on the oatmeal as it cooks. It takes a while to brown, but once it does you have to watch it carefully. It can go from golden to black in seconds and if it goes too dark or starts to smoke, you'll have to throw it out. I do hope you'll give this recipe a try. It is perfect to serve at this time of year, and, yes, it really tastes like fried ice cream. If you'd like to add a more Mexican touch to it, feel free to add some cinnamon to the mix. Here's how the mock fried ice cream is made.

Mock Fried Ice Cream...from the kitchen of One Perfect Bite

Ingredients:
1 quart vanilla (preferably French vanilla) ice cream
8 tablespoons (1 4-oz. stick) unsalted butter
1/4 cup light or golden brown sugar
2 cups uncooked old fashioned oatmeal
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/4 cup light corn syrup

Directions:
1) Scoop ice cream into six balls. Place on a cookie sheet and freeze again until solid.
2) Melt butter in a large nonstick skillet. Stir in sugar and cook until mixture begins to bubble. Add oatmeal and salt; cook, stirring, over medium heat for ten minutes or until oatmeal is a deep golden brown. Remove from heat. Stir in corn syrup. Rinse a cookie sheet with cold water; shake off excess water but do not dry pan. Scrape oat mixture onto pan and smooth into a thin layer with a wooden spoon. Allow to cool. Break into coarse crumbs and put in a 1-gallon zip lock bag.
3) When ready to serve, add ice cream balls, one at a time, to bag and shake to coat with oatmeal topping. Transfer to dessert plates or bowls. Garnish with mint if desired. Yield: 6 servings.

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Curried Coconut and Avocado Soup

From the kitchen of One Perfect Bite...I received a package via FedEx toward the end of last week. It contained avocados, lots and lots of them, and as a result I've been on a tear, testing and creating recipes that put my bounty to good use. The rules of the blogging game kinda force me to say that the posts you'll see over the next few days are sponsored by the folks at SoCal Avocados, a family-owned company in California. They have a fantastic website, found here, where you can order a variety of heart-healthy, hand-picked avocados that will be delivered to your home with no associated shipping costs. There is even an Avocado of the Month Club that allows members to sample the various types of avocados they sell. The avocado is an unusual fruit because it contains monounsaturated, or good, fat that is easily digested by the body. It is considered to be a Super Food because it is high in antioxidants and has high concentrations of crucial nutrients that some believe help prevent the effects of aging. I'm all for that! Health benefits aside, these are nice folks to do business with and their boxed avocados would make wonderful gifts for customers who have received one fruit basket too many. I hope you'll pay them a visit.

Today's recipe is the first of three that will take advantage of my avocado windfall. This simple starter is based on a soup that first appeared in the cookbook, Sunday's at Moosewood Restaurant. The soup, which is served chilled or at room temperature, contains just 4 ingredients and can be table ready in less than 30 minutes. It is a great way to start a meal when you are looking for something that is a bit out of the ordinary. The soup has wonderful color and I like to heighten the effect with a garnish of celery or lime wedges. I hope you'll try the recipe. It is really pleasant and good enough to serve even fussy guests. I know those of you who enjoy mild curry dishes will like it. Here's the recipe.

Curried Coconut and Avocado Soup...from the kitchen of One Perfect Bite adapted from Sunday's At Moosewood Restaurant

Ingredients:
2 (medium-ripe) avocados
1-1/2 cups vegetable broth + broth to thin as necessary
1-1/2 cups coconut milk
1 teaspoon curry powder
1 teaspoon lemon or lime juice
3/4 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon pepper

Directions:
Scoop flesh from avocados and place in a blender. Add vegetable broth and blend until well incorporated. Add coconut milk, curry powder, lemon juice, salt and pepper. Blend again until smooth. Adjust seasoning to taste. Chill. Yield: 4 to 5 servings.








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Two Years Ago Today: Morning Glory Muffins

Cold Lime Souffle

".... I've got a beautiful feeling everything's going my way." Today is our 46th wedding anniversary and our youngest daughter's birthday. My baby girl has just told us that we're to be grandparents again and thrilled doesn't begin to describe our elation. News doesn't get much better than that. We'll be out for the day but I did want to have something special for tonight's dinner. Bob loves rabbit - as a matter of fact he brought this one home. Could this have been a subtle hint? I've never made rabbit, so tonight's dinner will be an adventure. If it works, I'll talk about it later in the week. In case things go pear-shaped I've made another of his favorites - a cold lime souffle. The souffle is very easy to do; it does, however, require time to stiffen and must be made early in the day. Also, make sure the paper collars used to extend the souffle dishes are well-buttered so you'll have a smooth release. I had to fight to release mine - yet another proof that "we grow too soon old and too late smart." I have to learn to listen to myself. The real caution here regards the eggs you use to make this dish. For safety's sake, use only pasteurized eggs. Dishes like cold souffles and chiffons all but disappeared from the American table in the 1980's due to an outbreak of salmonella associated with raw eggs. Fortunately, the use of pasteurized eggs have given these desserts a new lease on life. Pasteurized eggs have been treated to prevent contamination from salmonella and other avian viruses. If you like tart citrus desserts, you'll love this one. Just be careful to capture only the green zest. This dessert will be unpleasantly bitter if the pith is included. If I haven't scared you away, it's time for us to get started.

Cold Lime Souffle

Ingredients:
5 large eggs, separated
1 cup granulated sugar + sugar for coating extensions
2 teaspoons finely grated lime zest + additional zest for garnish
3/4 cup lime juice, strained
1 tablespoon (1 envelope) powdered gelatin
1-1/4 cups heavy cream, lightly whipped
3 tablespoons confectioners' sugar
1 cup heavy cream

Directions:
1) Cut four strips of parchment paper or aluminum foil to fit around four 8-ounce baking cups. Fold each strip in half lengthwise. Tie strips around souffle cups to extend the height of each by 1-1/2 inch. Brush extensions generously with melted butter. Sprinkle with sugar to coat, tapping out excess. Set aside
2) Combine egg yolks, 1 cup sugar and lime zest in a medium bowl. Beat with an electric mixer until the mixture is thick and pale, about 3 minutes.
3) Heat lime juice in a small pan until warm. Slowly beat into yolk mixture.
4) Pour 1/4 cup water into a small cup. Sprinkle with gelatin and let sit until gelatin softens. Fill a small skillet with water; bring to a boil. Lower gelatin bowl into water; stir unti gelatin is dissolved and clear. Cool slightly. Add to lime mixture, beating on low speed until combined. Transfer to a large bowl, cover and refrigerate until thickened but not set. The mixture should have the consistency of a light cream sauce. Fold whipped cream into lime mixture with a spoon.
5) In a separate bowl beat egg whites with an electric mixer until stiff peaks form. Fold whites into lime mixture until just combined. Spoon into prepare souffle dishes. Refrigerate and chill until set.
6) When ready to serve, combine 1 cup whipping cream and confectioners' sugar in a 1-quart bowl. Beat with an electric mixer until soft peaks form. Remove collars and top with whipped cream. Sprinkle with lime zest. Yield: 4 servings.