Frozen Banana Ice Cream

Often when my brother Robb and I get together, kitchen shenanigans ensue.  On this particular occasion we made a giant batch of almond milk (more on that later) and were looking for ways to use it.  We decided to try Gwyneth Paltrow’s frozen banana “ice cream” and were not disappointed.  It’s only a handful of ingredients, and doesn’t require any fancy machinery, like an ice cream maker.  A food processor works just fine! Needless to say,  this turned out to be a very refreshing (and healthy) summer treat.

We started by slicing bananas and putting them in the freezer.

Frozen Banana Slices

Throw the frozen bananas in a food processor with some almond milk, maple syrup and vanilla.

Frozen banana mix

Pulse a few times until the mixture is just blended. mmmmmmmmm.

Frozen Banana Ice Cream

Mix some toasted, chopped pecans (or almonds, or whatever nut you have on hand) with maple syrup, a pinch of kosher salt and drizzle over top of the ice cream.  Downright delightful.

My only complaint is that it melts quickly and therefore makes it tough to get a decent photo, but that’s not really a huuuuuuge problem.

Frozen Banana Ice Cream

Frozen Banana Ice Cream Recipe

4 Ripe bananas, peeled and sliced into thin rounds
1/4 cup finely chopped roasted almonds or pecans
2 teaspoons plus 2 tablespoons maple syrup, divided
Pinch kosher salt
1/2 cup unsweetened almond milk
1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract

1.  Freeze the banana slices in a single layer on a tray or plate lined with wax or parchment paper.  Once the slices are frozen, use them immediately or keep frozen in a zip-top plastic bag or airtight container for up to a month.
2. Meanwhile, in a small bowl, combine the nuts with 2 teaspoons of the maple syrup and a pinch of salt and set the mixture aside.
3. Combine the frozen banana slices, the almond milk, the remaining 2 tablespoons of maple syrup, and the vanilla in a food processor and pulse until the mixture is the texture of soft serve ice cream, scraping down the sides as necessary.  Don’t worry if the mixture is not totally smooth at first – once the bananas start to break down and defrost in the food processor, they’ll give in and the “ice cream” will take shape quickly.
4. Spoon the banana ice cream into bowls immediately and sprinkle each serving with a bit of the almond mixture.

From:  It’s All Good

Sucre à la crème

Also known as maple fudge to us anglos, I first made this sucre à la crème as part of my french-Canadian themed New Years Eve dinner (also featuring tourtière!), so I’m sticking with the french name. But really, it doesn’t matter what you call it because it tastes amazing.

Here is what you need to create this treat:  brown and white sugar, maple syrup, whipping cream, corn syrup and vanilla.

Sucre à la crème ingredients

Throw everything into a saucepan, except for the white chocolate and vanilla.  Attach a candy thermometer to the side of the pan so you know when to pull it off the heat.

Bring the mixture to a boil and heat until it reaches 115 °C (240 °F).  But don’t stir it at all or else it will get clumpy!

Next, add the chocolate and vanilla.  White chocolate in your maple fudge? Ricardo says this is the secret to its creamy texture!  You don’t need much and it doesn’t change the flavour.  He’s absolutely right!

After the mixture has cooled in a cold water bath (I just plugged my sink and filled it partway with cold water), use an electric mixer to whip until smooth.  Then you get to lick the beaters 🙂

I’m embarrassed to admit that this is the best photo I have of the finished product.  What I’m not embarrassed to admit is that I didn’t get a good photo because it didn’t last very long.  Imagine fudge, but without any butter and yet somehow incredibly smooth, and full of melt-in your mouth sweet maple goodness.  A delightful winter indulgence :).

Sucre a la creme

Sucre à la Crème Recipe

250 ml (1 cup) 35% 
cream
250 ml (1 cup) sugar
250 ml (1 cup) brown sugar
125 ml (1/2 cup) maple syrup
30 ml (2 tablespoons) corn syrup
28 g (1 oz) white chocolate, chopped (optional)
1 ml (1/4 teaspoon) vanilla extract

1. Line the bottom of a 20-cm (8-inch) pan with parchment paper, letting the paper hang over two sides and butter the other two sides.

2. In a heavy saucepan, bring all the ingredients except for the chocolate and vanilla to a boil, stirring to dissolve the sugar. Attach a candy thermometer in the center of the pan and simmer without stirring until the thermometer reads 115 °C (240 °F). Remove from the heat and add the chocolate and vanilla without stirring.

3. Place the pan in a cold water bath. Let cool without stirring, until the thermometer reads 43 °C (110 °F) or 20 to 30 minutes.

4. Remove the pan from the water. With an electric mixer, beat until the mixture loses its gloss but is still soft, about 2 minutes.

5. Pour immediately into the pan and spread with a spatula. Cover with plastic wrap and let cool for 1 hour at room temperature or 30 minutes in the refrigerator. Unmould and cut into 2.5-cm (1-inch) squares.

6. Store in an airtight container. The squares of fudge can be made in advance and freeze very well.

From: Ricardo

Tori Toffee

Ohhhhh this stuff is deadly.  As in, I ate the leftovers for breakfast….Soooooo good.

This sweet, gooey goodness came into my life about a week ago when I got to spend a most excellent 36 hours with old friends (some new ones too!), lazing around a lake in the Muskoka’s.  This toffee was ridiculously easy to make – especially since I didn’t.  This is my friend Tori’s recipe and she did all the hard work.  But she also attested to how easy it is to make.  I’d say easy as pie, but it’s way easier than pie! Oh, and this tastes like a skor bar.  IT TASTES LIKE A SKOR BAR!

Here’s how you get this in your life:  Start with a few sleeves of salted soda crackers.  Love that salty-sweet combination!

Salted Soda Crackers

Then you create that magical combination known as melted butter and brown sugar.

Tors mixing up the melted butter and brown sugar

Bring this mixture to a boil…

Bubbling melted butter and brown sugar

Pour this delightful mixture over top of the soda crackers, and spread it around until everything is evenly coated.

Melted butter and brown sugar smeared on soda crackers

Now bake it until wonderful and bubbly and golden!

Golden brown toffee

This golden brown colour is very good news for your taste buds.

Chocolate Chips on top

Sprinkle chocolate chips on top while still hot, then let the chocolate get melty and smear it all over the surface.  Allow to cool and firm up, then just try not to eat this in one sitting.  You have to save leftovers for breakfast!!

Melty, Chocolate Toffee

Tori also recommended breaking up candy canes and sprinkling them on at Christmas time! I would imagine you could break up other delicious things to sprinkle on top as well…..Reese’s pieces perhaps…? The possibilities are endless!

Tori Toffee Recipe
1 Sleeve salted soda crackers
Equal part melted butter and brown sugar
1 bag chocolate chips

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
2. Line a baking sheet with the soda crackers.
3. Melt the butter in a small saucepan, add the brown sugar and stir to combine.  Bring mixture to a boil.
4. Pour the butter and brown sugar mixture over top of the crackers, and spread with spatula to evenly cover the crackers.
5. Bake in oven until golden and bubbly.
6. Remove from oven and sprinkle chocolate chips evenly over surface.  Allow chocolate chips to get warm and melty, then spread to coat entire surface.  Cool until butter mixture and chocolate set.  Eat!