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Tag: whole milk

Pumpkin Gelato

Pumpkin Gelato

  • 1/2 cup pumpkin puree
  • ½ cup evaporated cane juice (sugar)
  • ½ vanilla bean, split in half
  • ¼ teaspoon ground cloves
  • ½ cinnamon stick
  • 2 cups whole milk
  • 2 tablespoons corn starch
  • 2 tablespoons whole milk to mix in the cornstarch

Ice cream maker

In a medium saucepan, heat the milk, vanilla bean, ground cloves and cinnamon stick on medium heat. Once bubbles begin to form on the edges, add the cornstarch mixed in with 2 tablespoons milk. Cook till the mixture begins to thicken, about 2-3 minutes and forms a custard consistency. Add ½ cup pumpkin puree and mix well. Remove from the heat. Strain and refrigerate overnight or at least 2 hours.

Pour the chilled mixture into an ice cream maker and follow the manufacturers instructions. Freeze the gelato for at least an hour once it is done.

Bolognese Sauce with Spaghetti

I would highly recommend this recipe for bolognese sauce- it is easy to make and really delicious! The pancetta and sausage flavor it amazing.. definitely worth a try…

  • 2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
  • 1 medium yellow onion, finely chopped
  • 1 medium carrot, finely chopped
  • 1 celery stalk, finely chopped
  • 2 tablespoons fresh rosemary
  • 2 to 3 sprigs fresh thyme
  • ½ cup pancetta, chopped
  • 1 pound ground beef
  • 2 large Italian sausage links, meat taken out of the casings
  • ½ cup dry white wine
  • 2 tablespoons tomato paste
  • 2 cups tomato sauce
  • 1 cup beef or chicken broth
  • 2 cups whole milk
  • Salt
  • Pepper
  • ½ pound spaghetti, cooked al dente

Heat a heavy saucepan with the olive oil. Add the onion, carrot, celery, rosemary and thyme. Stir and sauté on medium heat for 5 minutes. Add one teaspoon of salt. Add the pancetta and sauté on medium heat till the vegetables are soft and pancetta is crispy. Add the beef and sausage and separate vigorously with the back of a wooden spoon while stirring. Saute for 3 to 4 minutes on medium high heat. Add the white wine and scrape off all the golden brown bits from the bottom. Add the tomato paste and sauté for a minute. Add the tomato sauce, broth and milk. Bring to a boil and simmer on medium low heat with lid on for 2 hours. Stir every 15 minutes or so to check the consistency. Once the consistency is according to taste, check for seasonings and serve with spaghetti.

Mushroom and Pesto Lasagna

Yummy lasagna for the fall…

  • 2 tablespoons butter
  • 2 tablespoons all purpose flour
  • 1 ½ cups whole milk
  • 1 large garlic clove, peeled
  • ¼ teaspoon freshly ground nutmeg
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • Pepper

Heat a saucepan with the butter and add the flour. Stir with a whisk on medium heat for 1 to 2 minutes. Add the milk and garlic gradually and continue whisking and bring to a boil. Lower heat and simmer for 5 minutes. Add the nutmeg, salt and pepper. Check for seasoning and keep aside.

  • 3 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
  • 10 ounces Cremini mushrooms, cleaned and sliced
  • 2 garlic cloves, grated
  • Salt

Heat a frying pan with the olive oil. Add the mushrooms and sauté on medium heat for 4 to 5 minutes till the mushrooms are golden brown. Add the garlic and sauté for another 2 minutes. Season with salt and keep aside.

  • ½ cup prepared or homemade pesto
  • ½ cup grated Parmigiano Reggiano cheese
  • ½ cup grated mozzarella cheese
  • 9 to 12 no boil lasagna noodles
  • 1 8X8 oven-proof pan

Pour a ladle of white sauce to the bottom of the pan, add one layer of noodles on top. Add another ladle of sauce. Spread ¼ cup pesto and sprinkle ¼ cup of Parmigiano cheese on top of that. Then, add half of the sliced mushrooms. Top with another layer of noodles and repeat the process. Top with another layer of noodles and pour the remaining sauce covering the top and sides. Top with the mozzarella cheese, cover with foil and bake for 50 minutes till the noodles are fully cooked and cheese is gooey. Let the lasagna sit for 15 minutes before serving.

 

 

 

 

Hazelnut and Dark Chocolate Gelato

Hazelnut Chocolate Gelato This is my version of hazelnut chocolate gelato. It is a bit different than what you find in the stores or the recipes you see on line.  First of all, I used my usual gelato recipe- which is made out of whole milk and corn starch. So, that means no fat from eggs and cream. Secondly, instead of steeping the nuts in the milk and then straining them out, I decided to include them in the mix. Doing that provides a great crunch and texture- although straining the nuts out makes this treat more kid friendly. My daughter liked it but she didn’t care for all the nuts in her mouth. I, on the other hand, thought it was delicious. The hazelnut flavor is richer and more enhanced. Especially once I added some hazelnut liquor- it makes it extra scrumptious.

To make the gelato more interesting, I added grated dark chocolate which changes the color as well as the taste. Milk chocolate can be added as well, but I prefer the dark one- plus it is healthier for you.

Overall it was a great, healthy treat we all enjoyed after a dinner get together. I think I will try another one soon – maybe a ginger gelato- yum!!!
read more …

Apple Gelato-A Healthy Treat

Apple Gelato So, this is one of the things I did with the fabulous apples sauce I made the other day. I am amazed at the versatility of this apple sauce- as I write this I am preparing a pork loin dinner with a savory apple sauce (recipe will be posted soon) and potatoes.

I loved all the gelati I made in the past based on the corn starch ice cream recipe by Mark Bittman. I loved the idea of making healthy gelato. I have made chocolate cinnamon, pistachio cardamom and walnut saffron gelati in the past (amongst others). All of them have come out delicious. 

As we approach this delicious fall season- my favorite time of year, I have been making treats with pumpkin and apples. So while I had these ingredients in my head- gelato came to mind… I thought I could make apple gelato, especially once the apple sauce was made. I thought I would make vanilla gelato and once the frozen treat was done churning, I would mix the homemade apple sauce to it.

That is what I did and it turned out very delicious! The gelato part is sweet with an amazing taste of the vanilla bean I used. The apples bits are sweet and tangy at the same time and complement the vanilla really well. It would actually be yummy on top of a slice of pumpkin pie. I love the apple and pumpkin flavors together- I am definitely going to experiment with the two some more…

  • 1 cup apple sauce
  • ½ cup evaporated cane juice (sugar)
  • ½ vanilla bean, split in half
  • 2 cups whole milk
  • 2 tablespoons corn starch
  • 2 tablespoons whole milk to mix in the cornstarch

Ice cream maker

In a medium saucepan, heat the milk, sugar and the vanilla bean on medium heat. Once bubbles begin to form on the edges, add the cornstarch mixed in with 2 tablespoons milk. Cook till the mixture begins to thicken, about 2-3 minutes and forms a custard consistency. Remove from the heat. Strain and refrigerate overnight or at least 2 hours.
Pour the chilled mixture into an ice cream maker and follow the manufacturers instructions. Take out in a bowl and mix the apple sauce. Freeze the gelato for at least an hour once it is done.