Chicken Soup for the Sickling...

Hello Followers and Friends,

Marci is super-dooper-sick. 

But, as she has many things to catch up on, there's no need to fret, the blog will go on!  

There will be plenty of snippets to tantalize you on her return, which we hope is soon.

She will be back, but we're concentrating on getting her breathing properly again first.

Thanks for understanding, 

Mr.

Ps. Any chicken soup recipes welcome. Better still, all chicken soup is also welcome!!

I scream, I scream for Almond Butter and Honey Ice Cream!

After nearly a week, I'm finally back! And although I'm well aware of my promised back-log, I thought I'd start off with something a little more exciting. Almond Butter and Honey Ice Cream!

After trying NQN's Carrot Cake Ice Cream I realised the possibilities were endless. I'm allergic to Peanuts (and only Peanuts) and am always a little bit jealous when my Mr has them liberally sprinkled over his Sundaes. Sometimes Macadamia's give me a tickle in the throat, but one 'nut' that I haven't had any problems with (touch wood) is Almonds! I love them and I love Almond Butter. So with that in mind, I set off to make a deliciously sticky, sickly sweet, gooey ice cream.

                                                                                The result, divine! Stringy floss of honey pulls through each bite; the smooth Almond butter dances on the tongue; and the cold, creamy ice-cream ties it all together and spoon after spoon I was left in ecstacy. My father, a diabetic, that really shouldn't, went in for a second spoon; My mother a celiac devoured her gluten-free serve, and asked for another; And Mr and I enjoyed our single scoops with a side of fresh almond biscotti. I really can't get over how lovely this was, and can't wait to try it on a cold winters night - the honey was rich and warming and I'm sure it would be a perfect treat in front of the fireplace.

Almond and Honey Ice Cream 

(The Cheaters Way...)

As I whipped this up with ingredients present to me, I used pre-bought ice cream, however, with time and preparation this would be lovely with a home made batch of ice cream.

I used an organic, sugar-free, gluten free store-bought tub. Make or buy  your ice cream to your tastes.

In a large mixing bowl, combine two tablespoons of Almond Butter and one tablespoon of honey. I use organic salt and sugar free Almond Butter and Macro Honey as it's not as sweet as others...

Fold into eachother and pop into the freeze so that it firms up (30-40 minutes)

Scoop into your favourite ice cream dish, crumble some biscotti over it and serve.

Nom Nom Nom.

On another note, a buzzy note. Have you ever found a bee six bees in your honey?!

Miss Marci is sick.

She now has a back log of posts...

These will be up as soon as she is feeling better, in the order that they came along.

1. Hot Pots
2. Top Choice?
3. Passion Fruit Creme Brule Tarte
4. Birche? Can't Wait..! - My first freebie.

Nicely Minced and Slightly Mashed...

As I am tired, and will be even more so tomorrow - my weekend has been minced and mashed into one blog.

Firstly I must say a massive 'Thank-you!' to NQN - I tried her wonderful Carrot Cake Ice Cream and have converted both my Mr and my Father into addicts. This is a wonderful treat and if you have the time and the appreciation of carrot cake I suggest you try it too! The first time I made it I decided to add freshly micro-julienned carrot and a pinch of ginger;  but tonight when I made another batch I had more ice cream to carrot cake ratio and loved it even more. The spongy texture of the cake inside the ice cream is reminiscent of a scoop of Bar Italia's (Norton Street, Leichhardt) Tiramisu Gelato; The carrot and cream cheese on the other hand provide frequent bursts of deliciously, guilty pleasure. The carrot is sweet and tender, the cream cheese icing decadent and positively sinful.

If you are going to make it from scratch follow NQN recipe, if not, try Sara-Lee Carrot Cake and a low sugar ice-cream, or you'll find yourself harboring a sugar headache.

On another note, a light (literally) and beautiful note at that; why don't you pop down to the Museum of Contemporary Art? Olafur Eliasson has taken over the third floor and the result is peacefully enchanting. You will be encapsulated by light and children especially love the 'prettiness' of it all. The best part of course is the myriad of white lego - and just as the title of the exhibition suggests,  ('Take Your Time'), this is not an exhibition to rush through. Have a lazy afternoon, bask in the lego glory and build 'till your heart is content. My Wee-Miss-Three decided she would be Godzilla, which is absolutely fine in the spirit of the exhibition, but slightly embarrassing when other participants shield their creations and gasp in horror.


Food wise - this day was topped off with a picnic and a ferry ride home. I suggest you try it next Sunday and take a child with you; said child with undoubtedly benefit from the experience, as will your pocket. Sunday's are apparently a family fun-day and with that comes a Family Fun-Day Ticket ($2.50/adult for unlimited bus/train/ferry travel).  I tell you this much, I was pleasantly surprised to return home with a fifty still in-tact, sitting pretty in my wallet.

Picnic Menu

Freshly-baked Home-Made Bread Rolls W/

Egg, Mayo and Watercress

Gorgonzola, Black Russian Tomatoes and Watercress with a drizzle of a sweet and sticky Balsamic Glaze 

Ham carved off the bone with Vintage Tasty and Baby Spinach.

Tomorrow lets talk Hot Pot!