Fresh Strawberry Ice Cream

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Fresh Strawberry Ice Cream

Homemade ice cream – is there anything more quintessentially summer? I remember the old ice/salt/hand crank machine my mom had at our beach place on Chincoteague Island. We’d happily crank away for hours, to turn out something more resembling soft serve. Always delicious, though! I’ve been seeing those contraptions at yard sales lately, and they always make me smile.

Thankfully, technology has come a long way in 20 years. The machines of today make making your own ice cream at home a breeze. I’ve given my ice cream bowl a permanent spot in our storage freezer, so it’s always on the ready to churn up something uber and awesome. And, this strawberry ice cream definitely fits that bill. I used fresh, local strawberries – those gorgeous little red gems…they made for such a gorgeous flavor and color.  It was the perfect consistency too, smooth and creamy. I’ve tried a couple other recipes in the past that weren’t share-worthy, but this one definitely is a keeper.

Take advantage of your local berry population while you can, and make something delicious with them. Like this ice cream!

Strawberry Ice Cream

2 cups ripe strawberries, chopped
1/2 cup + 2 Tbsp sugar
2 cups half-and-half
1/2 vanilla bean, split
6 large egg yolks
1 cup cold heavy cream

Place the strawberries in a large bowl and toss with the 2 tablespoons sugar. Set aside to macerate for 30 minutes. Remove 1/2 cup of the berries and puree in a blender or food processor. Return strawberry puree to bowl.

In a large nonreactive saucepan, combine the half-and-half, the 1/2 cup sugar, and the vanilla bean and bring to a boil. Immediately remove from the heat, cover, and let steep for 10 minutes.

Meanwhile, whisk the egg yolks in a medium bowl until thick, about 3 minutes.

Temper the egg yolks by gradually adding about 1/2 cup of the warm half-and-half, whisking constantly. Transfer the yolk m ixture back to the saucepan and cook over medium heat, stirring constantly, until the custard beings to thicken. It should register 176F on an instant-read thermometer or coat the back of a spoon. Immediately strain the custard into the bowl of strawberries and add the cold cream. Stir to combine. Cover and refrigerate until thouroughly chilled.

Freeze the ice cream in an ice cream machine according to the manufacturer’s instructions. Transfer to a freezer-safe containter and freeze for at least an hour or two to firm up before serving.

Source: adapted from Frank Stitt’s Southern Table

Eli’s Asian Salmon

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Eli's Asian Salmon

I’ve made mention of the wonderful restaurant distributor that I have here in my small town right? Sysco? I’m sure you’ve probably heard of them. They have a “cash and carry” shop, where they sell produce, fresh meats, deli items, frozen foods, etc. More often than not they have an order that’s cancelled, overstocked, expiring, slightly damaged, etc – that they’ll then sell for lock, stock, and barrel just to clear up room up in the warehouse. So, to have a friend or neighbor knock on the door with 5 lbs of feta cheese, or say…a gorgeous side of salmon, is pretty much the norm.

So when Stephanie dropped this slab of sustainable protein on me, there was one recipe that immediately popped into my mind…Eli’s Asian Salmon. I remember seeing Ina prepare this ages ago on “Barefoot Contessa”, and had always wanted to give it a go. But, a side of salmon is expensive. And, with all the other fabulous seafood options available to us…I’d just never gotten around to it, until last week.

I’m pleased to report that it’s a winner. Easy to put together and cook, and it the flavor is just wonderful. And, it came out prettier than I’d expected too! This would be perfect on a Sunday brunch buffet, or paired with something like grilled baby bok choy – it would make a lovely, light summer meal.

Eli’s Asian Salmon

2 1/4 pounds center-cut salmon fillet (1 1/2 inches thick)
1 cup soy sauce
3 Tbsp light brown sugar
1/4 cup rice wine vinegar
1/4 cup freshly squeezed lemon juice (2 lemons)
1 tablespoon toasted sesame oil
1 1/2 teaspoons chili paste
1/2 cup sliced scallions (2 scallions)
2 tablespoons minced garlic (8 large cloves)
2 tablespoons minced fresh ginger
1 1/2 cups panko

Line an 8 by 12-inch baking pan with aluminum foil. Place the salmon in the pan.

In a mixing cup, combine the soy sauce, brown sugar, rice vinegar, lemon juice, sesame oil, chili paste, scallions, garlic, and ginger. Pour 1/3 of soy sauce mixture over the salmon fillet. Sprinkle the panko evenly over the fillet. Pour the rest of the soy sauce mixture evenly over the panko. Be sure to soak the panko completely and if any runs off, spoon back onto the salmon. Set aside for 15 minutes, leaving all the sauce in the pan.

Meanwhile, preheat the oven to 500 degrees F. Roast the salmon for 18 to 20 minutes, or for about 12 minutes per inch at the thickest part of the salmon. The internal temperature will be 120 degrees F on a meat thermometer when it’s done. Remove from the oven, wrap tightly with aluminum foil, and allow to rest for 15 minutes. Serve hot or at room temperature.

Adapted from Barefoot Contessa At Home by Ina Garten

Strawberry Pretzel Salad

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Strawberry Pretzel Salad

I remember the first time I saw this dessert, I was confused – and kind of grossed out. Let’s face it, it’s certainly not the most attractive looking dish in the world. Whenever Jon has a work luncheon party at NASA, it’s always on the potluck menu. And, is usually the first thing to go as well! I shied away from it for years before I finally gave into temptation and gave it a try. And then promptly kicked myself for not trying it sooner…

A layer of crunchy salty pretzels, coated in butter then baked. Then layered with a sweet cream cheese layer, and topped with a layer of strawberry Jello that’s been studded with strawberries. So, I tracked down the recipe from Jon’s co-worker to share with you guys. I made a few adjustments – making my own homemade whipped cream instead of using Cool Whip, and also using fresh strawberries as opposed to frozen. I’m trying to use up the last couple quarts of my flat I bought last week, and this was perfect for it.

This is the perfect thing to bring to a potluck BBQ, because it’s different and fun. For anyone who loves a sweet and salty combo, this is a winner! I hope everyone has a great weekend welcoming summer into our lives. Don’t forget to enter our grilling giveaway going on through Monday! Be safe, kids!

Strawberry Pretzel Salad

1 cup + 3 Tbsp granulated sugar
2 1/2 cup coarsely crushed pretzels
1 cup butter, melted
8 ounces cream cheese, softened
6 oz box strawberry Jello
1 1/3 cups heavy whipping cream
1 tsp vanilla extract
1/4 cup powdered sugar
3 cups fresh strawberries, sliced
2 cups boiling water

Preheat oven to 400 degrees.

Crush pretzels using a resealable bag and a rolling pin, and place in small bowl..  Add 3 tablespoons sugar and melted butter, tossing to combine.  Press evenly into 13 x 9 pan.  Bake at 400° for 6 minutes. Place in refrigerator to cool.

In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with a paddle attachment, mix cream cheese with 1 cup sugar. Beat on medium speed for 1 minute. In a large bowl combine the heavy cream with the powdered sugar. Using a hand beater, beat on medium speed until starting to thicken – about 1 minute. Add vanilla and increase speed to high, beating until stiff peaks form – about 2 minutes more. Gently fold the whipped cream into the cream cheese mixture and then pour over the cooled crust. Refrigerate to chill.

Mix 2 cups boiling water with the Jello, stir to dissolve.  Chill until almost congealed.  Add the fresh strawberries, stirring to mix. Pour over cheese layer and refrigerate for at least an hour before serving.

Source: adapted from Jon’s co-worker Karon E.

Bourbon & Brown Sugar Ribs

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Bourbon & Brown Sugar Ribs

Ribs. Is there anything more appropriate for a Memorial Day BBQ? There are many schools of thought as far as rib preparation goes. Grilling vs baking. Dry Rub vs Sauce. I like to go all out, and do all of those things! A dry rub for a few hours, then baking in the oven til perfectly tender and ALMOST falling apart. Then a quick grill with a delicious basting BBQ sauce.

The sauce itself is magical. The folks at Musselman’s sent me a big jar of their apple butter to try out – and I used it as the base for the sauce. To be honest, I think the apple butter itself brushed on meats on the grill would be wonderful – it’s the perfect texture and consistency. But, I went ahead and added some other delicious things to it – like bourbon and brown sugar – and it knocked it out of the park!

They’ve offered to send one lucky reader a grilling package to kick-start your summer as well – featuring a jar of their delicious apple butter, a sauce mop, and some delicious recipes! Just leave a comment telling me what your plans are for Memorial Day weekend? My mother-in-law is in town visiting, so we plan on spending some quality family time together – and maybe a night out on the town dancing while Grandma babysits! Contest will run today through next Monday (5/27) at 11:59 PM EST.

Congrats to Shannon C! Her entry (#13) was the winner. I hope you had a wonderful hike on Memorial Day, and have fun firing up your grill this summer!

Bourbon & Brown Sugar Ribs

For the sauce:
1/2 cup (packed) golden brown sugar
1/2 cup apple butter
1/4 cup bourbon whiskey
1/4 cup apple cider vinegar
3 tablespoons hard cider
2 tablespoons Dijon mustard

For the ribs:
1 tablespoon coarse kosher salt
1 tablespoon (packed) golden brown sugar
1 1/2 teaspoons dry mustard
1 1/2 teaspoons dried thyme
1 teaspoon ground ginger
1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon cayenne pepper
2 2- to 2 1/4-pound racks baby back pork ribs
1 large onion, sliced
1 cinnamon stick, broken in half
6 thin rounds peeled fresh ginger
1 1/4 cups hard cider

Prepare the sauce by whisking all ingredients in medium bowl to blend. Set aside.

To make the rib rub, combine salt, brown sugar, mustard powder, thyme, ginger, cinnamon, and cayenne in a small bowl. Using small sharp knife, loosen membrane from underside of each rib rack and pull off (or score membrane). Rub 1 tablespoon seasoning mix into each side of each rib rack. Place ribs in large roasting pan. Cover and chill at least 6 hours and up to 1 day.

Preheat oven to 325°F. Lift ribs from pan. Scatter onion, cinnamon stick, and ginger in pan. Pour in cider. Return ribs, meat side down, to pan; cover pan with foil. Roast ribs until meat is tender and begins to pull away from bones, about 2 hours. Uncover; cool at least 30 minutes and up to 2 hours.

Prepare barbecue (medium-high heat). Grill ribs until heated through and slightly charred, about 5 minutes per side. Brush generously on all sides with basting sauce. Grill until sauce becomes sticky glaze, about 3 minutes longer per side. Transfer rib racks to cutting board. Cut racks between bones into individual ribs. Arrange on platter and serve, passing remaining sauce separately.

Source: Bon Appétit, July 2005

Disclaimer: I received a grilling package from Musselman’s for my review. As always, all opinions are my own.