Ice Cream Round Up!

A while back I signed up to the Ice Cream Round up- that Joy of Desserts (and let's face it- there is seriously something wrong with you if you don't have a joy for desserts) is hosting. I think she thought I had forgotten but no- I have been thinking about icecream alot so I am sharing two recipes. This one is something I adapted from somewhere (I do that alot!) and is my sister's favourite icecream...and it's really kind of an icecream cakeish creation. It is SO mega simple to make.

Slender Octopus's Sisters Favourite Icecream Cakeish Creation.

Ingredients.
2 tbsp of your favourite instant coffee (make it a good one :)
1/3 cup of boiling water
2tbsp Kahlua (I actually use about half a cup or more LOL)
400g can of Sweetened Condensed Milk
600ml Cream
1/4 cup milk (I can't recall doing this bit- but there you have it! I maybe omited it due to the extra Kahlua)
12 sponge fingers (sometimes I use more depending what pan I am using)
Grated dark chocolate for serving. (Lindt, Valhrona, etc)

Method

Combine coffee, water and Kahlua- cool
Combine condensed milk and cream in large bowl and beat till wickedly thick.
Beat in half the coffee mixture.
The original recipe used a 18cm X 28cm Lamington pan (yes I'm an aussie) but you can use a bread loaf pan as well and break the sponge fingers to fit.
I line it with that great Glad Bake and Cooking Paper spoon half cream mixture into pan.
Top with the sponge fingers then finish with remaining cream mixture and freeze.

Serve when frozen with the grated chocolate and enjoy.

Random recipes I haven't made!

Just a recipes to think about....from La Tartine Gourmande

Mild Lamb Curry

Molten Choc cakes.

Crepes

Feeling better but coughing like a smoker.....hope to be back on track soon.

Slow Cooking

Ok its the season for slow cooking delectable meats that are mega soft and full of flavour.

Some sites specifically for slow cooking

Slow cooker recipes- Australian site

Slow Cooker recipes from Taste

Slow cooker recipes from Recipes Galore

Slow Cooker Blog

Alcohol in puddings and cakes...

Well I had a thing for the good old chocolate self saucing pudding....now usually I put Kahlua in with the sauce ingredients and that is just delish!! But tonight I tried Grand Marnier instead with nearly equal success. Yum...(nearly equal only because I prefer Kahlua!!)

Speaking of alcohol my SIL made a Chocolate Guiness Cake and I think this is the recipe she used....I didn't taste it but apparently it was pretty yum!....and Nigella has one too of course...not a yum (don't get the whole blokes going ga ga over her, but they are a gullible lot afterall, it's the way she licks the beaters apparently..you see what I mean). Here's one adapted from Nigella's.

Then I remembered there's also a fair few Chocolate Whiskey Cakes (click for a recipe). Apparently the Wunschebros Cafe has a famous one! ....I haven't tried it, but if you do let me know how it turned out.

Lament of the slow cooker & cooking thingies

I know I posted about my slow cooker before- and I am still waiting for the replacement...I am getting edgy there are alot of recipes I want to try and I just KNOW they will all be better in the slow cooker. Come on slow cooker I am sure you need me just as much as I need you!

Who would of thought I'd become this way over a slow cooker!

Anyway, now I have a confession- remember my post about menu planning- well since downloading the software I haven't even looked at it. I am keeping things simple by just looking through my recipe books/cooking sites, writing down the seven meals getting the ingredients in our weekly shop and then I am ready to go.

Some cooking sites.

Taste- Australian site, lots of recipes from various publications. I use this one a bit-even just to get inspiration.

Mealopedia   Menu planning, recipes, free sms of ingredients to your mobile

Chocolate and Zucchini (LOVE THIS ONE!!)

Gourmet Traveller- I used to subscribe to this magazine, pretty food, pretty places.

Good recipes

Lifestyle food

Simply Recipes

All Recipes

Epicurious

BBC Food

Some recent recipes that tantalised my tastebuds....and are on next weeks menu.

Cocotte Roasted Chicken I like to use Lilydale free range chooks for my chicken recipes...haven't made this one before but have made similar recipes so should be delish!

Jaret de Veau Braise a la Cuiller (Spoon-Tender Braised Veal Shank) That is if I can get veal shanks.....

Baked Pasta Casserole (minus the almonds...they just aren't my thing..thought I might add something else)

Vegie Shepherds Pie- well actually their version is lentil....last time I made it- I paid no attention to the recipe at all- just put what I wanted in it! (possibly chickpeas?hmm can't remember!) It was very very loosely based on this recipe.....if anyone ACTUALLY makes this recipe and sticks to quantities etc can you leave a comment here and let me know how it was? LOL.

I am thinking maybe a yoghurt marinated lamb dish as well...we will see.

Triple Chocolate Brownie Recipe

Well I was browsing around and someone had posted a double chocolate brownie recipe...which reminded me that I had made a triple chocolate brownie recipe a few months back...here it is..

This is from the Marie Claire "Flavours" cookbook.

TRIPLE CHOC BROWNIES.

185g (6ozs) butter

185g (6ozs) dark chocolate chopped

3 eggs

1 1/4 cups caster sugar

2/3 cup plain flour

1/2 cup cocoa powder

3/4 cup roughly chopped white chocolate

3/4 cup roughly chopped milk chocolate

1. Preheat oven to 180 degrees C (or 350 F).
   
2. Place butter and dark chocolate in a suacepan over low heat and stir until just smooth. Allow to cool.
   
3. Place the eggs and sugar in bowl and beat until light and creamy.
4. Fold through the chocolate and butter mixture.
5. Sift the flour and cocoa over the mixture and mix to combine.
6. Add the white and milk chocolate then pour into a 23cm square cake tin, base lined with nonstick baking paper.
7. Bake for 35-40 minutes or until set. 
8. Allow to cool, then cut into squares.

The book suggests for total indulguence serve with a glass of liquer..but I think its indulgence enough on it's own.

Ok so decided to make a cheesecake....I'm always on the hunt for a good cheesecake recipe :)

Last one I tried was this one which was ok...but today I am trying this quick and easy one from Kraft site out.

Might not be ready for tonight's dessert but just had the urge to make one....:)

Dinner tonight is marinated lamb steaks -again a new recipe based loosely on this recipe from mealopedia.