Posts from June, 2018

Old Fashioned Ice Cream Treats

When I was a kid, summer was full of freedom, fun adventures and of course ICE CREAM! I can still hear the jingle of the ice cream truck…

Today, the market is full of snazzy ice creams, gelatos and yogurt frozen treats. But good old classics are always a favorite.

Take the ice cream sandwich. Creamy soft ice cream sandwiched between a pair of homemade cookies…that’s what I call heaven! With so many great ice creams on the market it’s easy to “sandwich” your own. How about Ben and Jerry’s Cherry Garcia – with chunks of chocolate and cherries folded into rich vanilla bean ice cream and sandwiched between Homemade Chocolate Chip Cookies with dried cherries and almonds. Yes please!

Or Gingersnaps with Summery Local Peach Ice Cream. Yum!

And we can’t forget the ice cream float! The classic vanilla ice cream and root beer is always a favorite – but how about something totally different? Use locally made soda and ice cream with new flavors to take this to a whole new level! Like Not-too sweet Vanilla Bean DRY Soda is so d’lish when poured atop a big scoop of Molly Moon’s Honey Lavender ice cream! Now that’s a local float!

But if you really want to go old-fashion – try making your own homemade ice cream! My Fresh Mint Ice Cream with Chocolate Mint Candies will transport your taste buds to your childhood.
-Kathy

Fresh Mint Ice Cream with Chocolate Mint Candies
I like to serve this garnished with a bit more chopped mint candy and a fresh sprig of mint.
Makes about 4 cups

4 cups heavy whipping cream
3/4 cup sugar
1 1/2 cups packed mint sprigs, plus 2 tablespoons finely chopped fresh mint
6 egg yolks
1 cup coarsely chopped Chocolate Mint Candies (recipe follows) or Frango Mint candies

Combine the cream and sugar in a large, heavy saucepan. Tear the mint sprigs (to bruise them) and add to the cream mixture. Bring to a slow simmer over medium heat.

In a bowl, whisk the egg yolks, then gradually whisk in about 1 cup of the hot cream mixture. Whisk the egg mixture into the cream. Whisking constantly, bring to a bare simmer and cook for about 30 seconds. Remove from the heat and whisk frequently to cool to room temperature. Refrigerate for at least 2 hours.

Strain the mixture and discard the mint leaves. Stir in the chopped mint, then pour into an ice cream maker and freeze according to manufacturer’s instructions. Just before the ice cream is finished, stir in the chopped candies. Transfer the ice cream to a plastic container and freeze until ready to serve.

Chocolate Mint Candies
Makes 24 nice-sized pieces, or enough for 1 recipe of ice cream plus 12 extra pieces of candy

12 ounces bittersweet chocolate, chopped
6 tablespoons butter
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon peppermint extract
1/2 cup confectioners’ sugar

In a medium bowl or double boiler, melt the chocolate, butter, salt, and extract together over a pan of barely simmering water, whisking until the chocolate is just melted. Remove from the heat, sift in the confectioners’ sugar, then stir to combine well. Spread the mixture in an 8-inch square baking pan.

Let cool at room temperature for at least 4 hours, or refrigerate to harden faster.

To remove the candy from the pan, invert the pan onto a piece of plastic wrap or a cutting board, lay a hot towel over the pan bottom for about 1 minute, then tap the bottom of the pan. Loosen the candy with a spatula if needed. Cut the candy into 24 pieces to serve as candy, or coarsely chop to use in ice cream. Store refrigerated for up to 2 weeks.

Recipes from Kathy Casey’s Northwest Table Cookbook®

Posted by Kathy on June 21st, 2018  |  Comments Off on Old Fashioned Ice Cream Treats |  Posted in Dishing with Kathy Casey Blog

Chill Out with Cold Soups

Gazpacho is the most widely known cold soup. Originally from Southern Spain, this fresh tomato based soup is a summertime staple… and such a refreshing and delicious way to get your vegetables!

I like to add lots of veggies into my gazpacho like cucumbers and pepper and top it with some Alaska King Crab for a real splurge! Just think you won’t even have to turn on the stove for an elegant meal on a hot summer night.

Tomatoes aren’t the only celebrities when it comes to this genre of soup – there are lots of cold summer fruit soup recipes too!

Juicy, ripe melons can also be the star – like in my recipe for Thai Chilled Melon Soup with Shrimp and Fragrant Herbs.

This soup combines creamy coconut milk, bold Thai red curry paste and zesty ginger and lemongrass, then gets topped with a pouf of sweet bay shrimp and crunchy water chestnuts. Season it up with a hit lime juice, basil and mint – it’s the meal to cool off with!

Fresh Bing Cherries also make for a tasty cold soup when cooked with spices and wine, chilled then swirled with sour cream. Savory, sweet and lush –mmmmm!

Chilling out has never tasted so good!
-Kathy

Thai Chilled Melon Soup with Shrimp and Fragrant Herbs
Makes about 4 cups (6 starter servings)

Soup
3 cups chopped ripe cantaloupe
1 tablespoon sugar
2 teaspoons minced fresh ginger
1 tablespoon minced fresh lemongrass
1 teaspoon Thai red curry paste (we used Mae Ploy)
1 can (13 – 14 ounces) coconut milk
1/2 teaspoon salt
2 tablespoons fresh lime juice

Topping
1/4 pound bay shrimp or chopped cooked shrimp (about 3/4 cup)
1/4 cup tiny-diced water chestnuts (Fresh ones are great if you can find them!)
1 tablespoon finely chopped fresh mint
2 tablespoons finely chopped fresh cilantro
1 tablespoon fresh lime juice

Garnish: fresh cilantro sprigs and lime wedges

In a food processor or blender, process the cantaloupe, sugar, ginger, lemon grass and curry paste until evenly pureed. Mix in the coconut milk, salt and lime juice.

In a small bowl, mix the topping ingredients together.

Ladle soup into small bowls and spoon a pouf of topping into each serving. Garnish with cilantro sprigs. Pass lime wedges on the side.

Recipe by Kathy Casey Food Studios®

Chilled Bing Cherry Soup
I also like this soup topped with a few coarse chopped toasted hazelnuts for a touch of crunch.

Makes 6 – 8 servings as a starter

2 cups crisp white wine, such as Fume Blanc
2 cups water
3/4 cup sugar
1 teaspoon minced lemon zest
1/2 cinnamon stick
1 cardamom pod, crushed
4 black peppercorns, crushed
1/2 teaspoon salt
6 cups pitted Bing cherries (about 3 pounds)
1 cup crème fraîche, or substitute sour cream

Garnishes:
thinned crème fraîche or sour cream for swirling on top of soup
unsprayed, edible flowers, such as violas, pansies, rose petals or nasturtiums

In a medium saucepan, combine the wine, water, sugar lemon zest, spices, peppercorns, and salt. Bring to a boil over medium-high heat. Add 5 cups of the cherries (reserve remainder) and bring back to a boil. Reduce heat to a simmer, and cook for 5 minutes. Remove from the heat and let stand till mixture reaches room temperature.

When cooked cherry mixture is cool, remove and discard cardamom pod and cinnamon stick. Place cherry mixture in a food processor or blender, and process until smooth. Then add crème Fraiche, and process until smooth.

Chill soup till very cold, at least 4 hours or, preferably, overnight.

Serve well chilled in cold bowls. Garnish each serving with the reserved, pitted cherries divided evenly among servings. Swirl the top of soup with thinned crème fraîche or sour cream drizzled from a spoon or squirted from a squeeze bottle. Garnish with edible flowers if desired.

Recipe by Kathy Casey Food Studios®

Posted by Kathy on June 14th, 2018  |  Comments Off on Chill Out with Cold Soups |  Posted in Dishing with Kathy Casey Blog

Fruit Salad

Quick: name 3 perfect side dishes for your next barbeque. I bet fruit salad was on that list! It’s the perfect way to celebrate Summer produce – and stay cool!

One of my favorite d’lish tricks is to mix fresh lemon juice with a little local honey then add in some chopped fresh mint from the garden. Toss this with juicy peach wedges or halved apricots – yum!

Or how about grilling thick slices of pineapple and then sprinkling them with a touch of ground chipotle chili, a squeeze of lime, and a quick scatter of chopped cilantro. My mouth is watering just thinking about it.

Icy cold watermelon chunks are terrific when tossed with feta cheese, chopped fresh basil, Kalamata olives and a light drizzle of extra virgin olive oil! Now that’s a NEW salad everyone will love!

Really WOW the crowd with my Succulent Summer Stone Fruit Salad with Lavender Lemon Honey Syrup. The name is a tongue twister – but the flavors will truly blow you away.
-Kathy

Succulent Summer Stone Fruits with Lavender Lemon Honey Syrup
Makes about 6 servings

Lavender Lemon Honey Syrup
1/2 cup high quality local honey
1/2 cup water
8 ea fresh lavender flowers, unsprayed and rinsed (or 1 tablespoon dry)
2 Tbsp fresh lemon juice

Fruit:
an assortment such as the following of fresh ripe stone fruits to make about 4 cups after cutting:
-peaches, peeled, pitted and cut in wedges
-large apricots, pitted and cut in wedges
-plums, pitted and cut in wedges
-nectarines, pitted and cut in wedges
-pitted fresh cherries
Fresh lavender flowers for garnish, if desired.

To make the lavender lemon honey syrup: In a small heavy bottom sauce pan combine the honey, water and lavender flowers. Bring to a low boil over medium heat – being careful that it does not foam up. Slowly simmer for about 10 minutes or until like thin pancake syrup.

Remove from heat and cool to room temperature. Then add lemon juice and strain. Store refrigerated for up to 2 weeks. Bring to room temperature before using.

To serve: In a large bowl toss with the lavender lemon honey syrup. Garnish with fresh lavender flowers if desired.

Recipe by Kathy Casey Food Studios®

Posted by Kathy on June 7th, 2018  |  Comments Off on Fruit Salad |  Posted in Dishing with Kathy Casey Blog
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