BACI Ice Cream

I bought an ice cream bowl attachment for my KitchenAid mixer recently as I've been eager to make myself a box of homemade ice cream for long long time. This ice cream bowl has to be stored in the freezer for 15 hours before the process of making ice cream, sorbet or gelato. I stored the ice cream bowl at the back of my freezer at all times that gives me the flexibility to make any frozen desserts on a whim.

I had a recipe book "Forever Summer from Nigella Lawson" with me for quite some times but just have no chance to follow her recipe as I don't have an ice cream maker. This book had many cold dessert recipes including ice cream. I've choosen a recipe called "BACI ICE CREAM". This is quite like a French or Italian ice cream as the ingredients used including custard. It had a very rich texture which is quite like the Häagen-Dazs. After had my first attempt on making ice cream, I think I've fallen in love with it.

I've got the Baci Ice Cream recipe on the website which is exactly the same in the book of "Forever Summer". Check it out if you like to give it a try.

Creamy Vegetable Soup -No Croutons Required

This is going to Lisa's no croutons event

Ingredients:
Chopped onion-2 cups
Garlic pods-2
Frozen corn-1/4 cup
Chopped beans-1/4 cup
Chopped Cabbage-2 cups
Chopped Carrot-1/4 cup(I did not use it in this recipe)
Milk-1/4 cup
Salt
Pepper
Oil-2 tsp

Method:
Heat oil in a pressure cooker. Fry onions and garlic till they turn transparent.
Add cabbage, beans, corn and salt. Fry for a minute. Add enough water and pressure cook for 3 whistles. Using a hand blender, make a smooth paste. Pass the soup through a strainer(this step is optional). Add milk and bring the soup to boil. Sprinkle pepper and serve.

To go with this hearty soup, I made fragrant garlic scented bread(I used whole grain wheat bread).

For garlic bread:

Mix 1 tbsp of oil, 1 tbsp of soft butter, salt and pepper. Brush the bread with this mixture on both sides and toast till golden brown. Cut a garlic pod into 2 and use one piece to rub the sides of the bread.

Lasagne

This is always the best dish for serving my guests as it's so delicious especially the mince sauce could be ready in advance so that I can have a relaxing gathering with my guests while the lasagne is baking in the oven. I followed Jamie Oliver's recipe from the book of "Jamie's Dinner" (except adding the butternut squash but replaced with some fresh mushroom).

I get ready the minced sauce and white sauce in the fridge before the day my guests arrive. Then, reheat it when about to assemble the lasagne (it only took me few minutes). I found the sauce is much tasty after a day for sitting in the fridge. I packed a small piece of left over lasagne with cling wrap and aluminium foil then placed it into the freezer after it completely cool down. Reheat it in the oven for my next lunch, it's incredible tasty!

I found that the recipe is available at the Jamie's website. So I don't type it here. Please forgive my laziness :P