Hot summer afternoons should be spent enjoying ice cream! We hope you are able to relax and enjoy this delicious frozen treat today. Perhaps this post will also encourage you to make homemade ice cream of your own. There’s something wonderful about homemade ice cream. Several years ago we listened to a radio program about an entrepreneur named Jeni Britton Bauer and how she started a company making unique flavored ice cream. The program inspired us to try making our own homemade ice cream. We purchased a Cuisinart ice cream machine and Jeni’s Splendid Ice Cream book. The recipes in her book have been an inspiration for many of the flavors we’ve made. Over the years, we have made good use of our little machine. We have created some wonderful flavored ice cream and frozen yogurt including strawberry, blueberry, peach and fig. These flavors have been added to some of our traditional favorites like lemon with a blueberry swirl, Thai peanut, and Oreo. We also added a waffle cone maker to our small kitchen appliances because, what’s ice cream if not served in a waffle cone and covered in guittard sprinkles or dipped in homemade magic shell. When we are not home making our own frozen treats, we are typically exploring new places. When we travel during the summer, we inevitably find small ice cream or gelato shops that make homemade ice cream and stop in to try a few flavors. We do have two favorites like Down East Ice Cream in Boothbay Harbor, Maine or The Juice Bar in Nantucket, Massachusettes. We are always on the lookout for new ice cream stands, let us know where your favorites are…
Cooking
Strawberry Season…
Celebrate Strawberry Season with a Delicious Spinach Salad. Ah, strawberry season – that wonderful time of year when nature blesses us with one of its sweetest gems. It’s a time to savor the juicy goodness of strawberries. Whether you venture out to a farm and pick some, find them grown locally, or grow your own: ripe strawberries smell and taste delicious. And what better way to enjoy them than in a refreshing spinach salad? We use a bed of fresh spinach leaves, topped with slices of ripe, juicy strawberries. But this salad isn’t just about the strawberries – it’s a delicious medley of flavors and textures. Start with the crispness of the early summer spinach, then add some crunchy cucumber pieces. Next, toss a few toasted or candied pecans on top for that nutty goodness. Lastly, add several thin slices of Parmesan cheese, to add a savory kick to the mix. And the dressing? It’s the cherry on top. Well, not cherry, but strawberry! Our homemade strawberry vinaigrette is made with fresh strawberries, rice wine vinegar, olive oil, and dehydrated strawberries. It’s sweet, tangy, and utterly delicious. Every bite of this easy-to-make salad is a burst of flavors – sweet, crunchy, tangy, and savory all at once. It’s the perfect way to celebrate the bounty of strawberry season and enjoy a light and satisfying meal. It’s strawberry season, so, next time you’re craving something fresh, healthy, and tasty, whip up this spinach salad with strawberries. It’s a simple yet delightful way to embrace the joys of spring and indulge in the deliciousness of strawberries. Note: We love this dressing over a Spring salad of fresh spinach, strawberry slices, cucumbers, toasted or candied pecans, and parmesan cheese slices.