~FunDay~Sunday~Cooking Class~

What a great time had by all_yesterday! My brother and his wife drove out from the city(Dallas) to pay us a visit! He's my older brother(first born)_the one that protected his little sister when we were growing up from life's dangers,etc.Always protective of me_it seems the clock has turned a little bit!You see,I've been telling my brother for a couple years to "Step Away From The Sugar"! Recently,he had a health scare from his sweet tooth_so now he wants to listen to little sis!

My husband and my brother should have invested in stocks for:

                                                    "Blue Bell Creameries"

...which opened it's doors in 1907 in Brenham,Texas.But!_As popular as this ice cream brand is_there's no "Stock Symbol" for this company as they are STILL a privately held company owned by sons & grandsons of the founding father,E.F.Kruse.

Back in the day_these fellows delivered the goods on a horse & buggy! Although Blue Bell is only available in about 26% of the nation’s supermarkets, it ranks as one of the top three, best-selling ice creams in the country.BB products are sold in Alabama, Arizona, Arkansas, Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri, New Mexico, North Carolina, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia and Wyoming.

My Favorite way to eat BB ice cream_& really the only time I eat ice cream is when these two are paired together.Otherwise,I'm not a big ice cream lover.

                              Blackberry Cobbler and Vanilla Bean Ice Cream

So,I was determined to show my brother how to make a sweet ice cream-like treat without all the "stuff" that does a body NO good!

He'd purchased a new Food Processor upon my instructions_so he bought that along with him. BTW,Black & Decker Food Processor(his choice) are reallllllllly noisy.I love my Kitchen Aid Food Processor_less noise.

But,before we started the task of an ice cream-like treat_I wanted him to taste another treat! I've been making "Butternut Squash Pie" for a couple years.One year we had a bumper crop here on the farm of Butternut Squash...per usual my husband had planted enough to feed a city_and it's only two of us! My brother did not think this kind of pie sounded appealing_squash...WTH!

                                              Butternut Squash
So,this was hands-on...had my brother peeling the squash_you really need a Veggie peeler for the job_he was about to toss the seeds away_NO,NO!,I exclaimed_I will rinse & loosen them from the insides_dry,toss with some spices(cayenne pepper & sea salt)& a dash of Olive oil and roast them in the oven_a NICE treat & healthy munchable!My brother was like _Really? Continuing,I diced in cubes,rinsed and covered the squash with water_cooked until tender,then let cool.

While the pie crust was "blind-baked"= crust,fork piercing +parchment paper on top+dry beans_allows the crust to bake evenly for 15/20 minutes_I combined 2 eggs+a dash of Nutmeg,Cinnamon & Allspice_+ Vanilla & Fiori Di Sicilla(www.kingarthurflour.com/) _+ a can of Eagle Brand Condensed Milk Fat Free in Blender_then added Butternut Squash_it will be like a custard_pour into pie crust_cook until middle is set.

               Finished product_Butternut Squash Pie_delicious!!!!

My brother & his wife wanted to cook the pie in the old Cookstove_I said "You do realize that it's 92 degrees outside?_this stove heats up to 500 degrees_the regular stove will do the trick"_so they passed on that idea!It is Late Summer in Texas...only in the 90's!

Next Project was_                    Banana Ice Cream & Cherry Sorbet_

Check Archives for the Blog on_"I Scream For Ice Cream & Bellydancing...Don't Ask"_April 30,2012  http://sagebookwhisperer.blogspot.com/2012_04_01_archive.html 

His eyes popped when he had a taste of the Banana Ice Cream_BUT_when I made my favorite one with Cherries_he had that "Wild Stare of Gone Crazy Look"that only "SugarHolics" like my brother & husband possess! What he DOES NOT realize_is that this really sweet treat is FRUIT_no sugar added! Who Knew....don't tell him it's healthy.

We had some really good laughs_and did I mentioned that in between the Cooking Class_
The Dallas Cowboys played,deep philosophical conversations were exchanged on various subjects:
Zen Doctrines,Biblical Stories,Middle Eastern Cultural Traditions,Wine Tasting Trip,Spices,etc

Then a Walkabout to visit the Farm's boys & girls_

And check out my Meyer Lemons_just about ready to pick_

                           Meyer Lemon growing at Aaron's Hilltop Farm

...and then we sit a spell on the front porch_

AND_they're off to the city_"Big D"_asking could they come stay on the Farm with us! My brother declared_"My Little Sis got skills in the kitchen"! What a Funday Sunday  Cooking Class.....Life is Good!

~A Sister & Brother relationship is a little bit of Childhood that is never lost~

"I Scream For Ice Cream & BellyDancing?"....Don't Ask!

As a kid growing up in the Piney Woods of East Texas,going to the Dairy Queen for a soft serve was heavenly! Indeed,a nice treat on a blistering 100+ degree day...we had those often!My brother and I would fry eggs on the concrete ....until we got caught! Throughout my early teens and young adulthood_I ventured into "Blue Bell Buttered Pecan" ice cream,creamy,buttery and just Damn good!My other favorite during college days was Cabell's Vanilla Bean ice cream.Now,that one was hard to get in Houston.So,a college friend from Dallas would load up the Cabell's VB on her trips home...bringing me great joy upon her arrival! I Loved Her!!Now these trends continued throughout_UNTIL_an AHA MOMENT_you have to exercise longer and harder to get ice cream off your hips,thighs,stomach,etc..or perhaps if you'd like to wear this little number...

..."I Scream For Ice Cream Corset".Ouch,that probably doesn't feel good after indulging in one's favorite treat.

Recently,I discovered that I could in fact have a soft serve treat_AND_I could eat it for Breakfast,Lunch & Dinner,it's FRUIT! Okay,I was game to find out how in the Hell that was possible!!!! Turns out this little yellow thingies called banana_loaded with potassium & other "good stuff"_

can be chopped in small pieces,frozen solid,popped in a "FOOD PROCESSOR"_(doesn't work in blender)_whirled around,stopping several times to scrape down,eventually turning into a soft serve type ice cream.The first go round was interesting because I was still skeptical....as it took a minute or so for the soft serve appearance.BUT,it works!I got adventurous next time by adding frozen strawberries,Madagascar Vanilla, & Wheat Germ,a spoon of Hawaiian Honey_gave it a whirl..my husband lost his mind.....More,More he yells from the computer room! Next up,I'll try the Maple syrup/Banana one like this one...

This recipe is a KEEPER!You really don't have to add anything just the frozen bananas!But my "Inner Foodie Child" will not be satisfied until I've lost my mind creating soft serve treats this Summer..mm Bacon Soft Serve!!!!I did learn that other fruits work as well_BUT_the consistency is different.On yesterday,I made Ricotta Chocolate Chip stuffing for rolled-up Crepes,gave the frozen strawberries a whirl with a little powdered sugar,Tahitian Vanilla,popped the mixture in the freezer for a couple hours to set.Delicious served on the side of Crepe with a couple freshly sliced strawberries on top,with a little cocoa sifted on top ...AGAIN, my husband yells more,more,we need more! I'm thinking..he's losing his mind.But he is the "Quintessential Ice Cream-Aholic"..and did I say never gains weight!

So, you can freeze any fruit or combination of fruits solid,give it a whirl in a FOOD PROCESSOR "ONLY" _if bananas are the base,it'll be soft serve;if other fruits it'll be sorbet!

Either way you cannot go wrong.Here's a couple sites to help you along on this Foodie Adventure:

http://cravingchronicles.com/2010/08/04/banana-soft-serve-ice-cream/

http://www.thekitchn.com/how-to-make-creamy-ice-cream-w-93414

So,now how does BellyDancing fit into this scenario....? I decided that I'm going semi-vegetarian & bellydancing will be my form of exercise_since I HATE Gym exercise routines.I'd much rather dance than participate in all that crazy stuff!

A couple years back,I discovered "The BellyTwins" videos in 2009.In anticipation of my upcoming Greek Goddess Birthday Party(May 2012)_ we will try Greek Bellydancing.In May 2009 we did Moroccan Bellydancing at my Moroccan birthday party. I decided to brush up on my skills.These ladies are AWESOME_I want to invite them to my birthday party!!!

I have their T-shirt,Book_"The Way of The Belly",Fitness for Beginners(Basic Moves & Fat Burning) DVD and the "Slim Down" for Beginners DVD.Neena & Veena are awesome,go shopping here_

http://www.bellytwins.com/shopping.htm

Watch this clip from Basic Moves & Fat Burning :

When I get my body like this,I'll post a photo.

Warning:May require holding one's breathe for awhile!

Bottomline,my "Inner Child Ice Cream Mind & my "Inner Child Dreams of being a Belly Dancer Mind_will all come together with this Game Plan,Game On.....I'm feelin Happy!

~Life is like an ice-cream cone,you have to lick it one day at a time!!!.........Charles M.Schulz. ~