Good-for-ya Mint Chocolate Chip Ice Cream

It’s Sunday. It’s a beautiful day outside. And my sweetheart comes home in three days after a 6-week stint up in Alaska. He has spent 8 of 11 weeks this summer up North. Yay for him. And at first it was a yay for me, too—who doesn’t like a little freedom to stay up until 4am watching an entire season of Friday Night Lights and doing whatever the heck she wants whenever the heck she feels like it?—but now I’m totally ready for him to come home.

So, let’s dish up some Good-for-ya ice cream to celebrate.

Now, let me just say up front that this ice cream is dairy-free (dairy doesn’t like me much), vegan and almost entirely raw. Instead of traditional cow’s cream it’s made with cashew nut cream. Does it taste EXACTLY like traditional dairy-based ice cream?

Heck, no. That would be silly.

But it does taste like ice cream, with a super creamy flavor and texture. It has a wonderful and very subtle flavor of nuts in the base.

Is it totally delicious? Heck, yeah! And does it completely fulfill my sinful desires for ice cream? Heck, yeah! Even better, I can enjoy every bite knowing that I’m being really kind to my body.

Plus, it’s super easy to make. Homemade ice cream that loves ya back.

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Good-for-ya Mint Chocolate Chip Ice Cream
Makes: 1 pint
Adapted from Living Raw Food by Sarma Melngailis

1 cup cashews, soaked in water 4 hours or more and rinsed
1 cup young coconut meat, fresh preferred but frozen also works
1/2 cup water
1/2 cup agave nectar
2T peppermint/mint extract
1T vanilla extract
Pinch sea salt
1/8 cup coconut butter (my preference) or coconut oil warmed to liquid
1-2T raw cacao nibs, adjust for you taste

1. Mix everything but coconut butter and nibs on high in a blender until creamy and smooth. Slowly add coconut butter until incorporated.

2. Chill thoroughly in refrigerator.

3. Add in cacao nibs, mix and process in an ice cream maker according to manufacturer’s instructions.

Yum!

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And just because I miss his face, here’s a picture of my sweetie on our wedding day, which was another beautiful Bay Area day.

There’s lots to celebrate. Go hug your loved ones, whip up some Good-for-ya ice cream and enjoy!

Sundays

Five minutes before:
The cat, Abby, was curled up sleeping under a huge pile of newspapers. I didn’t realize she was under there until I began rifling through the paper for a not-yet-read section. She did not seem to mind all the newspapers on top of her, but more that I had the nerve to wake her up with my rifling. Nothing much fazes this cat. This is the same cat that plays with the dog (both mentally and physically). This is the same cat that sleeps all over the computer keyboard in our office; you can move her over in order to type and she’ll barely crack an eye at you. Despite being a girl, she’s got some cojones. We like that about her.

Five minutes later:
Abby the cat was again peacefully sleeping sprawled all over the newspapers. Jack was passed out and softly snoring in Sunday-nap position blanketed by the ‘Cars’ section of the newspaper. And the dog just continued her snooze.

Posse-bonding in action.

Happy Sunday

After weeks and weeks of rain and heavy dense fog the sun came out today. We grabbed the Sunday paper and went out to enjoy our morning coffee on our front porch.

Lovely, lovely sunny Sunday. Sometimes it’s the simple things that bring such pleasure.

 

Yu Xiang Bean Pot (aka Fish-Smelling Bean Pot)

After several weeks of 90F degree days (in the middle of October, for heaven’s sake!) we woke this morning to a light drizzle of rain and that crisp smell of Fall in the air. Finally! Fall is here!

While sipping my morning coffee and peering out at the drizzle I said to Jack, “You know, we should break out the bean pot. It seems like the perfect day for it.”

He looked up from reading the Sunday paper, “I was thinking exactly the same thing.”

Excellent! I love it when we’re on the same page.

I also love it when he offers to cook.

Sunday Soup: Bust out your slow cooker!

There’s something about making a big pot of soup that just hits the comfort zone on the weekends. The savory smells that waft through the house … the ease (read: laziness) with which it can be put together and enjoyed … the warm healthy goodness. It all works for me.

Plus, it’s a good way to clean out the fridge. That really works for me.