Tuesday, Wednesday… its the same when the blog is down.
I just got up from a long nap because the blog was down intermittently for the last 4 days. That’s what you do — eat ice cream and take a long nap to avoid sulking over blog downtime.
But it’s up and running now, and that matters. And let me clear the air — I did not nap for 4 days, straight.
While the blog was down, I took it as an opportunity to make ice cream. Not only it tastes delicious, but I think we can never buy ice cream again.
Wait.
Never sounds too harsh, no? I can NEVER part with B & J’s coconut ice cream. It’s dreamy.
After sampling boat-load of homemade ice cream, off I went to begin the food styling process with a recuperating brain freeze.While doing all that, I realized how it became a tedious, time consuming, back breaking and tempting task.
Temptations are huge here whenever there’s ice cream involved. It only takes a scoop to bribe me. I had to reach deep within myself to muster enough determination to stop salivating and not reach over to lick the ice cream scoop.
Yup, I reached a new low.
It’s difficult to maintain creativity & speed while praying that the ice cream doesn’t melt faster than the shutter speed on my camera. Here are some of my tips on how I gained some extra time while speed-shooting ice cream.
- Chill everything ahead, including scoops, spoons, bowls, produce etc. I even chilled the cupcake liners!
- If you have a marble board, this is the time to use it. Marble keeps everything cool, so use it as your styling station.
- Design, plan and draw your styling ideas ahead of time.
- Do not shoot in hot weather or direct sunlight. Cool down the temperature before scooping.
Adapted from Cuisinart recipe booklet
Ingredients:
- 3 cups strawberries, stemmed and sliced
- 4 tbsp orange juice
- 1 tbsp orange zest
- 2 tbsp balsamic vinegar
- 2 tbsp agave nectar/sugar
- 1.5 cup whole milk
- 1.5 cup heavy cream
- 1/2 cup agave nectar/sugar
- 1/2 tbsp pure vanilla extract
Directions:
- Freeze freezer bowl as per manufacturer instruction.
- In a small bowl, combine strawberries with orange juice, zest, balsamic vinegar and 2 tbsp agave nectar/sugar.
- Stir gently and allow strawberries to macerate in the juices for at least 2 hours, refrigerated.
- Strain the berries, reserving juices. Mash or puree half the berries.
- In a medium bowl, combine agave nectar/sugar with whole milk until sugar is dissolved.
- Stir in heavy cream, reserved strawberry juice, mashed strawberries and vanilla.
- Place freezer bowl into ice cream machine, turn it on. Pour the mixture into ice cream machine and let mix until thickened, about 20 to 25 minutes.
- Five minutes before mixing is completed, add the reserved slices strawberries and let mix in completely.
- Ice cream will have soft, creamy texture. Transfer the ice cream into an airtight container and place in freezer for at least 4 hours or more.
- Remove from freezer about 15 minutes before serving.
Until coming Friday, here’s hoping the blog would still be up and running. If not, send me some love will ya? Or ice cream? 😉
So, tell me. What are your temptations? What makes you salivate & drool?
Comments on this entry are closed.
Kiran! Well worth the time and effort styling – your photos are beautiful! And this ice cream sounds heavenly – Im makign it as soona s summer hits!!
And I have very little self control around ice cream as well!
Em (Wine and Butter) recently posted..Weekly Round-Up
Em — thanks a lot sweetie. I hope you’ll enjoy making and eating it during summer 🙂
Waw! What a truly wonderful & stunning eggles ice-cream! 🙂
I love all of your tasty flavours in here beautifully combined of course! 😉
I agree, we can never buy ice -cream again!
Sophie recently posted..Banana, cacao,vanilla almond milk and vanilla almond milk pulp ice popsicles!
Sophie — thanks dear 🙂
Good to know that you blog is back….
A wonderful ice cream! Perfect with the strawberries. I love the addition of balsamic vinegar.
Cheers,
Rosa
Rosa — thanks sweetie 🙂
I love this egg free version – especially with the agave nectar. As soon as I clear some room in my freezer for my ice cream cannister, I am going to have to try this.
Cher recently posted..In which I try very hard not to whine… (TWD: BWJ: Rugelach)
Cher — thanks a lot. I love baking and cooking with agave 🙂
I love homemade ice cream… I want homemade ice cream… strawberry ice cream is my favorite! Why oh why do I not have an ice cream maker? These pictures are beyond lovely! I love that this is egg free because I always freak out about salmonella. P.S. My temptations are anything sweet and homemade (must be homemade!)… and I’m not gonna lie, Cheetos, *hanging head in shame*.
Margarita recently posted..Homemade Paneer Tikka Masala and Some Stories
Margarita — Hahaha! Don’t hang your head in shame. I have similar temptations and it’s difficult to resist 🙂
Looks delicious, the ice cream is beautifully creamy. Will have to give it a try 🙂
happyzhangbo-lovingfood recently posted..Crockpot Chicken with Mushrooms & Onions
Happy — thank you so much 🙂
Yay, the blog’s back up! 🙂
Strawberries and balsamic go so well together, and the ice cream sounds just delicious. Very cute photos, too!
Andi at The Particular Traveler recently posted..8 Things That Take a Hotel Room to The Next Level
Andi — thanks sweetie 🙂
Beautiful! I can almost taste it all the way over here!
Angela — I miss you my friend 🙂
Aww, I miss you too! Not much is really new here. Just been studying and had to take a loooooong time off running for a strained quad. So I’ve been hiding and moping I guess. 😉
YAY!! You’re back up!!
I know this was a pain to shoot but wow! The photos are gorgeous and you pulled it off and made it look so easy!
the wicked noodle recently posted..easter cupcakes
Kristy — thanks dear, your comment always put a smile on my face 🙂
Wow, these photographs are gorgeous! The ice- cream looks incredible too. Love the addition of balsamic to it.
Asmita recently posted..Chicken Fajitas
Asmita — thanks so much sweetie 🙂
Wow Kiran, this ice cream looks delicious with strawberry and balsamic vinegar…love the pictures as well.
Hope you are having a wonderful week 🙂
Juliana — thanks dear, hope you are having a great weekend 🙂
The ice cream looks really delicious. I have the Cuisinart book but never opened it.
balvinder ( Neetu) recently posted..100th Post Give Away and Gluten Free Red Velvet Cupcakes
Balvinder — Thanks and you’ve got to browse through the book for inspirations 🙂
Your blog was down for 4 days??/ Goodness Kiran, at you were cool about it bc I was going mad when my blog for down for 8 hours. I will support all the way for home made ice-cream esp this loveable one you have shared. Looks so good but just that I am wondering whether can I replace the strawberries with some of our local fruits. Strawberries are pretty expensive here and though I enjoy cooking, I also look at ways of keeping the cost low and our local fruits are just great for this.
Nava — Patience is virtue my friend 🙂 Of course you can substitute the strawberries for any local fruits like lychee, mangoes, bananas, durians, coconut, mangosteen etc. Use your imagination 🙂
Glad to hear that your internet woes are over. This ice cream looks fantastic. I make all our own ice cream too. Once you make your own, ordinary store bought tastes less than spectacular. I like knowing what’s in our food. 🙂
Maureen recently posted..Date, Walnut and Banana Bread
Maureen — Ditto! I love knowing what’s in our food as well 🙂
I was wondering where you got to! This recipe is great. I have been making lots of sorbet but using egg whites to keep it nice and soft. These little patty pans are so sweet 🙂 I love balsamic and strawberries.
Cass — I’ve never thought about eggs whites in sorbet. Gotta try some soon 🙂
I’m counting the days till my ice cream maker gets delivered. I must try this before strawberries go out of season for us. It looks super delicious.
Baker Street recently posted..Nutella Peanut Butter Chocolate Brownies
Anu — Thanks dear, and hope your ice cream maker has arrived 😉
Even though it is getting cold here, this looks so welcoming! 😀
Lorraine @ Not Quite Nigella recently posted..The Bridge Room, Circular Quay
Lorraine — Wow, what a difference due to hemisphere locations. It’s almost spring time here 🙂
Love the vibrant colored cup cake liners as the base for the ice- cream..the pictures look stunning, Kiran! And the ice cream..am still salivating..
Sanjeeta kk recently posted..Rice Recipes | Two Easy, Aromatic & Healthy vegetable Pilaf with Flax Seeds
Sanjeeta — thanks sweetie 🙂
Wow yummy..wish you and your family a very happy and colorful Holi.
Seema — thanks dear. Wishing you and your family a very Happy Holi 🙂
Just loving your site. I’ve spent far too long looking about in stead of doing my work ! 🙂
Vanessa — Welcome to Recipebox and so glad you love it here 🙂
Kiran I love your styling and photography, this is just beauiful. The ice cream of course sounds fantastic and I love that there are no eggs in there. Delicious.
Suzi recently posted..Spiced Tofu Brochettes
Suzi — thanks dear! Can’t wait to meet at FBF. Cannot believe we are living in Central Florida and have never met 🙂
And you did a great job!!!
Both with ice cream and styling….
Beautiful!!!!
Reem — thank you for making me smile 🙂
This looks and sounds amazing. I love making eggless ice creams–much less time consuming. I must give this version a try asap. P.s. love your photos and love that you used cupcake wrappers… so creative!
katie recently posted..Leek & Cheddar Dip
Katie — thanks a lot dear. I agree, the other version of making a custard before churning can be tedious 🙂
This sounds – and looks – absolutely incredible. You can’t beat a good home-made strawberry ice-cream. I wonder what it’s like with the extra balsamic flavour. I’m making a note of this – I want to give it a try when it’s a bit hotter here! 🙂
Charles — you’ve got to try strawberries macerated in balsamic. It’s flavor explosion 🙂
Kiran – what a lovely looking, and delicious sounding ice cream! I bet it would be delicious with whole coconut milk too – yum!
Ina gawne recently posted..SEARED DUCK BREASTS WITH A POMEGRANATE ROSEMARY RED WINE SAUCE
Ina — thanks love. Whole coconut milk was on my mind, but I had heavy cream and didn’t want to make a run out to the grocery store just for coconut. It’s a whole lotta drive 😉
Your blog was down? O.O I didnt realise…
I admire your coolness. for once because your page was down and u still managed to focus on cooking and for two because your ice cream recipe looks tempting COOL! 😉
Helene Dsouza I Masala Herb recently posted..Sweet Potato noodles with poppy seeds
Helene — yes, it was. But its all sorted out now, and only that matters 🙂 Cooking definitely took my mind off this problems!
This looks wicked good. I have such a weakness for ice cream. Your photos are spectacular. My downfall while shooting mine is eating it while I work.
Kim Bee recently posted..Turtle Sweet Rolls…Yah Baby! Guest Post by Frugal Antics of a Harried Homemaker
Kim Bee — thanks dear, I think we all share similar downfalls 😉
How beautiful! It’s been so hot in bangalore that I am constantly craving something cold. This ice-cream would be just perfect for me right now.
Beautiful photos Kiran! Love the styling…
chinmayie @ love food eat recently posted..Pomegranate & Rose Cooler
Chinmayie — thanks dear. I hope to visit Bangalore end of this year. We’ve got to meet up 🙂
wow! i cannot believe that you made ice cream! actually, i can 🙂 looks fabulous!
Simply Life recently posted..White Bean and Vegetable Soup
Gina — haha! thanks dear 🙂
What a beautiful treat. I love how the strawberry was perfectly styled that was evenly fanned out. Amazing, Kiran.
wok with ray recently posted..Mie Goreng by Indonesia Eats
Ray — thanks so much!
Beautiful photos as always Kiran! Glad to hear the blog is back up and running; that drives me batty when I can’t get on. There’s always a bowl of delicious ice cream to calm the nerves, right? Yours certainly fits the bill. 🙂
Julie M. recently posted..Irish Inspired Boxty
Julie — thanks a lot dear. Yup, the ice cream was a pick-me-up during blog downtime, for sure 🙂
And here I thought I had gotten enough ice cream to last me decades after writing my cookbook… I think I could find the appetite to try this one. 😉 Love the bright, acidic notes that balsamic can bring to a dessert, and effectively balance out the sugar. Coconut milk would be a great substitute for the dairy to make it vegan.
Hannah recently posted..Sweet Heat
Hannah — I never knew you wrote a cookbook. Bravo!
Looks so delicious:) will surely try to make it .
Viya S recently posted..Eggless Date and Walnut Cake~treat for HOLI shared by Sonal Kaza
Viya — thanks! Let me know how it tastes 🙂
ps: Just to inform you, I am unable to post a comment on your blog. The url + name field has to be activated.
Thanks for letting me know,need to look into this :)thxs
Viya S recently posted..Chilled Mango Lassi~Summer Cooler Drink
this looks soooooooo good. your pictures are gorgeous… and I recognize that copper ‘balti’, i have the same thing. it’s so great for serving Indian food. what makes me salivate? hmmm… molten lava cake, anything with cream cheese frosting, and mexican food! 😉
honeywhatscooking recently posted..Friday’s Favorite Things – 3.9.12
Honey — thanks dear. Glad we share similar balti 😉
oh i LOVE the way u have styled them in those muffin cups, the antique bucket of strawberries looks so etheral. nice flavours going on there with the nalsamic vinegar. unfortunately i dont own an icecream maker will try this the old fashioned way
Deeps @ Naughty Curry recently posted..Tahini- Roasted Sesame Paste
Deeps — thanks a lot dear. I hope you get to try this recipe 🙂
Glad your blog is back – I noticed it was down, which reminded me that my blog was down and acting crazy for 2 weeks! That was horrible and almost changed my server (Not too happy about Y! regarding this…). On the other hand, I wish I had this ice cream to make me calm down when it happened to me. You are smart eating this and taking a nap. Must be perfect combo. 🙂 I love strawberry ice cream (my #1 fav) but never tried with balsamic, sounds interesting!
Nami | Just One Cookbook recently posted..Honey Glazed Shrimps with Asian Coleslaw and Rose Cake – Guest Post By Simply Reem
Nami — thanks dear. It’s a pain when blog goes on a downtime, but you have to be creative with the time, a tub of ice cream & a spoon 😉
Those tips obviously paid off- beautiful pics! Ice cream is my kryptonite- I can’t stop grabbing spoonfuls if it’s around me- because you know, unlike a full bowl of ice cream, spoonfuls don’t count ;)! Frozen yogurt is also my weakness- I definitely have a separate stomach for it!
Khushboo recently posted..The little things
Khushboo — thanks dear. I can’t live without ice cream. Like, for reals 😀
So creamy and smooth even without eggs! Well done!
Angie@Angie’s Recipes recently posted..Chinese Red Dates and Seeds Power Bars
Angie — thanks dear 🙂
when i got moody i definitely want a bucket of ice cream LOL.
But Kiran, I always tempted to shoot melted ice cream with a mess everywhere hihi…thank you for sharing the tips with us!
Ira Rodrigues recently posted..Banana yogurt bread
Ira — I love the idea of messy and melted ice cream styling 🙂
looks so good and nice flavor
Rebecca recently posted..Date Rice Pudding
Rebecca — thanks dear and it was so nice to hear you & Prerna the other day 🙂
I need to try this recipe. Looks very creamy and decadent! 🙂
Yudith — thanks sweetie 🙂
love those blue muffin cups.. strawberry and balsamic amazingly go so well together!
Richa@HobbyandMore recently posted..Banana Oat Cashew Quick bread Bar. Vegan
Sorry about your blog issues, but glad it seems to be OK now 🙂 Your ice cream and styling are just beautiful…wonderful tips as well 🙂
Magic of Spice recently posted..A Chat with Be Happy and Smoked Sea Salt Baked Sardines
Your pictures are amazing! The ice cream sounds fabulous too. Will have to try! 😀
Sarah recently posted..Sauerkraut Update and Food Films
I’m sorry you had to deal with the blog being down. I’ve been through that myself. Once, in the beginning, the web site hosting the blog got a virus and passed it along to me. Not fun, but it’s good you filled your time with this amazing ice cream!
Kristi Rimkus recently posted..Stir Fried Shrimp in a Spicy Coconut Sauce – and Don’t Forget the Kale!
Sorry to hear your blog was down Kiran, thankfully it’s back up now. 🙂 Your strawberry ice cream looks fabulous, and I love how you’ve placed it in those cupcake liners, so cute! And thanks for the tip about using the marble board. I will have to try this next time I am taking photos of ice cream. As delicious as ice cream is to make it’s so difficult to photograph before it melts.
Jennifer (Delicieux) recently posted..Whole Wheat Bread
I really love the combination! I am now excited to try new ice cream recipes, thanks for sharing
beti recently posted..White Zinfandel and Raspberry Jelly
I love strawberries so much. I remember when I was kid my mom would not give them to us – she was saying that strawberries are somehow dangerous to us because of all the worms and in consequence of the pesticide used on them. I needed to hide with my strawberries like I was doing cocaine:P
CindyAngus recently posted..Depression fighting
Sorry about your downtime… but WOW this ice cream looks divine!! love the styling!!
vianney recently posted..Arroz con Camarón Seco – Rice with Dried Shrimp
A fantastic recipe! Thank you for sharing. When the berry season comes, I will try it.
That looks absolutely delicious!
Lindsay {life and kitchen} recently posted..Thin Mint Shamrock Shake
This is a complete recipe with pictures. I like it. Thanks for sharing.