Strawberry Ice Cream (coconut milk)

Strawberry Ice Cream (coconut milk) http://www.immerwachsen.com/2013/05/07/strawberry-ice-cream-coconut-milk/

Nearly two years ago I started this blog in an effort to share my peculiar eating habits, practice food styling, and someday contribute to the ministries I support. In the last two months my traffic has increased over 150%, and when I looked into why I found that one of my simplest and oldest recipes just hit the right chord with the internet. To everyone who has contributed to this recent boom, thank you! Along with the spread of this recipe has come a barrage of questions, so this repost is to answer every question I’ve ever received about the recipe…and to give it a new look :)

Scroll down for the recipe and FAQs.

Strawberry Ice Cream (coconut milk) http://www.immerwachsen.com/2013/05/07/strawberry-ice-cream-coconut-milk/
Strawberry Ice Cream (coconut milk) http://www.immerwachsen.com/2013/05/07/strawberry-ice-cream-coconut-milk/

Strawberry Ice Cream
2 cans coconut milk
6 ounces frozen strawberries OR 1 ½ cups fresh strawberries
1/3 cup raw honey

Using only the fat* from the canned coconut milk, blend all ingredients. Now there are several ways to freeze the ice cream base, and there are several ways to process the ice cream.

Freezing and processing options:
-Freeze ice cream base in ice cube trays. Once frozen process in a food processor until creamy.
-Freeze ice cream base in ice cube trays. One frozen press through a Champion Juicer.
-Pour ice cream base into a bowl and stir occasionally as it freezes. Eat as soon as it reaches a thick consistently.
-Pour ice cream base into a large shallow dish (like a casserole dish). Once frozen scrape the solid mass with a fork until soft enough to serve.
-Freeze ice cream base in popsicle molds.
-Use an ice cream maker.

*Canned coconut milk will separate into fat and water. Do not shake the can and you will be able to remove the fat from the can while leaving the water at the bottom. You will need 2 cups of coconut milk fat for this recipe.

FAQ

Where do I buy canned coconut milk?
I buy Native Forest Organic coconut milk from VitaCost. Most grocery stores carry Thai Kitchen coconut milk, and every health food store carries some brand of coconut milk. Although unmarked, I read that Native Forest uses BPA free cans, which is why I prefer their brand.

How many cans do I need?
Two. Every brand of coconut milk is slightly different, but two cans is enough for this recipe.

How many servings does this make?
Four servings

Can I use coconut cream?
Yes. Trader Joes sells a canned coconut cream, which is the same as coconut milk but it has more fat and less water in each can. You need 2 cups of coconut fat (cream) for this recipe.

Can I use coconut oil?
No. Coconut oil is just the oil pressed from the meat of the coconut. You want coconut milk, which is the meat and water blended together.

Can I use coconut butter?
Yes. Coconut butter is dried and ground coconut meat. Blend ¼ cup coconut butter and 2 cups water to make milk before adding the strawberries and honey.

Can I use a base other than coconut milk?
Yes. You can use cream or yogurt, and if you don’t eat dairy you can make your own nut cream. Just make a simple nut milk, but use less water for a thicker consistency and a more creamy ice cream.

Can I use a sweetener other than honey?
Yes. Agave, maple syrup, and date paste work well in place of honey. Stevia can be used to taste.

Can I make other flavors?
Yes! Raspberry, chocolate, vanilla, peanut butter, mint, and many more flavors can be made.

What if I do not have a high-speed blender?
You do not need a high-speed blender for this recipe. When using frozen strawberries just thaw before hand for easiest blending.

What if I do not have an ice cream maker?
You do not need an ice cream maker for this recipe. See above for a list of options for freezing and processing the ice cream.

Remember, this is ice cream :) Enjoy!

Strawberry Ice Cream (coconut milk) http://www.immerwachsen.com/2013/05/07/strawberry-ice-cream-coconut-milk/
Strawberry Ice Cream (coconut milk) http://www.immerwachsen.com/2013/05/07/strawberry-ice-cream-coconut-milk/
Strawberry Ice Cream (coconut milk) http://www.immerwachsen.com/2013/05/07/strawberry-ice-cream-coconut-milk/

Mint Chocolate Fudge Pies

It’s that time of year! Christmas baking and treats galore. Last year I made several raw goodies to get through the season healthy and satisfied. Hopefully this year’s addition will encourage healthy eating on into next year. This pie is basically fudge in a crust. So good and ooey gooey!



Mint Chocolate Fudge Pies
Crust:
2 c oat groats
1/2 c coconut sugar
1/2 c water
2 t olive oil
1/2 t Celtic Sea salt

Filling:
1 c cashew butter
1 c honey
1/2 c cacao powder
2 t mint extract

Grind oat groats into flour. Process all crust ingredients and spread into pan (or pans). Dehydrate for a few hours or just until the crust is no longer sticky. For the filling, process all ingredients until oil just begins to separate (this is when it becomes fudge-like). Fill crusts and refrigerate. Enjoy!



Merry Christmas!

The Pie

The secret is out. I’m going to share thee recipe. Like every good new raw foodie, I learned of the wonders of avocado based desserts quickly upon discovering the famous avocado pudding. This concept was then plopped into a crust and called a pie.


I’m a fairly practical person, not usually a perfectionist, and although I lean to the type A personality, I still live in reality. Anyway, this pie is different. It took me a year to perfect. Every attempt was “good”, but I always tasted more potential. It was among my family’s favorites and oohed and awwed over by anyone else who tried it, so the recipe quickly became top secret. You see I had dreams of selling this and other pies. Then my sister started a baking business, and I soon lost my desire to sell my pies. If someday, down the road I feel inclined, I can and will, even if the whole world knows my secret recipe. Let’s just say I’ve got my name on this recipe, but it’s time I shared :)

So welcome to the wonderful world of The Pie.

Key Lime Pie
crust:
1 c oat groats (soaked and dehydrated)
1/2 c coconut oil
1/4 c golden flax seeds
1 T raw honey
1/2 t Celtic Sea saltfilling:
4 large avocados*
1 c fresh lime juice
1 c coconut oil
1 c raw honey*
1/4 c Irish moss gel

First grind oat groats, flax seeds, and salt into a flour. Process with remaining ingredients and press into a spring form pan (a spoon is helpful to get it evenly distributed). Refrigerate.

In a high speed blender thoroughly blend all filling ingredients. Pour into crust, refrigerate, and set 12-24 hours. It should be as firm as a cooked cheesecake, so be patient :)

*With all raw recipes there is room for adjustments. Working with fresh foods means they will always be different. Some avocados are like green butter at room temperature, and other times they are watery. My advise


On a different note. It’s fall and my cat is cute :)


Sar’s Farm Party

Earlier this season, shortly after my return from WI, my sister hosted the most scrumptious of parties. Like me, she worked on a CSA farm over the summer, but did what is called a worker’s share. Rather than paying for a CSA share she worked for it. While I was off WWOOFing in WI, Sar worked on a tiny farm in our county and met some pretty neat people, so to celebrate the closing of a season and for “just becauses” she made up dozens of her signature Spancy Bakes style pizza crusts with a la carte toppings. (She kindly made gluten free crusts for a couple of us non wheat eaters :) Paired with a Katherine inspired salad and lots of laughter, the night was a success!
























Frank’s Finest Autumn Dessert Spice granola


So far I’ve been away more this month than I’ve been home. Now that the crazy traveling has slowed for a while I’m enjoying this season and looking forward to plans in the future. I really can’t believe October is wrapping up, which means I graduate in less than two months! I get asked all the time what I plan to do when I graduate, and so far I don’t know. The thought of a free schedule and more time to invest in freelance and this blog are first on my agenda. Beyond that life will be considered prayerfully one step at a time. If I had to guess though it will probably include trip(s) to Wisconsin :)

Now for this recipe. It.is.so.yummmmm! I’ve posted several recipes using Frank’s Finest spice blends, because they are perfect. I don’t have to guess or play scientist to get the flavor just right. The spice blends are perfect just as they are, which is why this granola was quite the hit. It’s the perfect fall treat!

Autumn Dessert Granola
4 c buckwheat groats (soaked and dehydrated)
3 c oat groats (soaked and dehydrated)
12 oz maple syrup
1 c flax seeds
1 c hemp seeds
1 c raisins
1 T Frank’s Finest Autumn Dessert Spice blend
1/2 t Celtic Sea salt

Grind oat groats into a flour. In a large mixing bowl combine all ingredients. Dehydrate until crunchy and enjoy with milk of your choice!