Chocolate Blueberry Ice Cream

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Chocolate Blueberry Ice Cream

chocolate blueberry ice cream

I find the attitudes towards winter and summer interesting. 40 degrees in the middle of winter is equivalent to a summer heat wave, where people start wearing shorts and sandals and children want to eat ice cream and go swimming (I kid you not, just drive by a school and you will understand what I mean). 40 degrees in the middle of summer is equivalent to a bad case of frostbite. All I want to wear is my winter coat and snow pants and snuggle up to the fireplace and cry.

Today it was a whopping 35 degrees F. From the frigid, ice cold, people-start-hibernating-like-bears temperatures North Dakota has been experiencing all week, this was a very welcome change. It felt like the middle of spring.

chocolate blueberry ice cream

Scarves and mittens (even coats!) suddenly became scarce. I didn't wear pants. I drove around with my windows down because it was so warm. And I made ice cream. Because when it is the middle of winter and it suddenly feels like summer, this is what you should do.

Perspective is everything.

chocolate blueberry ice cream

This chocolate blueberry ice cream is soft and oh so creamy. When the rich chocolate base is combined with the blueberries something magical happens. These aren't just frozen blueberries added to chocolate ice cream; the blueberry juices penetrate the ice cream creating a blueberry infusion. The ice cream is littered with pieces of blueberry. If you are wary of this flavor combination, you will miss out. I guarantee it.

Also, if you are still in need of some last minute Valentine's Day ideas for Monday (or the weekend), I have selected a few ideas for you!

1. Quick Chocolate Cake
2. Vanilla Rum Soaked French Toast
3. Chocolate Truffles
4. 30 Second Sangria
5. Zuppa Toscana
6. Chocolate Espresso Pots de Creme

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Banana Bread Oatmeal

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Banana Bread Oatmeal

banana bread oatmeal

It's no secret that I love banana bread. In my house, there always seem to be a few bananas that just don't get eaten in time. While freezing bananas for a later date is always an option, sometimes there are already one too many bananas hiding in there. I don't like to waste food if I can help it so bananas are frequently on the menu.

With my deep love of all baked banana goods, having a quick and easy way to make a dish that tastes like banana bread without the mixing and the baking (and the waiting) was ideal.

banana bread oatmeal

I am a sucker for overripe bananas. I don't start eating them until they are covered in brown spots. As long as it they can still keep their shape, I'm in banana love. My father would disagree. He likes to eat them when they are still a bit green, without a brown spot in sight. I think they lack that vital banana flavor so soon after ripening, but he argues otherwise. We may disagree about the best time to eat bananas, but we've never disagreed over a nice loaf of banana bread. And that's the truth.

How do you like your bananas?

banana bread oatmeal

This banana bread oatmeal tastes just like the real deal. The oatmeal is littered with tiny pieces of banana and spiced with the right amount of cinnamon and nutmeg. This oatmeal is naturally sweetened with the addition of bananas so you will need very little, if any, sugar to sweeten it up. It's healthy, it's delicious, it's banana bread in a bowl. What's not to love?

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Cocoa Almond Meringues

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Cocoa Almond Meringues

cocoa almond meringues

It's cold outside, not that I need to tell you. With winter upon us, it is getting harder and harder to convince myself to leave the house. Tonight it is supposed to get down to -40 degrees F with windchill out here in North Dakota. Can you really blame me? I have a hard enough time convincing myself to leave the house when its above zero. It's so cold I'm afraid my nose might freeze off and wouldn't that just be a sight.

Did you know that -40 degrees is the same in both Fahrenheit and Celsius? It's the only place on the temperature scale where we can finally find some common ground.

cocoa almond meringues

I have become a happy homebody in my pajama pants and thick sweaters. By day, I watch the flakes fall from the comfort of my warm home, the smell of hot and fresh cookies filling the house. By night, I snuggle up with a heavy blanket next to the fireplace and watch a movie with a bowl of home-cooked popcorn. Remind me why winter is so bad, again?

Today I made a mug of hot cocoa to complement these cookies. The rich, thick cocoa offsets these little pillows perfectly. With a cookie that's lighter than air, you might just find you don't need those marshmallows anymore.

cocoa almond meringues

These cocoa almond meringues are absolutely addictive. They may look like rough, jagged stones but they are lighter than air. The meringues have a rich chocolate flavor with a hint of almond. These cookies are crunchy and chewy, with bits and pieces of chocolate chunks and almond mixed within. These meringues have a deep flavor and texture; it would be a shame not to try these.

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