Showing posts with label holiday. Show all posts
Showing posts with label holiday. Show all posts

Sunday, February 13, 2011

Baked Alaska with Homemade Banana Ice Cream, Brownies & Chocolate Covered Strawberries

This weekend has been a dream. We got messages, had a delicious brunch at one of our most favorite places, relaxed, and made some incredible food.

Baked Alaska

Yea.

So, the night started with Brian making me a nostalgic dinner, one he made for me 2 years ago today, when he proposed.

Pork chops, apples, green beans and rosemary garlic mashed potatoes

It was awesome. So many good memories! Brian agreed to let me make the dessert and I knew I wanted to make my guy something really special, cause I've got to admit, he's pretty awesome. I wanted to stay true to the dessert he made me that night, chocolate brownie with vanilla ice cream and strawberries, but I wanted to amp it up. So, first I made one of our current favorites, a low calorie banana ice cream I've been making a lot lately. I paired the ice cream with a low fat brownie mix, except I added a little coffee to it too. Then, it came time to layer and freeze.

Chocolate brownie and Banana Ice Cream

To layer, I just lined a bowl with some saran wrap, then layered brownie, ice cream a couple of times, until the bowl was full. I froze the layers until they were set, then prepared my meringue. I didn't really measure the meringue, but just used the typical few egg whites, a little cream of tartar and about 1/2 cup sugar - then came the fun part.

Baked Alaska

Piping! Now, I probably could have got my peaks a little stiffer, but I was so excited to get this guy into the oven!

Baked Alaska

And that's all it took! I paired the Baked Alaska with a few chocolate covered strawberries and we were instantly in heaven.

Baked Alaska


To celebrate today, Brian and I are taking a couple's pasta making class! It sure is a good weekend for our hearts and our bellies. Yum, yum, yum.

Happy Valentine's Day, everyone! xoxo!

Sunday, December 12, 2010

Paperback Wreather

Our Holiday Wreath, made from a recycled paperback book
Yes. I'm a librarian and I tear books. I used discarded books, of course (see more on that, here) and luckily, I have easy access to lots of discarded books! Aside from books, I started with a styrofoam ring and some super hot glue.
Making a wreath
The glue was hot. Super hot. I ended burning quite a few fingers in the process! I was warned... the actual idea, along with the warning came from the Living with Lindsay blog. Great idea, right? I just added a red bow to ours, to make it especially festive.
Our Holiday Wreath, made from a recycled paperback book
I've already got compliments from the neighbors!

More holiday crafts and baking on their way...