Kimberly Kunaniec - 0113.eluminary.org

Unique Flavors for Summer

Kimberly Kunaniec — Mon, 02 Jun 2014 20:15:52 +0000

There's a whole world of flavors out there, so why eat the same thing all the time? We all have our favorites (I know I do), but it's fun to experiment with something completely different. I hope you'll be inspired looking at my list of the seven most unique ice cream flavors from around About.com.

Some amazing chefs and food writers have put together these recipes to give you something new and different. It takes a creative mind to come up with an ice cream flavor that really sounds unique. After all, who would have thought that rye bread ice cream could be amazing?

If you have a carton of vanilla in your freezer, why not spice it up with a unique topping for a different flavor? If you've read here for a while, you probably realize how much I love fresh berries. Macerated fruit is a quick and easy ice cream topping, but my balsamic macerated strawberries really kick it up to something new. Use an infused vinegar or add one of the additions I've suggested and you can make this recipe a different way every single time you try it!

More Raspberries!

Kimberly Kunaniec — Fri, 30 May 2014 14:48:02 +0000

I seem to keep ending up with an excess of raspberries in my house. I just can't help it, and when I visited a local farm this week and spotted them, I just had to pick them up. Which means that I went back to my list of raspberry frozen desserts to find something to create with them (although, I do end up eating most of them as is).

I've been in an ice pop mood lately, and mixed berry pops always seem to be a favorite frozen treat. I love the texture of using whole fruits when I make ice pops. With this recipe, I will often mix the blueberries, raspberries and juice first, strain it, and then add the strawberries to the blender. I love chunks of strawberries left in my ice pops. This helps eliminate some of the seeds from the raspberries without completely skipping the extra texture.

The Best of Summer

Kimberly Kunaniec — Thu, 29 May 2014 16:31:12 +0000

With their natural sweetness and great textures, there are tons of fruits that are the perfect base for dessert flavors. Summer is here and many of my favorite fruits are starting to make their appearance at farmer's markets and produce stands, ripe from the vine. I love recipes that really highlight the natural perfection of fruit. Adding a little sugar or a hint of lemon juice can really brighten up a basic fruit. For example, many of my favorite granita recipes are based on one main fruit juice. By adding a little sugar or complimenting flavors, they gain extra dimensions and really make the main flavor shine.

My favorite sorbet recipes are similar. While the creamy texture and perfect flavor of a ripe mango is the focal point of my mango sorbet (that's the one in the photograph), a little bit of orange juice compliments the natural flavors. Citrus is a great addition to many desserts because the tartness balances out sugar so that your dessert is flavorful without being too sweet.

Sherbet recipes are a great way to focus on fruit but add a creamy texture. Fruits like orange and raspberry don't give a dessert that soft, decadent texture that smooth-fleshed fruits do, but add a little milk or cream and you transform the juices to something more indulgent. Focus on fruit, especially as summer is here and many of them are starting to come into season.

Feeling Like a Kid Again

Kimberly Kunaniec — Sun, 04 May 2014 16:22:08 +0000

To me, the best desserts are the ones that remind me of my childhood. After all, there's something youthful and nostalgic about most sweet treats. That's one of the reasons I love making homemade ice pops.

But if you want yours a little creamier, why not try to recreate your favorite pudding pops? These are one of my favorite treats because you can make them with any flavor of pudding that you enjoy (my favorite is butterscotch).

I highly recommend folding a little whipped topping into your pudding before freezing it. The extra air will help make them extra creamy and delicious!

Orange Frozen Dessert Recipes

Kimberly Kunaniec — Thu, 01 May 2014 14:30:56 +0000

Orange is one of my favorite flavors. It's sweet, but not too sweet, with all those great tangy citrus notes. I love orange frozen dessert recipes on a hot day because they aren't too heavy. When it's warm out, you don't necessarily want something super rich for dessert. Refreshing is sometimes a better choice.

When it comes to simplicity, nothing beats orange granita. Just add a little sugar and lemon for contrasting notes, and a few fresh oranges become a tasty treat. This is one of the recipes that I love to serve in bowls made out of orange peels, but it's not the only one.

You don't have to buy your orange sherbet at the store. This creamy dessert is halfway in between a sorbet and ice cream, so it is lighter and has more of the focus on the fruit flavor. It's a great combination when you aren't quite sure what you want to eat.

Image Credit: Adrià Ariste Santacreu/Flickr

Raspberry Desserts

Kimberly Kunaniec — Wed, 30 Apr 2014 02:42:54 +0000

It started getting very warm in my city. As in, it's supposed to be in the mid-80s tomorrow. Warm weather makes me want cold treats and fresh berries. I can't wait to pick fresh, ripe raspberries right off the vine. I'm sure some of them will end up as part of my favorite raspberry frozen dessert recipes.

One of the easiest ways to use fresh berries is by making a sauce. Raspberry sauce is a unique topping, because you normally find raspberry or cherry varieties. As an added bonus, many fruit sauce recipes can be frozen. So, if you have extra berries and no immediate need, you can preserve them as a sauce and store them in air-tight plastic containers in the back of the fridge.

If I want something fancier, one of my go-to desserts is a semifreddo. Raspberry chocolate chip semifreddo has so much texture and flavor, in an easy to put together form. I don't always have the space to store my ice cream maker bowl in the freezer, so sometimes it's nice to have a dessert recipe that doesn't need one.

What's your favorite way to cook with raspberries?

Cherry Frozen Dessert Recipes

Kimberly Kunaniec — Mon, 28 Apr 2014 23:06:28 +0000

Cherries are one of my favorite fruits and there are so many kinds to experiment with. I love summer because of all the variations on cherry frozen dessert recipes that I can create. While the cherry on top of a sundae is one of my favorite things, there are a lot more ways to use this fruit in your dessert.

Tart or sour cherries are a great alternative to sweeter varieties, although you have to taste your desserts to make sure they aren't too tart for your liking. Cherry granitas is a quick and easy way to use the fruit if you went picking and have a ton. One reason I love frozen treats is because it is another way to preserve fresh fruit that would otherwise spoil.

I also love making fresh cherry sauce, either in sweet form or with the sugar held back. If you tone down the sweetness of the sauce, it goes well with pork or duck dishes.

Image courtesy of Atilla Kefeli via Flicker and Creative Commons 2.0

Healthy Frozen Dessert Ideas

Kimberly Kunaniec — Sun, 27 Apr 2014 19:52:28 +0000

Unfortunately, my love of desserts comes with an unwanted side effect - extra weight. I've been working hard to lose a few extra pounds lately, but I'm a firm believer that your eating plan should include the things you love. After all, it's much easier to stick to a healthy eating plan if you aren't trying to choke down gross foods. So, having a few healthy frozen desserts on hand is a great way to still enjoy a treat at the end of the day, without as many calories.

One of my favorite frozen treats is pomegranate yogurt ice pops. Buy a homemade popsicle mold and all your favorite fruits and juices can become frozen treats. I love this recipe for the texture that the thick, Greek yogurt brings to the party. You can swap it out for regular nonfat yogurt if you prefer, although I'd cut down on the milk and sugar if you do. That's the best part about making your own ice pops - you can keep tasting them and adding ingredients until they are exactly what you want.

Like pomegranates, blueberries are a fantastic source of antioxidants. So, turn them into a great blueberry sorbet. You do need to have enough sugar in a sorbet or it will turn into a brick of ice. If you want to cut down on the added sugars, blend the berries with a little water and freeze them into a granita.

Whatever recipe you choose, you (and your waistline) are sure to enjoy the special, homemade treats.

Pineapple Creations

Kimberly Kunaniec — Tue, 01 Apr 2014 21:25:24 +0000

One of my favorite fruits is the pineapple. It has such a unique texture and flavor. There really isn't another fruit just like it. There are tons of pineapple frozen dessert recipes to highlight the tropical flavor. These five recipes are really creative, but still accessible if you aren't sure about trying something new. Pull out your ice cream maker to create a flavor of sherbet or ice cream that you'll never find in the stores.

One of my favorite ways to feature fresh fruit is with a milkshake. The slightly less healthy cousin of a smoothie, a milkshake is based on milk, ice cream, and flavorings. With just three ingredients, you can create an infinite number of possibilities. My pineapple milkshake recipe is just that easy. The milk and vanilla ice cream mellow the flavor of the pineapple without covering it up.

If you don't eat a lot of pineapple, try one of these recipes. You're sure to be impressed.

Cup of (Frozen) Coffee

Kimberly Kunaniec — Sun, 30 Mar 2014 21:31:57 +0000

It's almost April and the weather is getting warmer. At the very least, there hasn't been snow on the ground in a while. It's a step in the right direction! While I like a hot cup of coffee when it's cold outside, I'm not a big fan of hot beverages during the warm months. That makes coffee ice cream a great alternative. It's easy to make and you can swirl in fudge or almonds to make it something different.

A really easy way to enjoy a cold cup of coffee is with coffee granitas. You make yourself hot coffee with the sugar and flavorings that you love and slowly freeze it, so it gets the texture of shaved ice. This is such a light and refreshing dessert and it is perfect with a big scoop of whipped cream (think of it like creamer).

For another Italian spin on coffee with cream, try making affogato. You may never have heard of this dessert, but you will be amazed at how easy it is. All you have to do is pour an ounce of espresso over a big scoop of vanilla ice cream. It's a totally different expression of coffee and cream. Try shaving chocolate over the top for another layer of flavor and texture.

These recipes would all make great afternoon pick-me-ups!