Tag Archives: happy living

Coconut Milk Soft Serve “Ice Cream”

How about a refreshing summertime treat?

Check out my soft serve treat made with coconut milk!

This is a great option for people with lactose intolerance (me being one of them!)

I’ve been sampling some of the alternatives to cow’s milk and have been pleasantly surprised.

I tried almond milk which definitely had a hint of nutty flavor and then tasted coconut milk that had a very, very subtle coconut flavor.  I know brands vary but the one I tried was very mild.

The coconut milk beverage I used only has about 45 calories per cup.

PLEASE note: I used the coconut milk beverage [see below] these varieties of coconut milk are showing up on the shelves in the grocer’s near almond milk.  This is more of a coconut milk beverage and contains far less fat and calories than traditional coconut milk found in some Asian dishes.

I was inspired by a post on Pinterest that mixed milk, vanilla extract, brown sugar and a few chocolate chips and made them into frozen popsicles that tasted like cookie dough.  Really, who doesn’t like chocolate chip cookie dough? MMMMmmmm.  I tried a version with the almond milk, but it had too much of an ice-y consistency to it, so my daughter Chelsea suggest I try freezing my coconut milk (I used small plastic containers to freeze my milk BUT an ice cube tray would be perfect!) and blend it in my Ninja blender with some brown sugar and vanilla extract and just a splash more coconut milk to create a soft serve ice cream consistency.  And, this was definitely the consistency I was hoping for!

It was really refreshing, light and tasty.  The soft serve on it’s own is a dairy free, low FODMAP treat.

Of course, I added some mini semi-sweet chocolate chips but they are optional. 

Since I didn’t have an ice cube tray available, I just filled up this small plastic container to freeze my coconut milk in…you don’t want to freeze too BIG a ‘chunk’ of coconut milk as it will be hard to break up in a blender!

I just made a small batch…enough for 2 but you can easily double or triple the recipe…just freeze up more coconut milk!

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Coconut Milk Soft Serve “Ice Cream”

Ingredients

  • 1-1 1/2 cup frozen unsweetened coconut milk
  • splash of coconut milk or water
  • 1 TB packed brown sugar
  • 1 tsp. vanilla extract
  • handful mini chocolate chips (chopped walnuts might be nice too!)

Instructions

  1. Freeze coconut milk in ice cube tray for several hours until frozen.
  2. Add frozen coconut milk to blender and add in brown sugar and vanilla.
  3. Add a splash of coconut milk to blender to 'thin' out mixture for the right consistency.
  4. Sprinkle a few mini chocolate chips on top if desired.
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http://blog.katescarlata.com/2012/07/10/coconut-milk-soft-serve-ice-cream/

 

J’adore Montréal

Russ and I visited Montréal this past weekend to celebrate our wedding anniversary of 22 years. YIKES…time sure does fly.

What a fantastic city…I felt like we were in France and for us, it was just a 6 hour drive.  

The weather was BEAUTIFUL.  And we really relaxed!….even dipped our toes in the fountain.

When we first arrived, we enjoyed a wonderful meal.  I tried a goat cheese sandwich…

… and Russ ordered a very thin crusted veggie pizza…double yum. Perhaps we had a beer too :)

And since it was such a beautiful sunny day, we decided that taking a boat cruise on the St. Lawrence river might be a nice tourist-y thing to do.  When we inquired about what trips were available the nice woman behind the counter mentioned a quiet dinner cruise, or perhaps an all-enclosed boat that travels slowly down the scenic river.  BUT…Russ had something very different in mind.  NO mellow cruises for us.

First we had to get on this ‘get up!’

Here we are with life vests and large ponchos! We would ride the rapids and likely get very wet. Yes, waves crashed over the entire boat! The ponchos are all for show, I think, as I was drenched when the cruise was over.

We had a BLAST!!!  Check out this excursion if you visit Montréal.  Saute moutons- Jet boating.

We also biked the city–city rentals are just $7 per bike per 24 hours.  What a deal!…and a great way to explore the city and work off some of the serious calories we were ingesting daily!

We ate quite a few fabulous meals. We stopped at Communion for a quick cheese platter.  Serious yum!

Cheese was definitely a theme this weekend!

We stumbled upon this great little restaurant, called Garde Manger.  Check out their site here.  One of our favorite dishes was a baby green salad with fried cheddar cheese.  So…I decided to try to make my own version today.

On our drive home back to Massachusetts, we drove through the beautiful state of Vermont.  We stopped by the Cabot cheese store to try some new varieties of cheddar and of course pick up a couple blocks of cheese to try back home.

To create my ‘fried’ cheddar cheese, I actually baked it instead.  Less mess, less fat.

I cut up the cheese in bite size chunks!

Dipped in egg white, and then in a mixture of corn meal and corn flour seasoned with a bit of pepper and salt.

I sprayed the chunks with my misto sprayer filled with oil to give the cheese a nice mist of oil. Baked for 3 minutes and then turned the chunks, sprayed with oil again and baked for another 3 minutes. 

Let the cheese sit a bit so it is still warm and top on your favorite tossed salad greens!

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Baked Cheddar Salad Topper! (FODMAP friendly)

Ingredients

  • 4 ounces sharp cheddar cheese, cut in bite size chunks
  • 1 egg white, beaten
  • 1/3 cup corn meal
  • 1/3 cup corn flour
  • salt and pepper, to taste
  • [Add fresh herbs or Italian Seasoning to corn mixture if you would like]

Instructions

  1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees and line cookie sheet with parchment paper.
  2. Toss a few blocks of cheese in egg white
  3. Then add to mixture of corn meal and corn flour seasoned with salt and pepper. Be sure corn meal adheres to cheese on all sides.
  4. Place cheese blocks on cookie sheet and spray with oil { I use a misto oil sprayer }
  5. Bake for 3 minutes, gently turn blocks of cheese, and spray other side with oil.
  6. Cook for an additional 3 minutes or until cooked but not totally oozing.
  7. Top your favorite salad with these baked cheddar morsels of goodness!
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http://blog.katescarlata.com/2012/06/26/jadore-montreal/

These baked cheddar squares are ready to be added to my greens!  A nice simple mustard-y dressing would serve these greens very well.  Find my salad dressing recipes here.

Enjoy the week!

P.S.  While away I decided that it was time I started to do some push-ups…so Russ and I are on a push-up challenge.  We need to do 25 push-ups every day.  No excuse.  Are you in?

 

 

Just Be Nice

My second child graduated from high school this month.  It’s amazing how time flies. Kids sure do grow fast.  I hope you can enjoy each and every day with your little ones.

Occasions like these make me reflect a bit on my role as a Mom, daughter, sister, wife and friend.  I really try to be a good person and most importantly to be a good role model for my 3 children.  I realize I am far from perfect but just try to do my best as best I can.

This weekend I met up with 5 of my Junior High girlfriends.  These 5 ladies are special friends.  There truly is something special about spending time with friends that have known you for a very long time…we are very comfortable with each other and share so many of the same values.  They are all good role models for me on how to be a good friend, because they have always been a good friend to me.

Girlfriends are important.  I am grateful for mine.

We also had a family party for Kevin to celebrate his high school accomplishments.  As my son Kevin embarks on his life’s journey outside our home, I think about some of the life lessons I have tried to teach him not by what I say, but more on how I life my life.  After all, actions speak louder than words, right?

We are all works in progress and I do believe that most people do the best they can.

My sister, Trisha sent this quote to me and I thought I would share it with you.  As one of the most important life lessons I believe is… Think before you speak.  It’s often NOT what you say, but how you say it that is important too!

So as you parent your little ones, show love to your partner, share memories with your sibling, and chat with your friends….remember to think before you speak…It’s easier and nicer being inspiring, helpful, truthful and kind.

Have a nice week!

 

Happy MOM’s Day!

We had a busy weekend at the Scarlata household.  Russ and I went to see one of our favorite folk singers, Kate Klim on Friday night. The concert was very low key in a church hall.  A really nice calm atmosphere…a great way to chill out after a long work week.

Saturday, after a nice long run with our chocolate lab, Lucy, a soccer game, grocery shopping, and about 10 loads of laundry, Russ and I and our boys, headed into Boston for the Celtics playoff game!  It was one of the most exciting games ever…we won by just one point.  Yay Celts!

Of course, today is Mom’s day.  And as always…I feel SUPER lucky.  After our morning run, it was gift time!  Look at these wicked cute gifts I received….

Hmmmm….quite perfect for a nutritionist, huh?  I am in love!  I will adorn myself with muffin tin holders, forks and knives daily….Yay for thoughtful gifts!  I also received a new knife set which I am super excited about….sharp knives are key in the kitchen.

We did a bit of dividing and conquering today.  Chelsea and I visited with my Mom, my sister Trisha and her daughter, Dianna AND Russ spent some time with the boys with his mom. My mom is 87 years young this year.

We enjoyed a nice dinner out with some fancy desserts to end the meal. Girls just have to have those fancy desserts, right?

YUUUUUMMMM!

Happy Mother’s Day to ALL the Mom’s out there.

It’s the greatest job and really, for me, an  honor… to be a mom of my three wonderfully  compassionate and kind kids.