Jun 18, 2011

Beach and Parmesan Crisps

We had yet another mini vaca...yes we are spoiled:)  This time we went to Figure Eight Island to see the newly weds:)  I have to first say we had a wonderful time....weather was perfect...
 we did a lot of relaxing...
had lots of fun playing in the water, Traci and I completed the hardest puzzle ever and read lots of magazines...

gooffed off alot...

and ate a lot of really good food...

 That being said I cannot tell you how sweet everyone was and genuinely excited to try to make gluten free food.  I of course never expect people to cater to me and usually feel like a burden, but my friends and family really go out of their way to make me feel "normal".   Traci made a gluten free berry trifle that was amazing!  She also made Parmesan Crisps with Goat Cheese Mousse.  Doesn't that sound so good?  Well it was!  I got the recipe...and permission to share with y'all:)  It is very easy, but still yummy.  Ok so here is what you need...
Ingredients:
1 Cup grated Parmesan Cheese
6 oz. Goat Cheese
4 Tbsp heavy cream
1 Tbsp parsley
Salt and Pepper

1.  Have a clean egg carton ready to use (I didn't have this so I used muffin tin).  Preheat oven to 325 and line a cookie sheet with parchment paper.
2.  Place about 1 Tbsp of  Parmesan cheese on the pan and using your finger spread the cheese in an even layer.  Repeat leaving an inch between each one.




3.  Bake 8-10 min. until crisps are golden brown.  Remove from oven and let them cool for about 30 seconds.
 4.  One by one remove them with a rubber spatula and place them into the hollow of the egg carton/muffin tin to form a tulip.  Do this quickly before the cool and harden on the cookie sheet.


5.  Let them cool and then fill them up with this goat cheese mousse (or any other topping you want).

Goat Cheese Mousse:
1.  Place Goat cheese in a food processor and pulse a few times.
2.  Slowly add the heavy cream until mixture is moist, but still holds shape.
3.  Then add parsley, salt and pepper and pulse to combine.

4.  Put the mixture in a zip lock and place in fridge for a few minutes.
5.  Cut the corner of the zip lock bag and slowly pipe the mousse into the Parmesan crisps.

* I added some chopped tomato on top for some color!
Traci thanks for my new go-to appetizer!  She also suggests using these on top of a salad for your g free guests instead of croutons!  We had such a great time at the beach and can't wait to go again...

Jun 9, 2011

Tropical Ice Cream Cake

Ok I know I have been posting mostly dessert recipes lately...but this was so good I had to share.  It is ridiculously easy and perfect for this time of year!
Start with a cookie....shortbread, sugar cookie or maccaroon!  I used coconut macaroons.
Found these at Harris Teeter.  Then you carefully smash them and lay them on a spring foam pan.

Then use your first type of ice cream...I used raspberry sherbert first.  Using an ice cream scoop, place a layer of the ice cream on top of the crust and spread out evenly. Then place in freezer for 30 min.

Then do your next layer.  I used vanilla.  Again freeze for 30 min.
Then your final layer...I used orange sherbert.
Again freeze for 30 min-1hour and remove outside of spring foam pan.  Look at the layer goodness!!

This recipe is so versitle....you could use chocolate cookies or  brownies with mint chocolate chip and vanilla ice cream....oreo cookies with vanilla and oreo ice cream...or....well you get the idea!   It is so easy and there is zero baking!