Daring Bakers July Challenge: Swiss Swirl Ice Cream Cake

The July 2010 Daring Bakers' challenge was hosted by Sunita of Sunita's world - life and food. Sunita challenged everyone to make an ice-cream filled Swiss roll that's then used to make a bombe with hot fudge. Her recipe is based on an ice cream cake recipe from Taste of Home.

Well ... I am feeling a little bit sick today. After licking a dozen spoons (can't help myself) covered with sugar and cream-containing mixtures I am not excited any more about the ice cream cake forming into my freezer. If you ask me now, no more ice cream for me ... Just a few days earlier, I was jumping for joy because my ordered ice machine had arrived. Yes, I ordered an ice machine - not only for the challenge, I had been playing with this thougt for a while, and this month's challenge was the last straw (like the crepe pan - thanks again ;). Of course I had to have the suitable book too - I guess if you have been (food)blogging and reading for a while, you know David Lebovitz. I read this name for the first time as someone mentioned making one of his ice cream recipes, particularly this salted butter caramel ice cream. Not to mention this site has been among my favourites ever since. Of course I ordered The perfect scoop too. I gained two pounds just from looking at the recipes in this book, but nevermind. Luckily I prepared two different ice creams bearing the challenge in mind. Not the caramel one which should be eaten just pure ... I chose a salty caramel sauce instead of the hot fudge. It turned out to be very fluid so maybe I'll keep with the original recipe next time.

Yesterday I recognised it was already the 26th and I had to finish and post the challenge today. The cake is still freezing and not ready to serve - and I couldn't eat a piece to be honest. I am going to taste and make pictures during my next craving for chocolate and sweet stuff, I promise. (Note from the 28th of July: My never-tired-of-sweet-stuff boyfriend completed the task for me, he managed to eat a whole piece of this calorie bomb. During cutting, serving and photographing the cake I had some serious tilting- and melting-promblems but I got at least one good shot displayed beneath.)

Daring Cooks July Challenge: Nut butters

The July 2010 Daring Cooks' Challenge was hosted by Margie of More Please and Natashya of Living in the Kitchen with Puppies. They chose to challenge Daring Cooks to make their own nut butter from scratch, and use the nut butter in a recipe. Their sources include Better with Nut Butter by Cooking Light Magazine, Asian Noodles by Nina Simonds, and Food Network online.

This month I missed the Cooks challege because I was hiking in the Norwegian woods. We came back at the 14th, I had to go to work the next day and do a 24h duty, so there was no time left for cooking and presenting. A few deays later I catched up on the challenge. I don't wanted to miss the great idea of a dich with a creamy sauce just made out of nuts. I had some cashews, 'asian-style' vegetables in the freezer and some Mie noodles left, so I made a tasty leftovers dish. I guess I am going to make an ice cream with the rest of my butter, so thanks to Margie and Natashya for this challenge!

Turkey with Mie noodles in cashew (nut butter) sauce (recipe below)