Spicy Chocolate Ice Cream

Believe it or not, until recently, I had never made a chocolate ice cream.  I think I was a little scared.  Adding chocolate to the ice cream base, an ingredient with its own sugar and fat, made me think it would be more difficult to achieve a balanced taste and texture.  Turns out it just took a little research.  The fat in the chocolate means adding less fat elsewhere; combining both cocoa powder and solid chocolate helps balance out the flavor.  Easy.

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King Cake Ice Cream

Mardi Gras season is upon us, and since this is my first Mardi Gras I am trying to experience as much of it as I can.  Although the weather has been rainy and chilly, I have attended three parades and there are many more to come this weekend.  Mardi Gras parades are like no other parade experience.   Standing among historic houses along live oak-lined streets, watching the elboratedly themed floats ride by with the bright lights flashing and music playing.  The Krewes (people riding the floats) roll along in their creative (and sometime provacative) costumes.  Dancers tap their way down the pavement and bands project music into the air.  Its a little bit of choas mixed with a lot of fun.  I suggest everyone try it.

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Brown Sugar Ice Cream with Candied Pecans

Every Christmas season, I make a homemade holiday gift for everyone on my gift list.  I feel like homemade gifts are the best gifts because they are made with love.  Anyone can buy a gift in a store, but homemade gifts take time and effort.  And I love how my homemade treats make people smile and their tummies happy! 

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Butterbeer Float

I was recently looking through recipes on the internet, trying to find ideas for the holidays, when I randomly came across a recipe for Butterbeer.  Butterbeer is a popular drink featured in the Harry Potter series.  Students of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry often partake in this beverage during their outings to Hogsmeade (a small town near the school).

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