Java Chip ice cream

This ice cream is seriously delicious. Not the healthiest (it is very thick... a frozen custard), but good for a treat.

1/2 cup sugar plus 6 tablespoons

2 cups milk

2 cups cream (I used 1/2 and 1/2)

3 tablespoons coffee beans

10 egg yolks

pinch salt

3/4 cup bittersweet or semisweet chocolate chips, coarsely chopped

Place coffee beans in a bag and gently roll over with a rolling pin until they are broken up. In a medium saucepan, heat 1/2 cup sugar, milk, cream, and coffee beans. Heat just until simmering, then remove from heat and let steep for 1 hour. After 1 hour, return to heat and bring back to just a simmer. Meanwhile, whisk egg yolks and 6 tablespoons sugar until thick and smooth. Strain 1/2 cup cream mixture and add to egg mixture and whisk until well combined. Slowly strain and add rest of cream mixture to bowl, being careful to constantly stir so you won't scramble the eggs. Return combined mixture to saucepan and heat over medium-low, constantly stirring, until thickened and steaming (don't let bubble). Add pinch of salt, strain mixture into bowl, and place in refrigerator until cool, stirring occasionally. Pour cooled custard into an ice cream maker, following manufacture instructions. A few minutes before ice cream is finished, add chopped chocolate.

Egg white cake

I had several egg whites leftover from making ice cream and wanted to try something different (normally I do meringue cookies with extra whites), so I decided to try this recipe. It was okay when it came out of the oven, but it was actually really good the next day and the 3rd day. I'll definitely make it again!

6 egg whites
1 cups plus 2 tablespoons sugar
1 cup plus 1 tablespoon all purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking powder
1 stick butter, melted, then cooled
optional- flavoring (vanilla, almond, orange extract, etc)- I mixed a tablespoon of vanilla in with the butter

Mix egg whites with hand mixer or in stand mixer until foamy, then gradually add 2 tablespoons sugar. Mix until thick. In a separate bowl, sift together sugar, flour, and baking powder. Sift into egg white bowl, folding to combine. Stir in flavored butter. Pour into greased Bundt pan and bake at 350 for 30-40 minutes. Cool slightly, then invert onto cooling rack.

Pesto Pasta Salad with Peas

Recipe from Publix.

8 oz orzo or other pasta

1/2 pesto

1/2 cup frozen peas

1 medium tomato

leftover baked salmon

shredded Parmesan cheese

Cook pasta. Combine cooked pasta and pesto. Stir in peas, tomoato, and salmon. Top with cheese.

Baked Salmon with pesto

This Publix recipe was easy and delicious!

2 6-oz salmon fillets (fresh or frozen)

ground black pepper

salt

3/4 cup pesto

If frozen, thaw fillets. Preheat oven to 400. Line a large baking sheet with foil. Place salmon (skin side down) on foil lined sheet, top with salt and pepper, then cover with foil. Bake 15-20 minutes or until fish flakes easily with fork. REmove foil and spoon pesto onto each fillet.

With leftovers, make Pesto Pasta Salad with Peas.

Eggplant penne pasta

original recipe here

2 small eggplants
dash salt
16 oz. whole wheat penne pasta
1-2 tsp olive oil
Pepper
Bunch of parsley, basil leaves and rosemary leaves
2-3 garlic cloves
1 cup crushed tomatoes
1/2 – 3/4 cup mozzarella cheese

Cube eggplant, place in colander with salt and allow to sit while you prepare the pasta. Boil pasta according to package directions. Saute garlic, herbs, and eggplant in olive oil. Add tomato and cooked pasta. Top with mozzarella cheese.

Fresh lavender-lemon ice cream

This was very good and refreshing!

2 cups milk

2 cups cream

1/2 cup fresh lavender

zest of 1-2 lemons

8 egg yolks

3/4 cup sugar

Mix cream and milk in a saucepan over medium-low heat. Steep lavender and zest in the cream mixture for 20 minutes. Whisk together yolks and sugar in a bowl. Add one cup of strained cream mixture and mix well. Add the rest of the strained cream mixture and return to pot for 4 minutes, stirring occasionally. Place in the refrigerator to cool completely, then pour into an ice cream maker and follow manufacturer's instructions. Serve with a sprig of fresh lavender or lemon slice.

Peanut butter and banana smoothie

1 banana

2 tablespoons peanut butter

1/2 cup milk

handful of spinach

handful of ice cubes

Pulse in blender until ice cubes are crushed, then puree until smooth!