Chocolate Espresso Bean Popsicle

Chocolate Espresso Bean Popsicle

Espresso Bean Popsicles

Warm summer evenings…….you need something cool…….but you love coffee…….too hot for coffee……..think again! Chocolate Espresso Bean Popsicles are just the ticket.

The only popsicles I have ever made were the ones you made with Kool-Aide when you were a kid. Everyone had the Tupperware popsicle mold, and all we had to fill them was Kool-Aide or juice. Well, times they have a changed!

I have seen many recipes for popsicles on Pinterest, and thought I would give some a whirl.  Tim and I love coffee! In the summer we make iced coffee by the pitcher full. We discovered that a french press makes perfect iced coffee. So why not make popsicles?

First I needed the molds. And if all else fails check eBay. With the molds purchased and on the way I needed a recipe.

I wanted a creamy sort of latte taste, so I needed some type of milk. I tried sweetened condensed milk, its sweet and creamy so I hoped it would work. I blended it with hot coffee and poured it into the mold. I also wanted some visual interest, so I mixed the condensed milk I didn’t use in with some cream. That’s how you make ice cream, so why not.

We like a little crunch in things so, chocolate covered espresso beans. Besides being chocolate and all kinds of yummy, they make them look really pretty!

I would never have tried the espresso beans, but years ago one of my girlfriends Michelle, owned a cafe, deli, bakery, coffee shop……..The Herb Garden Deli,Cafe and Bakery. It was a great place, and in the coffee shop, we had chocolate covered espresso beans……..I was leery. But I tried them and all I can say is they are addicting. So, thank you to Michelle for broadening my horizon, so I could years later make this recipe.

Layers of espresso beans, creamy latte, and creamy cream…….like foam on a cappuccino, but all frozen makes a sweet cool coffee treat. Perfect for those warm summer nights when you really want a coffee………

Espresso Bean Popsicles Collage

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Espresso Bean Popsicles

Chocolate Espresso Bean Popsicle

  • Author: Marty Boyd
  • Prep Time: 2 hours 10 minutes
  • Total Time: 2 hours 10 minutes
  • Yield: 10 1x
  • Category: Dessert
  • Method: Freeze
  • Cuisine: American

Ingredients

Scale
  • 2 cups very strong coffee, hot
  • 114oz. can sweetened condensed milk, divided
  • 3/4 cup heavy cream
  • 1/2 tsp. vanilla extract
  • 1/2 cup crushed chocolate covered espresso beans, divided

Instructions

  1. Place 2/3 cup sweetened condensed milk in a bowl or measuring pitcher. Pour the hot coffee over the top and stir until blended. Allow the coffee to cool for a few minutes.
  2. Place 1 teaspoon of crushed espresso beans into each popsicle mold, then carefully pour the coffee mixture into the molds, until about 2/3 full. Place in the freezer and freeze until slushy, about 1- 2 hours.
  3. Mix the heavy cream with 3 Tb. sweetened condensed milk and vanilla. Pull the Popsicle out of the freezer.
  4. Pour 1-2 tablespoons of cream over the top of each pop and top with another teaspoon of espresso beans, add a popsicle stick to the middle.
  5. Return to the freezer and freeze until hard.
  6. To remove from the molds: Fill the sink with warm water and dip the bottoms of the molds in the warm water for 30seconds or so. If the popsicles do not come out re-dip them.Be careful not to let them in the warm water to long or they will melt.
  7. Eat immediately, or wrap in plastic wrap and place in freezer bags and return to the freezer.

Notes

Prep time does not include overnight freezing.

Keywords: coffee, sweetened condensed milk, heavy cream chocolate covered espresso beans, popsicle

 

Italian Meatball Salad

Italian Meatball Salad

We all wished for warmer weather and our wish has come true! So, with warmer weather, and our garden doing very well, it was time to make salad! Italian Meatball Salad!

Italian Meatballs Salad

Our lettuce and spinach has done very well this year. Especially the baby spinach, which is the base for this salad. You can use whatever kind of lettuce you like, but due to our over abundance, I chose baby spinach.

Italian Meatball Salad 1

 The weather this week has been warm and sticky. I really didn’t want to heat up the kitchen or even cook for that matter. But, we had to eat, so I trudged on. I had some leftover meatballs from another meal in the freezer so, out they came…….but what to have with them? Since they were Italian spinach meatballs……spinach theme……Italian theme? Tomatoes, mozzarella cheese, and basil. But what for a dressing? I wanted to keep with the Italianese, and meatballs need marinara….hmmm. I made a basic vinaigrette and added some jarred marinara sauce. A little parmesan cheese and the result………….FANTASTIC!  Tim and I both thought it was the perfect dressing for the Italian Meatball Salad……like spaghetti and meatballs……with no spaghetti…..

Italian Meatball Salad 2

Now, above all it was easy. Used left overs, I didn’t need to use any thing but the microwave (I heated the meatballs just a bit). It was inexpensive (using my own produce), and best of all it was totally yummy!! So, now that the heat of summer has arrived try this Italian Meatballs Salad for a cool summer meal!

Italian Meatball Salad Collage

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Italian Meatballs Salad

Italian Meatball Salad

  • Author: Marty Bpyd
  • Prep Time: 10 minutes
  • Total Time: 10 minutes
  • Yield: 2 1x
  • Category: Salad
  • Method: No Cook
  • Cuisine: Italian

Ingredients

Scale
  • 8 precooked meatballs
  • 6 cups baby spinach
  • 4 slices fresh mozzarella cheese, cut in half
  • 4 small tomatoes, quartered
  • 2 tablespoons shredded parmesan cheese
  • Fresh basil, chopped for garnish
  • Ground Italian Seasoning to taste- I use the McCormick grinders
  • Marinara Vinaigrette

Instructions

  1. Place spinach on serving platter. Arrange mozzarella,tomatoes, and meatballs on spinach. I used meatballs I had left over from another recipe, but you can buy frozen prepared meatballs.Heat to take the chill off. Grind (or sprinkle if you are not using a grinder) the Italian seasoning over the top of the entire salad. Garnish with parmesan cheese and basil. Serve with Marinara Vinaigrette.

Keywords: spinach. meatballs, fresh mozzarella cheese, tomatoes, parmesan cheese, basil

 

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Italian Meatballs Salad

Italian Marinara Vinaigrette

  • Author: Marty Boyd
  • Prep Time: 10 minutes
  • Total Time: 10 minutes
  • Yield: 2 servings 1x
  • Category: Salad
  • Method: No Cook
  • Cuisine: Italian

Ingredients

Scale
  • 1/2 cup Marinara Sauce
  • 1/2 cup chopped basil
  • 1 tablespoon grated Parmesan cheese
  • 2 tablespoons cup Red Wine Vinegar
  • 1 tablespoons Balsamic vinegar
  • 1/2 tablespoon Dijon mustard
  • 1 cloves garlic
  • 1/2 cup Extra Virgin Olive Oil
  • Salt & Pepper to taste

Instructions

  1. In a blender,small food processor, or a Bullet Blender combine Marinara, basil, parmesan cheese, vinegars, mustard and garlic. Pulse with 1/2 cup of olive oil until blended. Add remaining olive oil and blend until emulsified. Season with salt and pepper to taste.

Serve at room temperature. Refrigerate to store.

Keywords: marinara sauce, basil, parmesan cheese, no cook

Gluten Free Double Chocolate Pistachio Cookies

Gluten Free Double Chocolate Pistachio Cookies

As promised…………..Gluten Free Double Chocolate Pistachio Cookies……….

Gluten Free Double Chocolate Pistachio Cookies 1

 If anyone could tell these are gluten free I would eat my hat! These are some of the best cookies we’ve ever eaten. Double chocolate, crispy on the outside, and fudgy on the inside………a totally perfect cookie. A wonderful treat for those with a gluten intolerance and for those without.

Pistachios………you would think for all the cooking and baking I have done in my life I would have tried pistachios………but no, and neither had Tim. Well, unless you count the “Watergate Cake” that was popular when I was in my early twenties. It was made with pistachio pudding. After tasting them lets just say the pudding does not do justice to these little green nuggets. They are wonderful and I will definitely be searching for other ways to use them.

Gluten Free Double CHocolate Pistachio Cookies

Another thing that I like about this recipe, is that it doesn’t make a huge amount of cookies. It makes ten or so, which is perfect. Enough to share if you are so inclined, but not so many that you are eating them for a month…….like they would last that long at our house…..lol.

So, whether you need a gluten free cookie or not these are a a chocolate lovers delight and a pistachio lovers dream all in one yummy cookie!

Gluten Free Double CHocolate Pistachio Cookie Collage

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Gluten Free Double Chocolate Pistachio Cookies 1

Gluten Free Double Chocolate Pistachio Cookies

  • Author: Marty Boyd
  • Prep Time: 1 hour 15 minutes
  • Cook Time: 10 minutes
  • Total Time: 1 hour 25 minutes
  • Yield: 2 dozen 1x
  • Category: Cookies
  • Method: Bake
  • Cuisine: American

Ingredients

Scale
  • 3/4 cup almond flour
  • 1/3 cup cocoa powder
  • 1/2 tsp baking soda
  • Sea salt to taste
  • 1/4 cup coconut oil
  • 1/2 cup turbinado sugar
  • 1 egg
  • 1 tsp vanilla extract
  • 1/2 cup dark chocolate chips
  • 1/3 cup pistachios, chopped

Instructions

  1. Combine flour, cocoa powder, baking soda and sea salt in a bowl then set aside. In a separate bowl beat coconut oil with a hand/stand mixer until creamy then add in sugar. Beat in the egg and vanilla extract. Pour in dry ingredients and stir with a wooden spoon until well combined. Fold in chocolate chips and pistachios.
  2. Using an ice cream scoop, scoop batter on a parchment lined cookie sheet. Place in the fridge for 1 hour.
  3. Preheat oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit. Bake cookies for 10-12 minutes, then let cool for 5 minutes before transferring to a cooling rack.

Keywords: chocolate, almond flour, pistachios, cookie, gluten free