Peppermint Patty No Churn Ice Cream

Yay!  I’m finally back to participate in this month’s Fantastical Food Fight, hosted by Sarah at a Fantastical Sharing of recipes.  I sat out the last two months, because a) graduate school started and I felt like I was running around like a headless chicken and b) the themes really weren’t in my wheelhouse.  I love a challenge, but I’m just not into fruity desserts (the themes were cherry cobbler & peaches & cream).

But this month, for National Ice Cream month, the theme is Ice Cream! Whoop!

Dude was especially excited about this one, because he was eager to create a “mint ice cream like the store, mom” and add some peppermint patties.  And I was pretty excited to try a no-churn ice cream since my ice cream maker (which wasn’t very good in the first place) when kaput as I made my Fresh Mint Chocolate Chip Ice cream earlier this month.

“Ice cream like the store” means creamy (the first version was very crystalized due to ice cream maker issues) and minty, but not fresh mint minty, mint extract minty.  Oh, and plenty of green food coloring.

Chilled Borscht #SoupSwappers

Today’s recipe is filling two roles: first is Soup Saturday Swappers hosted by Paula at The Saucy Southerner, who chose the theme Chilled Soups.  The second is this month’s Cook the Books Club hosted by Simona from Briciole who chose the book Mastering the Art of Soviet Cooking: A Memoir of Food and Longing by Anya von Bremzen.

I have to tell you - I cringed immediately, anytime there's a title that  long, I nearly always find the book loathsome and pretentious. 

In the book, the author strives to meld a history lesson, memoir, and food into a seamless, touching story.

Instead, the book read like a dry textbook, followed by a memoir with too many people to keep track of.  I nearly quit reading a quarter of the way through.  I actually stopped about half way because I just did. not. care!

You can see my full review on GoodReads if you're interested.

However, I did get my foodie inspiration in the form of Borscht, which is mentioned several times as a warm winter meal and once as a light, chilled summer meal.

Huevos Rancheros Nachos

During the school year, I read the book, Save Me a Seat by Sarah Weeks with one of my 3^rd grade reading groups.  It was a great book about overcoming bullying and being the new kid and self-acceptance and my students absolutely loved it! 

Plus, it was a total foodie book!

It was split into 5 sections, based on the school lunches, plus there were other mentions of the main characters’ favorite foods, like Huevos Rancheros!

I’ve always wanted to make Huevos Rancheros, so I decided to give them a whirl!

Copycat Qdoba Chicken Quesadillas

My family loves going to Qdoba.

We love the queso (enough to make a couple versions at home – here and here) and the chicken quesadillas!

Spud recently got on a Qdoba tear and decided that we needed to go there twice in one week (we typically eat out every couple weeks or so unless we’re traveling).

Fresh Mint Chocolate Chip Ice Cream

July is National Ice Cream month, so let’s kick things off with an ice cream social!

Spud and I love mint chocolate chip ice cream, so we decided to give that a whirl using the fresh mint we have growing in the backyard!

Things were going swimmingly until my ice cream maker (which is fickle at the best of times) decided to just plain old quit.  Dude (who wants to be an inventor when he grows up) dismantled it in the garage and found it riddled with cheap parts.  It’s a goner.

So I had to take my beautiful custard, toss it in the freezer, stir it every so often, and hope for the best!

Firecracker Jell-o Cups #Cookoutweek

It’s the last day of #CookoutWeek so I decided to end things with a BANG!

This is a super fun, super easy, kid-friendly 4^th of July recipe!

Plus they’re super cute and look like they took a lot of time (but didn’t!)

I made them in a number of different glasses and I loved the different presentations!

Applewood Smoked Pork, Apple & Walnut Salad #cookoutweek

*Disclosure: I received product to sample from ­­­­Smokin’-O’s.  All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Today’s Cookout Week recipe is sponsored by Smokin’-O’s.

Smokin’-O’s using an awesome process to bring real wood fire taste to foods grilled on outdoor gas grills.  This family-owned business uses real, responsibly harvested wood with no fillers or glues to their unique product.  Check them out below!

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Since Hubs in the grill master in our house, I handed him some pork chops and the Smokin’-O’s and let him have his fun!  He watch the handy instructional video and was able to get the Smokin’-O’s going on his first try.  He had a blast turning his outdoor grill into a smoker and I’m just beginning to think of the amazing smoky things we can make next!

We simply enjoyed the smoked pork chops the first day, then we made these delicious salads with the leftovers!  Yum!