Month: July 2020

Pitaya Smoothie Bowls with Homemade Granola

Pitaya Smoothie Bowls with Homemade Granola

Pitaya Smoothie Bowls with Homemade Granola are the new favorite breakfast at my house. They are so bright and refreshing, and all the granola makes them surprisingly filling. I can get smoothie bowls at lots of places, near where I live, but I much prefer 

Pizza Arrabbiata with Roasted Peppers

Pizza Arrabbiata with Roasted Peppers

Spicy arrabbiata pizza topped with fresh mozzarella, roasted pickled peppers, olives, and fresh basil.

Chocolate Gelato with Baci Truffles

Chocolate Gelato with Baci Truffles

Chocolate Gelato with Baci Truffles is the ice cream of my dreams. So, I knew it was one of the very first recipes I would post on A Perfect Feast. As a kid I used to love going out for ice cream, to Carvel or Baskin Robins. But, these days, I much prefer making my own ice cream. That way I get to decide how much sugar, and what kind of chocolate or other flavoring, my ice cream will have.

The Equipment I Used

  • An Ice Cream Maker- I used my trusty Donvier ice cream maker, which I’ve had for over 20 years. If you don’t have an ice cream maker, try looking up instructions for ice cream in a bag.
  • An Electric Mixer- You will need this to beat together the egg yolks and sugar. Or, you could whisk it together by hand.
  • A Double Boiler- You need this to melt your chocolate without burning it. If you don’t have one, just put the chocolate in a heat safe bowl, over a pot of simmering water.
  • A Sieve- I used a fine mesh sieve to strain the custard, for a smooth texture. I think you could just skip this step, if you don’t own a sieve.

The Ingredients Needed for Chocolate Gelato with Baci Truffles

  • The Milk- I used whole milk for this recipe, and I’m not sure that a lower fat milk would work here.
  • The Cream- You need to use heavy cream.
  • The Egg Yolks- You need to use large eggs. I saved the whites and made egg sandwiches with them for breakfast today.
  • The Chocolate- I used Hershey’s Special Dark Chocolate for gelato chocolate base. I already had some in my pantry, and it gave the gelato a great flavor. Then, I also mixed in one chopped up Baci Truffle bar, which is super cool because it has a layer of milk chocolate, a layer of hazelnut filling, and a layer of dark chocolate. You could also use Baci Truffles, which are nice in gelato because they have whole hazelnuts in them.

How I Made the Gelato

  • I started to make the gelato the night before I wanted to serve it. This is not essential, but it does make the churning go faster when your mixture is already super cold. So, at 10 o’clock last night I made the custard, and then put it back in the cleaned mixing bowl, and into the fridge to chill up.
  • Early (okay, at 9am), I poured the custard in the canister and started churning. Luckily, my husband was around to give me all his churning expertise, since up to recently, I’d never churned before. That always used to be something my kids loved to do with their dad, so I never had to churn it myself.
  • Then, we could have eaten the gelato right after churning. At that point it had the consistency of soft serve, which is always fine with me. But, I knew we needed to let it firm up, in order for it to be firm enough to photograph. After about 5 hours, it was hard enough to hold its shape when scooped.

If you’ve never made ice cream before, I encourage you to try it. This Chocolate Gelato with Baci Truffles is so easy to make. The hardest part, for me, was guarding the truffles from my family, until I was ready to use them. Next time, I will definitely hide my chocolate supplies, because it is just exhausting answering all those questions about why I need so much chocolate. Anyway, I’ve decided National Ice Cream Day is quite possibly my very favorite holiday. It brings me so much joy to see everyone’s ice cream all over Instagram. So, I hope you’ll all either make some ice cream, or get a fancy cone at your favorite ice cream shop, because life is too short not to enjoy all the ice cream you can!

Chocolate Gelato with Baci Truffles
Chocolate Gelato with Baci Truffles

Chocolate Gelato with Baci Truffles

Creamy chocolate gelato filled with chunks of dark chocolate and hazelnut Baci truffles.
Prep Time 30 minutes
Cook Time 10 minutes
Chilling time 2 hours
Total Time 2 hours 40 minutes
Course Dessert
Cuisine Italian
Servings 8

Equipment

  • ice cream maker
  • electric mixer
  • double boiler
  • fine sieve

Ingredients
  

  • cups whole milk
  • 3 egg yolks
  • ¼ cup sugar
  • 4 ounces dark chocolate, cut up
  • cups heavy cream
  • 1 tsp. vanilla extract
  • 10 Baci truffles or a 5.29 Baci bar

Instructions
 

  • In a three quart saucepan, bring the milk to a simmer.
  • In an electric mixer, using the whisk attachment, beat the egg yolks and sugar for about 4 minutes, or until the batter drips from the whisk in a slow ribbon.
  • Add half of the warm milk to the mixing bowl. Then add everything in the mixing bowl back into the pot. Over low heat, stirring constantly, mix the custard until it is thick enough to coat the spoon. Take care not to let the mixture boil.
  • Meanwhile, in a double boiler over hot not boiling water, melt the dark chocolate. Add it to the custard, and then strain it through a fine sieve.
  • Let the mixture cool for at least 2 hours, or preferably overnight.
  • Add the mixture to your ice cream maker, and follow the manufacturer's directions.
  • Towards the end of the churning process, add the chopped up Baci bar or truffles.
Keyword gelato
Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!
Zucchini Fritters with Roasted Garlic Aioli

Zucchini Fritters with Roasted Garlic Aioli

These Zucchini Fritters with Roasted Garlic Aioli are the perfect summer appetizer or side dish. They are one of my mother-in-law’s specialties, beloved by her entire large, Italian family. When I first tried them I was shocked by how much fantastic basil and garlic flavor 

Chicken Romano and Mozzarella Tomato Stacks

Chicken Romano and Mozzarella Tomato Stacks

Chicken Romano and Mozzarella Tomato Stacks are tasty towers of crispy chicken and creamy mozzarella cheese.

Chocolate Raspberry Bread Pudding

Chocolate Raspberry Bread Pudding

Chocolate Raspberry Bread Pudding is an easy and summery dessert to make and enjoy with your whole family. The entire dish can be made in under an hour, and is a good use for leftover bread. Although it made a wonderful dessert, we also enjoyed it for breakfast on several mornings.

The Ingredients Needed for Chocolate Raspberry Bread Pudding

  • The Bread- I used home baked challah for this recipe, but store bought would work fine.
  • The Milk- You will need to use whole milk for this recipe.
  • The Chocolate- I used Hershey’s bittersweet chocolate, but you could use milk chocolate if that’s what you prefer. I was afraid to use an inexpensive chocolate, like the Hershey’s, in this recipe. But, it was absolutely delicious. And, since my grocery bills can only be described as scary, I couldn’t resist the Hershey’s, since it was at least a dollar cheaper than the other brands.
  • The Coffee- This is definitely optional. I added it because I felt the custard was a little too sweet without it.
  • The Raspberries- I used fresh raspberries to decorate my bread pudding for the pictures, but I used frozen raspberries for the recipe. Frozen raspberries are so much cheaper than fresh, and frankly, more reliably not moldy. And, I already had a giant bag of raspberries in my freezer.
  • Creme Fraiche- I know this can be hard to find, but it is truly worth tracking down. However, if you can’t easily find it, just substitute sour cream.

The Equipment

  • A Food Processor- You could use this to puree your fresh raspberries. I microwaved my frozen raspberries for a minute, and that made them soft enough to go through the sieve.
  • The Sieve- You will need this to get the seeds out of the raspberries. Or, you could skip this step, if you don’t mind the seeds.
  • The Casserole- I used a large oval ceramic dish for my bread pudding. Small individual dishes, like cocettes, would be super cute. Just bake them for half the time.

How I Made It

  • I started this dish by baking a challah. The recipe for the dish is on my blog.
  • Next, I mixed up the custard mixture, and baked off the pudding.
  • While it was in the oven, I made the Raspberry Creme Fraiche.
  • Finally, we ate it for a mid-afternoon snack.

This is a truly delicious summer dessert, that can be enjoyed any time of the day. A lot of bread puddings are somewhat heavy, but this Chocolate Raspberry Bread Pudding is actually fairly light. If you are a chocolate lover, this is an absolutely magical dessert, that you should try very soon.

Chocolate Raspberry Bread Pudding
Chocolate Raspberry Bread Pudding

Chocolate Raspberry Bread Pudding

Dark and rich chocolate bread pudding, topped with raspberry creme fraiche and fresh raspberries.
Prep Time 20 minutes
Cook Time 50 minutes
Total Time 1 hour
Course Dessert
Cuisine American
Servings 8

Equipment

  • Food processor

Ingredients
  

  • 12 ounces challah, cut in 1 in. cubes (6 cups)
  • cups heavy cream
  • ½ cup whole milk
  • ¼ cup sugar
  • 6 ounces chopped bittersweet chocolate
  • 1 egg
  • 4 egg yolks
  • ¼ cup black coffee
  • 3 cups raspberries
  • 1 cup creme fraiche

Instructions
 

  • Preheat the oven to 350° and butter a 9 by 13 ceramic casserole.
  • In a 3 quart saucepan, combine the heavy cream, milk, and sugar. Heat on low heat and stir until the sugar dissolves, in about 5 minutes. Remove from the heat.
  • Add the bittersweet chocolate and whisk the mixture until it is lump free.
  • In a mixing bowl, whisk together the egg and egg yolks. Slowly add the cream and chocolate mixture, and the coffee. Then, stir in the bread.
  • Pour everything into the buttered casserole. Cover with foil, and bake 40 minutes. Take off the foil, add 1 cup of raspberries and bake 10 more minutes.
  • While the pudding bakes, puree the other 2 cups of raspberries, and then push them through a sieve to strain out the seeds. Put the strained berries into a bowl and mix in the creme fraiche.
  • Serve the pudding warm, with the raspberry creme fraiche poured over the top.
Keyword bread pudding, chocolate, raspberrry
Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!
Peach and Tapioca Pudding Parfaits

Peach and Tapioca Pudding Parfaits

Peach and Tapioca Pudding Parfaits are the perfect dessert to enjoy on a hot July day. They’re sweet and creamy, but also light and fluffy and fruity and delicious. Peach and Tapioca Pudding Parfait Ingredients Milk- For this recipe you should use whole milk, not 

Black Truffle Macaroni and Cheese

Black Truffle Macaroni and Cheese

Truffle macaroni and cheese made with black truffle pecorino.

Frozen Nutella Hot Chocolate with Whipped Cream

Frozen Nutella Hot Chocolate with Whipped Cream

This Frozen Nutella Hot Chocolate is a sinfully delicious, cold and refreshing drink to savor on a hot day. It is filled with creamy chocolate, nutty Nutella, and icy cold milk. There is no ice cream in this milkshake-like drink, but it is so full of chocolate, that it is very rich and flavorful. And, don’t forget to add the toppings! Billows of whipped cream and tiny chocolate chips are a must. I forgot to buy them this time, but some chopped hazelnuts to sprinkle on top, would be great.

The Equipment

  • A Double Boiler- You probably have one of these from a pot set you received at your wedding shower, but if you don’t just set a heat safe bowl on top of a pot of simmering water.
  • A Blender- You’ll need a blender to whiz this all up. It doesn’t need to be a fancy one, though. I used my old Oster blender, that was about $20. It worked just fine for this recipe. I was worried that it wouldn’t be able to handle the ice, but it crushed it just fine.

The Ingredients

  • The Unsweetened Chocolate- You need to use unsweetened chocolate for this Frozen Hazelnut Hot Chocolate. I used Baker’s unsweetened chocolate. If you don’t have any, you could probably substitute a dark or bittersweet chocolate.
  • The Cocoa Powder- You need to use regular hot cocoa powder for this recipe, not Dutch process. I used Hershey’s cocoa powder.
  • The Milk- This recipe uses whole milk, but I also made a portion of it with Planet Oak Extra Creamy Oat Milk. The Frozen Hazelnut Hot Chocolate, tasted exactly the same with the oat milk as it did with the whole milk!
  • The Toppings-I used canned whipped cream, although freshly whipped cream would probably be tastier. If you do a dairy free oat milk version of this drink, Coco Whip would be delicious on top. I used wafer cookies, cinnamon sticks, mini chocolate chips, and marshmallows to top the drinks, as well. I made the chocolate shells you see in the picture with molds from the craft store and dark chocolate melting wafers.
  • The Nutella- I don’t usually like Nutella, but it gives this drink a great hazelnut flavor. Whatever you do, never attempt to melt Nutella. It gets clumpy and burns, and makes a mess of your pots and bowls.

How I Made It

  • First I melted the unsweetened chocolate, and then added the cocoa powder and milk.
  • Then, I let it cool off for about ten minutes. I spent my waiting time throwing marshmallows everywhere in preparation for my Frozen Nutella Hot Chocolate photo shoot.
  • Next, I put the melted chocolate mixture, and the milk, and the ice into my old blender.
  • Finally, I got to do the really fun part, which was adding all the toppings.

Drinking this was definitely one of the highlights of my day. It was so cool and creamy, and I’m still thinking about how delicious it was. I really loved that it was not too sweet, but still rich and chocolaty. My whole picky family loved it, too. And, yes, in case you’re wondering, they are just as picky about sweets as they are about savory foods. So, I hope, on some hot and sweaty day, you’ll cool down by trying this cool concoction.

Frozen Nutella Hot Chocolate
Frozen Nutella Hot Chocolate recipe
Frozen Nutella Hot Chocolate

Frozen Nutella Hot Chocolate with Whipped Cream

A rich and creamy iced chocolate hazelnut drink, topped with whipped cream, chocolate chips, and marshmallows.
Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 5 minutes
cooling time 10 minutes
Total Time 25 minutes
Course Drinks
Cuisine American
Servings 2

Equipment

  • blender
  • double boiler (optional)

Ingredients
  

  • 2 ounces unsweetened chocolate
  • cup unsweetened cocoa powder
  • cups whole milk, or oat milk
  • cup Nutella
  • 3 cups ice

For toppings:

  • mini chocolate chips
  • mini marshmallows
  • coconut powder
  • whipped cream

Instructions
 

  • Melt the unsweetened chocolate in a double boiler, over simmering, not boiling water. If you don't have a double boiler, you can use a heat proof bowl placed on top of a saucepan.
  • When the chocolate is melted, slowly whisk in the cocoa powder.
  • Slowly whisk in the milk, and stir until it is smooth and lump free. Cool this mixture until it is room temperature.
  • Pour the chocolate mixture into a blender, along with the ice and Nutella.
  • Blend until everything is whipped together.
  • Pour the Frozen Nutella Hot Chocolate into 2 tall glasses, and top with whipped cream, mini chocolate chips, mini marshmallows, and more cocoa powder. Serve right away.
Keyword chocolate, drink, nutella
Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!
Lemon and Thyme Shrimp Cocktail

Lemon and Thyme Shrimp Cocktail

Ice cold shrimp scented with lemon and thyme, and served with a creamy fennel remoulade.