Summer Inspired

With the issues of the last post behind me - THANKFULLY - I couldn't help but spend some time in the kitchen :)

So today I share two "dishes" that are summer inspired - veggies with dinner and fruit with dessert. Both were super easy and pleasantly yummy! 

Veggie Penne

1      Tbl      Bacon Grease (could use olive oil)

2.5   Cups   Penne

2      Cups   Chicken Broth (could use vegetable broth)

1/2   Cup     Water

2      Cup     Broccoli

1      Med     Carrot (shredded)

1/2   Cup     Frozen Peas

2      tsp       Minced Garlic (divided)

1/4   Cup     Grated Parmesan Cheese

1      oz        Cream Cheese

Salt & Pepper to taste

Melt bacon grease in a large skillet and add 1 tsp minced garlic. Allow to simmer for a minute and then add your broccoli and carrot shreds (julienned works too - I just don't have the skill to keep them all even so I use what I have :)  ). Cook over medium heat for a few minutes so that broccoli starts to get tender, I like to cook it for about 5 minutes. Remove from skillet and set aside.

Add chicken broth and the rest of the minced garlic to the skillet and add your penne pasta. Cover and allow to cook for 5 minutes.

Stir, add in frozen peas, recover, and cook for another 5 minutes. 

By now, most of your liquid will be gone and your pasta will be almost perfect. Add water and cream cheese and stir to melt the cheese in. 

Stir in veggies and recover and allow veggies to warm back through, about 3 minutes.

Toss with grated parmesan cheese and serve. 

And if that just isn't yummy enough - I couldn't help but make dessert too... have to take care of that sweet tooth now and then :)

Peaches with Coconut Ice Cream

1 - 2             Peaches

1/2       tsp    Honey

13.5     oz     Coconut Milk (1 can)

1/2      Cup   Soy Milk

1/4      Cup   Sugar

1.5      tsp     Cornstarch

1         tsp     Vanilla Extract

Combine sugar and cornstarch in a saucepan. Place the pan over medium heat and slowly stir in soy milk, whisking so that sugar and cornstarch are combined and dissolve. Next, slowly stir in the coconut milk and vanilla extract. Bring to a boil and reduce heat and continue stirring for 5 minutes so that it can start to thicken. 

Add ice and water to a large bowl and then place a medium bowl in the center.

Once your liquid is ready to move from the stovetop, pour it into the center bowl and stir occasionally to cool. You'll notice it continue to thicken. Once cool, it can be added to the ice cream machine.

When your ice cream is ready, slice your peach (or peaches) in half and remove the pit.

Warm up a small pan over medium heat and then add the honey to the pan, under the cut side of the peaches, and allow to continue to simmer... shaking the pan continually to "stir" them around in the honey and keep things from burning.

After about 3 - 5 minutes you should be good to go. You'll have a nice golden honey crust on the top of each. 

Top each slice with a scoop of ice cream.

If desired, drizzle with extra honey or caramel. 

You'll have enough ice cream for 4 peach halves, maybe even a 5th - depending on how big your scoop is. 

It's yummy and just sweet enough to take care of that dessert craving. I also choose to believe making a coconut milk ice cream is a little healthier...  please don't burst my bubble on that one :)

Anyways - both of these were great and simple... they were yummy surprises that were totally worth sharing. I am sure I'll be having more recipes to be sharing shortly as well, I have a bit of a in the kitchen experimentation bug currently :)