how to make ice cream without an ice cream maker | coffee oreo parfait

This super cool technique to make ice cream without an ice cream maker (or liquid nitrogen) is not only comparable, perhaps even superseding it's churned variety, but is healthier, lighter, and so much more impressive. Plus, it's really easy.

Everyone who reads this blog knows that I love making things with really fancy french monikers because they sound so much more exotic and more difficult to make than their American counterparts. So in keeping with the theme, this week we'll be making a "sabayon", the French version of the Italian zabaglione. It's merely whisking egg yolks and wine together which I'm sure all of you can do. And we're turning the sabayon, usually served as a sauce for fruits and stuff, into a parfait which is a French frozen dessert with a texture similar to the love child of an ice cream and a mousse. Did you know parfait is the French word for "perfect". The more you chow. Just to be clear, French parfaits are completely different from layered yogurt, granola, and fruit parfaits we have in the states. I mean just look at the pictures. 

coming soon - how to make ice cream without an ice cream maker | coffee oreo parfait

Soon you'll be able to make the richest, smoothest, tastiest ice cream on the planet, and all without an ice cream maker. Wattttttt!!! I'll teach you how to make a super fancy sabayon folded with cream, coffee, and crushed oreos. Are you drooling? You should be drooling. 

easy chewy pumpkin oatmeal cookies + white chocolate

The school year is officially in motion. The trees are blushing all different hues of red and oranges, fall is upon us. You know what that means right. PUMPKINS! Yay!!! I love pumpkins, pumpkins make me happy, happy happy happy. And you know what I love more than pumpkins, pumpkin cookies, chewy pumpkin oatmeal cookies with white chocolate. To be completely honest I would be perfectly fine with just a chewy spiced oatmeal cookie but when you add pumpkin and white chocolate, God help me. I never told anyone this but I made two batches. shhh.

These cookies are so easy even your kids will be able to whip'em up. If you're looking for something fun to do with the family before the school year gets too hectic this is your recipe. Did I mention they're delicious? They're delicious. 

coming soon - chewy pumpkin oatmeal cookies + white chocolate

banana bread makes another cameo. ;-)

You wouldn't believe how good these taste, believe me there's one in my mouth. hehe.

apple tart + spiced pastry cream + cinnamon shortbread

"Down the last rolling hill where the perfect untrampled grass met the erratic dirt, the maple trees blushed. The wind blew a subtle sweetness through the woods and it mixed with the grass as it came up and filled the air with the scent of autumn."

That's a snippet of the book I'm trying to write with my brother. But it's also a testament to how busy this past year has been. I just want to say thank you to everyone who has made our recipes and followed us from the very beginning. Over this past year, I've come across nothing but warmth and support from all of you in the food blogging universe, which you may be familiar, is notorious for being intensely cutthroat and competitive (or so I've been told, I'm still new to this). 

With our one year anniversary in concurrence with the official start of the autumn season I thought it would only be proper to make something that epitomizes the elegance and flavors of the new harvest. This decked out apple tart consists of a cinnamon shortbread tart shell, filled with a pastry cream spiked with autumn spices and topped with sliced apples. I mean does it get any better? (no it doesn't)

coming soon - apple tart + spiced pastry cream + cinnamon shortbread

In two days it'll be Chow Creations one year anniversary. And to celebrate this milestone (while at the same time welcoming the new harvest season ) here's an Apple Tart with a spice infused pastry cream so good you'll have to try to believe.  And as always, 

Chow!