Smarties Chocolate Mini Egg Ice Cream

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Easter is just over a week away. Will the sunshine break though as it has today, or not? The reason I ask is directly related to this Smarties Chocolate Mini Egg Ice Cream. Will a cold wet day force us to enjoy it inside, or better still, will we sit outside, in the warmth of the sun, munching on ice cream filled cones? I know where I’d rather be!

FF Smarties Chocolate Mini Egg Ice Cream
Smarties Chocolate Mini Egg Ice Cream in colourful ice cream bowls.

As Smarties mini eggs are not available all year round, yet this ice cream deserves to be made more often than Easter, here’s a solution. Simply use the same weight of regular Smarties. Since they don’t need to be chopped, making the ice cream will be even easier. Although, it isn’t a difficult recipe to make at all.

FF Smarties Chocolate Mini Egg Ice Cream
Smarties Chocolate Mini Egg Ice Cream a bigger batch, so more to share.

Suitable for both adults and children, a larger batch means that there is more to go around. Extra mini eggs on top of each serving show what is in the frozen treat and add to the fun. Since Easter is a time for celebrating, what better time to make this ice cream. Finally an ice cream maker makes the whole process simple and easy. I recommend Andrew James ice cream maker.

FF Smarties Chocolate Mini Egg Ice Cream
Smarties Chocolate Mini Egg Ice Cream a refreshing dessert.

Recipe: Smarties Chocolate Mini Egg Ice Cream makes approx. 1L

400ml Double Cream

400ml Whole Milk

2 tsp Vanilla Bean Paste – I use Nielsen-Massey

6 Large Free Range Egg Yolks

1.5 tsp Corn Flour – I use Doves Farm

6 tbsp Caster Sugar

150g Dark Chocolate

2 x 100g Packs of Smarties Mini Eggs

Method:

Ensure the frozen part of your ice cream maker has been in the freezer for a minimum of 24 hours, or according to manufacturer’s instructions.

Detailed step by step photographs can be found here Very Vanilla Ice Cream

  • First of all, Place the milk and cream into a heavy bottomed saucepan, over a medium heat.
  • Now add the egg yolks, vanilla bean paste, corn flour and sugar into a large, heatproof bowl. Whisk the egg yolks with the other ingredients, starting slowly and increasing in speed, until thoroughly combined.
  • As small bubbles appear around the rim of the hot liquids in the saucepan remove the pan from the heat. This is called the scalding point.
  • With the whisk on low, pour the hot liquid into the egg mixture slowly. Continue whisking until thoroughly combined. Pour the egg custard mixture back into the saucepan, placed over a low heat.
  • While the custard is heating stir with a wooden spoon and quickly wash up the bowl
  • Place the chocolate into the base of the bowl. While stirring the custard also place a sieve over the bowl.
  • When the custard starts to bubble and coats the back of a wooden spoon it is cooked. Remove at once and pour through the sieve, on to the chocolate in the bowl.
FF Smarties Chocolate Mini Egg Ice Cream
Making the chocolate ice cream base.
  • As the custard base moves through the sieve, any lumps are filtered out.
  • Remove the sieve and stir the hot custard. As the custard melts the chocolate it will become visible. Continue stirring until all of the chocolate has melted.
  • Place cling film directly on top of the hot custard. This will stop any skiing from forming.
  • Move the bowl to a cool place. Once cooled to warm, place the bowl in the fridge.
  • While the chocolate custard is chilling the Smarties can be prepared.
  • Carefully chop one whole packet of mini eggs in half and tip them into s bowl containing a packet of whole smarties mini eggs.
  • When the chocolate custard is cold, set up the ice cream machine according to manufacturer’s instructions.
  • Pour the chocolate custard through the specific whole in the covering. For my machine, the paddle needs to be turning first.
  • Allow the ice cream to churn until it is softly set. Similar consistency to whipped ice cream.
  • Once this point has been reached, turn the machine off and remove the paddle.
  • Transfer the chocolate ice cream into a freezer proof tub with an air tight lid.
  • Now add all of the mini eggs, both chopped and whole. Gently stir to mix in the mini eggs. Then clamp on the lid and place into the freezer, where it will freeze completely.
FF Smarties Chocolate Mini Egg Ice Cream
Preparing the eggs and ice cream ready for the freezer.
  • Leave the ice cream to freeze solid. Overnight is ideal.
  • To serve, remove the ice cream from the freezer 20-30 minutes prior to scooping. As this ice cream doesn’t have any additives to keep it soft, leaving it on the side prior to serving allows it to soften.
  • Scoop the ice cream into cones or bowls. Also, sprinkle over a few extra mini eggs or Smarties.
FF Smarties Chocolate Mini Egg Ice Cream
Smarties Chocolate Mini Egg Ice Cream crunchy, creamy, chocolate Fun.

These bowls of ice cream are bound to produce lots of smiles.

Store in the freezer for one month.

If you have enjoyed the recipe for Smarties Chocolate Mini Egg Ice Cream then you may also like these:

Chocolate Rolo Ice Cream

FF Smarties Chocolate Mini Egg Ice Cream
Chocolate Rolo Ice Cream

Lemon Ripple Ice Cream

FF Smarties Chocolate Mini Egg Ice Cream
Lemon Ripple Ice Cream

Chocolate Honeycomb Ice Cream

FF Smarties Chocolate Mini Egg Ice Cream
Chocolate Honeycomb Ice Cream

Homemade ice cream is unique. Since you can change the flavours to whichever you prefer. Also, the convenience of having an ice cream maker allows you to make ice cream whenever you want.

Whatever you do this Easter, I hope that you take a moment to pause and remember it’s true meaning. Please see Important Stuff

Sammie xx

Please note: The chocolate ice cream by itself is gluten free, providing gluten free corn flour is used. However, the min smarties eggs do contain gluten.

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Life Beyond Blogging

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Hello each and everyone of you who takes time to stop and read this post. I really appreciate you.

Life Beyond Blogging as a thank you here are some beautiful roses xxx
Life Beyond Blogging as a thank you here are some beautiful roses xxx

I have had something of a writer’s block recently, that coupled with a post I recently read on teta lizza has prompted me to write this post.

There are no food recipes. Sorry. Hopefully though, there will be some tips to help all bloggers? There really is Life Beyond Blogging!

Let me explain.

I started this blog over a year ago as a way to document recipes I try, or create and also to let off steam about the various health issues I face – it’s here if you want to read about it!!

I have loved every minute of blogging. The challenge of creating, then documenting my bakes and recipes.

I never, ever expected anyone to read this blog. Yet the sense of accomplishment I feel, when someone leaves a comment, well it is literally ridiculous.

It blows me away every time. Although encouraging others is what I set out to do, I never believed it would actually happen.

Sometimes though, this past week being an example, a combination of life, health, writer’s block gets in the way of me posting as regularly as I’d like. Oh and the odd hospital stay!

Nobody has absolute control over their life. Stuff happens – life happens. We all have a Life Beyond Blogging.

And it’s ok to take a breather. It really is.

When I was hospitalised for 2 weeks over Easter, because my body started having seizures (yeah thanks for that body!), I lost all control of my life.

I couldn’t see my family first thing in the morning, I’d be wiped out for hours whilst my body jerked and jolted about, I even had to tell a nurse when I needed to pee!!

As for blogging, I just couldn’t. I was (am) struggling to come to terms with what the heck was going on with my body and I’m sorry, but blogging about what I was going through wasn’t even on my radar.

And do you know what? That’s ok.

Life happens.

We get sick, work goes mental, family circumstances change AND a gazillion other things happen and we can’t always bake/review/photograph the sunset – you get my drift?

We a have a Life Beyond Blogging and that’s exactly how it should be.

I know for professional bloggers – those who make a living from their blog, that this can be different, but I don’t think any blog should become all consuming.

If our entire focus is on capturing moments via our iPhones, are we actually living, present in that moment? Or will we have missed it and just have a photograph/video as a memory?

Kind of like going to a concert and watching the whole thing through your phone, so you can record it. Doesn’t that lessen the experience and point of going to the concert in the first place?

I enjoy my blog A LOT! But sometimes it’s good to step away, through choice or because of circumstances. If it becomes a burden then I know for me, it’s time to look at my priorities.

That doesn’t mean not being committed to blogging, rather, that balance is important in all aspects of our life.

I haven’t written a ‘personal’ blog for a while. This has definitely got the words flowing again.

My advice to me and you – hey we’re in this together, is, when your blog becomes a source of persistent stress, stop. Just for a moment and give yourself a break. Remind yourself of why you started blogging in the first place. Then if necessary take steps to make blogging fun and enjoyable again.

Maybe reduce your posts per week, take a complete break until you have something you absolutely must write, like in the beginning of blogging, where your chest/head – relevant body part, would explode if you didn’t get it written down and posted.

I’ve read so many, too many blogs recently, that start with an apology for not having posted for a while. It makes me feel sad. Most bloggers understand the difficulties of keeping up with a regular blogging schedule.

Cut yourself some slack. Don’t beat yourself up because you haven’t posted in a while. Live a little and take time out to laugh. Enjoy yourself!

There is Life Beyond Blogging and if we forget that, our blogs will be shallow reflections of a life not lived!

This post has helped me, I hope it helps you?

Sammie xx

 

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What a feast we had!!

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If I were a fairy, this cake would be my home xx
If I were a fairy, this cake would be my home xx

Hi there. I really do hope that you are having a good day? If not I hope tomorrow is better for you.

As for me, eldest daughter is having  a sleepover tonight with some friends. So of  course we’ve had plenty of fun and feasting- although  how much sleep is had tonight I can only guess at!!

They are all lovely girls and all four of their birthdays are near each other, so I thought it would be nice to make them all a special cupcake,

Sharing their birthday celebrations together, with a pretty cupcake tower
Sharing their birthday celebrations together, with a pretty cupcake tower!!

Now before I get into the feasting frivolities, I feel it is necessary to share with you my love of fairy lights. They add such sparkle to a room. With one flick of the switch a nice room becomes a magical party room. And they make me smile, especially when I see them reflected in a mirror. It’s like an extra bonus (buy one get one free!!!). I feel so much better having shared that as it will help to further explain my other love……

Sparkles, whether it is a shimmering, sun lit sea scape, or a harsh overnight frost followed by a sun lit, clear blue sky. The way the ice crystals sparkle under the bright low sun  & spiders webs, beautifully defined by the ice crystals, look like something straight out of an Enid Blyton fairy story.

But sparkles, although enchanting in nature, can also be used to turn a pretty cupcake, into a spectacular one. I’m talking edible glitter here people & the world – my world – loves to sprinkle a little glitter whenever the occasion allows ( I satisfy myself with a daily application of sparkly lip gloss – & I’m happy about that!!).  Christmas (as well as properly remembering & giving thanks to God for the birth of his son Jesus) sees me in my element, totally immersed in fairy lights, tinsel, baubles & pots & pots of glitter – edible or otherwise.

Anyhow back to this blog! Here’s a couple of photos of the vanilla & chocolate cupcakes (I’m proud of the restraint I showed whilst decorating them!!!!

Chocolate, but sparkly & classy!!
Chocolate, but sparkly & classy!!

So I made a couple of pizzas (thank you Mr Bread machine), some coleslaw, garlic bread – with fresh Thyme – my fav so far, well today, baked oven potato wedges, cocktail sausages & sausage rolls ( the last 3 cooked from a packet – I know my limits!!), added a couple of dips, crisps & crudités & the feast was complete. The hungry teenagers got stuck in!!

Many hands make pizza disappear quickly!!!!
Many hands make pizza disappear quickly!!!!

And I’m not sure I have ever heard so much laughter, seen such happy faces or seen pizza disappear quite so quickly. It made me glad and thankful.

Thankful that I am married to a man who loves me sooo deeply, flaws an all. Thankful that we have 3 beautiful, loving, caring & thoughtful children. The BEST family anyone could ever hope for & secure in the knowledge that we are loved by the best man who ever walked this earth, Jesus.

He is our strength & our refuge. It is only by being full up & constantly refilled with His unending love that we can deal with daily challenges & still smile. Thank you Lord.

I hope that you too know my friend Jesus, He IS the smile that lives in my heart.

If you don’t know Him & the Vast love & forgiveness He has for you, please leave a comment & I will get back to you with more info?

Thank you for taking time to read my blog. I’m not very tech savvy & everything I have written & photographed on my phone!!!!

Until next time, & I say this as much to myself as you, try to react in a kind, considerate way the next time someone puts an obstacle in your path & if you can smile through it, all the better xx

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