Banana Cream Pie Shake

We're in the middle of summer here in the US, and though summer time means fun, the scorching heat can be very unpleasant and exhausting. It's kinda draining and can make us crave for fruity, icy treats that can help cool us down. Whenever we're at home, making milkshakes, smoothies, and Filipino coolers like ice candies, sago't gulaman, halo-halo, saba con yelo and mais con yelo is a part of our daily routine.  We find it to be the best way to beat the heat!

Of all the summer treats we love making, milkshake is the one we make more often. It's very simple and quick to prepare. Just put all the ingredients in a blender and you'll have a delicious shake in no time. This banana flavored shake that I'm sharing with you is one of my family's favorite. It's an adaptation of Sonic's Banana Cream Pie Shake. Check it out and let me know what you think!

Cherry Ice Cream with Cashews and Marshmallows

It's Friday again! Can't believe two weeks have already gone by since school started! But I'm glad that my daughters are really enjoying school! Would you believe that my youngest, Cherlin is already receiving an award today? She'll be awarded "Hippest in the House" this afternoon! It's how they call the star student award in their school. This award is given every month to one student in each class who has best exhibited the identified monthly character trait. For September, it's RESPONSIBILITY. As Cherlin's mom, I know that she's such a very responsible little girl...but I'm not sure how she was able to impress her teacher within such a short span of time! For her to be able to do that in just 1 week is really amazing...and I am truly proud!!! (^.^) Oh well, before I get over excited about it, I better go on with the real reason why I am here, and that is to bring you this yummy treat...

It's Cherry Ice Cream with Cashews and Marshmallows! I made this a few weeks ago, and it's so good that I want to share it with you before summer ends. I used a pound of fresh sweet red cherries for this. I blended ½ cup of the cherries with cream and milk and the rest was made into a compote which I added to the ice cream in the last few minutes of churning. My daughters requested that I added cashews and marshmallows too, so that's what I did! The result is a delicious and refreshing frozen delight that I'm sure you'll love just like we did! 

Strawberry Cheesecake Ice Cream

Of all the kitchen gadgets I have, my Cuisinart Ice Cream Maker is one of my favorites, especially during the summer. I have it for more than a year now and I must say that I love it! It makes ice cream making at home a lot of fun for me and my daughters! Getting the right consistency of ice cream takes a fair amount of agitation and movement, and that is what you'll need an ice cream maker for. Though it's not a big necessity, making homemade ice cream is a lot convenient with it --- it makes the process of freezing the ingredients easier!

Check out this Strawberry Cheesecake Ice Cream that my daughters and I made using our Cuisinart Ice Crean Maker...

This is a non-custard version of the recipe I got from Just One Cookbook. Non-custard style ice cream is made without eggs and does not require cooking that's why I prefer it. All the ice cream I've been making are all non-custard, and I must say that there's very little difference in texture and they're as rich and tasty! You should try it! 

Worry, not because you can also make this even if you don't have an ice cream maker. You can find the instructions below...

Homemade Rocky Road Ice Cream for Two of the Best Dads I Know

"Anyone can be a father but it takes a REAL MAN to be a DAD."

Some men think that being a father is as simple as contributing to the genetic make up of a child. Little do they know that there's more to being a father, and that is making a total surrender of one's self to be a DAD. Not all fathers are responsible enough to take the "DAD" title. A dad is someone whom we can call a REAL MAN. He is someone who put his entire life to make a difference in a child's life (whether it's his biological child or not).

I feel so blessed that both my father and husband fall into the "REAL MAN" category. Both of them are responsible enough to be the best kind of dad anybody would be proud to have. They may not be a man of fame and fortune but they sure are two of the greatest men in the world for me!  
 
In celebration of Father's Day, I want to pay tribute to my very loving and responsible father, ERNESTO AGUILA FLORES, to the very kind and devoted father of my girls, RYAN MENDOZA DE GUZMAN, and to all the wonderful dads out there for all the sacrifices they make. HAPPY DAD'S DAY! I salute you all! May God continue to bless you and give you the strength to mold your children into intelligent and responsible individuals!

To all the daughters and sons out there who are blessed to have a dad figure in your lives, you should be proud and thankful! Be sure to thank your dad for all the love, care, guidance and support he gave you not just on Father's Day, but everyday!

Today, I bring you this Homemade Rocky Road Ice Cream with both my loving dad and husband in mind. They both love chocolates and nuts so much...so this very chocolatey and nutty ice cream is so perfect for them! Tatay & Ryan, Happy Dad's Day to you both! Please know that I love you and I will always be thankful to God for giving me TWO OF HIS BEST CREATIONS!

If you want to make a special treat for your dads, you should try this! :)

Peanut Butter and Strawberry Jam Ice Cream

It's getting really hot here in Texas again...and we have been making and eating lots of ice cream! For me, nothing tastes better than fruit flavored ice cream like my favorite mango, avocado and langkasuy...but for Ryan and the girls, cookies 'n cream and this Peanut Butter and Strawberry Jam Ice Cream are always on the top of their list.

I'm really not much of a peanut butter person...but everyone here loves it...and I love them, so I can't complain! Since the start of spring, I have no choice but to always give in to their request of making this Peanut Butter and Strawberry Jam Ice Cream. Well, I must admit that I'm beginning to like it too! The very smooth texture that the peanut butter brings to this ice cream is something to fall in love with...and I must say that the combination of peanut butter and strawberry jam (especially homemade one) is truly wonderful. I guess I will also give in to Ryan's request of making Peanut Butter and Cheese Ice Cream very soon!

Homemade Langkasuy (Jackfruit and Cashew) Ice Cream

It's the first Wednesday of the month and we're supposed to have another guest blogger for PiTCC's Favorite Dishes from Around the World, but sadly, she didn't make it because of her busy schedule despite the two months notice.

But worry not, I have something special to share! What's so special about this ice cream, you may ask. Well, this ice cream flavor is something that you can only find in the Philippines. I'm sure many of you haven't heard of it! It is called Langkasuy, which is the shortcut for Langka (Jackfruit) and Kasuy (Cashew).

It was made popular by Magnolia Dairy Ice Cream and was one of my favorite flavors when I was growing up. Jackfruit is a popular tropical fruit in the Philippines which when fully ripe, has a delightfully sweet flavor. Langkasuy Ice Cream captures the full flavor of this tropical fruit with the added crunchy texture and nutty flavor of cashew nuts. I tell you, their flavors complement each other so well!

Homemade Ice Cream: Cookies 'N Cream with Marshmallows

Weather here in Texas is really unpredictable. It can rain cats and dogs for a couple of hours, then it will be sunny and summer-like a few hours later. One day it's hot but very windy...the next day it's cold and raining. When I made this ice cream the other day, the sun was shining so bright, I swear...but now, it's all gloomy and starting to rain.

Oh well, I love ice cream regardless of the weather...so the rain won't stop me from sharing with you this Homemade Cookies 'N Cream with Marshmallows Ice Cream. I'm more of a fruit-flavored ice cream person, and mango, avocado and strawberry are among my favorites. But if there is one non-fruit flavor that I like, it's Cookies 'N Cream. I guess my daughters have influenced me on this one. Whenever we buy ice cream and we let them decide on the flavor, very seldom do they choose other flavors. It's really Cookies 'N Cream most of the time. They love it so much and they enjoy topping it with marshmallows. So since we got our ice cream maker last year, I always make it with marshmallows in it. Now, they don't have to top it with marshmallows...it's already in the ice cream. :)

Mais Queso (Corn and Cheese) Ice Cream Nests

Holy Week officially started yesterday and that means Easter is here in just 6 days! I'm pretty sure that everyone's busy preparing for some get together this weekend, so I feel that there's nothing better for me to share today than this ice cream treat that will be perfect for Easter dessert. Whether you're planning something festive or you're just thinking of a simple family lunch, this is something that's sure to give delight not only to the kids but to the whole family. Everyone will surely find this to be so refreshing after the egg hunt.

When I saw this on meals.com, I knew I have to try it. This ice cream nests idea is actually perfect not just for Easter but for all kinds of occasions. It's such a fun alternative to the usual cone. My girls find this way of serving ice cream too cute. For this post, I used homemade Mais Queso (Corn and Cheese) Ice Cream, (a favorite Filipino ice cream that I haven't had for ages), but you can actually use any ice cream flavor you want. 

Check out my version of Nestle's Easter Ice Cream Nests and let me know what you think!

By the way, starting this Wednesday, I will be doing PiTCC's Favorite Dishes from Around The World every 1st and 3rd Wednedays of the month, wherein I'll be asking fabulous bloggers to guest post with one of my favorite non-Filipino dishes. I can't wait to introduce you to my first guest blogger!!! I'm sure most of you are familiar with her. Here's a hint...she's Italian! :) Be sure to come back this Wednesday to meet her and find out about one of my favorite seafood dishes...

Homemade Strawberry Jam Ice Cream

Happy 4th to all my friends and followers here in the US!!!

Did you know that from 1946 to 1961, the Philippines used to observe its Independence Day on July 4? Yes, that's how it was because July 4, 1946 was when the Philippines received full independence from nearly 50 years of American colonial rule. But in 1962, the late President Diosdado Macapacal changed it to June 12, the date on which the Malolos Republic had declared independence from Spain in 1898. Since then, July 4th was celebrated as Filipino-American Friendship Day to commemorate the liberation of the country by joint Filipino and American forces from the Japanese occupation at the end of World War II. In 1987 however, the late President Corazon Aquino declared that July 4 will no longer be observed as a holiday with the belief that even though the US and the Philippines are friends, Filipinos don't need a holiday for it. July 4 has been an ordinary day to Filipinos since then. 

Now that we are here in the US, we have embraced 4th of July like our own Independence Day celebration. Every year since we got here, even though we aren't U.S. citizens, we celebrate 4th of July with our friends as our way of showing appreciation to the independence and freedom of this great nation that we are now.

Today, we'll celebrate it with a simple dinner with a couple of friends here at our house, and then watch the fireworks display after. I've prepared this homemade strawberry jam ice cream as part of our dessert. I've tried making homemade strawberry ice cream using fresh strawberries last week. Though Ryan & I loved the hint of sour taste in it, Clarise and Cherlin insisted that they prefer it sweeter...so I decided to use strawberry jam instead of fresh strawberries. Again, I used the same procedure as my mango ice cream. We all liked it...I hope my guests tonight will like it too. By the way, I used homemade strawberry jam! I promise to share with you the recipe within the week! 

And before I forget, you have 8 days left to join my 100th Recipe Post Giveaway. Please don't miss it! ;) 

Ingredients:

• ¾ cup homemade strawberry jam
• ¼ cup sugar (this is optional - for me, the sweetness of the strawberry jam is enough)
• Juice of one lemon, freshly squeezed 
• 1½ cups heavy cream
• ¾ cup milk