To the fella over there with the hella great hair....
That awkward moment when you are crushing on someone but you are pretty sure you've been friendzoned (do guys even have friendzones?) You try convincing yourself that there is hope every time he flashes that smile at you. It's that futile hope that is slowly turning you into a tragic heroine of your own imaginary soap opera. Alas to make things worse he is into someone else and you are just the dorky kid sisteresque character with uncontrollable hair in the corner. I feel like the situation would make an awful D grade teen rom com. Maybe I should start wearing a Go-Pro on my head?
Sorry for the crazy long sentences. I'm writing this while stalking a honey on the train with my eyes (people this attractive are rarely seen on Auckland public transport).
Anyway, typical, wanting what we don't have as per usual. It's either this dude who doesn't even live in the same city as me or another who doesn't even live in the same country. Auckland males have zero chat and pizzaz so I'm guessing it's this lack of talent that is causing me to look elsewhere ie super great friends of friends in places not local to me.
In the mean time while I wait for McBabe to realise I am amazing enough to visit Auckland again for (HA!) I have taken to continuing my solo dining expeditions. I seem to have friends who are either too poor, terrible at keeping plans as promised or who are just grossly unadventurous. Solo dining is the only way to never be disappointed, at least in the company side of things.
Last night I got ditched and the non-receding dream boat was unavailable to step in but my hankering for beef brisket tacos was too strong to not go out. So I strutted up to Depot after work and proudly asked for seating for one. Propping myself at the bar with a great view of the hot bar staff I proceeded to order my brisket taco fix.
The thing I like about the idea of dining alone is that you can really focus on what you are eating. You can fully appreciate the flavour, the texture and the craft of your taco. I was a little annoyed when some 'consultant' started talking to me each time I went to fill my mouth with meat. I'm too friendly to tell people to GTFO hence why this frequently becomes a problem. Also, why do these men always ask if they can buy me drinks. Why can't they ever just offer to buy me more tacos rather than expensive champagne? Tacos are cheaper and tastier.
So make the whole futile crush saga worse, that terrible and trashy day known as Valentines day is coming up. In celebration of being awesome by yourself, crushing hard on the unavailable and having friends who are amazing 93% of the time, make this ice cream. It's all white and red, pretty much a doily clad V-day card on a cone. It for sure tastes better than a card.
Strawberry and White Chocolate Ice Cream Dream
Makes 1L
2 cups cream
2 cups full fat milk
4 egg yolks
220g white chocolate, chopped (I used a block of Dream)
3/4 cup white sugar
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 1/2 cups whole strawberries (I used frozen)
2 tablespoons sugar
1/2 teaspoon corn flour
2 tablespoons cold water
More chopped up white chocolate if you wish
Heat the cream in a large saucepan until just below a simmer. Melt the chocolate into the cream, stirring well so it is evenly dispersed. Pour in the milk and warm until just below a simmer then remove from the heat.
Beat together the sugar, egg yolks and vanilla until a thick pale mixture results. While still beating, gently pour in all of the chocolate milk and beat until all of the egg paste has been incorporated.
Return the mixture to the large saucepan and gently heat whilst scraping the bottom constantly with a spatula until the base thickens like a good thick pouring custard.
Transfer the base into a container and leave to cool before leaving to chill in the fridge overnight. At the same time place your ice cream maker's bowl in the freezer (ideally you want the bowl in there for 24 hours). I would put the brownie in the fridge as well - just so it brings most of the ingredients down to chilled temperature.
To make the strawberry sauce, place your berries in a saucepan over a medium heat, sprinkle over the sugar and let the moisture in the fruit leech out and dissolve the sugar. Mix together the water and corn flour then pour this into the strawberries. Stir and continue to heat until the sauce thickens and becomes glossy. Try and keep the strawberries whole but make sure you heat them right through. Remove from the heat and put in the fridge overnight as well.
Once the base has chilled, pour it into your ice cream machine and press go. Once the ice cream is looking a lot like soft serve you can go ahead and add dollops of the strawberries and sauce and more white chocolate chunks. Once The ice cream has thickened further, transfer into a freezer proof container, swirl through a bit more sauce and leave to harden in the freezer for 6 hours or overnight.
Once hard and scoopable, scoop into bowls and cones and drizzle over any remaining strawberry sauce.
Enjoy!
