Homemade Tangy Frozen Yogurt

I don't know about the rest of the country, but in Utah Valley frozen yogurt is the rage. My husband and I returned home (after being away three years) to find loads of new yogurt places scattered around the valley. Of course we had to make the tour and try them out. I love plain tangy frozen yogurt with fresh berries on top! I think I ate it at least every other day for our first few weeks home. Yesterday my daughter shared a recipe to make it at home. I tried it this morning and ....

...it's perfect!

Here's the recipe:

2 cups lowfat or regular plain Greek yogurt (it's thicker than normal - I love Greek Gods brand)

2 cups plain whole milk yogurt (I love Brown Cow brand)

1/3 cup superfine sugar (I didn't have any so I put regular sugar in blender for a few minutes)

3 TBS corn syrup (I didn't have any so I used honey)

Mix together and freeze in ice cream freezer

Serve with fresh fruit on top

Enjoy being naughty and healthy - all at the same time

"Then did I eat it; and it was in my mouth as honey for sweetness." Ezekiel 3:3

Five minute ice cream

Yes really!

And it is the best ice cream ever!

You can get the recipe and see a video here.

You need a good strong blender like a vitamix. Just add a package of frozen fruit (12-14 oz), 1/2 cup or less of sugar, and 2/3 cup cream, yogurt, coconut milk or soy milk (I'm going to try out skim milk soon). Then just blend until relatively smooth. It will be soft serve but you can freeze it for a few hours if you like firmer ice cream.

Here's the flavors we've tried:

Mango - fabulous (reminds me of the 4 mango trees we had in our yard during our mission)

Cherry with a drop of almond extract - my husbands absolute favorite. It's unbelievable with hot fudge sauce - tastes like a chocolate covered cherry.

Apricot - cream is great and I tried using plain yogurt and less sugar to make it tart. Loved it!

Chocolate banana - delicious. I just added 3 TBS of good quality cocoa powder.

That's all for now but I have fresh pineapple chunks in the freezer to try that flavor next.

"Tis the season

...for my favorite West Indies fruits

My husband and I have been living in Trinidad for the past three years. I still remember when I tasted my first perfectly fresh julie mango and my first West Indies avocado....I fell in love.

The timing is perfect because now, just as we are preparing to say goodbye and move home to the US, our trees are full of those fabulous fruits.


I honestly did not play with the color of the avocado in Photoshop - this is what they look (and taste) like here!



Just look at these tiny little bananas. They taste so sweet!



And the mangoes...what can I say?





I just had to make Mango Mousse for supper tonight



Mango Mousse

1 env. unflavored gelatin
6 tbsp. sugar (divided)
1/4 c. cold water
1 1/2 c. fresh mango puree (from 2 lg. ripe mangoes)
1 tbsp. lemon juice
2 lg. egg whites, at room temp.
1 cup heavy or whipping cream

In microwavable 1-quart bowl, combine gelatin and 4 tablespoons sugar. Stir in water and microwave uncovered on high 1 to 1 1/2 minutes or until gelatin and sugar dissolves. Stir in mango puree and lemon juice. Chill mixture just until it mounds slightly. In small bowl, with electric mixer, beat egg whites until foamy. Gradually beat in remaining 2 tablespoons sugar until stiff peaks form. Fold egg whites into mango puree mixture.

In small bowl with beaters, whip heavy cream until stiff peaks form. Fold mango mixture into whipped cream (reserve a little cream if desired, for garnish). Divide mango mousse among 6 serving dishes. Chill mousse until firm. To serve, garnish with whipped cream, mango slice and mint sprigs, if desired.

Serves 6

Chocolate Vita-Mix Pudding

This quick to make and satisfies that 'must have chocolate now' feeling without doing too much damage to the diet


This is a modified version of the Vita-Mix Cookbook pudding recipe

2 cups steaming milk
1/4 tsp salt
1/4 cup sugar
5 Tbs flour
1 egg (room temp)
1 tsp vanilla
1 tsp butter
2 Tbs good quality cocoa powder
1 "mix in" piece of chocolate (about 1 oz - any flavor you like - I prefer bittersweet but have fun and mix it up)

Place hot milk, salt and sugar in Vita-Mix container. Secure lid. Select Variable speed #1. Turn machine on and quickly increase speed to #10, then to high. Allow machine to run for 2 minutes. Remover lid plug and add flour, cocoa powder, and chocolate through opening. Replace plug and allow machine to run until mixture settles down and appears to be thickening - about 30 seconds. Drop egg in and run for 1 minute longer. Add butter and vanilla. Stop machine and pour into large bowl or custard cups. Chill and serve.


Almond variation
Eliminate cocoa and chocolate - add 1 cup almonds with butter and vanilla (maybe add some almond extract too)

Banana variation
Eliminate cocoa and chocolate - add 1 ripe banana with first ingredients, or line serving dishes with banana slices.

Coconut variation
Eliminate chocolate - fold in 1/2 cup shredded coconut when finished (better yet - keep the cocoa powder, put in a mounds bar, and make it chocolate coconut!)