Tuesday on Maui

Tuesday was a laid back day. We woke up around 6a and took a walk on the beach. On Maui Ross's bed time was 8p and we woke up around 6a. After our walk we went out for breakfast. We had heard of a really good place, but when we got there the line was out the door and there was a 45 minute wait. We decided to go somewhere else. Ross got an omelet and I got stuffed French toast. The toast had a layer of pineapple passion fruit cream cheese in the middle and was topped with cream, powdered sugar, and macadamia nuts. So yummy.

After breakfast we hung out on the beach for a couple of hours. Tejal and I chatted and Ross did some snorkeling. After we ate we headed into Lahaina for gelato. We walked around all the tourist shops and I found some really cool kimono bracelets. I annoyed the guy at the store because I recognized some of the other jewelry (people like to think they are the exclusive sellers, but sorry, I get around.) I looked up the bracelets online and discovered (not surprisingly) that they were way marked up. I'm going to see if maybe I can make the show in NYC in October and buy one there. I liked them that much.

Oh, and we saw the big Banyan tree in Lahaina. So very, very cool.

That is all one tree!

Even though we didn't do that much on Tuesday we were pooped.

Oatmeal Gelato

Last week I made oatmeal gelato. I've always wanted to make oatmeal ice cream. I don't know why. I used the Basic Gelato Recipe and flavored it by steeping the oatmeal (half a cup I think) in the warm milk, cream and sugar. I let it sit so long that the oatmeal was cooked. I strained the solid oatmeal out and I ate some of it the next morning for breakfast. I added some vanilla and some nutmeg to the mixture before freezing it. The gelato definitely tastes like oatmeal. I would like to create a more oatmeal cookie flavor. I think I would need some more nutmeg, a little cinnamon and some brown sugar. Maybe I'll try that in a few weeks when this batch is gone.

Gelato

Last week I made some plain gelato. It was a little like soft serve, but after 24 hours in the refrigerator it was more like regular ice cream. With all the yolks it tastes a little eggy, but it was fine with some blackberries. When we have made it through this batch (it made a lot) I will try and make some oatmeal gelato. I got this recipe out of Men's Health. I forgot to add the salt, and the recipe didn't ever say what to do with the cream.... Men's Health isn't really a cooking magazine.


Basic Gelato

1 quart milk
10 egg yolks
1 1/2 c. sugar
1/2 c. cream
1 pinch salt

1. Heat the milk, cream, and half the sugar in a saucepan. Bring to a simmer.
2. Whisk the other half of the sugar with the egg yolks in a large bowl.
3. Slowly add the milk to the eggs, whisking constantly.
4. Return everything to the saucepan and stir constantly until steam begins to rise from the liquid.
5. Add the salt and strain the mixture into a bowl.
6. Chill the mixture in an ice bath then refrigerate for 4 hours.
7. Pour chilled mixture into ice cream maker.
8. Harden gelato in freezer before serving.

I think the gelato was eggy for two reasons....1--10 egg yolks and 2--I didn't have time to put the mixture in an ice bath or strain it....so it might have continued to cook a little while in the refrigerator. Next time I'm going to try a different recipe...