A bowl of cherries…..becomes Cherry and Choc Chip Gelato

Fantastic crop of cherries this year, after 2 years of none.

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With the yellow and red cherries, I have made

  • Cherry, Vanilla and Lavender Jam
  • Cherry Pie Filling
  • Cherry and Cinnamon Samosas

and have about 10kg of frozen, stoned fruit to do something else with later.

Now the luscious dark red cherries are ripening. We have eaten handfuls of them just as they are, dripping with juice and with a lovely mix of sharpness and sweetness. Every day of sunshine sees them getting darker and sweeter.

This evening I picked some especially for making my version of Ben & Jerry’s Cherry Garcia – fabulous flavour and not too bad on the calories (well I hope not, it IS a fast day…)

I suppose strictly this can’t be called Ice Cream, as it is made with Fromage Frais, not Cream. I decided on Gelato, as this has a softer texture, and is lower fat. Yummy.

Please note this recipe contains raw egg.

The calorie count is incorrect in the Recipe Card. On MyFitnessPal it came out to nearly 200 calories a serving! oops. If I can figure out what it doesn’t like, I’ll correct it.

Cherry and Choc Chip Gelato
Serves 6
a light but luscious frozen fromage frais dessert, with cherries, dark chocolate and a hint of kirsch
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Prep Time
10 min
Cook Time
25 min
Total Time
35 min
Prep Time
10 min
Cook Time
25 min
Total Time
35 min
Ingredients
  1. 50g dark chocolate
  2. 100g Bing cherries
  3. 15ml kirsch liqueur
  4. 2 eggs
  5. 50g soft brown sugar
  6. 500g fromage frais
Instructions
  1. Pre-chill the ice-cream maker.
  2. Halve the cherries and put in a bowl with the kirsch, then refrigerate until needed.
  3. Chop the chocolate, then refrigerate.
  4. Whisk the eggs until light and fluffy.
  5. Add the sugar and fromage frais and mix with the whisk.
  6. Pour into the ice cream maker.
  7. Shortly before the ice cream is ready, add the cherries and chocolate and leave to mix for a couple of minutes longer.
  8. Transfer to a plastic container with lid and put in the freezer to firm up, for up to about 30 minutes, then serve.
Notes
  1. Best made shortly before serving.
  2. If freezing for a longer time, remove from the freezer about 10 minutes before serving so that it can soften enough to scoop.
  3. Serving based on 2 good sized scoops.
  4. Please note: this recipe contains raw egg.
Adapted from Ben & Jerry's Cherry Garcia
Adapted from Ben & Jerry's Cherry Garcia
Focus on Flavour https://www.focusonflavour.com/

5:2 Fast Day Dinner – Soup, Steak with Salad, Cherry Dessert

Simple Vegetable Soup

Simple Vegetable Soup

Simple Vegetable Soup

Per person:

  • 100g frozen veggies (not including potatoes)
  • 1 tsp marigold bouillon powder
  • 300ml water

Simmer 20 mins, blend a little if you like to vary the texture.

70 kcals per serving.

 

Rump Steak, Garlic Mushrooms, Light Coleslaw, Watercress and Blood Orange Salad

Rump Steak (100g) with garlic mushrooms, coleslaw and watercress salad

Rump Steak (100g) with garlic mushrooms, coleslaw and watercress salad

We don’t often eat red meat and I find even a small portion quite filling, so this seemed like it would be a good choice for a fast day, when it is helpful to eat protein, which the body cannot store – and it is especially needed if you are exercising.

I cooked the mushrooms (2 each, chopped) in a frying pan with the faintest hint of olive oil and a couple of tablespoons of water. The steak was dry-fried. The coleslaw was made with mayo and plain yogurt. With the watercress I added the segments from 1/2 a blood orange (between 2 people) and a few baby tomatoes (I know, not in season, but I like a bit of colour…) and dressed it with the orange juice.

210 kcals

5 Spice Cherry Compote with Fromage Frais

For dessert I got some stoned cherries out of the freezer and put 12 per person in a saucepan, with a pinch of 5 spice powder and about 100ml of water. Cook gently, shaking occasionally, until nicely warmed through. Serve with a little pot of plain 0% fat fromage frais. Note that no sugar was added, the cherries are quite sweet in themselves and the spice gives the whole dish a bit of a lift.

55 kcals

5 Spice Cherry Compote with Fromage Frais

5 Spice Cherry Compote with Fromage Frais

Total for the day for me – 475 kcals. With a breakfast of Smoked Trout and Scrambled Eggs, this was a day with plenty of protein and hardly any carbs.  I think we both felt like we could demolish several hot buttered crumpets and a slice of Christmas Cake somewhere in the middle of the afternoon, as we were feeling not only hungry, but cold as well – but honestly that soon passed with a cup of lime and ginger tea…..

I really feel as though I have had plenty to eat and will be happy to go to bed with just a cup of camomile tea!