I got an ice cream maker for Chanukkah!!!

Definitely the best toy I’ve gotten in years. I started with a few simple recipes, but I had my eye on this one from the outset. Just look at these reviews! (Yeah, I know. With three egg yolks, a cup and a half of heavy cream, and two kinds of chocolate, it would be sad if it didn’t earn four forks. But still.) Then I saw that this month’s Sugar High Friday theme was “chocoalte by brand.” It was beshert.

Unfortunately, I missed the SHF deadline for posting. No matter. The brands of chocolate that I used aren’t unusual, but they were new to me. Between budgetary concerns, having a lousy supermarket and no car, and the frequent need to keep things parve, I use Shaw’s cocoa powder and Hershey’s unsweetened baking chocolate most of the time. This was my chance to try something better.

(Before I go on, a plug: if you like making desserts, you really must visit this month’s SHF. Not every brand of chocolate reviewed is kosher, of course, but there are over 100 amazing-looking recipes.)
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If last year’s community kosher survey is any indication, Milk Street Cafe is a fine restaurant. In general, I’ve concurred — their facilities, marketing materials, and catering operations have all been top notch. My lunch today, though, seriously shook my confidence in Milk Street’s abilities.

Strike 1: Asparagus soup. It smelled delicious and looked hearty, but with one spoonful, I frantically grabbed a napkin to spit it out. It was chock full of long, fibrous, gag-inducing strands, showing clearly that the cooked asparagus was never strained before being mixed with the other ingredients.

Strike 2: Napa panini. Completely imbalanced, the slippery contents fell from the sandwich time and again and the goat cheese was too overpowering — and I like goat cheese! What irked me the most was the roasted peppers — used with the skins still on. Yech.

Milk Street is a seasoned operation, celebrating their 25th anniversary this year. Perhaps in all that time, they’ve forgetten these basics of culinary education?

It’s not exactly what I was hoping I’d first use that line for, but why be picky? Here’s the cover:

And here’s the official description:

Best Recipes from the Jewish Blogosphere

These recipes from the Jewish blogosphere aren’t just the same old kugel. Pareve, milchig and fleischig selections range from “almost healthy” sufganiyot to “Eyes of Haman” Purim bread to instructions for successful kosher potlucks. All recipes include URLs for the original post, and links to other Jewish blogs are on the back page. Treat your friends and relatives to this unique inexpensive Hanukkah gift which they will appreciate long after the holiday is over.

So, you may be wondering, why didn’t I post this before Hanukkah? Well. . .it’s a long story. Anyway, you can still buy the book before Tu Bishvat! (What, you never heard of the ancient tradition of giving Tu Bishvat presents?) It’s only $4, and it includes a wonderful recipe for flourless honey pecan cake.

Click here to order.

(Cross-posted to Apikorsus)