1. Matcha Pistachio Ice Cream: Ingredients:

• 2 cups heavy cream
• 1 cup whole milk
• 3/4 cup granulated sugar
• 3 tablespoons matcha powder
• 1/2 cup chopped pistachios

Instructions:

1. In a mixing bowl, combine the heavy cream, whole milk, and granulated sugar. Whisk until the sugar has dissolved completely.
2. Add the matcha powder to the mixture and whisk vigorously until the matcha is fully incorporated and no lumps remain.
3. Pour the mixture into the Arctic Ice Cream Maker’s freezer bowl and churn according to the machine’s instructions until it reaches a soft-serve consistency.
4. Add the chopped pistachios to the churned ice cream and gently fold them in using a spatula.
5. Transfer the ice cream to an airtight container and place it in the freezer for a few hours to allow it to firm up.
6. Serve the matcha pistachio ice cream in bowls or cones, and garnish with additional chopped pistachios if desired. Enjoy the refreshing combination of matcha and nutty pistachio flavors!
7. Rum and Pineapple Ice Cream (Flambéed Pineapples): Ingredients:

• 2 cups heavy cream
• 1 cup whole milk
• 3/4 cup granulated sugar
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1 cup diced pineapple
• 2 tablespoons rum
• 1 tablespoon butter

Instructions:

1. In a saucepan, melt the butter over medium heat. Add the diced pineapple and cook until lightly caramelized.
2. Remove the pan from the heat and carefully add the rum. Return the pan to the heat and gently flame the rum to flambe the pineapples. Allow the flames to subside.
3. In a separate mixing bowl, combine the heavy cream, whole milk, granulated sugar, and vanilla extract. Whisk until the sugar is fully dissolved.
4. Transfer the flambeed pineapples, along with any remaining sauce in the pan, into the cream mixture. Stir well to incorporate the flavors.
5. Pour the mixture into the Arctic Ice Cream Maker’s freezer bowl and churn according to the machine’s instructions until it reaches a soft-serve consistency.
6. Once the ice cream is churned, transfer it to an airtight container and place it in the freezer for a few hours to allow it to firm up.
7. Serve the rum and pineapple ice cream in bowls or cones and savor the tropical taste of caramelized pineapple infused with a hint of rum.

With the help of the Arctic Ice Cream Maker, you can unleash your creativity and indulge in homemade ice cream flavors that are sure to impress. These two delectable recipes, shared by the talented Imma_Jeetee, will transport you to a world of culinary bliss.

Pizza can often be a last minute, grab and go decision. Pizza is always a crowd pleaser and there’s no question that it can be an ordinary meal, but make no mistake; a pizza can be the start to a decadent meal, able to impress the most sophisticated palette.

You can elevate your mealtime by pairing and selecting your ingredients with purpose and by upgrading how, and what you use, to make and bake your pizza.

Our choices of ingredients are a refreshing take on some of the classic elements of an ordinary pizza. The prosciutto and provolone are sophisticated twists on the classic choices of pepperoni and mozzarella. By adding arugula and figs to our combination, our recipe provides a unique experience for your taste buds that ensures a savory and sweet note in every bite.

You can upgrade how you make your pizza by baking it on a pizza stone. A pizza stone turns out a better tasting, more delectable pizza. The difference is particularly with the pizza crust. Pizza stones produce a perfectly evenly baked pizza crust from the edges to the center of the pizza and guarantee golden brown crispy dough. The evenly baked and crispiness of the crust is key; delicious pizzas are never soggy in the middle and a pizza stone makes sure of that.  For this recipe, our Mamma Mia Pizza Maker is essential to cooking and serving our absolutely mouthwatering fig and prosciutto pizza.

Ingredients

1 pound room temperature, fresh pizza dough

2 cups of cherry tomatoes, cut in halves

4 fresh ripe figs, cut into quarters

3-4 garlic cloves, minced

6 ounces of provolone cheese, thinly sliced

8 thinly sliced pieces of prosciutto

2 cups of fresh arugula, washed and rinsed

2 tablespoons of virgin olive oil

1 teaspoon of crushed dried thyme

3 ounces of grated Parmesan cheese

¼ teaspoon crushed black pepper

½ teaspoon kosher salt

¼ cup flour

Preparation

1. Preheat oven to 500⁰F and place our pizza stone in the oven. The stone should be in the oven as it preheats.
2. Roll dough into a 12-inch circle on a lightly floured surface and pierce entire surface liberally with a fork.
3. Combine olive oil and garlic in a small bowl. Brush on olive oil and garlic mixture with our thinkkitchen brush.
4. Cover surface of pizza dough with slices of provolone cheese, leaving ½ inch of the crust edge free of cheese and place halved cherry tomatoes on top.
5. Carefully remove pizza stone from oven. Sprinkle flour over pizza stone and place dough on top of stone. Bake pizza crust until it is golden brown on top and on the bottom, roughly 15 to 20 minutes.
6. Remove crust from oven using our thinkkitchen silicone mitts and place on the metal rack and immediately drape prosciutto slices over the pizza. Arrange fig slices atop of prosciutto.
7. Bake until figs are just heated through, about 1 minute. Transfer pizza to cutting board.
8. On top, add arugula and Parmesan cheese sparingly. If you like, you can drizzle on a touch of extra virgin olive oil or a balsamic reduction before serving. Evenly sprinkle with crushed thyme, salt and pepper to taste.
9. Cut into slices using our pizza scissors, serve and enjoy with a light and delicate tasting Italian wine like a Barolo or Barbera D’Alba, which will pair well with the prosciutto and won’t overwhelm the light, sweet taste of the figs. These wines are best enjoyed in our Riedel Assiago drinkware collection.

Here to help you take your pizza night to the next level! If you want to share your pizza with us on social media, please tag us on Instagram @stokesstores and use the hashtag #StokesMoments.

Instructions:

Place the flour and ½ tablespoon of sea salt into a large bowl, and make a well in the middle. Add the yeast and sugar to the lukewarm water, and mix with a fork. Leave this for a few minutes and when it starts to foam, slowly pour it into the well, mixing with a fork as you go.

As soon as all the ingredients come together, which may take a minute or so, knead vigorously for around 5 minutes until you have a smooth, springy, soft dough.

Lightly oil a large bowl with some olive oil and transfer the dough to the bowl. Dust with a little extra flour, cover with a tea towel and leave to proof in a warm place for 30 minutes until doubles in size.

While the dough is rising, preheat your oven to 220°C/425°F/gas 7 and prepare the toppings.

Chop the tomatoes into halves. Mix the parmesan and tomatoes into a bowl with the garlic, onions, olives and thyme and season with sea salt and black pepper, a drizzle of extra virgin olive oil, and a tiny splash of white wine vinegar. 

Spread the tomato garnish over the focaccia.

Leave to proof for a further 20 minutes, then bake for 20 minutes, until golden on top and soft in the middle.

Enjoy!

FEATURED PRODUCTS:

https://www.blog.stokesstores.com/en/remy-olivier-andrea-bakeware-collection.html

#1: Homemade Happiness

Restaurants are buzzing on Valentine’s Day. This year, ditch the stuffy formal wear and crowds for something more relaxing, at your own pace. Spending quality time together is one of the best ways to say “I love you”. Tonight, trade-in your fancy clothes for an apron and get comfy – it’s time to get cooking! Cooking together is fun and interactive; the best part is that you get to eat the fruits of your labour (not actual fruits, we’re cooking something more challenging this time around).

On the menu tonight? Homemade pasta. Don’t be intimidated! It may sound ambitious but with the right tools, making pasta from scratch will seem easy-peasy-fusili! There are little variations everywhere, but the most standard way to make pasta dough is to mix eggs, all-purpose flour, olive oil and salt and then knead it with a stand mixer until the dough is smooth and elastic and ready to rest.

As your dough rests, it’s time to let your creativity do the work – ravioli or linguine? The ravioli route is the best way to go when you have a filling you’re dying to try! It could be a classic ricotta spinach filling or something with an umami punch. To ensure that your filling stays in and doesn’t spill out, it’s essential to get the right shape for your pasta. Here’s where you’ll thank yourself for having a ravioli maker and rolling pin handy! Your ravioli will come out with perfectly crimped edges and the mould is deep enough to hold a good amount of filling.

Not really feeling the fillings? Don’t worry!  Here is where you finally whip out that impressive pasta machine you got as a gift a year ago but kept on the counter untouched as “decoration”. Use the machine to make noodles, whichever way you prefer: tagliatelle, linguine, pappardelle, etc. As one of you is drying the pasta, the other can get started on the sauce – teamwork makes the dream work! Once you’ve served up your homemade pasta, take a moment to marvel at what you’ve made together!

What is dinner without dessert? It’s not Valentine’s Day without a bit of chocolate! Ditch the heart-shaped box of chocolates (get that on clearance the next day) and make your own little chocolate hearts instead. You just made homemade pasta, homemade chocolate is going to be a breeze!

One of the simplest and most foolproof recipes you can use for homemade chocolates is mixing melted coconut oil, raw cocoa powder, maple syrup and sea salt together. Once smooth and perfectly incorporated, pour your chocolate mix into the heart-shaped moulds you’ve been saving for Valentine’s Day and leave in the freezer for 10-15 minutes to let it set. When they’re ready, gently pop them out of their moulds and sprinkle with a bit of pink Himalayan sea salt and candied rose petals if you’re feeling extra fancy. Just like that, look at what you accomplished! Homemade pasta, made from scratch with chocolates to end on a sweet note. Sure, there might be flour everywhere, but as long as the drinks are flowing and you’re enjoying each other’s company, isn’t that what the spirit of Valentine’s Day is really about?

#2: Wine & Cheese

Valentine’s Day falls on a Friday this year. We can’t think of a better way to end the workweek than to unwind with someone you love over some good wine and cheese. Bring the 5-7 vibe home and make it romantic. The first thing is to ensure that wine, cheese and accoutrements are plentiful. The next step is really what brings it to life: the setup.

Here is where you absolutely forego the solo cups and upgrade your glassware. A good set of wine glasses is a staple in any home. Want to feel extra classy? Decant your wine. It makes a world of a difference and makes your Valentine’s Day wine and cheese setup look even more thoughtful. Also – pouring wine straight out of a decanter instead of the bottle really adds a Tuscan charm to your date.

While we’re confident in your wine guzzling abilities, this isn’t one of those kinds of nights. Take cheese breaks! We eat with our eyes and plating makes all the difference. We recommend going with a marble finish to ensure both durability and style but a wood tray is a timeless choice. A cheese board is naked without cheese – mix up a variety of textures and flavours when choosing cheeses, ranging from soft, firm, hard and blues if you dare. Break it up with accompaniments like semi-sweet or tart fruits for palate cleansers, and of course crackers and breads.

This Valentine’s date relies on the presentation as much as it does on the wine and cheese – make sure you’re well-equipped!

#3: Raclette Night

If you’re not spending Valentine’s Day in the Maldives (join the club), don’t stress about it. How about a private little indoor getaway? While February is mostly about being cold and wet, bring the warmth inside and pretend you’re in a cozy cabin getaway for Valentine’s Day.

Hot chocolate and mulled wines are never too far from reach at a cabin getaway – now you just need the right food to set the mood. If you live in a small space, you may not have the cupboard space to store a whole raclette and grill – but for a cozy cabin themed Valentine’s Date, we would recommend getting a mini raclette for 2. Just by the simple gesture of going out and getting one will make such a difference, your date will definitely be touched! Melt that ooey gooey raclette cheese onto delicious herby potatoes and use the grill to sizzle up some vegetables, meat and/or seafood to enjoy a hearty and warm meal together.

Just when you thought it couldn’t get any cozier – it does! As you may have gathered from our other Valentines ideas, we’re huge fans of chocolate. We couldn’t let you end your night without something sweet. Staying true to our cabin themed surprise, here is when we would have you bring out your pièce de resistance: chocolate fondue!

Let’s keep it real, a chocolate fondue set can be wonderful on its own for one person, but it is infinitely better when shared. As your chocolate is melting, cut up some fruits like strawberries and bananas to dip. We also like to add wafers and bite sized waffle pieces to our fondue – but we would probably eat anything if it was dipped in chocolate.

Cozy, casual and fun – this indoor cabin getaway date is sure to warm your heart, even on the coldest days.

#4: Breakfast In Bed

This Valentine’s Surprise may be one that is the most difficult. You may be wondering what could seem more difficult than making pasta from scratch…this date requires you waking up early – very early. Everyone loves breakfast in bed, no matter what day it is.

Being able to have coffee or mimosas in bed without ever getting up once is a real luxury that anyone would appreciate. Since this is Valentine’s Day, we’re going beyond basic breakfasts and taking it up a notch. We’re making waffles!  The hardest part is the batter since there are so many varying recipes these days – but once you feel like you’ve chosen the right one and you’re confident in your flour to egg ratio – it’s time to make the actual waffles. French toast has been done before and pancakes would have been too predictable, which is why we went with waffles as they seem way harder to make. The perfect honeycomb texture of a waffle may seem daunting, but nothing is impossible with the right waffle maker. Trust us, when you open up the waffle maker to reveal symmetrical, fluffy waffles – they will be sure to be the best surprise and start off Valentine’s morning on a syrupy sweet note.

These were 4 ways to do something out of the ordinary this Valentine’s Day. Let us know if you have other ideas for Valentine’s Day surprises. Enjoy!

Directions: Rice

Rinse the rice gently, drain it and repeat four to five times until water becomes clear. Leave the rice in the strainer until it is well drained. Once the rice is drained, place the rice and the water in the rice cooker. Close the cover and turn the machine on. In a small bowl, mix vinegar, salt and sugar until they have completely dissolved. Set aside.

Put the cooked rice in a bowl, ideally in a stainless steel bowl. Add the mix of rice vinegar and stir with a spatula. Mix until the rice has soaked in the rice vinegar. Leave to rest for 5 minutes. Repeat the operation two to three times. Leave the rice to cool at room temperature, once the rice is cooled, it is ready to use to create your sushis.

Sushi

Cut salmon into pieces of approximately 20 g each in the fat opposite direction. Form a stretched ball with the rice (work with the right hand lightly wet).  The quantity of rice should not exceed 15 ml (1 tablespoon) for each sushi. Put the fish slice on the tip of your left hand. Spread wasabi with your right index and deposit on the rice.With your right thumb and major finger fold the salmon edges in order to cover well the rice ball. Garnish with caviar, nori leaf and vegetables.

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