Chocolate Banded Ice Cream Torte

This week's recipe was chosen by Amy of Food, Family and Fun. I made this for one of my co-workers, John. I am trying to bake something for everyone's birthday in my group at work. I am over two weeks late for John's b-day, but I hope he really enjoys the torte. His favorite ice cream is mint, so I used that instead of making the respberry ice cream. Also, I really have to break down and buy a new larger food processor!! Mine wouldn't have been able to handle this ice cream.

I liked the idea of this torte, but I do not like semi-sweet chocolate AT ALL- even the gourmet brands. I don't think I would have liked the ganace. John's pallate is much more distinguished than mine (I really think he had organic buckwheat noodles with edamame, sliced red peppers and fizzy water for lunch in elementary school while I enjoyed my pickle loaf sandwich and fruit roll-up), so I'm sure he will appreciate the ganache more than I would. I will post a picture tonight, but my only picture is from the top since I brought the torte to him still in the springform pan since the recipe says to take it out of the pan 30 minutes to 3 hours before serving it.

Granola Grabbers

First- another recruit- YAY!!!!!   Please visit my friend, Cathy's, new TWD blog The Tortefeasor.  I really enjoy my friends at work being TWD members, too!!!  YAY!!!

This week's recipe was chosen by Michelle of Bad Girl Baking.  I made these last weekend because we were out of town this weekend at one of my husband's triathlons.  I bought Vanilla Almond Granola at Target to use- it was the best granola ever!!!    I was a little concerned about how little liquid held these things together- only one egg??  The batter was VERY thick, but yummy.  

These cookies surprised me- I didn't like them very much warm out-of-the-oven, which is usually how I prefer cookies.  I REALLY liked them the next day, though.  Weird!!!  I really like the raisins and coconut in these.
Also, I LOVED that the recipe gave instructions to cook ALL the cookies at the same time.  So, I only baked for about 10 minutes.  Great choice, Michelle!!

Blueberry Sour Cream Ice Cream

This week's recipe was chosen by Dolores of Chronicles in Culinary Curiosity. I didn't own an ice cream maker, so I bought a small electric one- the kind that has the gel canister you have to freeze. I had to freeze it for 10 hours!!! I thought the ice cream was delightful. The texture wasn't really creamy, but I loved the flavor. I love sour cream, though- Since we only needed 3/4 cup, I ate the rest of my 8 oz container with a spoon :-)

Black and White Banana Loaf

This week's recipe was chosen by Ashlee of A Year In The Kitchen, a food blog that I love and visit often.  This was my first time to make a "loaf."  I had to buy a loaf pan.  I made the recipe exactly the way Dorie says to and I thought it was fabulous.  I was very pleased with the way the marbling worked.  The only thing I would change is the cooking time- I think 1 hour and 20 minutes was probably about 10 minutes too long, resulting in tougher sides.  I thought this was a great pick!!This is my batter in my new loaf pan- pre-marble.
I can't wait to see all the other TWDers swirls!!!!