I am trying to be “good”. Going back to my old days of low fat cooking and baking. I was totally fat phobic for a long time but my health got worse as a result. Still, I find it kind of retro and fascinating so I tried a couple of recipes and both were disasters. We begin with Tyler’s Beet Garnish. I read the reviews for the Beet Cakes and they were horrid which did not surprise me. I do not think anyone bothered to make the garnish and it was the garnish that interested me. I had made some savory beet chips last year and loved them! Tyler’s beet chips were supposed to be sweet which I found interesting. I got out my troublesome mandoline and started slicing.
Tyler does not lubricate the chips with oil in any way. He says just to sprinkle them with icing sugar, put another layer of parchment on top, cover that with another baking sheet and bake at a low oven for up to three hours which I did. What happened? The beets steamed and steamed and steamed. My whole house smelled like steaming beats! Then after three hours they totally stuck to the parchment paper and smelled and tasted like steamed beets. Go figure! They did not go transparent and were totally moist and unusable as a garnish. So I put them back into the oven without the parchment paper and baking sheet on top:
Beet chips? Um, more like beet leather! Beet shoe leather that sticks to your teeth and won’t come off. Horrible! I know Tyler wants people to eat healthier but I think he has gone a little too radical. If he used less of the the fats and cheeses that he used to cook with and bumped up the produce in both his cooking and his baking, then he would be taking a big step. It drives me crazy that “healthy” eating means inedible eating. It is not true! You can have delicious beet chips, I know, I made them.
Next we move on to “Nutella Ice Cream”. I found this technique and recipe from Rosy who found it from Recipe Diaries. Essentially you use 1 1/2 cups of Nutella (350 grams) and whisk in 1 can of evaporated milk. They add cinnamon and pecans but I just wanted Nutella ice cream. I LOVE Nutella! You have to make sure you ice cream insert is frozen solid (minimum of 12 hours) and you have to chill the liquid mixture. You put it into your ice cream maker and let it churn for about 20 minutes.
First, the texture was weird! Grainy, not at all like the creaminess you would expect from ice cream. Second, too sweet! Gag, too sweet. Third? I think it may have put me off Nutella. Too strong! My husband ate the dish of so-called “ice cream” and regretted it, felt bad afterwards. I took one bite and dumped it down the drain. What a waste!
Look, I am not saying there is anything wrong with healthy eating. Bump up the fruits and veggies, go for it! What I am saying is that when I do want a sweet treat, I want it to be worth its calories. I would rather go without dessert completely than eat something that tastes bad. These both tasted bad. I do not care that they have few calories or zero fat, they still take time and energy for me to make. I also wasted food and money which really pisses me off!
When it comes to dessert and treats, I do not mind putting in a lot of time and effort and even calories to make them. As long as they are worth it. And these? Not even close.
How about combining Nutella and beets? Don’t laugh — it could be a new flavour sensation!!
Bleck – both recipes looked awful š Isn’t it terrible when that happens? Like you said, such a waste. The beet chips sure are pretty though? Maybe you can hang them in your kitchen window ;o)
I’ve thrown “no fat” and “eating light” out the door. We are the “Buttertun’s!” and proud of it. There are so many benefits to going back to good, natural, fats.
If you want a sweet nutricious treat, try the Dark Choc. Mud Balls I posted last week. They were so delicious ;o)
What a mess! I always wonder abut some of the low-fat and no-fat stuff. I need to do more of that kind of cooking, but may pass on it now! š
My theory is don’t eat it if it’s not worth the calories (that goes for healthy and not so healthy choices). Unfortunately, I have found many things that are worth the calories. Just eat less of the good stuff!
I don’t know how you do it, but at least the beet chip disaster looks so pretty. Mum in Bloom is on to something, maybe make a pretty garland with them and hang them on a tree for the crows. As for the ice cream, so sad to see such precious Nutella go to waste. I think that’s why I like the Podleski sisters (Janet and Greta), they don’t go ultra low fat with their recipes, but teach you how to substitute some ingredients so it’s healthier but still tastes good.
I so appreciate that you’re so adventurous, Suzie! Beet chips and nutella ice cream – what an exploration. I do have to say that I love that ruby red picture of the beet chip! What a drag the other stuff was such a disappointment!