Well it’s winter in the Northern Hemisphere and raining like mad out here in California…perfect weather for ICE CREAM SANDWICHES!!!

As promised, I’m posting the final episodes of ORGANIC A to Z from Southern California. Both “I” and “J” were taped back in a warmer, sunnier and more ice cream friendly Los Angeles. If you’re too cold to rock the ice cream, just make these awesome cookies. If you’re sweating down under this January, enjoy the whole sando with some OG ice cream in between!!!

But why ICE CREAM?
Well…like I said on the show, there are really no foods that start with the letter I. Even my copy of LAROUSSE GASTRONOMIQUE comes up blank, though it does make mention of iguana and two types of wild goat: ibex and izard. In truth I am a huge fan of goat curry and once met a man in Costa Rica who told me that Iguana tastes exactly like chicken!

I could have done iceburg lettuce, but I don’t really see the point in even eating that (though I was recently served an iceburg wedge with sharp blue cheese and bacon and loved how classic it was)! Irish Soda Bread, Injera Bread??? Love ‘em, but ice cream captures me heart more than anything on the face of the Earth!

You didn’t even make ICE CREAM Mr. G! What’s up?
I apologize. Lacking an ice cream maker these days (I have busted several Donvier models bought in various thrift stores) I was not able to show off my skills with the creamy ice. I assume most of you are going without an ice cream maker as well. I do love to make ice cream and am posting a recipe for a semifreddo which can be done without a machine, just a whisk, a strong arm and a big bowl.

Since most of us just buy our ice cream in a store, I’m going that route on this show. But I encourage you to make some killer cookies and doubly encourage you to GO ORGANIC! There are heaps of OG ice creams out there now so it’s pretty easy to find and I know you don’t want any hormonally pumped up, antibiotic laden, mad cow, pissed off moo juice in your milkshakes!

ORGANIC MILK is a bit of a can of worms. I only drink organic milk but I’m not so keen on the big producers out there who have very industrial and intensive methods of “farming” their cows, essentially keeping them on concrete slabs pumping away and eating a variety of imported grains. Organic? Yes. Sustainable or humane??? Not really. Don’t get me wrong, much better to support organic agriculture and the health benefits with OG milk over that questionably cheaper stuff any day. The thought of drinking milk laced with everyone’s favorite bovine growth hormone rBGH and antibiotics sickens me to the core. If you read up on this you’ll find these additives have some seriously nasty side effects including links to multiple types of cancer. Organic milk on the other hand, with its ultra high levels of super fatty acid CLA is a known cancer fighter! Or just do it for pure hedonism—organic milk tastes better!

There are many producers of organic dairy products out there who are doing a fine job. The most exciting in my opinion is the local dude in your area who sells (probably under the table) raw milk…you know the way Mama Nature intended it? Non-pasteurized, non-homogenized, full of its natural fatty acids, vitamins, probiotics and nutrients? An entirely different and foreign drink altogether, but one that is available if you look for it and are willing to pay the price. Organic Pastures has a very exciting operation that I feel the need to mention. Upset with the industrialization of the dairy industry these dudes created a mobile milking unit that visits the cows in their pasture and milks ‘em onsite. You know, out in the field, standing on the grass, still chewing the clover? Those are truly happy cows, check ‘em out at organicpastures.com

AS FOR ICE CREAM SANDWICHES, they are fun and delicious and rather haute these days! I love making cookies and the recipe I crank out here is easy and on the healthier side. It’s the ALMOND MEAL mis amigos! You can find Almond Flour or Meal at just about any health food store OR you can make your own by grinding almonds in a food processor (don’t overdo it and make almond butter though). NUTS are so crazy healthy and delicious, you must eat more! By replacing nearly half of the flour in this recipe with almond meal I’ve not only pumped up the flavor and texture but also the levels of protein, fiber, monounsaturated fat, zinc, potassium, phosphorus, calcium, magnesium, vitamin E!

Posted in the recipe section you’ll find the text for these cookies as well as a couple of ice cream ditties too! ENJOY ENJOY ENJOY!

Thank you for checking out the show and feel free to send feedback.
Stay tuned, the letter J is just around the corner along with more food fun!

Cheers,

Gregory