Settlers

Our friends Lich and Suzie came over for dinner last night. We had chicken and rice, asparagus bruchetta and chocolate ice cream with hazelnuts.

And then we played Settlers of the Catan. Don't laugh unless you've played :)

We ended lup having a  really great time and it was the first time I'd ever played and I won (beginner's luck)

Suzie and Lich are moving to Nebraska so he can go to grad school. It's amazing that this couple that we've only know about 5-6 months has come to mean so so much to us. They are the kind of people that just know how to love others. They ask the hard questions and honestly want to know how you're doing in your faith and how you've seen God lately in your life. Their openess is so encouraging.

We have learned so much from their friendship and the example that they set as friends and as a couple. God is teaching us so much out here and answering so many prayers that we've had for a long time- Lich and Suzie are definately one of those answered prayers.

But we're so excited for their next journey, even though they'll be missed

Beware this is rich! Joshua described it as ganache made into ice cream. But come on you don't need an ice cream maker for it so that totally rocks!!!

(I have no idea where I found this anymore online)

Chocolate Ice Cream Recipe:

makes enough for 8

1 can sweet condensed milk

3/4 cup whole milk

3/4 cup heavy cream

6-7 ounces bittersweet dark chocolate, finely chopped

1/4 cup cocoa powder

1 tsp instant espresso powder

1 tsp vanilla

few shakes of sea salt

5 tsp cornstarch

2 tbs cold water

1   in a large saucepan whisk the milks and creams until they are brough to a boil

2   remove from heat and whisk in the chocolate, cocoa powder, espresso, vanilla, and salt until it has totally dissolved/melted into the mixture

3   mix the cornstarch into the cold water until it has dissolved and then whisk it in the chocolate mixture

4   put back on medium-high heat and whisk continuously for 6-9 minutes, until it has thickened

5   transfer it to a glass dish and let sit out until cool, 20-30 min

6   then stir it and cover with plastic wrap and set in fridge for 6 hours or overnight

7   pull out and stir the mixture and then put plastic wrap back over it, this time touching the surface of the ice cream, to prevent a skin from forming, and place in freezer until frozen- overnight

serve with nuts or cocoa nibs!

every person probably only needs 1 scoop :)