Akershus Royal Banquet Hall's Rice Cream with Strawberry

Ingredients for Rice Cream:

11/2 cups water

1/4 teaspoon salt

1 cup short-grain white rice

2 cups milk

Ingredients for Strawberry Sauce:

1 cup strawberry preserves

1/2 cup water

1 teaspoon freshly squeezed lemon juice

1 cup heavy cream

1/4 cup sugar

1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract

Start by boiling the water and salt, add rice and reduce to medium heat. Cook the rice until all the water has been absorbed (about 15 minutes). Then, add the two cups of milk and simmer until it has been absorbed (approximately 20 minutes). After the rice has been cooked, transfer to a different bowl and bring to room temperature.

Bring rice and water to a boil

Add milk

After everything has absorbed


Now that the rice is cooling, start the whipped mixture. Put the whipping cream, vanilla, and sugar in a bowl, and mix on high speed until soft peaks form. Then, gently fold the whipped cream into the rice and set aside.

Whipped cream mixture

Soft peaks

Fold in whipped mixture

Once everything has been set aside, begin working on the strawberry sauce. In a blender (or mixer) put in lemon juice, water, and strawberry preserves and mix thoroughly.

Strawberry preserves

Mix well

Finished sauce

With everything made, it is time to create the rice cream! Start by pouring the rice mixture into a cup or bowl, and then top with the strawberry sauce. What I made did not cool long enough, so the strawberry sauce started to sink to the bottom. Make sure to bring the rice to room temperature, or possibly chill in the refrigerator. 

Rice and whipped cream

Rice cream complete!

Another way I have seen this done, is by adding cut up strawberries on top for a special added flavor.

Image taken from d23.disney.go.com

See what Krystal has lined up for tomorrow's challenged at www.partnersbehindthemouse.com

King Stefan’s Banquet Hall Fried Brie Cheese

For the first part of my challenge this week, I decided to take inspiration from a recipe I found in  one of my older D23's. I had tried it a few years back, and know it to make a great appetizer for any meal. The recipe is taken from King Stefan's Banquet Hall, and is very easy to make.

Ingredients:

3 cups vegetable oil

2 9 ounce (41⁄2-inch) Brie cheese rounds

1 tablespoon all-purpose flour

1⁄4 teaspoon cayenne pepper

1 large egg, beaten

3⁄4 cup dry bread crumbs

1⁄2 cup tomato sauce for dipping

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Start by heating up the vegetable oil to 325 degrees. Then, begin mixing the flour and cayenne pepper (personally, I like a little more than 1/4 teaspoon to add an extra punch of spice).

Then, separately beat one large egg.

And prepare another plate with the bread crumbs.

Now, it is time to prepare the brie. Cut the cheese into desired shapes, and trim off the harder edges. Then, roll the brie into the flower mixture and tap off any excess. After that has been done, evenly dip the cheese in the egg mixture, and then coat well with the bread crumbs. 

Once the brie has been fully coated with everything, place the pieces into your heated oil in batches to keep it from over crowding. Cook for about 1 minute (or until golden brown on both sides), and then remove from the oil and then transfer to something to drain the oil. For the sauce, heat over a low heat and add desired spices.

Make sure to check out www.partnersbehindthemouse.com with Krystal for another Disney inspired recipe!

D23 - Worth It?

Like many Disney enthusiasts, I was interested in learning more about the magazine D23 as soon as word of its existence started leaking out. What I learned was that D stood for Disney, and 23 for 1923, the year the company was formed; I also learned it would be an in depth magazine featuring little known Disney information and pictures. For $74.99 I could get a year long membership, that had 4 issues. As much as I wanted it, the price was too steep, but I dared put it on my Christmas list in hopes someone would be generous enough to give it to me: I was lucky enough to have a mother that recognized I needed to be rewarded for my love of all things Disney!

Since receiving my first issue in December 2009 I have received many little "gifts," two certificates, two membership cards, and 7 issues. The gifts have ranged from a watch (nice, not much detail, and was given as a thank you for continuing my membership) to some Epcot patches that I plan on sewing on to my apron. Even though the gifts are small, it is nice to know that a little something extra will be received each time.

As for the magazine itself... The pictures and layout are beautiful, and make it hard to even break open and read for fear of bending the pages. After getting over the initial reservation and looking over the content, it is fairly decent. Each issue has different writers and topics, though some things will always be included - There will always be an article listing some little known fact (plus pictures) about Walt, and there will always be recipes from the parks/Disney chefs/resorts. It also always includes information on the latest Disney movies.

Since I began getting D23, there are been articles about Princess and the Frog, Toy Story 3, Gnomeo and Juliet, Tangled, and Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides. While D23 does include lots of unknown information behind each of the movies, it feels like reading one of the leading entertainment magazines, which I could purchase for $3.99 at my super market, or check out for free at my local library.

Also, some of the magazine feels like reading an advertisement for a travel agency! I know that Disney is trying to do whatever they can to get more visitors, but having a large section of an issue (including the cover) about the Disney Cruise Line was a bit much. Yes, it is nice to know about the new ship, and all of its amenities, but I feel the same information is covered in a free Disney Vacation DVD.

The magazine is also relatively small for being so expensive. Each issue has about 60 pages, which may seem like a lot but taken in to the context of only receiving 4 a year, I would expect something much larger and more detailed.

I have been very lucky to receive D23 since December 2009 (it was renewed by my mother for me, gotta love her), and I still eagerly anticipate it every quarter; however, if it was up to me to purchase on my own I would have to say that I would pass. The high price, and information easy to find in other places would make me want to save my money for a rainy day, or other Disney purchases.