Oct 12

Oct 12 nice cream!...college!

Hello!! It has been way too long…I’ve missed writing to you! It has been pretty crazy on my end. I moved into college in late August, and this week marks my 7th week here! Wow, it’s been about 2 months, but it feels like I’ve been here for a long, long time. It’s funny, it’s almost like I don’t remember what it was like to live at home with my family just because it feels so long ago and life here is so different!

The last couple months of college have been good! I’ve been meeting a lot of new people, trying new things, and reading a TON (I didn’t realize just how much more reading there is in college…) I’m super excited because a few friends and I are starting up running club in a couple weeks. We were all surprised to see that there wasn’t a Claremont Colleges running club at club fair, so we took it upon ourselves to make one! It will be great to get involved in a running community here on campus.

I’m finding that it takes time to form community, and it can be difficult in the beginning. Being away definitely makes me miss home and all of my friends and family. But I'm optimistic about finding community here. I know it takes time, so it’s okay not to feel right at home in the beginning.

Last weekend, I went on a hike at a nearby mountain called Mt. Baldy with my friend, Kegan. It was an 11 mile hike, and by the end, our legs were dead. The views made it completely worth it though. It was so nice to get off campus for a bit and spend some time outdoors! Mt. Baldy is a ski hill in the winter, and so on our way back down from the summit, the leaders of the hike for some reason thought it was a good idea to take the whole group down what was essentially a black diamond. It was all slippery gravel, rocks, and trees. I basically slid down and I was definitely the last one at the back.

This week I’m heading home for fall break which I’m super psyched about! I’m looking forward to just living at home for awhile. I keep saying that home has never felt so much like home since I’ve been in college. Maybe it’s because being away from home for awhile makes you appreciate all the things that make it home.

Something I hope to do when I get home is cook a meal and bake! I’ve been missing both so much! The closest thing that I’ve done to cooking lately has been making myself a cup of oatmeal for breakfast. I’ve also been watching a ton of Chef’s Table and The Great British Baking Show (I love those shows!) When I get home, my mom and I are already planning on making this yummy white bean tomato stew which is super homey and comforting. Ahhh I’m so excited!

I wanted to share a NICE dessert that I’ve been absolutely loving. It’s vegan, so it’s nice to your body, hence the name. For the last couple months, I’ve been gluten, dairy, and sugar free. Right after telling people this, I always say, “But not by choice!…My doctor told me to try it out.” I wouldn’t do that to myself…haha. Thankfully there are a lot of options on campus and the dining halls are generally very accommodating. But I can’t wait to try all the yummy desserts once I go off the diet soon.

This dessert is great because it’s allergy friendly, healthy, and it’s also super delicious! So, while treating yourself, you’re also treating your body :) I’ve had a lot of fun making this dessert over the summer. Definitely a go-to. I hope you like it!

Nice Cream

Makes about 4 cups

Directions

Blend all ingredients in a food processor until well combined. You can play around with it to create the consistency you like. If too thick, add more liquid. If too thin, add more frozen fruit/ice. Once blended, serve immediately, or store in freezer.

My Notes

A blender also works, but I found it easier to use a food processor because the frozen fruit didn’t get stuck in the blades as easily. Also, you can use any variation of milks (almond milk, regular milk, oat milk, etc). I find that the coconut milk works really well for nice cream. Also, feel free to get creative and add any fruits you would like. Have fun with it!