Miss Ghana Finalist and Activist and We All Scream For Ice Cream

COMMUNITY SPOTLIGHT: REBEKAH A. OFORI-FRIMPONG

It's great to have people in the community like Rebekah Frimpong advocating for such important global issues. Way to go Rebekah!

Rebeka A. Ofori-Frimpong is a current Miss Ghana Africa USA 2010/11 finalist in the Miss Africa USA Pageant, she is also a mentor, teacher, filmaker, and activist. As a Miss Ghana USA finalist she is pushing for a platform of Global Health for Africa and for Africans living in the United States. Check out her Website MaMa Africa.

Her message is clear--Sending Hope to Mothers. Mama Africa sends maternal care packages to at-risk mothers in Africa and in the United States. Many of these mothers do not have the needed resources to care for themselves or their newborn child. At-risk mothers are dealing with mental distress, poverty, and education limitations.MaMa Africa hopes to continue to allow and improve dialogue around improving maternal health care. For ways to see how you can get involved go to their Website and click on GET INVOLVED.

Rebekah will also be hosting a screening of her film "Vanishing Seeds" today at The Tank in Times Square @ 7:30 p.m. in NYC. DC on HEELS looks forward to viewing her film.

Rebekah's five year plan will be to continue her philanthropic work though community projects. In addition, she hopes to have completed a graduate education and start on the path to becoming a professor teaching in the field of public health with a concentrated view on how media can affect the public view of health care policies and influencing healthcare legislature. She hopes to have completed her next film project titled "I Luv Africa" about African people sharing real African stores that depict how they see Africa's future and their role in the continent's development. Outstanding work Rebeka!

I SCREAM U SCREAM WE ALL SCREAM FOR ICE CREAM:

Peach-and-Toasted Pecan Ice Cream

These temps have not subsided one bit, and while today the sun may not be slapping us in the face, the humidity is relentless! So cool off with this delicious ice cream recipe.

Ingredients:

• 3/4 cup sugar
• 2 tablespoons cornstarch
• 1/8 teaspoon table salt
• 2 cups milk
• 1 cup heavy whipping cream
• 1 egg yolk
• 1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla bean paste*
• 1 cup peeled and coarsely chopped peaches
• 2 tablespoons light corn syrup
• 1 1/2 tablespoons butter
• 1 cup coarsely chopped pecans
• 1/4 teaspoon kosher salt

Preparation

1. Whisk together first 3 ingredients in a large heavy saucepan. Gradually whisk in milk and whipping cream. Cook over medium heat, stirring constantly, 10 to 12 minutes or until mixture thickens slightly. Remove from heat.

2. Whisk egg yolk until slightly thickened. Gradually whisk about 1 cup hot cream mixture into yolk. Add yolk mixture to remaining cream mixture, whisking constantly. Whisk in vanilla bean paste. Cool 1 hour, stirring occasionally.

3. Meanwhile, cook peaches and corn syrup in a small saucepan over medium heat, stirring often, 4 to 5 minutes. Coarsely mash, and let cool 30 minutes. Stir peach mixture into cooled cream mixture.

4. Place plastic wrap directly on cream mixture, and chill 8 to 24 hours.

5. Meanwhile, melt butter in a small skillet over medium heat; add pecans, and cook, stirring constantly, 8 to 9 minutes or until toasted and fragrant. Remove from heat, and sprinkle with 1/4 tsp. kosher salt. Cool completely (about 30 minutes).

6. Pour chilled cream mixture into freezer container of a 1 1/2-qt. electric ice-cream maker, and freeze according to manufacturer's instructions. (Instructions and time may vary.) Before transferring ice cream to an airtight container for further freezing, stir in pecan mixture.

*Vanilla extract may be substituted

Vanessa xoxoxo