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National Ice Cream Day Celebration Recipes

July 11, 2017 by

One of our very favorite holidays is just around the corner…National Ice Cream Day! We can’t wait to celebrate with a scoop (or two, or three!) of our favorite ice cream flavors.

National Ice Cream Day falls on July 16 this year. If you had no idea that this delicious holiday was happening in a less than a week, not to worry!

To help ice cream lovers across the country prepare for the celebration, we’ve decided to put together a handful of our favorite ice cream recipes. Check them out, stock up on all the ingredients you need to make the recipes, and you’ll be prepared to celebrate this decadent holiday!

Salted Caramel Pretzel Milkshake Recipe

This sweet and salty recipe will make you wish National Ice Cream Day was every day! Give this recipe a try…

Ingredients:

Sea Salt Caramel Sauce

  • 3/4 cup light brown sugar
  • 1/2 cup Karo® Light Corn Syrup
  • 2 tablespoons butter
  • 1/2 cup whipping cream OR canned coconut milk
  • 1/2 teaspoon fine sea salt
  • 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract

Salted Caramel Pretzel Milkshake

  • 2 cups vanilla ice cream
  • 1/4 cup thoroughly chilled Sea Salt Caramel Sauce
  • 1/4 cup milk
  • 1/3 cup salted caramel pretzel pieces
  • whipped cream, optional

Directions:

Caramel Sauce

  1. Combine brown sugar, corn syrup and butter in a 1-quart saucepan. Stirring frequently, bring to a full boil over medium heat and boil 1 minute.
  1. Remove from heat; immediately stir in cream, sea salt and vanilla.
  1. Refrigerate to store. Microwave 30 seconds and stir before serving.

Salted Caramel Pretzel Milkshake

  1. Combine ice cream, sea salt caramel sauce, milk, and salted caramel pretzel pieces in a blender.
  1. Blend until smooth.
  1. Pour into 2 glasses and, if desired, garnish with whipped cream, more caramel sauce and pretzel pieces.

Recipe Source: http://www.mybakingaddiction.com/salted-caramel-pretzel-milkshake/

Peanut Butter Ice Box Ice Cream Cake

It wouldn’t be a celebration without a cake—made of ice cream! Try your hand at making an ice cream cake with this recipe…

Ingredients:

Chocolate Cake

  • 1 cup oil
  • 2 cups sugar
  • 3 eggs
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 1 cup of milk
  • 1 cup coffee, brewed strongly
  • 1 cup Dutch cocoa powder
  • 2 cups all-purpose flour
  • 1 teaspoon baking powder
  • 2 teaspoons baking soda
  • Pinch salt

Ice Cream Cake

  • 1 pint chocolate ice cream
  • 2 cups creamy peanut butter
  • 1 pint vanilla ice cream
  • Chocolate cake

Directions:

1. Make the chocolate cake: Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Choose between a 10 by 3-inch round or a rectangular shaped baking pan and spray it with baking grease or butter and then line the bottom with parchment paper.

2. Combine the oil and the sugar in mixer until well blended. Add the eggs and the vanilla extract and continue to mix until well blended. Add the milk and the coffee.

3. Sift all of the dry ingredients and then add them to the wet ingredients in three batches allowing each batch to be thoroughly absorbed.

4. Pour the batter in prepared pans and bake for approximately 25 minutes or until a skewer is clean when removed. Allow to cool before unmolding. Once chocolate cake has cooled, unmold, and refrigerate overnight to allow it to cool thoroughly.

5. Make the ice cream cake: Cut the chocolate cake horizontally to make 2 layers out of the 1 layer and slide 1 of the layers onto a plate or cake board attempting not to break the layers.

6. Line the same pan used to bake the chocolate cake in plastic wrap (the plastic will help you remove the ice cream cake from the pan once it is set, so make sure to use a large enough piece and slide 1 of the half layers of chocolate cake into the pan). Make sure that it rests firmly in the bottom of the pan and, if the plastic wrap has slipped in, adjust so that it spills over the sides of the pan.

7. Empty a pint of chocolate ice cream, or your favorite brand, into a mixer and soften until it is easily spread; do not let it become runny. Pour the ice cream into mold over chocolate layer and spread evenly with a spatula or the back of a spoon. Return to freezer until set, approximately 2 hours.

8. Soften 2 cups of creamy peanut butter in the microwave without letting it get runny, approximately 2 minutes. Then pour the peanut butter over the chocolate ice cream. Using a spatula or the back of a spoon, spread the peanut butter evenly over the chocolate ice cream. Place the second half of the chocolate cake layer over the peanut butter and pat down firmly. Return to freezer until set, approximately 2 hours.

9. Empty a pint of vanilla ice cream or your favorite brand, into a mixer and soften it until it can be easily spread. Pour into mold over chocolate layer and spread evenly with a spatula or the back of a spoon. Return to freezer and allow to set overnight.

10. To unmold, simply invert over cake board or plate, place a warm towel over the pan for a couple of minutes. The cake should slide out without any problems. Grab ahold of the ends of the plastic wrap, and give it a tug if it is stubborn. Invert back so that vanilla ice cream is on top. Decorate with melted chocolate or whipped cream.

11. Drizzle with melted chocolate.

Recipe Source: http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/ice-box-cafe-peanut-butter-ice-cream-cake-recipe-2013443

Ice Cream Sundae

Last, but certainly not least, we recommend making one of the most timeless, ice cream-based desserts in the history of ice cream…a sundae!

Ingredients:

  • Ice cream (any flavor you love!)
  • Toppings of your choice

Here’s a list of our favorite toppings for inspiration:

  • Hot fudge
  • Sprinkles
  • Whipped cream
  • Strawberries
  • Raspberries
  • Pineapple
  • Bananas
  • Caramel sauce
  • Cookie crumbles
  • Cherries

Directions:

1. Scoop your favorite ice cream into a bowl.

2. Add your favorite topping.

3. Enjoy!

What’s your favorite ice cream-inspired dessert? Let us know in the comments below!

Filed Under: Health and Wellness Tagged With: , , , , , , , ,

5 Fun Ways to Keep Cool This Summer

May 16, 2017 by

What’s not to love about summer? Bright sunshine, weekend trips to the beach, and indulging in cool treats like ice cream make this season by far one of the best.

The only downside…extreme heat.

We’ll take hot weather over cooler temperatures any day. But, after weeks of scorching heat, we’re ready for a cooldown.

Good thing there are a lot ways to keep cool when the temperatures are just too hot. If you find yourself stuck inside due to the heat this year, give our following favorite activities a try.

Go for a Swim

Swimming is a classic summertime activity.

Living in Charleston, we are lucky to have access to beautiful beaches that are perfect for swimming. If you live in Charleston, or plan on visiting, we recommend you go for a dip at the following beaches…

  • Folly Beach
  • Isle of Palms
  • Sullivan’s Island

If you don’t live near a beach, grab a summer membership to a local pool or gym that has a pool. Places like the YMCA are typically very affordable and even offer swim classes for kids and adults that want to fine-tune their swimming skills.

Whether you’re at the beach or pool, don’t forget to pack lots of sunscreen to keep your skin protected! It’s possible to get sunburn even when you’re in the water swimming, so be careful and always apply sunscreen!

Create a Cool Body Mist

Regardless of how hot it is outside, chores like mowing the lawn, gardening, and walking the dog still have to get done.

If you’re about to head outdoors for a few hours in the heat, we recommend bringing a cooling body mist spray with you. The following recipe is safe and chemical-free, and will help keep your body temperature cool.

Peppermint Body Mist Spray

Ingredients:

  • 2 cups water
  • 2 peppermint tea bags

Directions:

1. Boil 2 cups of water.

2. Steep 2 peppermint tea bags in the boiling water for 10 minutes.

3. Pour peppermint tea into a spray bottle and set in fridge. Do NOT add any sweetener or sugar.

4. Let peppermint tea sit in fridge for at least 1 hour.

5. Mist on body while you are outside to keep you feeling fresh and cool.

Go to a Movie

Movie theaters are notorious for cranking up the AC. That makes them the perfect place to cool down and get out of the hot sun.

Get your friends or family together, and make time to finally go to that movie you’ve been dying to see.

Treat your family to popcorn for dinner. (It’s ok to have some fun and have a treat for dinner every one in a while!) Not only will the kids love it, but you’ll be able to avoid turning your oven on to cook dinner when you get home so you can keep your house cool.

Set Up a Sprinkler

Call us old-fashioned, but there’s nothing better than running through a sprinkler on a hot summer day. And yes, adults, this activity is for you too!

If you don’t have a sprinkler, take a trip to your local garden center or home store. You can pick up a decent sprinkler for under $20 that can be used all summer long.

When you get home, simply change into a swimsuit, attach a garden hose to the sprinkler, and enjoy!

Indulge in an Icy Treat

Last, but certainly not least, is our very favorite way to stay cool—indulging in a tasty, ice-cold, refreshing treat.

If you’re an ice cream lover, head down to your local ice cream parlor. Love slushies? Take a trip to your nearest gas station. Or if you’re more of a smoothie connoisseur, grab your favorite fruits, juices, and yogurt, and whip up a refreshing smoothie.

Delish!

What’s your favorite way to cool down in the summer? Let us know in the comments below!

 

Filed Under: Health and Wellness Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Hot Enough for Ya? Try Homemade Ice Cream

July 2, 2014 by

Ice cream makers have come a long way since the days of using rock salt and straining the muscles in your arm to create a small cup or two of ice cream. Today’s makers are automatic and you merely need to put in a few basic ingredients.

In a nutshell, a homemade ice cream maker uses a refrigerated compartment and mixer blades to create ice cream from simple ingredients such as cream, sugar, milk, and flavors. Many of the latest ice cream machines are multifunctional and can make frozen beverages, sorbets, and frozen yogurt.

Ice cream makers come in different types. Countertop machines often need to be frozen before use. The ingredients are added to the machine, and the mixer blades stir the mixture. After half an hour or so, the ice cream freezes. This type of ice cream maker is relatively inexpensive but can make only one batch at a time before being refrozen.

A lesser-known type sits inside the freezer, and every few seconds mixer blades stir the mixture. When the ice cream eventually freezes, the blades stop rotating. This type of machine takes longer to freeze than others, which work by placing the mixing bowl in direct contact with cold to freeze.

A tabletop ice cream maker has a built-in freezing system, which saves time and creates ice cream in less than half an hour. They are more expensive than the others, but for many the convenience is worth the price. They can be used immediately, and they can make larger quantities of ice cream since there is no wait time. The disadvantage is that many cannot be moved for a number of hours after using so the coolant isn’t moved.

Ice cream recipes are simple and inexpensive. Here are two of our favorites from realsimple.com: 

Lemon Sorbet

Ingredients:

1 cup sugar

2 teaspoons grated lemon zest

2 cups fresh lemon juice

Directions:

Use an ice cream maker.

In a small saucepan, over medium-high heat, combine the sugar and 1 cup water. Bring to a boil and simmer, stirring, until the sugar dissolves, 3 minutes. Transfer to a bowl and chill over an ice bath until cool. Stir in the lemon zest and juice.

Follow the manufacturer’s instructions for freezing. Serve immediately or freeze in an airtight container.

Chocolate Chip Ice Cream

Ingredients:

2 cups heavy cream

1 cup whole milk

1/2 cup sugar

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

4 ounces semisweet chocolate, chopped

Directions:

Use an ice-cream maker.

In a large bowl, combine the cream, milk, sugar, and vanilla.

Follow the manufacturer’s instructions for freezing. Once the desired consistency has been reached, stir in the chocolate. Serve immediately or freeze in an airtight container.

Do you have a homemade ice cream recipe you’d like to share? Tell us below!

Filed Under: All Things Charleston Tagged With: , , ,