Wednesday, January 8, 2014

Am I dense? Or is it this recipe?

I hate to come back to this blog on a negative note, but with two kids under three, I don't make a lot of ice cream anymore.

When I do make ice cream, I want it to work.

Twice, I have used chocolate ice cream recipes from Scoop: 125 Specialty Ice Creams from the Nation's Best Creameries and been super frustrated. The ice creams tasted great when I made the base, but they were so darn thick they just spun and spun in the ice cream maker, not getting cold, just attaching to the dasher.

Is it me? Am I doing something wrong? I know I did do one thing wrong this time but I can't imagine it would have been the result of my base refrigerating into one gelatinous blob. My mistake (and yes, I know the saying ab out blaming one's tools, but I also know as a graphic designer, I think they made a poor design mistake...) was that I missed adding the heavy cream at the beginning. Why? Because when they list the first step, they try to be all fancy with their design and bold the first couple of words and first ingredient. It pulls that first ingredient out of the list of other ingredients and combines it with the action...at least it does for me.

I have attached a screen shot from the Amazon preview of one of their other recipes for you to see what I am talking about.


See, don't you miss the cream? Maybe it's me. But to me the design just doesn't work in that way.

But I digress because I did add the cream, albeit later, but that shouldn't make much of a difference because my dear favorite ice cream authors in The Ultimate Ice Cream Book: Over 500 Ice Creams, Sorbets, Granitas, Drinks, And More add the heavy cream at the end all the time and they never have gelatinous bases!

The first time I made a chocolate recipe from this book, I looked at the base and I thought it was just too dense. I have a note in the book that I added an extra half cup of both whole milk and heavy cream and it worked out just fine.

However, this time, I thought to myself that maybe it would work, maybe I should give it the benefit of the doubt. Nope. I even tried stopping the churning a couple of times to push the mess back down with a spoon. And you know what happened? The ice cream froze to the side (finally) but ended up freezing too fast that the dasher got stuck and wouldn't turn anymore.

I want to love this book. The concept is great. I just can't see how these recipes made it into the book. Did someone not test them? Did someone leave out some liquid in the typesetting of the book?

Again, maybe it's me. I have taken quite a hiatus but I would like to think ice cream churning is like riding a bike.

I'm interested to see if anyone else feels this way about the book.

And I am sorry, Jackie, your present is to come because I just don't want to give you a solid block of frozen chocolate. In the meantime, you can tell me what your favorite flavor is.

Sunday, October 27, 2013

Nutty the Water Skiing Squirrel Presents...Scotchy Scotch Scotch



Tina and I are always bummed when we get invited to events in NYC on such short notice. We missed Ben & Jerry's events with Jimmy Fallon and with Tina Fey. When we heard about this latest B&J unveiling, we decided we need to get someone to this event...someone that would appreciate free ice cream and a waterskiing squirrel. 

Luckily we found someone and he brought another someone and they were a great choice to send as our proxies...

Without further ado, we want to thank our guest poster, Patrick Langevin, for this awesome write-up and for taking the time out of his busy day to attend this event as our new New York correspondent. And thank you to his date Maggie for keeping him company, enjoying and taking some great pictures (as both the subject and photographer!) Nothing like relying on the the goodness of childhood friends to take care of important ice cream business for us. Thanks, Team FHS! 

I had the opportunity to attend the Ben & Jerry’s unveiling of their new celebrity flavor on Tuesday evening and I had no idea that such sweet hilarity would ensue.

My guest and I arrived at Pier 36 on the Lower East Side of Manhattan to find a large pool of water sitting in the middle of the room. Nutty the Water Skiing Squirrel was announced and came out to perform with his trainer. Nutty was quick to hop on his water ski as the remote control boat sped off around the circular pool. Nutty seemed to be a natural on water skis and looked around at the crowd as he daringly skied over the small ripples in the water. Nutty’s final lap was followed by lots of cheers.


The time had come for the big reveal. They played a small clip from the movie Anchorman with Will Ferrell as Ron Burgundy giving a news brief about Nutty the Water Skiing Squirrel. The fabric was drawn from the hidden sign to reveal Scotchy Scotch Scotch as the new limited batch Ben & Jerry’s Flavor. Thankfully not a Scotch flavored ice-cream (Although you had the opportunity to have scotch poured over your sample) but a butterscotch ice-cream. Immediately following the announcement a Channel 4 News van drove out from behind the curtain and out came a bevy of Ron Burgundy look a likes with trays full of Scotchy Scotch Scotch samples.


Scotchy, Scotch, Scotch is creamy with ribbons of butterscotch and crispy thin chunks of butterscotch. You definitely need to be a lover of butterscotch for this ice cream but I enjoyed the texture and the butterscotch flavor. The extra crunch from the butterscotch chunks really were what made this flavor stand out. I would have enjoyed a butterscotch ice cream but that extra crunch really brought it to the next level of ice cream fulfillment.



My friend and I sat back by the pool eating our ice-cream while watching Nutty the squirrel perform one last time. Before leaving we had the opportunity to meet Nutty and his trainer. Nutty decided to sit on both of our shoulders to personally greet us before we had to say goodbye.

Only Ben & Jerry’s could create such a unique experience to announce their new celebrity flavor to coincide with the release of Anchorman Two, in theatres in December. I would suggest grabbing yourself a pint of Scotchy Scotch Scotch on your way to the theatre or to eat on the couch while watching the original film.


P.S. Happy Belated Birthday, New York Correspondent! Hope this kicked off your birthday week in high style!

P.P.S. Since this is a new flavor, the B&J Flavor Locator might be of use to those wanting to try Scotchy Scotch Scotch.

Sunday, July 21, 2013

Happy National Ice Cream Day!

I know we have been a little slack about posting daily for National Ice Cream Month. A lot has changed over the years from when we started this blog and we wish we could post more often -- but alas, it is what it is. But we aren't going to get away without posting a wish of a very happy National Ice Cream Day and a thank you and shout out to Ronald Reagan for recognizing the goodness of ice cream!

A very mini version of the raspberry shortcake!
How did you celebrate?

I celebrated yesterday with my annual ice cream party. With two kids under three, this party has gotten a lot more mellow than years past and I only made about fifteen flavors. I bought some and guests brought some -- both homemade and store bought -- and there was more than enough for everyone! I hope to post soon some recipes and new favorite store bought flavors.

Today I celebrated with the company of dear friends and a dish of raspberry shortcake: Bisquick (the "quick" was key!) shortcakes, raspberries freshly picked from mom and dad's garden, homemade violet ice cream (recipe to follow soon!), and local whipped cream. A perfect treat on a perfect day.

Hope yours was as good as mine!




Thursday, July 18, 2013

America's Best Cities For Ice Cream

Does your favorite city make the list? This Travel & Leisure article on America's Best Cities For Ice Cream comes out with perfect timing as we all travel the country this summer and making stops at all the best local ice cream shops. I was pleasantly surprised to see that my own state capital almost made #1. Sadly I have to admit I was surprised at how well it ranked but really I am always testing ice cream on the go and through our travels. Makes you realize how you really don't take advantage of what's on your own front doorstep sometimes. Oh well, now gives me a good excuse to hit my own big city for a scoop. Oh and I got so excited about PVD being on the list that I originally never made it further down the list and was even more excited to see our own Beantown made #8....this I have to agree on. Between Toscanini's, Christina's, Emack & Bolio, and JP Licks Boston really has many scoop shops that rank high on our own list.

So who made the list...

#1 Savannah, GA (agreed... Leopolds is to die for!)
#2 Providence, RI (I am not in search for the PVD Pops Pushcart)
#3 Nashville
$3 San Francisco
#5 San Diego
#6 Portland, ME (have girls weekend planned there soon...have to head to to Gelato Fiasco)
#7 Austin, TX
#8 Boston, MA (we agree...Christina's is a must try in Beantown!)
#9 Honolulu
#10 NYC (ooh I have to try Victory Garden's goat milk soft serve)

.....check out the article to see who else tops the list.

Have you made it to an awesome city with great ice cream? We want to hear all about it!

Friday, July 5, 2013

New Orleans Ice Cream Company

Way back in October or November I got samples from the New Orleans Ice Cream Company. Then I had a baby. Then it was the middle of winter and even though I am a New Englander who likes ice cream year round, I thought it would be more appropriate to write about it in the spring when people really started to get in the mood for ice cream. Though I might argue that with NOICC's unique flavors, you'd probably be in the mood year round.

I have to say of the samples I received my favorite was by far the Baked Alaska (vanilla bean ice cream with meringue pieces, strawberries, cake pieces, and meringue swirl -- what's not to love?) In fact, I was a little bummed it was also my dad's favorite because we kind of had to fight over it!

Some of the other flavors were a bit more intense for me and made me realize I wasn't probably the best tester because I don't like alcohol flavors or coffee flavors too much, but the good thing is that I have great friends and family who are much bigger fans of alcohol and coffee and they were more than willing to try these flavors for me.

In fact, one couple we had over tried some of the ice cream and walked off with the Cajun Rum and Raisin, the Brandy Milk Punch, and the Mississippi Debris. (Although I have to say, I was hesitant to let that Mississippi Debris go -- it was a a close second, full of everything and anything chocolate...)

My mom loved the Coffee and Chicory and the Chocolate City. I knew I wouldn't be a fan of the Coffee and Chicory, since I don't like coffee, but I was disappointed to taste coffee in the Chocolate City, which gave no indication in it's description that it too contained coffee and chicory. (For those of you wondering what chicory is, as I was, basically chicory has a similar flavor to coffee and is used as a coffee flavoring or as a coffee substitute.) Nonetheless, my mom was delighted in both flavors as she loves coffee and chocolate.

The Red Velvet Cake was one I really wanted to like, and while the description sounded so promising, there was something in the flavor that just wasn't working for me. The only thing I could think was the creole cream cheese ice cream.

The Toasted Coconut was light and yummy, but nothing as unique and outstanding as some of the other flavors in their line up. (Though the Toasted Coconut did come in their unique limited edition packaging done by a local artist, I believe, which made it stand out...)

A freezer case full of New Orleans Ice Cream Co.
Oh to be so lucky to have this near me...
Would I buy from the again? Yes, in a heartbeat.* The ice cream is rich and creamy, not at all icy. And this company has got to have the most unique flavors of cartoned ice cream I am aware of. In fact, I have a list of flavors I want to try: Lemon Doberge Cake, Mardi Gras Pie, Peach Melba, and Satsuma Dreamsicle. As well as have a taste of my heavenly Baked Alaska again.

*Why the asterisk? Because New Orleans Ice Cream Company products aren't even available within 1,000 miles of me! I love it but I don't know if I can afford the high price of shipping every time I want to eat it. But maybe for a treat or a birthday present? Husband? Yes? Thanks, New Orleans Ice Cream Company for the AWESOME samples, I just wish you hadn't turned me onto a product that's now so hard for me to get! Heehee!

Images courtesy of New Orleans Ice Cream Company.

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