Girl Scouts meet Dairy Queen

The wonders of a Thin Mint cookie! Seriously I think my box was gone in a day but now there is one more way to get my fix. I don't often frequent Dairy Queen since there isn't one close by and I am always on the hunt for homemade creations but it is one of those places that brings back childhood memories. The great ice cream treat haven just announced their new summer concoction, the Thin Mint Blizzard. It's their super creamy ice cream with pieces of Thin Mint cookie throughout topped off with Creme De Menthe. This could be worth the trip!

Did you know?

*Dairy Queen first opened in 1940 in Jolliet, IL

*An All Beef Chili & Cheese foot long hotdog is 690 calories & 45 grams of fat!!!! (stick with the ice cream, may be fattening but so more worth it!)

Hot for Hilton Head SC Ice Cream

So sad that vacation came to a close but happy to be able to report on my ice cream finds on the beautiful island of Hilton Head, South Carolina. With nothing but sun and golf to keep you entertained, I decided a mini ice cream tour was a must. Unfortunately I only made it to three ice cream hot spots, since pulling myself away from the beach chair was harder than I thought, but all were worth it.

So if you've never been to HHI (Hilton Head Island) its a small island on the southern coast of SC known for its amazing golf courses and beautiful beaches. It's pretty slow on the island. If you don't like golf or the beach than forget it! It's families and golfers and oh so relaxing...seriously the first year we went sans-child it was tough finding nightlife open past 10pm! Anyways, back to the ice cream. We hit up three spots...The Salty Dog Ice Cream Shop, Marley's Homemade Ice Cream & Trading Co., and Hilton Head Ice Cream.

First stop, The Salty Dog Ice Cream Shop (at South Beach in the Sea Pines Plantation).

For anyone new to HHI, The Salty Dog Restaurant is a somewhat famous local spot on the island. Tucked in a marina with plastic tables all along the deck and nightly Jimmy Buffett-type entertainment (only til 9pm of course!), this place is always a must stop for our trip. But this year what was more enticing to me was the ice cream shop, forget dinner! So I used my child once again as an excuse for more ice cream and headed over. Not tons of choices but a few good ones. I opted for the Mocha Chip, little caffeine and chocolate, and Holly craved the Cookie Dough. As you can see by the picture, the small cone of cookie dough wasn't so small, they sure offered generous scoops. I always go for the dish instead but even that was filled to the brim. So the venue was picture perfect, island

 music, boats along the marina, and lots of kids lined up for ice cream but I can't say the ice cream was perfect. Definitely not homemade or premium but decent. My biggest complaint with the mocha chip was that it lacked the chip and it was a bit icy. Holly's cookie dough was the better of the two. It had lots of cookie dough and the vanilla flavor was perfect. Same consistency but flavor was great.

Onto round two, Marley's Homemade Ice Cream & Trading Co. Once again, its a shop adjacent to a restaurant (boy they know how to suck in the parents after dinner!) but this ice cream was amazing! First we had dinner at Marley's Island Grill with fun steel drum entertainment and to keep the summertime island feel we ended with ice cream. At first glance you would think this is just an ordinary ice cream shop next to this big restaurant along a main road but all the ice cream is homemade and super premium. There was a good amount of flavors to choose from. I went for the Chocolate Raspberry Truffle and Holly had the Oreo. I struggled with my decision here. I wanted to try something not so ordinary but didn't want to be disappointed and that I wasn't. The chocolate ice cream was so decadent with ribbons of raspberry throughout and lots of pieces of rich chocolate truffles. It was super smooth and not too rich. Wow, this was SO good. Marley's obviously uses the high-fat stuff...and its all worth it. With island music in the background and two scoops, this was a perfect night. Oh...and the Oreo was just as good. Vanilla ice cream was super creamy and had just the right amount of oreos strewn about to not take over. Luckily Holly got full and I got to finish hers too! This was by far the best place out of the three.

And the final round, Hilton Head Ice Cream. This is your typical summer ice cream shop tucked away off the road amongst a few other shops. It's filled with obscure items like a cookie jar collection, a fish tank, bikes hanging from the ceiling...a true mish mash of stuff. I bet it's a place where scores of Little League baseball players line up anxiously after a game. With lots of flavors and a glass freezer to see all the great choices I was torn like an old sweater, so I got my two favorites, Mint Chocolate Chip and Cookie Batter. Seeing it was my last night on the island I didn't want to be disappointed

with choosing a random flavor. Holly went for the oh so blue, yellow, & red, Superman (fancy vanilla!), and the hubby who could care less about ice cream (how dare he) chose Heath Bar. As I said in the beginning this is your typical place and that is what we got, good ice cream on a warm summer night. It was as expected and not to disappoint. Not too icy, not too premium, and good flavor. A good simple way to end the vacation.

Been to HHI? Had ice cream there? Give us the scoop so I can try a new ice cream hot spot next year!

We've got a new friend in the ice cream blog world!

It looks like EB of Spice Dish did all our work for us when she wrote about a fabulous collection of ice cream accessories. Not only that, but I think I have a new blog to subscribe to...her love of ice cream is clear with her previous entry being Triple Threat featuring a strawberry sorbet and the following one titled Sorbetasitc! Um, why can't I be that creative with my titles? Here's to you EB and your fabulous site (and P.S. now I love your mom too), and to Jessie, the fabulous Cakespy, for hooking us up.



<-- I want that wallet.

Better Late than Never

A late ice cream entry is like a late birthday present...just when you think all the treats are done coming to you, you get one more unexpected one...!

Jenn, of JustJENN's Rants and Raves and Just Jenn Designs, who we wrote about way back when we were just starting this blog sent in one last entry to the Ice Cream Cupcake Roundup...and boy did her Chocolate and Green Tea Ice Cream Cupcakes sound yummy...

I love Jenn's cutaway shot. Though I am not a green tea fan, my husband loves green tea and couldn't stop talking about it after Japan, until we finally got the amazing powdered green stuff...needless to say I have had a reason to make green tea ice cream, and I will someday soon...I promise, Kev.

I have to say, I just love the color combo. What could be finer than lime (er, um, green tea) green and chocolate brown...I think even though I am not a huge green tea fan, the mellow flavor of the tea could offset the chocolate well. And yet, another vegan recipe as well! I am so impressed with all the vegan baking out there...

Like Jenn, I thought making ice cream cupcakes was a LOT of work, and yes, really only something for a special occasion.

Thanks, Jenn! Hope your computer is doing better!

Scoopalicious Scopes Out Scooper Bowl 26

The Scoopalicious Team: Tina and Bethany at Scooper Bowl 26
(That's Hochy in the background! Hi Hochy!)

So the Scoopalicious crew and two of our favorite assistants (thanks Al and Steve!) went to the Jimmy Fund Scooper Bowl in Government Center, Boston today! This event has been a Boston staple for many years...in fact, the Scooperbowl is in its 26th year and its the nation's largest all-you-can-eat ice cream festival. Temps hit 95°, almost breaking the June 10th record of 96° set in 1959. Record breaker or not, it was a scorcher. (I felt pretty badly for my Haagan Dazs Honey bee friend at left here...)

We spent about an hour at the event, testing at least one flavor from almost each of the stands...

We aren't of the group who thinks we should stack our cups, but there are quite a few people who DO enjoy this...(These are actually mellow to those stacks I have seen in the past...)


We'll go into more detail in a future post, but here is one favorite from each of us...

B: "I loved the cake batter at Edy's. I am a big big fan of cake batter. Started with cake batter and ended with cake batter."

T: My vote goes to Coldstone Creamery's For Coffee Lover's Only... Supersmooth coffee ice cream, roasted almonds, caramel, and Heath Bar BUT there are two more days of this event so this could easily change!

The best information is on the Scooperbowl is on their website.

This event is one not to miss -- and I have to admit, I am surprised Boston is the only one that serves up such an awesome event yearly. It's a great cause and a tasty event. I guess I am going to just thank my lucky sprinkles that I live in Boston.

We'll be back with more flavor reports soon, but for now, we'll leave you with two things.

One, we invite YOU to submit your scoop on the Bowl...favorite flavors? overall experience?

Two: a picture is worth a thousand words. Here are some good ones...(thanks T!)

26 loooong hours til Scooper Bowl - Boston

But who's counting! All you can eat ice cream for three days for just $8 and all for a good cause. Unheard of! I already have plans to be there every day at lunchtime. Helps when my office is two blocks away! This really is such a fun and anticipated event. It's so fun to see all the little ones with ice cream all over their face, the friends arguing about what flavor is best, or the businessmen taking an extra long lunch while probably never admitting where they were! What's also fun is that you get to try new flavors that may not even be available yet...oh and have as much as you want of it (again, best part!). I do have to admit there is a limit to how much ice cream should be consumed in one day but for this one day, forget about it!

Jimmy Fund Scooper Bowl
City Hall Plaza, Boston
June 10 and 12, 2008: 11:30 a.m. - 7 p.m.
June 11, 2008: 11:30 a.m. - 8 p.m.

http://www.jimmyfund.org/eve/event/scooper-bowl/default.html

Work near City Hall Plaza? Then skip lunch and make it an ice cream lunch!
Playing hooky on a warm summer day? We won't tell but watch out, your coworkers may be there!
In Boston on vacation? Then you found a goldmine to fill your day!

...or with this year's extended hours you can scoop away til sundown.


Last year's favorite....Cinnamon Bun by Ben & Jerry's. Can't wait to see if anything tops that! Stay tuned....

Ice Cream Cupcake Roundup: Just A Note...

Just wanted to add that Stef at Cupcake Project, who we did the roundup with, posted her own reviews of these fabulous cupcakes, complete with comments right on the images (see left for an example)...worth taking a little look here...

The Entries Are In For the First Annual Ice Cream Cupcake Roundup!

Wow! It's been one month since Stef at the Cupcake Project initiated this fun Ice Cream Cupcake Roundup with us and we are astounded by the yumminess and creativity of all the entries. Check 'em all out and next time you decide to make cupcakes, don't forget the one special ingredient to top them with...ice cream!

Thanks Stef and all the amazing bakers who contributed a yummy ice cream cupcake....this was so fun!

Sooooo, we couldn't figure out how best to do this, so we made a chart and each got a color for a response. Bethany is black raspberry colored, Tina is mint colored!

Note: Neither one of us have actually tried any of these recipes, but we HOPE to soon! We'll be busy in the kitchen, I can tell you that!

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	Caramel Apple Pie a la mode by Of Monkeys and Cupcakes Can't believe this is OMAC's first round-up. She looks like she has it down. Her step-by-step photos are beautiful (I love the cutaway) and her write-up is great! I love her combo of caramel ice cream and caramel apple cupcakes, but I do have to admit, my favorite part, the part I just wanted to lick the screen for, was the cream cheese frosting! Way to go OMAC, and thanks for your entry! Ooh, caramel is my fave and these really sound and look great. I love how you piped in the ice cream...wow that must have took time waiting for it to defrost to the perfect consistency . So impressed by your first roundup!
	Dairy Free Sticky Toffee Pudding Cupcakes with Kahlua Almond Ice Cream and Caramel/Cream Cheese Sauce or "Frosting" by Flour Arrangements I think FA says it best in the first line of her post: "Wow...that's a long title for cupcakes that took an even longer time to make ;)" That's one thing I did realize. These cupcakes are time consuming! At least mine were. So many steps and so much freezing and working, freezing and working. I am impressed with FA's attempts to go vegan in her cupcake making. Impressive! Also, as much as I loved loved loved the image to the left of the caramel/cream cheese frosted ice cream cupcakes with the cherry and almond on top (beautiful presentation!), I was also impressed by her creativity in using the leftovers to send to work with her husband! Way to go! (I, on the other hand, was left with a freezer full of ice cream cupcakes that were going to get the best of me!) Lucky Jose and and his co-workers! P.S. FA, love your little recipe card application-thing on your blog! Hey did you use Bethany's fake ice cream recipe because these are so picture perfect they almost look fake! The cherry and almond are so thoughtfully placed and the dripping frosting falls just right. I think the watery consistency resulted in a darn nice looking ice cream cupcake!
	Chocolate Orange Guinness Cupcakes by Couture Cupcakes First of all, CC, I don't even know where to begin! Your write-up and photos are fantastic! I LOVED CC's little "package" for each tester -- treat and spoon all bundled up nicely! The cup idea was also fantastic. I had a hard time eating my creations in their wrapper on a plate...ice cream isn't meant for a plate, silly me! The cup seems like the perfect solution -- a place to bake as well as a solid structure to eat out of! I think it is great as well that CC got friends and family to do reviews -- so nice to see a number of responses! OK, and the recipe itself? AWESOME. I am not a huge fan of beer, but I think I might like these, as they are so rich with flavors I DO love together: chocolate, orange, and raspberry...yum! One more tip I like: "Take cupcakes out of freezer 10 minutes before serving." Very good advice! I have been dying to make Guinness ice cream for my husband who is a big fan of the stout so these intrigued me. The fact that you actually made two flavors of ice cream was adventurous in itself never-mind the clever packaging and great photos with scribbles. These are so cute and sound awesome. Love the mix of orange with it. Oranglicious!
	Miss Scarlet by Little Ivy Cakes First of all, creme brulee ice cream?! Um, yum! These are beautiful. I love the mixture of colors and textures. The garnishes work so well, as well -- these are just incredibly beautiful. My mouth is watering just looking at and thinking about that mixture of the richest foods I know: red velvet cake, creme brulee, meringue, strawberries, blood oranges... Wonderful entry, and perfect name as well! I know I have been under a rock but I have never had red velvet cake and these have me even more intrigued after seeing the red batter on the mixer. Each step of this ice cream cupcake sounds awesome and I can't even believe the frosting itself took almost 45 minutes..wow you are a trooper. But it all looks worth it. The color and contrast of layers is fantastic and the creme brulee ice cream sounds to die for.
	S'mores Ice Cream Cupcake by Jesse Jesse's ice cream cupcakes are right in time for the season (by the way, has anyone seen those s'mores kits they sell now? Marshmallows, grahams, chocolate and sticks all included...can't people even find sticks in the woods for s'mores making any more? I mean, c'mon...half the fun is finding the perfect stick to toast the perfect marshmallow on...anyway...). Anyway, these are just beautiful! I want to dive right into the marshmallow meringue topping, just like the graham cracker did. I mean, these looks SO inviting! I am also impressed that it is Jesse's first time making ice cream! Of course it is hard to really see how it came out as it is sandwiched between a cupcake and a mountain of fluffy meringue, but it's not in an unfrozen puddle around the cake, so I have to assume it worked out pretty well! Love the little graham cracker fun fact! Summertime and camping...that's what these are all about! I must try this Cinnamon Graham Crunch ice cream, thanks for posting the recipe, it sounds too good and you're right Philly style is way easier and when you have a project with so many steps its perfect. Love the shot and the placement of the graham is prefect. It's the details that count...great job!
	Rootbeer Float Cupcakes by Coconut and Lime These are just adorable! They are so retro and charming -- the presentation is wonderful! Use of the ice cream glass and the straw is perfect. As much as the look takes me back the fifties -- wait, you have to have lived in the fifties to go back to the fifties, huh? I just barely made the seventies! -- er, um, anyway, you know what I mean -- the flavor combination seems wonderful and classic diner feeling! Yum! P.S. Where EVER did you get those liners, C&L? I want them! Love it...this just looks fun. It's simple and sweet and I can just picture myself sitting at a diner counter enjoying this. Hmm..maybe there is one nearby but I doubt they serve this wonderful creation.
	Choco-Caramel4 Fudge Ice Cream Wafflecakes by I♥Cuppycakes These are so charming! I think the waffle bowl would add an awesome crunch to this recipe -- just like IHC (That's I Heart Cuppycakes -- I don't know how to make that heart!!) said. I will have to try it out! I love how the cone bowl flattened. It's so pretty! In fact, at the point where IHC hadn't added the ice cream yet, there is a shot that looks like a big flower! I love the sundae look of these as well, and for a chocolate lover, these are, um, perfect! BUT, I could also see how wonderful peanut butter ice cream would be too, just like IHC and her husband both suggested after the fact. Let us know how that turns out, will ya, IHC? Wow, what a creative idea to use these cups and had you never mentioned the flattening of them I would have never known. I think they fell perfectly and am amazed at the idea of cooking the brownie in it (can you tell I don't take risks in baking!). The cup and brownie topped with Triple Caramel Chunk (which I must try now..darn only edys in the fridge) sounds scrumptious. This really looks like you stole a photo out of a cookbook..wonderful!
	Chocolate Strawberry-Rhubarb Ice Cream Cupcakes by Cooking In Cleveland These are just beautiful. I could stop right there. I don't want to eat them, I just want to look! OK, but truth be told I LOVE strawberry rhubarb anything. I have never had it with chocolate though, but it sounds amazing. The balsalmic vinegar in this ice cream recipe sounds like it adds a great twist as well. This is definitely one I am going to steal some rhubarb from mom and dad's garden for...! LOVE rhubarb...my favorite summertime pie and ice cream sounds even better. Never had it but its now on my must-have list and thanks for sharing the ice cream recipe. I will defintiely try this one. Love the photo and the shaved chocolate and perfect strawberry really finish these off beautifully!
	Strawberries and Chocolate by Red Kitchenaid These are charming! I am going to have to make them for my star loving sister! RK's presentation is wonderful. I just love the shine of the hot fudge finishing off the personal desserts. Strawberries and chocolate? What could be finer? (OK, the verdict is still out on strawberry rhubarb and chocolate above!) KA had a problem with the strawberries in her ice cream being very icy. As I wrote on her blog: "I keep running into the icy ice cream problem too. I read that if you macerate the fruit in sugar for a while before mixing in, it is supposed to help." Great work, KA! Neat idea putting this all in a mold and topping it with hot fudge is the best part. I've made lots of ice cream now and every batch is different so definitely try again. You may be pleasantly surprised the next time. But these really look great and I bet tasted just as good.
	Chocolate Cherry Amaretto Ice Cream Cupcakes by Tempered Woman The name says it all: chocolate cherry...This is one of those classic combos that you can't go wrong with. Add some liquor, and you can go even less wrong! I love the idea of the marscapone in the frosting. Sounds so yummy! As I was reading TW's description of the ice cream soaking into the cake, all I could think about is that: I. Want. These. NOW. Love the photo too...the image is so inviting. They have such a cheerful, playful, summertime look to them that I keep half expecting my four year old neighbor to come running into the picture with his bathing suit and inflatable arm bands. "Stay away, Oscar, these are for adults only!...and remember, you can't go swimming until a half an hour after eating..." Can I just have a spoon loaded with that frosting. Man that looks good..and with marscapone cheese its gotta be. I just love how the ice cream is sandwiched and how playful the piped frosting is. Although from the sounds of it the outdoor photo was challenging, but it frames them wonderfully. These look incredible!
	Chocolate Fire Ice Cream Cupcakes by My Own Sweet Thyme These look and sound so yummy. I love the richness that chile powder adds to chocolate, and to top that combo off with cinnamon ice cream, and cream cheese frosting sounds like a match made in heaven. MOST even has an image of the cupcake unwrapped, the creamy white ice cream melting into the dark chocolate cupcake that makes me want to climb into my computer and eat it. Ah, if only it were that easy. (I'd be gaining weight by the second as I write this...) My husband isn't such a sweets fan, which I can't understand, but he does like spicy things, so I think I should try making them for me, er, um, I mean him. The name is great -- it's a perfect match for the spicy mixed with cold combo. Wow, these sound super flavorful and fantastic. After all those steps you said you would definitely make again..they must be good! Oh and the weather may not be right there for ice cream yet but start making your own and it becomes a year round obsession!
	Burnt Sugar Lilac Cupcakes by Big Black Dogs These make me want to sit in a lace filled victorian house and drink tea. Absolutely beautiful! Love the lilac and colored sugar garnishing the top. Burnt sugar and lilac sounds like a pretty cool combo to me! I like the lightness of flower flavors in moderation, and I think that the combo of burnt sugar and lilac sounds like a perfect mix. The white chocolate ganache seems to be the perfect topping, and also what I will now use as the topping to my cupcakes, as no one was particularly thrilled with the caramely white chocolate topping on my experiment! (Thanks, BBD!) I wonder, did the ganache harden on the ice cream? These are definitely the prettiest entry by far. It looks like a bouquet and I can smell the flowers from here . I have to say I am not so sure about actually eating lilacs but its so different I think I might have to try it to see what its all about. Oh and topped with ganache...sold!
	Cookie Dough Chocolate Ice Cream Cupcakes by Beantown Baker Ah, the Beantown Baker...one that (I assume) hails from the great city of Boston...(A little biased, yes, but that is where I met the lovely Tina, without whom we wouldn't have this ab fab blog!) First off BB, I have to say, I am so so sorry about your lactose intolerance. I don't know how I would be able to function on soy/tofu/rice/anything-other-than-rich-heavy-cream ice cream wannabes! (I mean, to each his own, really -- its just not for me!) Love how BB added the ice cream "mush" to her cupcake and reminisced about childhood. Didn't we all mix our cake and ice cream mush together? The chocolate cream cheese frosting seems to be the perfect last ingredient of the chocolate -vanilla cookie dough-chocolate sandwich BB made. Um, BB, maybe you could send Tina and I your address so we could come over and eat the rest of these for you, as um, you are lactose intolerant. ;) My favorite step...send hubby to the store for ice cream! Sounds like my nightly although if its homemade, "send hubby to the kitchen to get me a bowl of ice cream!" Regardless its a great start to a fun process. These look great..cookie dough and chocolate cupcakes topped off with cream cheese frosting sounds like a perfect combination. p.s....since you're in Boston be sure to hit the Scooper Bowl next week on City Hall Plaza (endless ice cream for $8..what's better than that!)
	Kalhua Chocolate Crunch Ice Cream Cupcakes by Lick the Spatula I have to admit. I have the taste buds of a five year old. I like sweet sweet sweet, and I always say I don't like anything coffee or alcohol flavored. That being said, I'd still try these...Kalhua is sweeter than most liquors, and sometimes I actually think it gives a nice rich flavor to things, as does the chocolate and coffee combo (once I made my friend a coffee/chocolate cake knowing she would like it and I wouldn't -- it was just past Christmas and I was trying not to eat as many sweets to make up for all the sweets I had eaten -- but I still did and thought it was one of the richest cakes I had ever eaten. Long story short, even with my childish tastes, I think these have the potential to be rich, sweet, and delicious even to me! Beautiful work though, I love LTS's testing of alternative cupcake holders as well as her ability "to think outside of the cupcake liner"! I too am a big chocolate and coffee fan so these sound right up my alley. I usually try to have each daily and now I can have them together. Thanks for entering and thanks to your husband for doing the dishes. Where can I get one of those! Capitol D...Delicious!
	Chocolate Strawberry Bliss Cupcakes by Confessions of a City Eater I love the stripes of color in this cake, made by Tina and my Boston neighbor (Go Celtics!). It is so simple and elegant. I am curious to know the kind of frosting used. It looks delish! OMG, I didn't realize these were white chocolate. I love love love white chocolate. And with strawberry? Even better! And COACE? Since I commented on your posting, you'll be happy to know I found a whatchamacallit to pipe frosting at Marshall's so I picked it up. Now if I can only get the actual skill down... Ooh another Boston girl...Scopper Bowl next week, don't miss out! I absolutely love this photo with the city in the background. Maybe these should have been called Bliss in the City (BITC)...appropriate timing! These look so refreshing and your strawberry ice cream sounds great.
	Oreo Ice Cream Cone Cupcakes by Küchenatein I have heard of cone cupcakes, but it never occured to me to make them and then add ice cream to make a REAL ice cream cone cupcake! Brillant! I just love the idea, and it is basically an all-in-one, good for the environment (no trash) solution! These are adorable! Perfect for a kid's party -- you wouldn't have to deal with ice cream and cake on the spot, as it is all predone! Also pretty cool with the cone removed too! I think oreo ice cream is one of my all time favorites...so these are rigth up my alley. The other day I had, get this, cake batter oreo ice cream at J.P. Licks in Brookline, MA. That might be my new favorite -- two of my all time favs combined!! Hey I have been dying to try the cupcake in the cone idea. I came across this idea when researching recipes for my toddler's birthday and thought it was such a neat and fun idea so I am psyched to see this here. This is a classic and so right for this roundup. I just want to lick them now!

Thanks to everyone who took part -- every single one of the recipes was creative, unique, and so delicious looking...we'll report back again when we actually try some of these!

In the meantime, if our readers try any of these recipes, please send us a full report!

What I loved best?...I loved how the every presentation was completely different than the last. It is amazing to me how people take the same problem and come up with their own solution that is so "out of the cupcake liner," as Lick the Spatula so aptly put it!