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.

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!

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!

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.

Red, White, and Blue Ice Cream Treats!

If you're like me, you are off to a Fourth of July dinnertime picnic and you still haven't made dessert. And it's hot!

No worries! Here's a list of recipes that look pretty promising! Some are quick and easy, others you might want to start thinking about for next years' Fourth. On the otherhand, this Red, White, and Blue Ice Cream Floats recipe is a quick trip to the store on the way to your party and the rehearsed: "Sorry I couldn't assemble these in advance, but you know, it's ice cream and it would melt..." You are all set!

Red, White, and Blue Ice Cream Sandwiches
courtesy of Sandra Lee.

One and Two Different Red, White, and Blue Ice Cream Cakes

Red, White, and Blue Ice Cream Terrine

(My favorite find) Red, White, and Blue Ice Cream Sandwiches

Got the vanilla ice cream but no where to put it? How about Red, White, and Blue Ice Cream Cones?

Sorry for the short post but my own party starts in a couple of hours and I have treats to make!!

David Lebovitz''s Live-Chat + Awesome Tips Graphic

Total bummer....I checked Facebook too late to learn about this great online event with David Lebovitz, author of The Perfect Scoop, one of our favorite recipe books. The Washington Post hosted a live-chat on all things ice cream with him, and who better to interview. In case you too missed it the questions and answers are here. This is great!

But what I think is even awesomer (is that a word?!) is this graphic that the WP also shared on how to make ice cream. I need to make a poster of this and plaster it in my kitchen. No matter how long you've been churning this is an awesome go-to for tips and tricks. Enjoy!

Happy National Creative Ice Cream Flavors Day

Who makes this stuff up. We don't but are glad they exist. So yesterday apparently was National Creative Ice Cream Flavors Day and we missed it:( I think we were too excited about it being the first day of National Ice Cream Month. Well we here have no shortage of creative ice cream flavors. If you've read any of our past posts about Bethany's famous annual ice cream party you'd know that she has lots of fun with her flavors and always surprise us with some odd ones...like Duck Sauce Fortune Cookie ice cream. Ummm...sorry B....this might not top my list but the Cake Batter ice cream was delish :)

Looking for a creative flavor to make for your fourth of July recipe?

Check out these 18 crazy cool flavors and recipes. 

Happy National Ice Cream Month!

Ah...the day of the year we look forward to every year...the kickoff to National Ice Cream month! So the past years we've made a commitment to post every day of this oh so important month. This year might be a little different since its been a busy year for us. We've welcomed a fourth child to the Scoopalicious family, a new house and a new (ok its almost a year but still feels overwhelmingly new) job. So between the two of us we'll be doing our best to bring you lots of ice cream news, recipes, and fun all month long.

Definitely check us out on our Social Media sites....we are loving Facebook since we can write quick posts packed with lots of info so Like our FB page and stay in touch there. We also have a new found love in Pinterest so if you are looking for a great recipe to bring to your next summer party definitely check out the Scoopalicious Pinterest board.

And if anything...have an awesome National Ice Cream month and eat lots of ice cream!

Another Sucre Shop Giveaway

Last week I was looking in a box of stuff that still hasn't been unpacked since we moved in January. I know, I know...if I haven't used it yet, I probably don't miss it or need it. But here's the thing: opening the box was like getting a birthday present! I found two packs of Sucre Shop vintage style ice cream cups!

I remembered that the amazing and awesome Brooke of Sucre Shop had offered to send them to me back in November but I was actually at the hospital delivering my daughter when she sent them so they got packed away in the move.

We used them the other day at a dinner party and they were a hit with the kids and the adults alike -- especially the adults who had ten fewer dishes to do! Note we even used Sucre Shop's cute spoons -- my two year old had been dying to use them!

You too can use these cute ice cream cups! Enter to win the second pack of ten cups that I uncovered... a Rafflecopter giveaway

Good luck, enjoy, and thanks for the cool prize, Brooke!

P.S. The sprinkles in this picture are the best I've ever had. Check back for a posting about those sprinkles!

Hood's Greek Frozen Yogurt

As I mentioned in our Scooper Bowl post, a month or so ago, the folks at Hood sent over some samples of their new Greek Frozen Yogurt.

What a treat!

Before tasting it, I was weary about the Double Chocolate Chip. I like chocolate yogurt, but never as much as fruit yogurt. I was very pleasantly surprised once I tried it. It was so good!

To me, honey and Greek frozen yogurt are a given. Honey and Greece just go hand-in-hand in my mind. I'm not sure why. Is Greece known for its honey? I don't know. But never mind that. I wasn't surprised buy the honey but the Honey Vanilla was my least favorite. Maybe it's because I don't actually love honey. This one was very honey-y! But this isn't to say it was bad. I enjoyed it. It just wouldn't be my "vanilla" of choice if faced with a variety of vanillas. But if I were offered it, would I turn it down? Never!

My favorite though? I brought the Raspberry Granola over to a friend's house when our kids had a playdate. What a mistake. As a good guest, I couldn't take the leftovers home. But I wanted to! The granola crunch was perfect paired with the raspberry swirl. (On a related note, I hate when my posts make me want to go out right away and buy the product in question...)

Lucky for me, as I write this, I still have an unopened quart of the Hood Greek Frozen Yogurt that I was able to bring up from the basement that I can review on the spot. Just a hit of the "soften ice cream" button on my microwave and we are good to go. (Yes, my microwave does have a "soften" button and ice cream is option number 2.)

Anyway, verdict is in: though I would have preferred to have the Raspberry Granola sitting in my freezer, the Blueberry that I just softened is quite good. It's refreshing. I have to admit though, it pales in comparison to one of my favorite flavors: Hood's Maine Blueberry and Sweet Cream. It's not the poor Greek Frozen Yogurt's fault -- Hood just already had a blueberry frozen treat that can't be topped!

A couple of years ago we were getting a lot of samples of tart frozen yogurt. I wasn't a huge fan. But this Greek frozen yogurt is something I can get on board with. It's rich, creamy, and sweet (not tart!) as I like my frozen treats to be. Hood's Greek Frozen Yogurt is definitely a treat and something I would most certainly buy again. Thanks, Hood!

P.S. While on the Hood site to link to their products, I got a little distracted by a giveaway so I went ahead and entered. I hope I win! I love Hoodsie Cups! I love the taste and the fond memories of kids bringing them in for their birthdays in elementary school, complete with wooden "spoon"!

Scooper Bowl 2013

The all-u-can-eat ice cream event raised almost $300,000...wow!

We did it again. We fought crowds a couple weeks ago in order to test flavors at the Jimmy Fund Scooper Bowl this year. And that we did. Between the two of us we had 32 scoops...ouch. Almost a little embarrassing but hey its our duty and it was worth every bite!

Each brand has four flavors to choose from and its all you can eat!

First of all, I have to get on my ice cream soap box about Scooper Bowl etiquette  Common sense? When you grab your ice cream or ice creams turn around and keep walking. I don't say this to be rude, but the place is so crowded that it just makes sense to clear out so more people can get in. People seem to linger by the tents, which just makes a crowded area even more crowded. Oh and the poor Moms with strollers...we empathize....it is barely impossible to get a stroller. But enough about that...

Bethany & Tina live at Scooperbowl. 

I think we both agreed that the flavors really weren't that exciting this year. Lots of the expected...Mint Chocolate Chip, Oreo, and Chocolate. The past years seemed to bring on new and a few more interesting flavors. But really this is a fundraiser and for an awesome cause so at the end of the day who cares! It's all good. But here are some thoughts: 

Bethany: 

Whenever I think Edy's, I think of one of my mom's favorite commercials: the dog high-fiving his owner over the promise of Edy's. (I could only find the Dreyer's version of it, but as I understand it, Dreyer's is the West Coast brand, and Edy's is the East Coast brand.) Anyway, Edy's Tropical Rainbow Sherbet was worth the Edy's high-five.) It was light, refreshing, and super creamy.

I liked Friendly's Celebration as well. It was a party in a cup!

While I have already given a rave review to Ben and Jerry's Liz Lemon that was another favorite, as well as Hood's Raspberry Granola Greek Frozen Yogurt (stay tuned for this review as I got some more flavors mailed to me from Hood and I was pretty impressed!).

Tina: 

Ok so I have to admit now that I am writing this a couple weeks later not much stands out but their were a couple I know I would go back for. I really liked Hood's Double Chocolate Chip Greek Frozen Yogurt. It was very creamy and I loved the chocolate chips in it. I also have to agree with Bethany on Friendly's Celebration. I am all about Cake Batter these days and I loved how this actually had cake pieces in it. And lastly Byrne Dairy's Green Monstah made a lasting impression. Interestingly they don't list Green Monstah on their site. I think they might have made that name up for the Boston occasion (they are NY based) so I think it really is their Grasshopper Pie. I love anything mint so that was a keeper as well.

All in all it's a can't miss event that we look forward to every year!

Happy National Chocolate Ice Cream Day!

Wow...its been a long time since we last posted especially as we head into the most important season for ice cream :). We've been finding quick info on Facebook has been a fun (and manageable honestly) way to share what's going on in the ice cream world and have been pinning like crazy to our Pinterest page. Check us out there and you'll find some great recipes to use for your next summer party.

So today is National Ice Cream Day and after still having an ice cream coma from Boston's Jimmy Fund Scooper Bowl, the all-you-can-eat ice cream festival for an awesome cause, it's hard to even think about ice cream (8 brands @ 2 flavors each=32 cups....hard to even admit!) but there is some great chocolate ice cream out there that we'd be remiss not to talk about on National Chocolate Ice Cream Day. One flavor that caught me by surprise because it was frozen yogurt was Hood's Double Chocolate Chip Frozen Yogurt. So creamy and the chocolate was super smooth. I myself loved it. And then there was Friendly's Forbidden Fudge which was rich and creamy. Loved that one too.

I don't have my own recipe to share but I do love this one from Food Network's Alton Brown, and so does everyone else as you can see by the 5 star rating. Enjoy and Happy National Chocolate Ice Cream Day!



Chocolate Ice Cream
Recipe courtesy Alton Brown, 2005

Serves: 1 1/2 quarts

Ingredients
1 1/2 ounces unsweetened cocoa powder, approximately 1/2 cup
3 cups half-and-half
1 cup heavy cream
8 large egg yolks
9 ounces sugar
2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract

Directions
Place the cocoa powder along with 1 cup of the half-and-half into a medium saucepan over medium heat and whisk to combine. Add the remaining half-and-half and the heavy cream. Bring the mixture just to a simmer, stirring occasionally, and remove from the heat.

In a medium mixing bowl whisk the egg yolks until they lighten in color. Gradually add the sugar and whisk to combine. Temper the cream mixture into the eggs and sugar by gradually adding small amounts, until about 1/3 of the cream mixture has been added. Pour in the remainder and return the entire mixture to the saucepan and place over low heat. Continue to cook, stirring frequently, until the mixture thickens slightly and coats the back of a spoon and reaches 170 to 175 degrees F. Pour the mixture into a container and allow to sit at room temperature for 30 minutes. Stir in the vanilla extract. Place the mixture into the refrigerator and once it is cool enough not to form condensation on the lid, cover and store for 4 to 8 hours or until the temperature reaches 40 degrees F or below.

Pour into an ice cream maker and process according to the manufacturer's directions. This should take approximately 25 to 35 minutes. Serve as is for soft serve or freeze for another 3 to 4 hours to allow the ice cream to harden.

Which Flavor Melts Faster?

3 Days of 3 Yummy Deals at Baskin Robbins

Baskin Robbins is offering their customers three days of a few great deals. 

For $1, $2, or $3 you can get a sweet treat from today through Thursday, April 25th. 

$1 Soft Serve Cones

$2 Double Scoop Cones and Small 31 Below

$3 Small Cappuccino Blasts, Small Milkshakes, and 2-scoop sundaes\

Find a shop near you.

Enjoy!

Product Review: NewAir AIC-210S Ice Cream & Sorbet Maker

Image courtesy of NewAir

About a month ago we got an email from NewAir asking if we wanted to try out a compressor ice cream maker -- the NewAir AIC-210S Ice Cream & Sorbet Maker. Um, ok! I have never used a compressor ice cream maker so I was excited for the experience. Tina and I decided we would share the ice cream maker, but I would try my turn at it first.

It arrived only a few days before I got an new ice cream book as a gift. I hadn't made ice cream in a while, what with a new baby and all, and I thought a new book and a new ice cream maker were the perfect combo to get me in the mood.

So I cracked open the new book, whipped up a few recipes from it, and tested the out in this new machine.

I then got an email from a friend who had also gotten a sample of the machine and he asked how I liked the machine. I wrote and told him

Tina graciously let the machine be sent to my house, so I am the only one who has tried it and I will be the only one who is trying it since we were going to share it but I really like it so she may never see it! Just kidding!!!! Of course Tina will get her turn! I can't wait for her to use it too!

I have only used it once so far, but it has gotten me back on an ice cream making kick again (and I want to try your recipe for cake batter ice cream!)

In my opinion (and I might just turn this into a post!) it has it's pros and cons.

One thing I love about the NewAir is that it is so quiet! The Cuisinart I have is SO loud. I also think the NewAir is easier to clean (I hate cleaning the paddle on the Cuisinart ICE-20 I have -- but the newer version ICE-21 paddle looks easier to clean!!!), easier to make ice cream on a whim (I usually leave my canisters in my chest freezer, but sometimes I forget to replace them, or in the summer for the ice cream party, I have four or so in my chest freezer waiting to be used -- the compressor eliminates all that)...

The volume is smaller in the NewAir (1 qt) as opposed to 1.5 qt. I am not sure this matters. It IS bulkier (and certainly heavier to take out and put away and I don't think my husband wants it living on our counter) -- at the same time, it's more contained. With the Cuisinart, I have to store the motor, etc in one place together and the freezer bowls elsewhere.

He then replied that he had found the ice cream much icier and airier in the new machine than in the machine he usually uses, and I realized I had told him everything about the process but nothing about the product! Truth be told, I hadn't focused on the texture of the ice cream I had made because the first batch was that super sour kiwi ice cream and the second batch I had only tasted right out of the machine and I really like my ice cream to ripen. So I tested the texture of the second batch.

I wasn't impressed. My ice cream seemed icy and not too smooth. Wait! Keep reading!

I began to wonder if the problem was the recipe. I had made a new vanilla ice cream recipe, and deviating from the recipe, I had used Ground Madagascar Vanilla Beans. Maybe the texture that was bothering me was the ground beans (they do work out lovely in cupcakes, but maybe they aren't meant for ice cream).

In his email, the friend had also mentioned that he was going to try a side by side comparison with his new machine and his old machine. Oh, wait! Great idea, I thought. I hadn't thought to do that. AND I was testing recipes I had never tried before. And I had even altered one of them. Maybe my review wasn't all that fair.

So I went to my favorite recipe, my standby, go-to vanilla. I love the flavor and the texture, and I also love how it makes up a big batch of base...and I also love how you can make the base and put different flavors and additions and make tons of different flavors from the same basic recipe.

So then I churned it, in both my Cuisinart and the new NewAir. Right out of the machine, I have to say, I was really impressed. The ice cream wasn't icy, it was incredibly smooth, and just dense enough. Side-by-side, the NewAir ice cream seemed to be a little lighter and a little airier than the Cuisinart, but the difference was incredibly minor and I wouldn’t have been able to tell the difference had I not been acutely aware of whether the machine made “airier” ice cream. I had a friend over who enjoyed the ice cream from both machines (I put a scoop of each in her bowl) and even after I told her each scoop was different, she couldn’t distinguish a difference and only reported back that she thought it was very good vanilla ice cream.

In the end, this product was a success. I’d be interested to see Tina’s review when she has a chance to play with the machine.

As for our ice cream making friend who had bad luck, our emails uncovered a few thoughts as to why he felt differently. He’s a self proclaimed ice cream geek with good reason. While Tina and my ice cream making background is purely self taught, this friend has a scientific background in ice cream making. Maybe his palette is a bit more discriminating. He also uses a fancier machine than we do. Tina uses a KitchenAid Ice Cream Maker Attachment, I use a Cuisinart, and he uses a Lello 4080 Musso Lussino 1.5-Quart Ice Cream Maker, so maybe the $200 NewAir is a big step down from his machine.

If I were to buy a compressor machine, would this be the one I’d choose? I can’t say. I haven’t been given any other ice cream makers to try, so I have nothing to compare it to. But as for my first experience with a compressor machine, I had a lot of fun and saw a lot of postives in it, and the price is pretty reasonable for a compressor machine, so I’d certainly consider it.

Stay tuned for Tina’s review as well as additonal tests from me!

Gold Gown, Mini Film, and Ice Cream. Perfect match?

Hmmm...doesn't look like ice cream

This has to be the most intriguing package I've ever received for ice cream. It doesn't look like ice cream. And doesn't include ice cream either. But it has alcohol...almost as good! And it is associated with the first ever 24-karat gold gown designed by Zac Posen and a mini film to debut at the Tribeca film festival. Hmmmm....

Interesting...go on. What does a premium ice cream brand do for a new product launch of a decadent new product. It aligns themselves with others who are as luxurious, daring, in the spotlight, and crafted from the finest ingredients. Smart, fun and intriguing! So along with the launch of the Magnum Gold Bars, awesome vanilla bean ice cream with sea salt caramel and dipped in Belgian milk chocolate, comes a $1.5 million 24-karat dress designed by, Zac Posen, and a short film “As Good As Gold,” by Emmy-award winning director Jon Cassar. starring Joe Manganiello along with model Caroline Correa . Wow, that's actually pretty cool and it launches on my birthday at the even hipper Tribeca Film Festival on April 18. Tried getting them to give me tix to that....oh well maybe next time! I'll eat my ice cream and like it. 

Oh actually I will say, I'll love it I am sure because truthfully, and regardless of what they send me, this stuff is gold. It really is super premium and the chocolate is to die for. It's one of those things that is a true treat and I don't think I could have daily without feeling a bit guilty but this stuff is good and worth the indulgence every once in awhile. Truth be told, they are the kind of things I hide in the back of the freezer so when my kids go to look for their dessert they choose the ice cream sandwich never knowing mom's little hidden jewel in the back!

A key to unlock my pleasure. (that's their line not mine by the way!) 

Stay tuned. We'll be sure to follow the happenings of the dress and the film. I am curious to see how this all plays out. In the meantime check Magnum out on Facebook to see the launch of this all yourself.

Is this not the cutest USB drive you have ever seen?!

Stay tuned for more.

Ben and Jerry's FREE Cone Day ~ TODAY!

The sun is shining here in Boston and almost 70 degrees. Couldn't have asked for better weather for Ben and Jerry's FREE cone day and celebration of 35 years of awesome ice cream making! 

Check out the GMA crew this morning taste testing Ben and Jerry's in honor of their 35th celebration and talking about what a great town Burlington, Vermont is. We agree!

We hope you make it to a scoop shop today for a free cone. Click here to find a location near you.

Ben & Jerry's R&D

Last year, I went to Ben & Jerry's and tried to describe my experiences in R&D.

Just the other day, when I was looking up the clip about iCream Cafe, I found this clip that shows it way better than I did. (And it has John in it, who worked with my blogger friends and me when we were there!)

A [moving] picture speaks a thousand words.

Enjoy!



P.S. I am loving the show Kid in a Candy Store! It's up there with Unwrapped!

Ice Cream in...55 seconds?!

My father-in-law sent me this video.

I don't have too much to say except for "Please bring this to Massachusetts!"

iCream Cafe sounds amazing. And even though liquid nitrogen ice cream isn't new, Cora Shaw is my hero for turning this super cool product into something so accessible to the general public! (I love that this was her business school project!)

And the pudding sounds amazing too. Wow.

Tried the "first ever" Greek Frozen Yogurt Bar yet?

WE HAVE!  How could today possibly be the first day of Spring?! Seriously, more snow. Someone make it stop. The only good thing is that we have to look forward to warm days to come and that means more excuses to have some of our favorite summer treats. So awhile back I posted a sneak peek of a super fun package we received from Yasso. In case you don't yet who Yasso is, well they created the first "ever" Greek frozen yogurt bar out there created only with natural ingredients. Pretty cool. Yes, we know many have jumped on that bad wagon since but we give big props to the two founders of Yasso, who truly believe in and live by a healthy lifestyle and set out to make something that tastes great and won't pack on the pounds. And to be the first to do it with greek yogurt!

So as you may have seen, I was super excited when I opened this box from Yasso. Now typically we get samples in a big brown box and inside we find a styrofoam container with a pint of ice cream in it. No not this time...love how Yasso is branding themselves and standing out from the crowd. They are healthy and fun! Included was a Yasso beach bag (that I will proudly use on my beach trips..actually its my winter Y pool bag already!), a beach towel, shades, sun lotion, and an awesome drink cup. Oh and most importantly a box containing a bunch of new and existing flavors of their greek frozen yogurt bars. I love this page from one of the marketing pieces..."Get Bathing Suit Ready"...this package and the product fit it to a tee.

Well my coworkers were lucky that I decided to have this package shipped to my office because as that three o'clock hour hit when all were in a lull it was time for a taste test. This is fun because I get real reactions and its not just my take. Good crowdsourcing for this post. They sent the existing flavors of Strawberry, Blueberry and Raspberry and the new flavors that just launched of Vanilla Bean, Mango, and Coconut. I always find it interesting to see what flavors people pick. One who I would have pegged for a vanilla guy wanted coconut. So what was the reaction from everyone...."great texture"..."perfect and not too sweet"...."loved the vanilla but mango had an aftertaste"...."I need another now"..."like the creamy texture better than those healthy fruit bars...has some substance." There is one super health conscious person in my office and he was all concerned about the calories and protein in them. When I told him 80 calories and 6 grams of protein he was pleasantly surprised and then gave in to try one.

So after taste testing a few flavors myself I would have to say the strawberry was my favorite, I was excited about the mango but I think because they aren't very sweet (I have a major sweet tooth) I was expecting more of a burst of flavor and it wasn't there. I did really like the coconut and can see this being awesome on a hot summer day. These would be great on the go snacks. You know those days when you are going in a million directions and just need to eat something in the car quick. I already have a greek yogurt every morning so this would be a great option when I need to grab and go. I also like having this as an afternoon snack at work. Yasso was kind enough to send a good assortment so I was eating frozen yogurt bars as my late afternoon snack. Believe me every once in awhile I need some true sugar contents at 3pm at work but these did the trick. The Today show actually ran these on a "Cravings Curbed" segment which I do think they did but i have to agree with one coworker...that I needed more than one. Hey with only 80 calories I could have two and not feel guilty.

Yasso Strawberry Greek Frozen Yogurt Bars in production

All in all I am happy I was introduced to frozen yogurt bars. Why...well although I will take pure goodness of ice cream I too need to consider healthy alternatives and I have to be honest that fruit bars don't tend to cut it for me unless it is a super hot day. What I did really like about the Yasso Greek Frozen Yogurt bars is the consistency and creaminess. I felt like their was some substance to it. And I actually could see my grabbing this for the car ride to bring the kids to school, camp, the doctors as an alternative to my morning greek yogurt. What else...I love the brand and the people behind it and I haven't even met them! There is a personality behind these that you sometimes lose in big brands. They have a small office on Broad Street in Boston..right next to where I used to work. They are real people living their dream. Love that in itself. Thanks Yasso for sharing!!

Check em out on Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, and Instagram. Or run to one of these retailers and try them for yourself.

Holy Cannoli, I think I have a problem...

I am obsessed with Ben & Jerry's Cannoli Ice Cream and it will be leaving the shelves within the next couple of months.

This is getting desperate.

Last time I found it at the store and they were having a 2/$6 sale, I bought five pints of Cannoli (the sixth was Liz Lemon because I had yet to try it). I already had a pint and a half of Cannoli in the freezer.

I'm tempted to stock up even more. I am already down to my last five...

I don't even know why Ben & Jerry's has limited editions, and if they have to have a limited edition flavor, can't they choose a bad flavor to limit?! (I think I will ask my contact there why they have limited editions anyway...)

And another question...if they are going to limit, can they at least publish a new book of recipes so I can make my own? While their original book has some classics, I need to make some of these new ones on my own...!

Recipe Review: Kiwifruit Ice Cream

This summer I tried making kiwifruit ice cream. I altered the Kiwifruit Sherbet recipe in Ice Cream: The Perfect Weekend Treat. I didn't like it. It was so sour, maybe even bitter is a better word for it. I thought it was me, that maybe I didn't do a good job adjusting the recipe to my own needs. (I had added milk to the recipe because I like my sherbet to have some dairy in it, and the recipe only had sugar, kiwifruit and egg whites...but in the end, I had even added extra corn syrup before I froze it, because it seemed too sour...)

So when I had a bunch of kiwifruits from Costco ripening on my counter, and a new book (The Ice Cream Bible) with a kiwifruit ice cream recipe, I thought, "Hey, let's give it a shot."

Same sour result.

I have a friend that loves sour. I am interested to know what she thinks. I was not a fan.

I'll try other recipes from this book though -- it looks very promising. More reviews to follow. Thanks for the gift, Rach!

The Sonic Sweetheart Shake and Giftcard Giveaway

Neither Tina or I have a SONIC near us, so we "hired" my the fab duo of my sister and her boyfriend to do the dirty work for us...Payment was a date to SONIC on the $20 gift card the folks at SONIC had sent and all they had to do was write a short review. Sister Arianna went above and beyond...Thanks, A and Troy! Thanks SONIC for the gift card. 

Read to the end for a chance to win a SONIC gift card yourself!

Who needs flowers and candy on Valentine's Day?! My boyfriend and I had a very romantic Sonic date to celebrate the holiday.

We drove down to the Sonic in Wallingford, CT for our special night. Ever since discussing the idea earlier in the day, we’d both been really looking forward to our meal. We arrived and took our time perusing the menu, before making our final selections. We wanted to get a meal (me: veggie burger (I love Sonic’s veggie burgers!) and cheesy tots; Troy: a Philly cheesesteak and Ched ‘R’ Peppers), but our real purpose was to scope out the Chocolate Cherry Sweetheart Shake for Scoopalicious! We ordered that last...and the girl taking our order told us she was so sorry, they were out. She eagerly volunteered to make us a cherry shake with chocolate syrup or another sort of chocolate chips, and I just figured we’d have our meal and (what a shame) have to come back to Sonic another time. But Troy decided to explain that it was imperative that we get that shake like the one in the poster, because we were writing a blog post about it. -- Well, that changed things! Our amazing order-taker, Sydney (already having proved her merit by offering to make us her best equivalent shake) then said she’d place the rest of our order, and see what she could do about getting her hands on some of those chocolate chips! Apparently they searched high and low, and finally located some in the back of the top shelf of the fridge. Hurray! The Sweetheart Shake adventure was back on.

The view from our car window!

Our server Lindy came to the car with our food, and we had a great conversation with her about the veggie burgers and the work our boyfriends did (I believe hers was a glazier; Troy is a union ironworker). After the delightful conversation, we hungrily tore into our food, saving the shake for last. When we’d eaten, it was time for dessert. (The cherry on top, just like the one on our shake!) We both stuck a straw into the cup and tried it at the same time. It was divine! Which is especially amazing, since I’m normally not a big chocolate or cherry fan. But, so delicious. The flavors balanced so well; neither was too overpowering. The chocolate chips were a brilliant idea, because they added just the right amount of chocolate to an otherwise cherry shake. The whipped cream was maybe the best part. All together, it was the best dessert I’d had in a long time!

We ordered a large shake. Looks yummy, huh?

We sat there for quite a while, sharing the shake and discussing its merits. Since we were sipping from one cup, I felt like we must have been channeling Archie and his ladies at the Chok’lit Shoppe:

(Or this one, which I found when I was searching, and I had to add it because it just amused me so much!)

We did have one problem with the shake, if you could call it a problem: we ended up finding that spoons did a better job than straws! The shake itself was very thick, making drinking it through a straw already very difficult (especially because we were enjoying it, and wanted MORE, QUICKER!). But also, the chocolate chips - as awesome as they were! - just kept getting stuck in the straws! It was drinkable, and I wouldn’t be upset if someone gave me one while I was driving and couldn’t use a spoon, but it was just something we noticed. I would suggest asking for a spoon when you order.

All in all, we were fans. I’d definitely order the Sonic Sweetheart Shake again.

A and T, thanks for spending your Valentine's day at SONIC and enjoying a real Archie moment! BEST dessert you'd had in a long time?! I guess it wasn't too much of a pain for you to have to go for us then...Thanks T for explaining the situation and thanks to Sydney for searching high and low and allowing this post to come to be!

I visited SONIC's site and it looks like they are done selling their Sweetheart Shake (maybe next year?!) -- in the meantime, check out their menu (ice cream or other) and enter to win a $20 gift card.

Enter below:

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Liz Lemon. I want to go there.

I have a small crush on Tina Fey. I think she is a smart, funny, intelligent woman. She's gorgeous but humble. She's an excellent role model for young women.

I love her on 30 Rock -- so sad it ended. One of my favorite movies is Mean Girls -- it's so defining of girl culture. (And I am totally thrilled that Fey and her husband are working on a musical of Mean Girls). I couldn't stop listening to Bossypants. In fact, it was one of those books that actually made me want to go to the gym so I could listen and once I was there, I'd do a few more minutes on the stair machine just to be able to listen to a little bit more of the book.

Exhibit A

And you know Tina-of-this-blog (as opposed to Tina Fey) and my love affair with Ben & Jerry's (note exhibit A. I even dress my children to play the part of major fan!)...so when Ben & Jerry's announced Liz Lemon...I wasn't surprised, because while driving to downtown Burlington with some other bloggers and some Ben & Jerry's peeps when I was at Ben & Jerry's last year, I suggested Liz Lemon ice cream. My idea got pooh poohed, but I have a feeling they only did that because it was already in the works -- that, or they had already gotten that idea from tons of other fans. I mean, 30 Rock and Ben & Jerry's is a match made in heaven and Liz Lemon lemon flavored anything is a gimme.

I wasn't upset I didn't get credit for my (and undoubtedly thousands of other peoples') idea for Liz Lemon Ben & Jerry's. In fact, I was incredibly bummed neither of us on the Scoopalicious team could go to NYC for the launch of Liz Lemon Greek Frozen Yogurt. This would have been awesome. [Sometimes it's hard to be a blogger from Boston, and not NYC. We couldn't make it down for Jimmy Fallon's flavor launch either, and I ♥ Jimmy Fallon as much as Tina Fey (I always kind of thought they should get married...)] But I digress.

So naturally, I had to buy it when I saw it on the shelf. I'm kind of an ice cream girl above all else (frozen yogurt isn't my frozen treat of choice) but I have to say, I was pleasantly surprised. It's simply lovely. It's not too tart. In fact, it's incredibly refreshing. The blueberry lavender that runs through it is a sweet treat to offset the lemon. It's creamy and it was a nice change of pace to have Ben & Jerry's without the chunky mix-ins.

Added bonus, it the flavor gives a nod to Jumpstart, an awesome program that Fey is involved with. (Ben & Jerry's site officially says: "We dedicate this lemony-blueberry-y flavor to all the good that both Tina and Jumpstart have accomplished!" but I am not sure exactly what this means besides a "shout out" -- which while seemingly not financial in it's "dedication," at least Jumpstart is getting it's name out there to even more people....