A Modern Gelato Parlor

Dri Dri Gelato has set up this amazing modern “ice cream parlor” in a busy London neighborhood. It has a sunshiny yellow striped boardwalk & beach cabin backdrop. The umbrella wall decals to give you the feeling that you are eating gelato somewhere along the Italian Riviera. So COOL! & I also LOVE the bright pink chairs.  I’m hoping Dri Dri Gelato makes its way to the US soon! (more…)

Avocado Spaghetti & Homemade Ice Cream

I thought I’d share one of my FAVORITE new food blogs today, ohladycakes.com. I discovered her through her spectacular Iceland photography. After visiting Iceland in 2007 with my husband I’ve become somewhat obsessed with this country. (her photographs are the most beautiful that I’ve seen!)

Anyway, she has me convinced that I NEED an ice cream maker. Her homemade ice creams are made from about 4- 5 ingredients. I can taste her Chocolate Chunk Coconut & Peanut Butter Chunk ice creams right out of the screen!

I’ve also become a HUGE fan of her Spaghetti with Avocado Sauce. It is quite fantastically brilliant & delicious!

4 Desserts for my overripe bananas!

I have a bunch of about 6 bananas sitting on my kitchen counter turning brown as I type. Last night while watching The Bachelorette (team JEF!!) I made myself a delicious banana split. It was simple…banana, vanilla ice cream, and melted choco chips on top! I bookmarked some tasty desserts that would be fun to try with my bananas. Here are 4 that are fairly simple and yummy.

I love The Leaning Tower! It is the old school banana split with stacked ice cream discs cut out with a cookie cutter! via lemonsandanchovies.com

Banana Split Bites- YES! My kids would eat sprinkles on anything! via fromdatestodiapers.com

Banana Split Pie. There is nothing more delicious than a frozen oreo cookie pie crust! bigredkitchen.com

Banana Split French Toast. Good for a special Sunday breakfast. via blogs.babble.com

4 Ice Cream Cakes

Pavlova Cookies N’ Ice Creme Anglaise

Summer is really the only time I enjoy Ice Cream anymore (pregnancy was a whole different story!) One of my favorite summer time treats as a child was my mama’s ice cream cake. So, now I’m going to try making one for my kids. The ice cream cake she made had oreo cookie crust, mint ice cream and some sort of chocolate-y/carmel-y topping. I really need to see if she still has that recipe. It was AMAZING!

I found 4 ice cream cake recipes that I’ve bookmarked. (& I couldn’t leave out the ice cream cupcake!) Anyone else have a killer recipe?

Peanut Buster Parfait Ice Cream Cake

Oreo Ice Cream Cake

Black and White Brownie Ice Cream Cake

Mint Oreo Ice Cream Cupcakes

Pink Champagne Sorbet

SEXY ice cream!
via Delicieux.com

Prep time: 5 mins
Cook time: 10 mins
Total time: 15 mins
Serves: 4

Ingredients:
550g of black seedless grapes
1 cup of pink Champagne (or regular Champagne)
1/2 cup of sugar
juice of 1 lemon

Method:
Place the grapes, pink Champagne and sugar in a saucepan over a medium low heat. Bring to the boil and reduce to a simmer. Reduce heat to low and simmer for 10 minutes or until the skins of the grapes split.
Drain through a fine sieve into a large jug or bowl and use the back of a wooden spoon to press the grapes to release their juices. Extract as much from the grapes as you can. Cover the mixture and refrigerate until completely cold. I usually leave the mixture overnight.

Remove the mixture from the refrigerator and add the lemon juice and pour into your ice cream maker and churn according to your manufacturers instructions. The longer you churn the sorbet the lighter in colour it will become.

Notes:
Once you have cooked the grapes you will notice the mixture is incredibly dark. Don’t worry because the sorbet will lighten when it is churned in the ice cream maker.

Vintage Ice Cream Molds

While browsing Etsy, I found these awesome vintage ice cream molds. What do you think? Wouldn’t they be fun to use for dinner parties? My fave is the big heart- maybe Valentines day dessert?

via Frances’ Attic

How NOT to Overeat Ice Cream

Does anyone else have a problem with overeating ice cream? Check out this serving idea from Dine & Dish. Kind of a great way to get your ice cream fix while dieting.

This would be a fun way to serve ice cream to small children as well. They always eat 3-4 bites and then you end up finishing the rest, right?

purchase ice cream cups at Hey Yo Yo:

Polka-Dot Strawberry Milkshake

If you are craving homemade milkshakes, smoothies and ice cream you must bookmark Evan’s Kitchen Ramblings. Not only does she post the most delicious treats, but her photography is just gorgeous!

& BTW, doesn’t a polka-dot milkshake seem like much more fun than a regular strawberry milkshake? I LOVE marshmallows!

Ingredients
1 1/2 cups milk
2 very large scoops vanilla ice cream
1 cup strawberries, hulled
1/4 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
6 marshmallows, cut in half

Method
Blend milk, ice cream, strawberries and extract in a blender until smooth. Press the cut side of the marshmallows inside empty glasses. Pour the milkshake into the glasses. Serve with straws and enjoy!

Serves 2 (depending on what size glasses you use)