My children absolutely love ice cream! While most kids eagerly wait for the ice cream man to pass through their neighborhood streets with his truck loaded with ice cream treats that have been around since my youth, my children know that as long as there's ice cream in the freezer, this Mama is not gonna buy two ice creams from the truck for the price of what I can buy a whole gallon of Edy's for. Let's face it, The prices have gone WAY up since we were kids!! It's just not gonna happen! Now, don't jump on me just yet! My kiddos are plenty spoiled and do have their own money. Should they opt to purchase a frozen treat from the ice cream man with their money, they are more than welcome to do so. I just have always failed to see the point. Ice Cream is so much better at home and really the sky's the limit when it comes to making the perfect treat.
For what you spend on 2 nights of summer dessert from that darned ice cream man, you could easily stock up your ice cream cubby with cones and toppings for ice cream treats that will last you almost 2 weeks!!! The Dollar Tree is loaded with different treats that will help you get your ice cream fix!! Use your imagination with your kids and go crazy!!!! You can just add the basics, hot fudge, strawberries, gummy bears, m&m's and sprinkles... Who doesn't love sprinkles?!?!?! For a more updated "adult treat " you can use coffee flavored candies, add a teaspoon of instant mocha to some Hershey's syrup and you'll definitely perk up your average cone.
My go-to web site for ice cream ideas is: http://www.ice-cream-recipes.com/ . This site has absolutely everything on it from home made ice creams to unusual toppings and homemade sauces. I refer to this web site at least once a week and have used several recipes to make ice cream night fun.
Some nights an Ice Cream Sundae or Cone just won't do, no matter how you slice it! When new summer cravings surface, I invite the kiddos into the kitchen to help me make a few of our faves! One of my faves is Peach-Pecan Ice Cream Pie!!! It's as delicious as it sounds and so very simple! We also love S'more Pie! Who doesn't love s'mores? You can't beat the taste! The combo of flavors will forever be unmatched!!! These treats will have everyone smiling!!! I encourage you to put these ideas and tips to use. The recipes, while they've been around for years, will still have family and friends begging for you to bring these treats to summer cook outs; but they're so easy to make that you won't complain!!!
Peach-Pecan Ice Cream Pie
1/2 cups finely ground or crushed pecan shortbread cookies
1/4 cup (1/2 stick) unsalted butter, melted
2 cups sugar
1/2 cup water
1 1/4 cups whipping cream
3/4 teaspoon vanilla extract
2 quarts (or 4 pints) peach ice cream, slightly softened
1 cup pecans, toasted, coarsely chopped (about 4 ounces)
1 cup (about) pecan halves, toasted
Preheat oven to 325°F. Butter 9-inch-diameter spring form pan with 2 3/4-inch-high sides. Mix cookie crumbs and melted butter in medium bowl until crumbs are evenly moistened. Press crumb mixture firmly onto bottom and 1 inch up sides of prepared pan. Bake until crust is set and pale golden, about 15 minutes. Cool completely.
Combine sugar and 1/2 cup water in heavy medium saucepan. Stir over medium-low heat until sugar dissolves. Increase heat to medium-high; boil without stirring until syrup is deep amber color, occasionally brushing down sides of pan with wet pastry brush and swirling pan, about 8 minutes. Remove from heat. Gradually add cream (mixture will bubble vigorously). Stir over low heat until any caramel bits dissolve and sauce is smooth, about 1 minute. Stir in vanilla. Let stand until cool but still pourable, about 1 hour.
Drizzle 1/4 cup cooled caramel sauce over bottom of crust. Freeze until caramel sets, about 10 minutes. Spread 1 quart ice cream over caramel in crust. Sprinkle chopped pecans over ice cream. Drizzle 1/2 cup caramel sauce over ice cream. Freeze until caramel sets, about 10 minutes. Spread remaining ice cream over. Freeze until top of pie is firm, about 1 hour.
Arrange pecan halves in 3 concentric circles around top of pie. Drizzle 1/4 cup caramel sauce over pie. Freeze pie until frozen solid, at least 4 hours. (Can be prepared 5 days ahead. Cover tightly with foil; keep frozen. Cover and chill remaining caramel sauce.)
Rewarm remaining caramel sauce over low heat, stirring often. Cut around pan sides to loosen pie. Let pie soften slightly at room temperature, about 10 minutes. Remove pan sides. Serve pie with warm caramel sauce.
**I have also used store-brought Smuckers Caramel Sauce for time purposes (this is where your "ice cream treat bin" will come in handy)!!
We Want S'more Ice Cream Pie!
1-1/4 cups graham cracker crumb
1/3 cup butter or margarine, melted
1/4 cup sugar
4 cups vanilla or chocolate ice cream, slightly softened
3 cups miniature marshmallows
4 (1.55 oz. each) Hershey's Milk Chocolate Bars, finely chopped
Whipped topping or sweetened whipped cream(optional)
Additional graham cracker pieces, miniature marshmallows and chopped Hershey's Milk Chocolate Bars(optional)
Butter bottom and sides of 9-inch pie plate.
Stir together graham cracker crumbs, butter and sugar until well blended. Press crumb mixture evenly on bottom and up sides of prepared pie plate. Freeze 5 minutes before filling.
Stir together ice cream, marshmallows and chocolate bar pieces; spoon into crust. Cover; freeze until firm.
Soften slightly to serve. Garnish with whipped topping, graham cracker pieces, marshmallows and chocolate bar pieces, if desired.
I hope you find these tips and recipes enjoyable. The most important thing, no matter how you choose to do it, is to enjoy your family!!! The money that your family will save by not going to the ice cream truck every evening combined with the yummy variations of ice cream that you can make at home will have you feeling sorry for the other uneducated mothers every time you hear that music!!!!
*Remember... Your life is way more than average, so go out and live it in a BIG way!
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