PEPPERMINT BROWNIE ALASKA: Retro Ad & Recipe for Ice Cream Month!

I'm on a roll for National Ice Cream Month, and here's a great idea! This is a Retro Recipe for Peppermint Brownie Alaska "Dress up other dishes with ICE CREAM"  The 'other' photo in the Ad is for a make-it-yourself Sundae. Both recipes are for 1950s 'entertaining.'

10 ICE CREAM HACKS THAT ARE GENIUS! from Ben & Jerry's: National Ice Cream Day!

Today is National Ice Cream Day, but if you're like me, every day is Ice Cream Day. Check out your local ice cream shop for specials and freebies!

Here are some 10 Ice Cream Tricks from Ben & Jerry's, starting with an easy way of making ice cream sandwiches without all the mess:

1. Grab a pint, get a hold of a giant knife, and cut the pint into circular slices. Because you’re obviously a dessert pro, you already have some delicious cookies ready to go. 

2. Have a half pint left in the freezer? You COULD dig in and methodically and dutifully deposit an equal number of scoops in each of your bowls. OR you could take a sturdy knife and cut that pint right down the middle lengthwise. Instant gratification.

Read on for 8 more fabulous Ice Cream Tricks.

MAGIC CHOCOLATE ICE CREAM: Retro Ad & Recipe for National Chocolate Ice Cream Day!

Today is National Chocolate Ice Cream Day. To celebrate, here's a great Borden's Elsie the Cow Recipe Ad from August 1941. I love these Retro 'Story' Advertisements, and I love Elsie the Cow! In this story Ad, Elsie's Magic Chocolate Ice Cream wins at the County Fair -- judged the Smoothest and Creamiest Home-made Ice Cream. This really is an easy recipe that doesn't require an ice-cream maker. Still great today, in case you have an "autmatic refrigerator"

Happy Chocolate Ice Cream Day!

3 Easy Chocolate Ice Cream Recipes: NATIONAL ICE CREAM MONTH

I scream! You scream! We all scream for Ice Cream! Make it chocolate! To celebrate National Ice Cream Month, here are several 3 easy recipes for Chocolate Ice Cream. As always use the very best ingredients.

CHOCOLATE ICE CREAM RECIPE #1

Ingredients
1-1/2 cup whole milk
2 cups heavy cream
1/2 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
1 cup granulated sugar
1 tsp vanilla extract

Directions
Whisk together milk, cocoa powder, and sugar to combine.
Stir in heavy cream and vanilla extract.
Refrigerate chocolate ice cream base for at least 30 minutes before putting in your ice cream freezer, so it is completely cold. This will help freeze faster, improving texture, and allow cocoa powder to become fully hydrated by the milk and cream.

CHOCOLATE ICE CREAM RECIPE #2

Ingredients
1 cup Dutch process cocoa powder, unsweetened
1/2 cup brown sugar, firmly packed
2/3 cup white sugar
1-1/2 cups whole milk
31/4 cups heavy cream
2 Tbsp vanilla extract

Directions
In bowl, combine cocoa and both sugars, whisking to combine well. Add milk and whisk until sugars are dissolved. Stir in heavy cream and vanilla. Pour mixture into freezer bowl of ice cream maker. Let run for 30 minutes, or until mixture is thick, soft, and creamy.
Transfer to airtight container and freeze at least 2 hours.

CHOCOLATE ICE CREAM RECIPE  #3 (without ice cream maker)

This recipe is for Magic Chocolate Ice Cream -- recipe from Borden's Elsie the Cow

Ingredients
1 square unsweetened chocolate
2/3 cup Sweetened Condensed Milk
2/3 cup water
1/2 tsp vanilla
1/2 cup whipping cream

Directions
Melt chocolate in top of double boiler. Add sweetened condensed milk and stir over rapidly boiling water 5 minutes until thick. Add water, mix well. Chill. Add vanilla. Whip cream to custard-like consistency. Fold into chilled mixture. Freeze until half-frozen. Take out of container and beat until smooth but not melted. Replace in freezer until frozen.

National Ice Cream Day: Ice Cream Sandwiches

Photo: Pepperidge Farm

Today is National Ice Cream Day, and what a beautiful hot day to celebrate! It's rare we have heat in the Bay Area, so this is perfect. I picked up some Three Twins Bittersweet Chocolate yesterday, so today to celebrate I'm going to make Ice Cream Sandwiches. I'll use Pepperidge Farm Cookies. They're the perfect size! I can't decide if I'm going to use Sausalito Milk Chocolate Macadamia, Nantucket Dark Chocolate Chip or Montauk Soft Baked Milk Chocolate Chip. Maybe a mix of different ones?

Just select the cookie of your choice as the base, layer on softened chocolate ice cream, put a cookie on top, roll in sprinkles or chocolate chips, and you're good to go!