Ice Cream for Valentine’s Day
February 11, 2014Valentine’s Day is this week and that puts candy (and romance) on the minds of many people. Why not ice cream? We think ice cream is a great romantic edible treat. And we’re not the only ones. Our friends at the Daily Meal are passing along some flavor ideas that really work for Valentine’s Day. There are plenty of delicious flavors out there that can help set the mood for romance: Crème Brulee: Yes, we know it’s an actual dessert but the folks at Haagen Dazs are also delivering this in ice cream scoop form. They are serving Crème Brulee-flavored ice cream by the pint. Crème Brulee is one of those great desserts that tops off a romantic dinner at a fine restaurant. If you are staying in this Valentine’s Day, this might be a sweet substitute. If you like an after-dinner drink, you might want try Haagen Dazs’s take…
Read MoreHealth Benefits of Ice Cream
February 3, 2014This must be an oxymoron right? Ice cream and healthy couldn’t possibly be in the same sentence. Well, there are actually several health benefits that come with eating the delicious dairy based dessert that is ice cream. If consumed in moderation, ice cream can be a great addition to a healthy diet. Here are five benefits that may make you want to start having a scoop of ice cream more often! Benefit #1 – Great Source of Vitamins Ice cream contains many vitamins that are essential for your body. In ice cream you’ll find vitamins A, B, B12, C, D, and E. It also contains vitamin K, which helps prevent blood clotting. Benefit #2 – Energy Ice cream contains carbohydrates, fats, and proteins, which are needed for energy creation. Benefit #3 – Rich in Minerals Ice cream contains minerals such as calcium and phosphorus. These minerals are important for building…
Read MoreThe Science of Ice Cream
January 27, 2014We don’t often think about ice cream and science as being tied together. However, researchers at the University of Wisconsin’s Food Science Department are studying the microstructure of ice cream. Their research may eventually lead to better ice cream. The researchers are studying how changes in ice cream’s microstructure affect the way ice cream acts and tastes. An ice cream’s microstructure is made up of fat globules, air cells and ice crystals. Researchers compared the differences in melt rates in 20 commercial brands of ice cream. The researchers are also making and studying their own ice cream. Researchers say by using the ice cream information they’ve gathered, they can tell an ice cream manufacturer how to decrease the ice cream’s fat content without altering the ice cream’s taste and texture. One researcher says although ice cream has been around for more than 100 years, many people still don’t understand its…
Read MoreIce Cream & Protein
January 20, 2014Can ice cream be nutritional? Sure, especially if it’s served by one ice cream company in Ireland. Late last year, the company introduced FitFuel Nourish. It’s an ice cream fortified with additional protein. The ice cream is being used to encourage elderly patients in hospitals and elderly care homes to increase their daily protein intake. It’s a tasty way for healthcare professionals and dieticians to increase the amount of protein patients consume. The protein-packed ice cream is made by Paganini, a company that was founded by a dairy farmer back in 1990. He created the company in order to distribute Italian-style ice cream. The creator’s son helped develop the FitFuel ice cream. He also helped expand the ice cream by creating a low-fat version that is also fortified with additional protein. This version of the ice cream is marketed to sports and fitness-minded people. Seems the son is a competitive…
Read MoreThe College Course on Ice Cream
January 13, 2014There’s nothing wrong with wanting to learn more about ice cream. If you are a big fan of the sweetest of sweet treats, you might find ice cream education to be interesting. It turns out, one major university offers an actual course in ice cream. This is no new course at Penn State University. The university has a famous creamery with a rich history. It’s the largest university creamery in the United States. The ice cream course is a short course offered under the University’s College of Agricultural Sciences. Penn State says each year about 120 students from all over the world attend the course. It’s a seven-day program offered every January. And this is not some new course designed to attract attention to the school creamery. This is the 119th year of the course. It’s also thought to be the first continuing education course in the U.S. To be…
Read MoreThe Origins of the Ice Cream Cone
January 7, 2014We love to talk about ice cream history because we love to talk about ice cream. Any excuse to talk about ice cream is a good excuse. Today, we’re thinking about ice cream cones. Why ice cream cones? Why not? There are so many different types of ice cream cones nowadays: The traditional wafer-style cone, the sugar cone, the waffle cone…the chocolate-covered waffle cone….mmm….chocolate-covered waffle cone. Sorry, almost got distracted there. Anyway, there are plenty of delicious options to choose from if you love to hold and eat your ice cream. The search for the beginnings of the ice cream cone reminded us of our search for the origin of pie a la mode. In other words, who invented the ice cream cone? Well, there we’re in kind of a grey area. Both paper and metal cones were apparently used in parts of Europe prior to the 19th century. Edible…
Read MoreIce Cream for Adults
December 30, 2013As we get ready to say goodbye to 2013 and welcome in 2014, it’s time to look at what the future may hold in the world of ice cream. We are always about the ice cream here. Let’s look at some trends that are on the rise in the ice cream business. It seems more and more, ice cream is growing up. We are seeing more adult-themed ice cream flavors. When we say “adult-themed”, we do not mean anything X-rated. We’re talking more about the combination of adult beverages and ice cream. You may be saying “How can ice cream freeze with the inclusion of alcohol?” One way to avoid that problem is, if you are planning to try and mix ice cream and alcohol, include gelatin, which will keep the alcohol from staying “too warm” to freeze. Again, this is only important if you are set on making sure…
Read MoreTis’ the Season for the Ice Cream Yule log
December 23, 2013The holiday season is all about tradition. The great thing about tradition is the reliability. Traditions will always be there because, well, they’re traditions. Families have plenty of traditions: Maybe your family tradition is opening one Christmas gift on Christmas Eve. Maybe it’s going caroling. Maybe your Uncle Earl comes over on Christmas afternoon and deep fries a turkey in the driveway. We talk a little about ice cream here (ok, we talk a lot about ice cream). And Praline’s is a business that loves family and ice cream. And so Praline’s has its own ice cream tradition. That’s right. The ice cream Yule log is back at Praline’s. It’s a taste of the holidays you can put in your freezer and enjoy after a great holiday meal. This will get your mind off that last-minute shopping you keep putting off. The Praline’s ice cream Yule log: We are talking…
Read MoreSnow Ice Cream
December 17, 2013Connecticut is already seeing plenty of snow and it’s not even Christmas yet. Some people love the snow. Others…eh, not so much. However, it turns out that snow might be delicious, when prepared properly. Some people take that snow and look at it as dessert. This is something that all ice cream lovers will want to learn about. If you would like to try snow ice cream, read on: First, go outside and gather some snow. If you are in Connecticut, this should not be a problem. This is somewhat important: Make sure the snow is as clean as possible. Gather about six cups worth of snow. You’ll need about five cups of sweetened condensed milk. Have one teaspoon of vanilla. Once you have all of those ingredients, it will be time to start mixing. Keep tasting as you go. Add more sweetened condensed milk and more vanilla. Once you’ve…
Read MoreThe Gift of Ice Cream
December 11, 2013It’s beginning to feel a lot like Christmas and people are looking to buy that perfect gift. Many people are probably also hoping to receive that perfect gift. Anyway, if you are still doing your holiday shopping and have an ice cream lover on your list, why not consider an ice cream machine? Someone equipped with a good ice cream maker and some fresh ingredients is on the way to making a delicious sweet treat. An ice cream maker can be a great gift for a parent of school-age children. Making dessert can turn into a fun family project. Many newer-model ice cream makers also offer versatility. In addition to ice cream, they can create frozen yogurt, sorbet and gelato. Ice cream makers have come a long way over the years. There are currently lots of different styles to choose from. If you think the idea of an ice cream…
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