Living with an Ice Cream Obsession
September 27, 2013It’s 5 p.m. on a Monday, and you can’t wait to get home and dig your favorite ice cream flavor out of the freezer. It’s 3 o’clock on a Saturday, and you’re meeting a few friends at the local ice cream parlor for a snack. Sound familiar? If so, you might be battling what we like to call an ice cream obsession. No worries, as we have it too! Stop battling your ice cream obsessive brain and starting learning how to live with your ice cream loving heart. Embrace it – Do you find your mind wandering to thoughts about sweet, delicious ice cream? We know what that’s like, and the worst thing you can do in this situation is scold yourself for having a "weak" moment. If you love ice cream and thoughts of it plague your mind, roll with it! Daydreaming about your favorite flavor isn't going to…
Read MoreDIY Halloween Ice Cream Recipe
September 17, 2013Nothings better than seasonal ice cream, especially in the fall. Can’t you just taste the sweet, crisp, apple pie ice cream already? There’s only one problem: No matter how tasty seasonal ice cream is, you can’t help but wish there was something that looked different about it. Well, now you can really spice it up: Check out this adorable DIY fall, or Halloween, ice cream recipe! The reason we say fall or Halloween is you can decorate this treat to your liking. Make it festive with fall colors or ordain it with creepy, haunted features for Halloween -- the choice is yours. What is it? It’s a ball of ice cream, literally. A scoop of your seasonal ice cream hugged tightly by an outer crust of chocolate… yum. All decorated perfectly, by you, for your next fall festive party. Keep reading to learn how to make these adorable ice cream…
Read MoreSeize the Day
September 14, 2013Summer’s gone and with it ice cream season, right? Wrong! There is no better time than fall to get yourself down to your local ice cream parlor, specifically Praline's, for a treat. Don’t believe us? Keep reading to find out why you’re missing out if you call it quits on ice cream season this early in the year. Seasonal Flavors – Ice cream parlors, like Praline's, pride themselves on their highly coveted, seasonal ice cream treats. Many of which are only available for a limited time. Flavors like apple pie, pumpkin, and apple cider are just a few of the most popular ones. Why let the season pass you by without trying a delicious, new, festive ice cream flavor? Get down to Praline's now before the good stuff is all gone! It’s Still Warm – Just because summer is over doesn't mean the weather isn't still great for an ice…
Read MoreYou’ll FALL in Love with our Autumn Flavors
September 6, 2013The weather is turning brisk, and the leaves are beginning to change; although fall doesn't technically begin for a few more weeks, we can all feel it in the air. Apple orchards are open for self picking and many Connecticut farms are preparing their fields for corn mazes. We’re getting ready, too, which is why we’re now offering two wonderful autumn flavors that we're sure you'll FALL in love with. Apple Caramel Crumb– Before pumpkins and gourds become all the rage, apples are where it’s at. At this time of year, when the leaves are still green but the air is crisp, all anyone can think about is hot apple cider, picking apples off apple trees, and making warm apple pie. In the spirit of apples, why not enjoy a yummy seasonal treat from Praline’s, too? From now until November 30, we will be serving Apple Caramel Crumb ice cream!…
Read MoreIce Cream Trends around the World
August 28, 2013Despite the economy, ice cream sales in the U.S. continue to rise. It seems as though nothing will stand between Americans and their ice cream. How does the same sweet treat fare in other lands? Here is how ice cream trends are changing in countries around the world, and a brief explanation as to what is happening. South Korea – While ice cream sales have only increased in the U.S., they have not done the same in South Korea. Heavy rainfall and a change in the local diet has been damaging to ice cream sales. Unlike Americans, South Koreans don’t crave ice cream when it’s cold, and as increased rainfall lowers the average temperature, more locals are turning a blind eye to their-once favorite snack. Also, with more dessert treats available, ice cream has taken a backseat. Singapore – In Singapore, locals are developing a palette for pricey, high-quality ice…
Read MoreIce Cream of the Future
August 22, 2013Ice cream has come a long way since its conception from mountain snow flavored with juices to its present variety of soft served delights to hard ice cream stuffed into paper cartons. And, don't forget the gelato and Italian ice! That being said, what types of changes do you think the future holds for ice cream? Maybe ice cream will look like this… Wikipearls – Wikipedia and wikibooks are trendy now, so why not make a wiki-ice cream? Well, that’s exactly what a Harvard professor has done. They’re called wikipearls, and although they look like your typical doughnut holes, they’re actually encapsulated ice cream treats. So far, there are only a few flavors: coconut encrusted mango ice cream, chocolate guarded by a hazelnut shell, and vanilla with a peanut butter covering. The idea behind the treat is to eliminate the need for plastic packaging. Just grab a wikipearl and snack…
Read MoreTips for Building Ice Cream Sundaes
August 16, 2013Every time you build a homemade ice cream sundae, your expectations are high. In your head, you picture two perfect scoops heaped with beautiful toppings, a truly picture perfect creation. In reality, your anticipated work of art is a leaning pile of half melted ice cream, and all of your toppings are swimming in ice cream sludge at the bottom of your bowl. If you’re tired of making aesthetically disturbing ice cream sundaes, check out these awesome sundae building tips. Hard Ice Cream – First of all, never use soft serve ice cream to build your sundae. Soft serve isn't firm enough to support your toppings and will melt much faster than hard ice cream. Instead, take a carton of hard ice cream out of the freezer and let it sit out for a few minutes before you start scooping. Letting it sit will allow the temperature to rise, making…
Read MoreAmerica’s Favorite Ice Cream
August 8, 2013With so many ice cream flavors and toppings out there, everyone has their own idea of the perfect scoop or sundae. Having said that, what do Americans as a whole prefer in their cones? According to a survey compiled by Think Quest, we've found out what most Americans choose when they order an ice cream cone. The Flavor – As you may already know, vanilla ice cream is still America’s favorite flavor, followed closely by chocolate, which is trailed by strawberry. Even though more and more yummy flavors are being created, vanilla holds its reign as flavor king. Toppings – When it comes to toppings, Americans like to play on the safe side. While great toppings like whipped cream, caramel, and cherries have become ice cream staples, they’re not the most sought after options. The most popular toppings in America are also the simplest: hot fudge and rainbow sprinkles. Sometimes…
Read MoreWhere has all the Ice Cream Gone?
July 30, 2013If your favorite ice cream parlor is suddenly low on supplies, don’t be too quick to blame them, because it just might be the weather's fault! Typically in the summer, ice cream parlors do their best to make sure their freezers are stocked; however, when a heat wave like the last one sets in, sometimes there isn't enough to go around. The Heat Wave – We don’t need to tell you that July was a hot month. The seemingly relentless heat wave became both a blessing and curse for many ice cream parlors across Connecticut. The blessing was huge, indeed, as hundreds of people poured through ice cream shop doors to get their hands on a cold, refreshing treat. As they poured in, many parlors' profits soared fourfold and others found their financial woes disappearing with each scoop. However, all good things must come to an end, and soon supplies…
Read MoreThe Healing Power of Ice Cream
July 25, 2013Ice cream, ice cream everywhere -- who doesn't love it? While each person might love ice cream for his or her own reason, have you ever considered that ice cream could have healing powers? While it won’t mend bone or mask scars, ice cream is perfect for emotional injuries. Of course, you knew this: What better remedy for a broken heart than a tub of yummy chocolate chunk ice cream? If you've ever wondered why ice cream is such a good counselor, here’s your answer. Dopamine – When you eat ice cream, you get this elated feeling, a high if you will, which is caused by the sudden release of the brain chemical dopamine. Dopamine is an all-natural mood booster that is stimulated in a number of ways. Your brain releases dopamine when you exercise, when you fall in love, and, yes, when you eat ice cream. Next time you…
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