Cooking

Get Out Of The Kitchen… Beating the August Heat with a Classic Icebox Cake If you’re feeling the scorching summer heat like we are here in North Carolina, you might find yourself avoiding the kitchen as much as possible. The old saying, “if you can’t take the heat, get out of the kitchen,” couldn’t be more fitting this first week of August. It’s been HOT outside – let’s make a classic icebox cake! Despite the high temperatures, we still want to make a special dessert for a birthday celebration without turning on the oven. Enter one of our favorite childhood treats: the icebox cake. This delightful, no-bake dessert is perfect for keeping cool while satisfying your sweet tooth. Now, for those who remember, the classic icebox cake traditionally used Nabisco Famous Chocolate Wafers. Sadly, these beloved wafers are no longer available. But don’t fret! We’ve found a fantastic substitute in Dewey’s Brownie Crisp Cookies. They bring a rich, chocolatey flavor that pairs beautifully with whipped cream. For a fun twist, we’re also testing out a second version using Biscoff cookies (fingers crossed). Graham crackers or other thin wafers will also work with this cake style. Here’s how to make your own refreshing icebox cake: Ingredients: Dewey’s Brownie Crisp Cookies (or other thin wafer cookie) 2 cups Heavy whipping cream 2 TBLS Caster sugar 1 TBLS Vanilla extract Instructions: Whip the cream with the sugar and vanilla until it forms stiff peaks. In a dish lined with plastic wrap (we used a silicone loaf pan), cover the bottom and sides of the pan with a generous layor of whipped cream (about 1/3 inch).  Next layer the cookies with whipped cream and stack them in a row in the pan. Gently press the cookies to make sure they are tightly set in the cream. Repeat the layers until you’ve used all your ingredients, ending with a layer of whipped cream. Use the remaining whipped cream to cover the top so no cookie edges are showing. Use the excess plastic wrap to cover the top of the cake.  Refrigerate for at least 4 hours, or overnight if you can, to let the cookies soften and meld with the cream. Garnish with the leftover cookie crumbs, and be sure to slice the cake in the opposite direction of cookie stacks so you get the striped layer presentation. That’s it! A simple, delicious dessert that keeps you cool and out of the kitchen. Whether you’re using Dewey’s Brownie Crisp Cookies or experimenting with another thin wafer cookie, this throwback icebox cake is sure to be a hit at your next summer gathering.

Hot summer afternoons should be spent enjoying ice cream!  We hope you are able to relax and enjoy this delicious frozen treat today.  Perhaps this post will also encourage you to make homemade ice cream of your own. There’s something wonderful about homemade ice cream.  Several years ago we listened to a radio program about an entrepreneur named Jeni Britton Bauer and how she started a company making unique flavored ice cream.  The program inspired us to try making our own homemade ice cream.  We purchased a Cuisinart ice cream machine and Jeni’s Splendid Ice Cream book.  The recipes in her book have been an inspiration for many of the flavors we’ve made.  Over the years, we have made good use of our little machine.  We have created some wonderful flavored ice cream and frozen yogurt including strawberry, blueberry, peach and fig.  These flavors have been added to some of our traditional favorites like lemon with a blueberry swirl, Thai peanut, and Oreo.  We also added a waffle cone maker to our small kitchen appliances because, what’s ice cream if not served in a  waffle cone and covered in guittard sprinkles or dipped in homemade magic shell. When we are not home making our own frozen treats, we are typically exploring new places.  When we travel during the summer, we inevitably find small ice cream or gelato shops that make homemade ice cream and stop in to try a few flavors.  We do have two favorites like Down East Ice Cream in Boothbay Harbor, Maine or The Juice Bar in Nantucket, Massachusettes.  We are always on the lookout for new ice cream stands, let us know where your favorites are…