How to Make Ice Cream in a Plastic Bag

No Ice cream maker? No problem! 2 plastic bags can create flavourful ice cream and in less time too if you don't mind the soft scoop type.  All the ingredients and utensils are listed in the video. Please note there is 1 part of the video which annoyingly reminds me of the woman in Knorrs season and shake chicken tv advert- you have been warned!

Capogiro Artisan Gelato

Ever wonder who does the best ice cream? Well according to the National Geographic magazine, gelato maker Capogiro who has 4 cafes in Philadelphia makes the worlds best tasting gelato beating countries like Argentina, Australia, Italy, Turkey. The report reads "The artisan gelatos and sorbettos handcrafted each day . . . include flavors not seen anywhere else." Their website states they are devoted to using hand picked ingredients which are fresh and seasonal. The milk is from Amish grass fed cows. Not happy with just one source, I did some more research and the food buster blogs author carried out his own taste test in January this year and confirmed Capogiro is the king of frozen treats. The gelato captures the flavour of whatever special ingredient it uses almost perfectly.
A sample of available flavours  are Madagascar bourbon vanilla, melograno (pomegranate), nocciola Piemonte (hazelnut), Saigon cinnamon, Thai coconut milk (with a dash of rum), and zucca (long-neck pumpkin). I  haven't visited America yet but when I do rest assured I'll be making a pit stop in Capogiros to make sure the hype is justified.

Camel Milk Ice Cream

Move over moo cows, the camels have come to town! Okay not quite but camel milk ice cream has been launched in the UK which means it's probably a matter of time before it arrives on our shores. Camel milk is highly nutritious boasting 10 times more iron and 5 times more vitamin B whilst being low in fat. It's a popular snack in the Middle East with consumers describing it as extra creamy with a slight texture. The camel milk is sourced from Europe's only commercial camel dairy farm based in the Netherlands. In the BBC podcast below Dutch farmer Frank Smidt explains camels do not produce milk if stressed and must be kept happy. In the UK, camel milk enriched ice cream is being marketed as a luxurious and healthy treat for grown-ups. The accompanying price tag of £4 per scoop is hefty indeed. I can't see the lil kiddies spending their pocket money on it but I reckon it will be a hit with the health/diet conscious adults including me!


http://news.bbc.co.uk/today/hi/today/newsid_9627000/9627103.stm

Eerie Eye-Scream

In keeping with the Halloween theme, I thought you guys would get a kick out of these vanilla scoops made to look like eyeballs.

Ingredients:

Vanilla ice cream
Strawberry syrup
M & M sweets (brown,blue or green)
Black decorating gel


1. Scoop the ice cream into balls and set on a wax-paper-lined cookie sheet or greaseproof paper.  Than freeze until ready to serve (minimum 20 minutes).
2. Place two ice cream balls on a plate, an inch apart.
3. Drizzle syrup onto each ice cream ball to create a bloodshot effect. Put an M&M with the logo facing down at the center of each and top with a drop of black decorating gel to form a pupil. If you do not have black decorating gel than use black licorice instead.

Happy Halloween!

Pumpkin Mudslides

Ever wonder what to do with all the left over pumpkin after carving a spooktacular lantern? Me neither, until now! Yea found this recipe which is a regular mudslide with a bit of extra pumpkin juice. And this Halloween tipple aint for the kids with slashings of Vodka, Kahlua and Baileys thrown in. Oh yeaa- wickedly good!

Recipe yields 2

Ingredients:

2 ounces Vodka
2 ounces Kahlua
2 ounces Baileys
8 ounces vanilla ice cream
8 ounces pumpkin puree
1 teaspoon cinnamon (optional)
Whipped cream, to taste
Chocolate syrup, to taste

1. Blend all ingredients except the whipped cream and chocolate syrup.
2. Drizzle chocolate syrup along the inside edges of  the chilled glasses.
3. Pour the pumpkin mudslide into the glasses.
4. Top with whipped cream and more chocolate syrup.

Bottoms up!