Peach Gelato Today

photo credit: askchefdennis.com

July is National Ice Cream Month providing fans of frozen dessert more justification to indulge during the summer heat. More specifically today, Thursday, July 17, 2014 is National Peach Ice Cream Day.  Peaches provide a copious amount of festivals for patrons to gather and share the multiple recipes associated with the fruit’s peak season, and to celebrate how darn delectable peaches truly are.  Beyond the adaptation of peaches in recipes, combinations pairing the fruit with spicy meats, teas, ideal canning and peach pies there is simplicity. Better even, peach farmers and market regulars in Macon, GA agree there is nothing like a bowl of peach ice cream after a day spent picking the fruit out in a hot field.

A few easy ways to enjoy peaches in frozen dessert form be it from a glass, bowl, or as a novelty. The supreme recommended cool down that incorporates peaches into a refreshing frozen beverage is The Blood Orange Peach Soda Float.  In the infamous Bellini, an Italian prosecco beverage,  the white peach puree beautifully defines the elite cocktail… adding mini scoops of peach sorbetto and vanilla gelato make for a drink perfect for consuming today. Drink up some peach! Peaches as an amazing (and quick) summer dessert staple = grilled peaches, served on top of a bowl of vanilla gelato with a drizzle of caramel. The sugars in the fruit create a crisp sweet layer after being grilled, adding the heightened peach flavor along with a light crunch to a household favorite.  No need to move to the country, plentiful ways to ‘eat a lot of peaches…’ this summer regardless of any metropolitan or suburbia locale status. Unarguably, the peach roadside farmer's market has got the best plan!

Peach gelato sandwiches are a lighthearted treat. Enjoy!

Peach gelato sandwich recipe

Makes 8 sandwiches

32 oz peach gelato

16 macadamia nut shortbread cookies, recipe from Southern Living

or feel free to use a favorite similar recipe of your own.

Plastic wrap

Paper wrap

Place two 2 oz scoops of peach gelato on one cookie (bottom of sandwich), top with second cookie. Wrap sandwich in plastic wrap and place in freezer. Repeat this process until all 8 sandwiches are assembled.  When ready to eat and serve remove sandwiches individually from freezer and unwrap from plastic wrap. Using the paper wrap, cover each peach gelato sandwich halfway up with paper to prevent melting.

What is your favorite peach recipe? Share with us this National Peach Ice Cream Day!

photo credit: chefsherry.com 

Toast to Happiness!

Winter drab has gone on long enough. People in most parts of the country need a bit of hoopla to entertain at this point.  No need to rush to the local watering hole, keep it downright interesting with an adult beverage, complete with gelato.     

Mixologists have affirmed the creative cocktail trend is here to stay.  More advantageous? Bartenders ahead of the curve are mixing alcohol and gelato to create the happiest of hours in existence.  

Recently, a list of 15 Food Reasons Italians Are Better at Life appeared on Huffington Post (an enthused shout out to numbers 12, and 1), to build upon this accurate list number 16 easily should be Italian liquors.  Campari, Limoncello, Sambuca, Frangelico; the span of flavor across the famed spirits of Italy are ideal to infuse in gelato or sorbetto to create supreme recipes combining alcohol and the luxury frozen dessert.  It is becoming increasingly more common to find gelato with rum or another standard spirit on menus across the world.

A gelato cocktail that will go over well with everyone.

Surely, one of the most fabulous ways to enjoy gelato and get through the impending storms is to add a dash of the “good stuff” for a tasty way to make it to spring.  A favorite gelato cocktail recipe brilliantly uses pistachio gelato, espresso, and coconut to make a luscious concoction.  Worthy modifications include caramel drizzle on the rim, best served in a chilled glass. Honestly, even a "plain" vanilla gelato cocktail is delicious.

Gelato and Italian liquors add sophistication to dessert time and/or happy hour.  Celebrate this match made in heaven with a gelato cocktail toast to happiness!

Pino Gelato is available in quarts and pints for you to order to make your own gelato cocktail recipe at home! Please share your favorites with us in the comments section. Salute!

Gelato on Top

A la gelato for the holidays! Thanksgiving and pies are synonymous, the innovation presented by mixing traditional with ingenuity are countless, delicious, and often served a la mode.  Elevate the after dinner experience by topping pies with gelato.  

The decadence of a slice of pie adorned with the more intense flavor gelato provides above other frozen desserts, will dazzle friends and family delighted to taste- even after the turkey overload. Pairing suggestions are truly limitless; presented below is a list of arrangements for seasonal, traditional, and even painstakingly overlooked gelato flavors and favorite pies that jibe.  

Truly advantageous bakers can begin preparation for insurmountable combinations, yet even in simple form authentic gelato is certain to ignite ‘dessert-time’ this year. 'Tis the season to Scoop Some Happiness.

Warm wishes (and pie) for a Happy Thanksgiving!

Top ‘em!

Sea Salt Caramel Gelato-

Salted Caramel-Chocolate Pecan Pie (recipe Southern Living)

Chocolate Bourbon Tart
photo credit Food and Wine

Chocolate Bourbon Tart (recipe Food & Wine)

Cinnamon Gelato-

Apple Pie with Spiced Apple-Caramel Sauce (recipe Bon Appetit)

-vanilla gelato is completely acceptable with apple varieties.

Sweet Potato Pie

Chocolate Gelato-

Malted Walnut Pie (recipe Bon Appetit)

Pumpkin Pie

Pistachio Gelato-

Butterscotch Mousse Pie (recipe Food & Wine)

Cherry Pie

Raspberry Swirl Gelato-

'Impossible Pie' (Coconut) (recipe Food & Wine: Jennifer Nettles)

Triple Berry Pie

photo credit
CupcakesandCashmere.com

What is your favorite Thanksgiving pie?  Gelato flavor to top it with?  

Gelato Cocktails

Ladies and gentlemen, let us celebrate in spirit with spirits of the sweetest variety this year.  One of the top elements to a holiday gathering is the beverage options, in order to create the most spectacular offerings serve a couple of signature cocktails that incorporate gelato.  Truly brighten the crowd and atmosphere with a gelato addition to a traditional Bellini or a dark stout beer.  

Giuseppe Cipriani the founder of Harry’s Bar in Venice, Italy created the most famous champagne cocktail in the world, The Bellini, although it is made with prosecco.  A traditional Bellini is made with one part white peach puree to three parts prosecco. All items should be as cold as possible.  To create a memorable twist to the traditional Bellini serve all ingredients with a small scoop of peach sorbetto, blood orange sorbetto, or vanilla gelato right in the champagne flute.  The cold, sweetened, and colorful beverage will be a party favorite with the gelato and sorbetto adding an exceptional component to a delightful drink. Beyond the delectable taste, the color in the flute looks fabulous.



At Harry's Bar, photo courtesy of dailymail.co.uk

Options are encouraged when entertaining, so in addition to having a full bar of spirits and wine (or a selection of personal favorites) have another featured gelato cocktail, such as a dark stout beer float.  Offer chilled beer glasses filled with dark stout beer and in a make-your-own fashion present three flavors of gelato next to the poured beer. Hazelnut, caramel, or vanilla gelato is a flavor that complements the notes present in the dark beer.  If there is a full bar display then use the gelato in combination with after-dinner drinks such as Frangelico, a hazelnut liqueur from Northern Italy, or Sambuca, an Italian anise-flavored liqueur. Serve alongside or within an espresso, of course. 

Signature beverages display an extra effort for the host, a seemingly flawless plan to use the simple gelato drink preparations above to wow a crowd. Creating special cocktails with gelato will rally enthused guests and spike creativity, who knows, gelato margaritas could be on the menu at a friend’s Cinco-de-Mayo party, trendsetter!  Enjoying the festivities this season sweeter than ever before will keep a crowd smiling, saying “I’ll have another”, with  these glorious gelato cocktails.  Salute!