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 

Salute 2014!

Toast 2014 with Italian flair.  “Bubbly”, “champs”, “bubs”, pop media dubs champagne numerous coined phrases, chose the preferred reference and know a delectable addition is welcomed in the flute.  Gelato and sorbetto mini scoops drenched in prosecco (Italian similar bubbly) bring true taste to cheers with this New Year's Eve.  

Celebrating with extra special beverages contributes to decor and creates a magical element to the evening on NYE.  A supreme version of the cocktail named “Sunset Bubbly” is made by combining blood orange sorbetto with prosecco turning into a beautiful, refreshing, and unique drink both ideal and palatable for serving to any crowd.  Mario Batali creates an intriguing (thick) version  “Pomegranate Prosecco Gelatina”, a recipe that works well with any berry sorbetto with colors spot on for a holiday vibe.  

The variations are endless and stupendous, but in order to avoid having to narrow down the selection consider creating a punch bowl with multiple flavor scoops.  Arranging a self-serve bubbly bar is an excellent option for guests to create their own version and to present the same array to those refraining from spirits during the evening.  Place sparkling grape juice, water, or cider aside the prosecco for a spot on way to include all at the celebration.  

Ringing in the New Year holds tradition.  Parties vary from the utmost lavish to banging pots and pans in the kitchen with the family.  Enjoying a decadent beverage is deemed celebration worthy of any style of festivities lined up.  Regardless of plans this New Year’s Eve, toasting with a gelato/sorbetto induced luxury beverage is quite the means to embrace a sparkling outlook for 2014.  Salute 2014!

photo credit: Bon Appetit

What Hors d'oeuvres do you serve on NYE that pair well with champagne/prosecco?  

Thanksgiving & Game Day Fare

Avid football fans, elevate the game day experience with a harvest chow down.  Turkey tailgates and enticing food arrays will elicit enjoyment during the game from the most discerning in the crowd to the non-sports enthused.  Incorporate traditional holiday fixings to create the ideal atmosphere for the ultimate in football fare.

Turkey & Football unite via sliders

Turn up the heat on the barbecue, the turkey is here.  Football and Thanksgiving have long paired up, over the next two weekends revel in the combinations of game day and grub.  Stadium tailgating will no doubt showcase the trend of football turkey- inclusive of grilled up drumsticks, but at home viewers can set up in the same fashion.  Pulled turkey sliders displayed with a toppings station of fresh cranberry sauce, gravy, and stuffing is a simple, creative, and tasty spin on a commonly reinvented offering.  No to mention the grab and go style is conducive to spectators not wishing to miss a play.  

The specialties of the season provide numerous recipes to delight guests with a twist on the ordinary.  Sweet potatoes used for potato skins in this recipe are a hit, follow the directions but feel free to try out favorite cheese and toppings of choice.  To amend standard antipasti spreads to adhere to the theme, stack figs wrapped in prosciutto, mozzarella, and roasted squash for skewers that reach a new level entirely. Putting leftovers to use for feeding a crowd is easy, this pizza holds it’s toppings and for an early game time create a quiche with the Thanksgiving extras.

Sweet potato skins. Photo credit: www.marthastewart.com

Sweets are a welcomed must for entertaining, even in a crowded parking lot dessert can be done well.  Handheld mini pies, assorted pastries, and cookies with fall season flair (think cinnamon, pumpkin, and nuts) will satiate the sweet tooth and wake up those impaired by a food coma.  It may even be appropriate to whip up the first batch of eggnog of the season, add a scoop of gelato to serve a seriously delectable version.

Thanksgiving-fueled menu options perfect what game day parties are all about.  Utilize seasonal culinary trends to rally the fans and their taste buds.  Food, football, and family unite this time of year... dig in!

The Gelato Sandwich

A bevy of delightful images of frozen desserts splashed across the internet last week in celebration of National Ice Cream Sandwich Day on August 2, 2013.  Frozen desserts and the stream of National Days allotted in their honor represent summer treats well.  The sources for inspiration are mouthwatering creative combinations.  After a particularly long period of pontificating the very best way to stand out among the slew of combinations the answer became simple, creating a basic gelato sandwich proved enough to contend.   

The Gelato Sandwich:
 Chocolate wafer cookies, vanilla gelato. Simple summer treasure.

On a previous post the idea occurred to make a gelato sandwich with pizzelle, delicious and a bit fancy.  For numerous variations gelato can be smashed in between to enjoy sandwich style (donuts, waffles) check out this buzzfeed. This video supplies you with the proper techniques on how-to create the gelato sandwich! 

The Blood Orange Peach Soda Float

Recipe adapted from Giada De Laurentiis.

Same buzz, same theory here.  Able to stem a bit from the basic being as the frozen beverage arena has many advanced conceptions. Please don't take this the wrong way, black sesame gelato shakes are likely amazing, but this fresh sorbetto soda float will cater nicely to summer taste buds. 

The Blood Orange Peach Soda Float

2 cups water

1 cup sugar

3 fresh peaches, peeled and pitted

1/4 cup fresh lemon juice, from 1-2 large lemons

1 teaspoon lemon zest

1 cup sparkling water

Ice

Blood Orange sorbetto

Basil for garnish

In a small saucepan, bring the water and sugar to a boil over medium-high heat, stirring constantly, until the sugar has dissolved, 2-3 minutes.  Set aside to cool 20 minutes.

In a blender, combine the cooled syrup, peaches, lemon juice, and lemon zest.  Blend until smooth.  Add the sparkling water and pour into an ice filled pitcher.  To serve pour into individual glasses and top with a scoop of blood orange sorbetto and fresh basil for garnish.

Do you know what today is? Yes, another frozen treat: National Root Beer Float Day! Root beer & Sea Salt Caramel Gelato for our float!

 What memory does a root beer float bring to you? 

Halloween Entertaining, Italian-ish

Ghouls and ghosts (okay, candy) delight the children, while everyone varies on the tolerance scale of all that comes with Halloween; it admittedly is enjoyable to delve into the fun themes of the holiday and makes for easy entertaining.  Italy has increasingly upped the amount of Halloween festivities each year showcasing more American custom through costume parties, storefront decorations, and themed castle/landmark tours.  Traditionally Italians celebrate All Saints Day on November 1, but with Halloween becoming increasingly popular in Italy in turn let us pay homage to pasta, parmesan, and gelato. Incorporate Italian influences by way of food to reignite the sometimes stale themes used in sync with the obvious treats this October 31.  

If it is possible to make trick-or-treating even more of a headliner this Halloween, opt to throw a casual get together before, during, or after the kids rally for candy. This is a great way to steer away from focusing on candy and allots time to enjoy the day with neighbors, family, and friends.  The most exceptional way to do this is balancing the menu with respect to kids and adults.

This fried vermicelli dish cuts like a pie for easy serving, will have guests asking for the recipe, and can be passed off easily to the pickiest of eaters.  

Fried Vermicelli Recipe courtesy of Rachael Ray

 Nothing says “kid party” quite like popcorn.  Have bowls of fresh hot-air popped popcorn that is fun for kids and irresistible to adults with an upgraded version. Fry diced pancetta until crisp. Make popcorn. Toss together (some fat included) with generous shaves of Italian aged parmesan.  Serve hot. Make copious amounts, it is a sure bet. 

For the piece de resistance, gelato!  The kids will certainly be happy to hang in costume with friends while participating in a create-your-own sundae bar.  Serve gelato in bowls made from small pumpkins for extra appeal alongside a toppings bar inclusive of candy favorites and festive sprinkles.  Have options more suited for the adult palate available as well, a bowl of ground cinnamon, chopped nuts, dried fruits, and perhaps a bourbon butterscotch sauce. Chances are no one will pass up such a novelty. 

For an easy tutorial on how to make pumpkin bowls be sure to view the steps listed, this prep work should be done in advance in order to leave time for the bowls to cool completely prior to holding gelato.  

Another way to feature gelato at the party, served in flutes with prosecco, an Italian white sparkling wine! For the youngsters pick up the Blood Orange flavor of San Pellegrino Italian soda, it is all natural and delicious and such a thematic color for the holiday. Check a local grocery store, if it does not carry the product ask a manager to order it before Halloween, usually this request can be accommodated and is reason to the vast amount of stores in my proximity having it in abundance. Serve the drink in clear cups set out with paint markers for the kids to decorate (or straight out of the can) with festive straws which can double as a go-home favor.  Salute!

Incorporating the Italian way of living through togetherness and food amongst the typical Halloween party fare will certainly secure attendance at future themed evenings and create memorable moments, fun for all!