Go Ahead, Have a Field Day!

“Let’s go fly a kite…”, but really, when is the last time partaking in an activity for pure enjoyment was a top goal of the day?  As the public is reawakened by hectic work and school schedules a yearning for some good ol’ fashioned fun should be a priority.  Summer is at near end, but the recreation associated with the season sure can continue.  Engage in activities that produce merriment and delight for any age.  Rally together neighbors, family/friends, or colleagues for organized (semi-organized is acceptable) team sports such as flag football, kickball or volleyball.  This may be the perfect way to spend a lunch hour per week!  Take glee to the next level and have a field day.  Host events in the backyard or a community park. The field day can include sack races, an obstacle course, and an amusing outdoor version of the game Twister that is painted right onto the grass in the yard!

Photo Credit: Katie Haines

In the instance physical games are not accommodating, try a new activity as a group ideal for team-building and family fun.  Cooking lessons, a hot air balloon ride, learn to make pottery- all ideas that fit the bill to enjoy part of the day with a focus on simple pleasure. Shift gears to place an importance on having fun in even the most mundane parts of a day-to-day routine, become diligent at it to make happiness contagious. The amount of hilarity that ensues from hoisting up a Pinata is astounding.  

The Italian lifestyle places importance on family gathering and enjoyment each day.  La Bella Vita, meaning ‘the good life’ is a phrase that is not only spoken, but is adhered to. The quick pace of life too often leaves little room for the best of times to be had.  A concerted effort to initiate more family fun or group activities may at first be present, but once established the benefits of laughter, togetherness and achievement are certain to boost overall quality of life.

Will you have FUN today?

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 

Feeling like the 4th of July!

Red, white, and blue is having a stupendous run this week.  America is teeming with extra Patriotism first rallying for a Team USA win in the World Cup and the headliner event tomorrow on the 4th of July.  Dessert is the ideal means to keep the spirit flush right into the celebration of our nation’s independence.  

Sweet treats are a necessity for any style 4th of July party.  Frozen treats are even better, the supreme choice to beat the heat with added happiness. Serve up sorbetto smoothies for a refreshing and simple crowd pleaser.  Made with premium whole fruits sorbetto, gelato without milk, is dairy-free, gluten-free and fat-free!Sorbetto smoothies are delicious, healthy, and transportable. Serve each flavor (see recipes below) in clear cups with blue straws for an added bonus of having red, white, and blue covered.  

Pino Gelato smoothies

RED:

3 scoops strawberry, watermelon, and/or raspberry sorbetto

seltzer water

optional (sweetener):

½ cup San Pellegrino Sparkling Aranciata Rosso (blood orange)

photo credit: drinks.seriouseats.com 

WHITE:

3 scoops lemon sorbetto

seltzer water

optional (sweetener):

½ cup San Pellegrino Sparkling Limonata (lemon) or Pompelmo (grapefruit)

BLUE:

etsy.com

Fruit pies or fruit crumbs are a hit acting as a summertime staple at gatherings. For a perfectly simple method, written in steps in a ‘create-your-own-crumb’ style, follow the basic crumb instructions at Food52… but for everyone’s added benefit be certain to top servings of the crumb creation with a scoop of gelato!

HAPPY FOURTH OF JULY!

A Tribute to Memorial Day

On Monday, the 26th of May 2014 celebrations were held across the nation in recognition for the freedom of America protected daily by those that serve in the military with honor to the men and women who lost their lives serving the country’s armed forces.  Now that the parades, bbqs, and festivals have come and gone let us pay tribute each day to commemorate the men and women and the families of those that have died in war or military action in service of The USA.  The magnitude of appreciation the people of our country have for the armed forces of America was depicted with traditional acts, American flags decorated gravestones for lost soldiers in national cemeteries.

Memorial Day Weekend denotes the kickoff to summer often marked with beach trips, boat or sport outings and picnics to welcome the outdoor season. Festivals are filled with food associated with summer from grilled corn on the cob to fruits at their peak ripeness, truly the time of year that a foodie reigns.  Frozen desserts get a heightened awareness as the temperatures rise, the sunshine becomes standard and people crave a treat to cool down.

Custom gelato cake by Pino Gelato 

The significance of Memorial Day is never to be out shined by the parties and seasonal fun ahead, the utmost order is to honor the heroes of America.  The summer does present the busiest season for gelato, welcomed is the time of year to Scoop Some Happiness to the many customers to be served over the next few months.  Pino Gelato offers a military discount; to the men and women who are serving or have served our country, thank you.

How did you celebrate Memorial Day 2014?

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? 

Sweet Celebration this 4th of July!

Sweeten up the celebration this Independence Day!  The Fourth of July has approached rapidly this year, it is time to slow down and honor our nation with family and friends in a traditional backyard gathering.  Widespread heat waves throughout The USA call on us to cool down guests with frozen treats this Thursday.  Gelato flag cake, yes please.

 Pino Gelato Flag Cake!

Keeping guests cool in a simple atmosphere is a combination perfect for serving up frosty drinks, ice-cold dessert, and a tremendous avenue to showcase the holiday’s symbolic colors red, white, and blue.  Offer guests homemade lemonade and iced tea with a scoop of lemon sorbetto and fresh mint leaves.  To promote the color scheme offer fresh or frozen blue berries and raspberries to up the ante in the frozen drinks.  Another amazing festive option is to incorporate this great fizzy, fruit float drink using a more decadent route by topping with vanilla gelato (the straws are awesome).  Simple, refreshing, and fun, exactly what the 4^th of July exudes.

Photo: Jennifer Davick, Prop Styling: Amy Burke, Food Styling: Marian Cooper Cairns

Start the day with a local parade or festival to truly immerse into the honoring of our country.  There is something very American about celebrating with neighbors and members of the community, to be a part of it.  Once gathered in the backyard, keep the menu simple with grilled entrees and classic side dishes.  For dessert a gelato flag cake provides the perfect holiday showcase while satisfying the sweet tooth in all.  Serving quarts of gelato and sorbetto is another fuss-free route to take to beat the heat in a tasty way.  Gelato on stand-by for topping pies (a la mode) is also a huge favorite, as well as an American staple. Cool desserts covered!

Host or partake in a sweet party to celebrate Independence Day, just follow these tips to be sure to keep cool.  Happy Fourth of July!

Awesome compilation of fireworks!