Creative Ice Cream and Special Events

18/07/2024

Looking for a way to celebrate your team? Look no further!! From birthdays to banquets we can do it all! Reach out for a quote today!

11/06/2024

If you live in Eastmark come down to the pool and get a delicious ice cream sundae! We will be here till 3pm!

11/06/2024

Name one TV crime series where the phrase "all hands on deck" has never been used. There probably isn’t a single one! Today we use this figure of speech in an informal way to call for everyone available to get involved in a group task or an urgent situation . However, a long time ago it had a more straightforward meaning. In times of pirates, captains would urge their crew to help whenever a storm was coming or if enemies were attacking the ship. It literally meant "All available sailors come to the deck". Over the years, as the English language evolved, it just became the expression we use when we need as much help as we can get.

12/04/2024

The spongy, cream-filled cakes we call Twinkies were first created in 1930 in an attempt to put unused bakery pans back into production. Creator James Dewar was a manager at the Continental Baking Company outside Chicago, where he noticed the factory’s strawberry shortcake-making equipment sat idle once strawberry season ended. Dewar used the pans to bake small cakes injected with cream fillings, naming his invention Twinkies after seeing a billboard for Twinkle Toe Shoes.

09/04/2024

Table etiquette varies from one country to another. To avoid insulting a host when dining overseas, it can be useful to brush up on local manners. If eating with your hands in India and parts of the Middle East, remember to always use the right hand, as the left is considered unclean. Slurping one’s noodles may be a definite faux pas in the U.S., but in Japan and China, it is a sign of appreciation. In France, any bread on the table is to be eaten during the meal, not before. Furthermore, to avoid offending your French dinner host, both hands should rest on the table and not in your lap when you’re not eating. Meanwhile, never use your fork as a scoop for your peas in the United Kingdom. Although it may seem very impractical, the “proper” way is to use the tines of your fork to lightly squash a small amount at a time, or stick them to some mashed potatoes.

20/03/2024

08/02/2024

The brothers behind your favorite frozen waffles took a while to iron out the details of their signature product. Working in their parent’s basement in San Jose, California, in the early 1930s, Frank, Anthony, and Sam Dorsa first whipped up their own brand of mayonnaise. Since the base ingredient of mayonnaise is egg yolks — and the brothers took pride in using “100% fresh ranch eggs” — they christened their fledgling company “Eggo.” Despite launching the business during the Great Depression, Eggo mayonnaise sold like hotcakes, motivating the Dorsas to extend their product line. Soon, they were selling waffle batter — another egg-based product. To simplify shipping, they also whipped up a powdered mix that required only the addition of milk.

When the frozen food industry took off in the 1950s, the brothers wanted to take advantage of the rush to the freezer aisle. Frank Dorsa (a trained machinist) repurposed a carousel engine into a rotating device that could anchor a series of waffle irons, each cooking a breakfast treat that was flipped by a factory employee. The machine allowed Eggo to prepare thousands of freezer-bound waffles per hour. These debuted in grocery stores in 1953 under the name Froffles, a portmanteau of “frozen” and “waffles.” Customers referred to them simply as “Eggos,” and the Froffles moniker was dropped within two years.

08/02/2024

It turns out there’s a price to pay for how tasty and nutritious pistachios are: Under the right circumstances, they can spontaneously combust. Everyone’s favorite shelled nut is especially rich in fat, which is highly flammable. Thankfully, that only becomes a problem when pistachios are packed too tightly during shipping or storage. It’s important to keep the nuts dry lest they become moldy — but if they’re kept too dry and there are too many of them bunched together, they can self-heat and catch fire without an external heat source.

Though exceedingly rare and easy to avoid if the proper instructions are followed, pistachio self-combustion is a real enough concern that the German Transport Information Service specifically advises that pistachios “not be stowed together with fibers/fibrous materials as oil-soaked fibers may promote self-heating/spontaneous combustion of the cargo.” Don’t worry, though: It won’t happen in your pantry with just a few bags, so you can indulge in the shelled snack without worrying about their flavor becoming unexpectedly smoky.

12/01/2024

At the beginning of the 20th century, soda fountains were a common sight and popular meeting place in New York City. The name described both the equipment — a tap that dispensed carbonated soda water — and the business, which often meant a place that served food along with the bubbly drinks. When they first gained popularity in the mid-1800s, soda fountain machines were primarily used in drug stores. Pharmacists mixed seltzer, seen then as a medicinal drink, with potent or bitter-tasting drugs to make them more palatable. In the early 1900s, the fountains and the “soda jerks” who worked them moved on from serving just prescription drinks to a more tempting variety of sweets. As fountains proliferated in candy stores, ice cream parlors, luncheonettes, and department stores, carbonated water was mixed with fruit syrup, used to make ice cream floats, and featured as one of just three ingredients in an iconic New York City drink from the era: the egg cream soda.

10/01/2024

A chef’s best friend (or maybe yours, if you are cooking a particularly messy recipe), this piece of cooking gear is a must-have in any modern kitchen. "Apron" comes from the old French word napron , meaning "a small piece of cloth". However, once English speakers adopted this term, the phrase a napron eventually derived into an apron through a process linguists call "rebracketing."

08/01/2024

Thomas Jefferson was the first known American to write down a recipe for ice cream.
Though the common claim that Thomas Jefferson introduced the beloved frozen treat to America has been debunked, the third President was indeed the first known American to write down a recipe for ice cream. A well-known foodie and wine enthusiast, Jefferson is thought to have first tasted ice cream during his time as minister to France between 1784 and 1789, starting a love affair that would last the rest of his life. That includes his time in the White House, where it was offered to guests on at least six different occasions during his presidency. According to accounts from those visitors, Jefferson was fond of serving the delicacy inside of a crust or pastry.

The actual recipe, which may have come from Jefferson’s French butler and has been preserved in the Library of Congress, calls for “2 bottles of good cream and 6 yolks of eggs” in addition to half a pound of sugar. It also instructs anyone following the recipe to “take it off and strain [the results] thro’ a towel,” among other sage advice. Ice cream isn’t the only food Jefferson helped make famous in America: He’s also credited with helping to popularize french fries, tomatoes, and macaroni and cheese — achievements that some food lovers may consider as momentous as his time in the White House.

08/01/2024

Original photo by Zamurovic Brothers/ Shutterstock
Thomas Jefferson was the first known American to write down a recipe for ice cream.
Though the common claim that Thomas Jefferson introduced the beloved frozen treat to America has been debunked, it is true that the third President was the first known American to write down a recipe for ice cream. A well-known foodie and wine enthusiast, Jefferson is thought to have first tasted ice cream during his time as minister to France between 1784 and 1789, starting a love affair that would last the rest of his life. That includes his time in the White House, where it was offered to guests on at least six different occasions during his presidency. According to accounts from those visitors, Jefferson was fond of serving the delicacy inside of a crust or pastry.

The actual recipe, which may have come from Jefferson’s French butler and has been preserved in the Library of Congress, calls for “2 bottles of good cream and 6 yolks of eggs” in addition to half a pound of sugar. It also instructs anyone following the recipe to “take it off and strain [the results] thro’ a towel,” among other sage advice. Ice cream isn’t the only food Jefferson helped make famous in America: He’s also credited with helping to popularize french fries, tomatoes, and macaroni and cheese — achievements that some food-lovers may consider as momentous as his time in the White House.

04/01/2024

2023 feels like it flew by! We love being able to serve therapy with a cherry by bringing people an ice cream sundae experience they have never had before! Cheer to the new year and making new memories!

03/01/2024

James Madison and his wife, Dolley, helped popularize ice cream in America. Tastes in the treat, however, would be considered questionable today: chestnut, asparagus, and parmesan were all on the menu. Dolley’s favorite flavor was … oyster.

02/01/2024

So is mustard or ketchup healthier?
From a nutrition perspective, mustard typically is a better-for-you choice than ketchup.

"Mustard is healthier than ketchup. It’s lower in calories and does not have high fructose corn syrup like most ketchup brands. The salty pucker-up tang of mustard prevents you from eating too much to exceed recommended amounts of sodium," said Marinaccio.

mustard on hot dog
As with ketchup, the nutrition profile of mustard can be quite different depending on the brand. (iStock)

"Ketchup in large amounts can spike blood sugar — and can cause acid reflux in people who suffer from heartburn," she added.

Still, everyone's version of "healthy" is different, stressed House.

"Individual health goals will help determine which choice is ideal for a person."

"For someone suffering from chronic illness and who is needing extra nutrition or calories, or a child who refuses new food without their favorite ketchup dip, then ketchup would be my pick."

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The bottom line, per Zenker, is that both condiments can fit into a healthy diet when used in moderation and when mindful of the product's sugar and sodium content.

"Individual health goals will help determine which choice is ideal for a person. An individual trying to reduce sugar intake may want to opt for mustard, while someone who enjoys ketchup in moderation may opt for it more often," she said.

26/12/2023

Blenders
A blender’s gasket (or the rubber ring that separates the blades and the jar) forms a seal to prevent leaks when the blender is in use. However, the gasket itself comes in contact with whatever you’re blending, from smoothies to soup. If you don’t fully clean the blender after use, the gasket can spread bacteria, yeast, and mold to anything else you blend afterward.

Fortunately, cleaning this is pretty simple. Unscrew your blender from the base with the blades and remove the rubber gasket. Wash the lid, jar, blades, and gasket in hot soapy water or your dishwasher. Reassemble the blender once all parts are completely dry. While you can’t submerge the base and cord in water, don’t forget to wipe them off—you never know where droplets or crumbs may have landed.

26/12/2023

Kitchen Sponges
It might surprise you that sponges are the dirtiest kitchen item. A kitchen sponge may contain multiple types of bacteria, which can then spread when you wipe dishes, counters, and other surfaces.

Instead of trying to clean kitchen sponges, it’s better to replace them every two weeks. Another more eco-friendly option is to buy washcloths instead. Washcloths can be regularly laundered and bleached in your washing machine, effectively killing germs and bacteria.

23/12/2023

What's the Actual Difference Between 'Use By' and 'Sell By' Anyway?
Here's when to toss and when to save your food.

By Lauren Breedlove Published on November 15, 2023

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A single egg in bowl with expiration date clearly visible
PHOTO: KEN TANNENBAUM / GETTY IMAGES
It's the middle of the night. You can barely see your hand in front of you as it stretches out to open the fridge. The light beaming behind your leftovers on the top shelf blinds you momentarily. You wipe away the bleariness as you reach for that gallon of milk or that box of treats that summoned you out of bed in the first place. But before you dig in, you realize there's a teeny, tiny date stamped on the label. It's a "use-by" date. No, wait, it's a "sell-by" date. Or, hang on. Is that an "expiration date?" And then you realize, you don't actually know the difference in the first place. Don't worry. We're here to help.

Although dating food items is not required by U.S. Federal law (except for infant formula and baby food), most manufacturers do it voluntarily. Because, you know, they aren't that interested in poisoning you.

According to the USDA (U.S. Department of Agriculture) Food Safety and Inspection Service, "For meat, poultry, and egg products under the jurisdiction of the Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS), dates may be voluntarily applied provided they are labeled in a manner that is truthful and not misleading and in compliance with FSIS regulations. To comply, a calendar date must express both the month and day of the month. For shelf-stable and frozen products, the year must also be displayed. Additionally, immediately adjacent to the date must be a phrase explaining the meaning of that date, such as 'Best if Used By.'"

It's up to the grocery stores and markets to stock their shelves with the freshest items displayed behind or under the oldest products. For example, items like eggs typically hit store shelves just a few days after being laid, and cartons with the USDA grade shield are required to include a "pack date," which tells consumers when they were washed, graded, and packaged.

But that's a lot of labels. So, here's what each one means.

Expiration date
This one isn’t as definitive as it sounds. While it’s a hearty suggestion that the food will expire on that exact date, expiration dates really do depend on what type of food it is and if it looks, smells, or feels foul. According to the USDA’s FSIS, “With the exception of infant formula, if the date passes during home storage, a product should still be safe and wholesome if handled properly until spoilage is evident.”

So, if you’re thinking of digging into milk products, fresh fruit, vegetables, or cheese you haven’t used by the expiration date listed, it may be a good idea to throw those out and get something new, since those products are susceptible to bacteria that can make you sick. However, shelf-stable items like uncooked rice, pasta, or peanut butter and jelly can likely be eaten after the expiration date as long as they look and smell okay. (Again, this is entirely up to your discretion.)

Use-By Date
This one indicates peak quality, not safety (except for infant formula). The use-by date suggests the best time to eat the food product so you’re not eating it past its prime. As long as the appearance, smell, and texture are okay, you’re likely safe to eat a product past the use-by date.

Best if Used-By/Before
This is strictly a quality date, suggesting when the product will have the best taste.

Sell-By Date
This one is for stores. It indicates how long a product should be on the shelves. In fact, according to the Institute for Food Safety and Health at the Illinois Institute of Technology, "one-third of a product's shelf-life remains after the sell-by date for the consumer to use at home."

Freeze-By Date
Think of this one as the “use-by” date but for freezing. Freezing most food products extends their life, and this date is meant to tell you when to freeze an item at its highest quality.

Some other things to keep in mind to avoid wasting food by throwing it away too early are that a change in the color of meat or poultry is not an indicator of spoilage, according to the USDA. They also state that eggs should be refrigerated in their original carton and kept in the coldest part of the fridge (not the door), and “food spoilage can occur much faster if food is not stored or handled properly.” Once you open an item, its life is a lot shorter too. For instance, if you open a package of bacon, you have about a week to eat it before it could start going bad, according to the USDA’s Food Safety and Inspection Service.

Shelf-stable items that can be stored at room temperature, like canned goods (unless otherwise labeled), flour, and pasta, can be good for years, according to the FSIS. High-acid items like fruits and juices can be kept for 12-18 months, while low-acid items like canned vegetables or most soups are fine in your pantry for up to five years. Things like mayonnaise can be kept for three months unopened. (For a more complete list of shelf-stable items and their life span, visit the FSIS Food Safety page.)

So if your cold cuts have been in the fridge for six days with a “use-by” date that isn’t until tomorrow, but there’s a spot of mold, funky smell, or it’s slimy, it’s best to rely on your own senses and toss it. Even if it means having to skip your midnight snack.

22/12/2023

To know which side your bread is buttered on

Meaning: To know how to better benefit yourself.

This idiom has roots tracing back to the mid-1500s. Its essence lies in the wisdom of discerning one's best interests—recognizing where to channel efforts for personal gain, understanding advantageous choices, and identifying those who can be of help. The metaphor refers to the notion that the buttered side of the bread is undoubtedly the best part of it (even in an allegorical bread, apparently), and that identifying the most advantageous aspects of a situation, is much like savoring the richness of the buttered side in the realm of life's choices.

21/12/2023

although it’s well known that extra-virgin olive oil is the highest grade of olive oil, many people don’t know how its method of production differs from that of other kinds of olive oil. For olive oil to be classed as extra-virgin, it must be made by grinding olives and then cold-pressing them to extract their oil, without the use of heat or chemical solvents. Olive oil is also required to have no more than 0.8% acidity to qualify as EVOO, per the European Commission, as well as zero median defects. As a result of these stipulations, extra-virgin olive oil is lighter in color and flavor than lower grades of olive oil and has a fruity, slightly peppery flavor and odor.

It Takes 11 Pounds of Olives to Make a Quart of Olive Oil
Fresh olives in sacks in a field in Crete, Greece.Credit: Georgios Tsichlis/ Shutterstock
Olives have a surprisingly low yield when it comes to oil. It takes about 11 pounds of olives to make 32 ounces — or one quart — of olive oil. That’s between 5,200 and 8,000 olives, depending on the variety. This is also the reason olive oil is often more expensive than other kinds of edible oils. About 90% of the world’s harvested olives get slated to become oil (the rest will become table olives).

19/12/2023

Humans have known about bees for a long time: 8,000-year-old cave paintings in Bicorp, Spain, show early humans scaling trees to collect honey. But modern scientists wanted to know if bees recognize us, which is why researchers have put the insects’ microscopic brains to the test. In a 2005 study, honey bees were trained to memorize pictures of human faces by scientists who rewarded them for correct matches with droplets of sugar water. While a bee’s-eye view isn’t as clear as our own gaze, the buzzing insects were able to correctly differentiate between faces up to 90% of the time — even two days after first seeing them, and when the sweet incentives were removed.

The emerging research into bee brains shows that not all living creatures need the complex brain systems humans have in order to recognize and recall environmental differences, but some researchers say that’s not entirely shocking. The Apis mellifera (aka the European honey bee) can visit up to 5,000 flowers in one day, distinguishing between buds that give off beaucoup nectar and those that don’t. So, it makes sense that bees have some form of working memory. And unlocking how bee brains work has practical applications for both us and them: Tech developers may be able to fine-tune artificial intelligence systems (in part by understanding how such tiny brains work so efficiently), and entomologists can better focus on supporting these crucial insects, which are responsible for an estimated 80% of food crop pollination.

17/12/2023

Berry classification is a confusing business. People began referring to some fruits as “berries” thousands of years before scientists established their own definitions, some of which are still debated. Today, little effort is made to teach the public about what botanically constitutes a berry, so here’s a bit of help. It’s generally accepted that all berries meet three standards: First, they have a trio of distinct fleshy layers (the outer exocarp, middle mesocarp, and innermost endocarp); second, their endocarps house multiple seeds; third, berries are simple fruits, meaning they develop from flowers with a single o***y.

Blueberries and cranberries are true berries, as their names imply. Other berries may surprise you: Avocados, eggplants, grapes, guava, kiwis, papayas, peppers, pomegranates, and tomatoes are all, botanically speaking, berries. Bananas are berries, too, since they meet all three requirements. The exocarp of a banana is its peel, while the mesocarp is the creamy middle surrounding the seedy, also-edible endocarp. With seeds growing on the outside, blackberries, raspberries, and strawberries are, confusingly given their names, neither berries nor simple fruits. Instead, they are called aggregate fruits, because they grow from multiple ovaries of the same flower.

17/12/2023

My chef tip:
You should serve your Eggs Benedict on a chrome platter… Because there's no plate like chrome for the Hollandaise.🤟😁

10/12/2023

Did you know that there is no Sand in a Sandwich?