For celebrations I try to avoid commercial store boughts like Ben & Jerry's. I go for more local things like Solley's Farm
formatting link
and Simply Ice Cream
formatting link
or make my own. If these sources fail me, Aldi do a decent continental vanilla (with proper specks of vanila pod in), and a very charming Belgian choc one with substantial lumps of dark chocolate in it... The Aldi ones served with a good home made rumtopf and those nice spiral chocolate filled wafers makes a decent end to a Sunday dinner. Yes, I'm an ice cream snob. Skinny Cow is an 'every day' ice cream. Special puddings require good ice cream.
It seems to vary from place to place. In my hometown there was a TASTEE FREEZE that used pineapple topping (if I recall correctly) as the 3rd topping. Just recently, I had a banana split at a local Baskin-Robbins that used marshmallow topping as the third topping. I also am pretty sure the chocolate sauce goes on the vanilla ice cream, for that contrast in color.
I just would like to make a follow up to my follow up. From the answers I have been seeing, the split banana and the three flavors of ice cream: vanilla, chocolate, and strawberry are a common denominator. Two of the sauces are also common: chocolate and strawberry. For the third, I have seen marshmallow, pineapple, and caramel mentioned here.
I also am pretty sure that I have had splits where the ice cream gets a different flavor of sauce. For example, the chocolate sauce does not go on the chocolate ice cream, and the strawberrry sauce does not go on the strawberry ice cream.
Another follow up to my follow ups, I saw this over in a cooking newsgroup that I read:
Chantilly Cream. Not only is it the best tastng, whe made correctly and not overwhipped, it will hold it's shape and keep in the frig for a few days.
1 1/2 cups heavy cream 2 teaspoons real vanilla extract 2 teaspoons cognac 2 teaspoons Grand Marnier 1/2 cup sugar 2 tablespoons sour cream
Thoroughly chill mixing bowl and beaters overnight in refrigerator before making this cream. This is very important, you don't want to warm up the cream at all.
With wire whip attachment on your mixer, beat heavy cream, vanilla, cognac and grand marnier on medium speed for about 2 minutes.
Add sugar and sour cream and beat on medium-high till soft peaks form. Do not overbeat or it will separate after it sits for a bit.
Read the ingredients- if it's mostly cream, sugar and a flavor of some kind it's the good rich stuff and truly worth the indulgence once in a while. If there are ingredients that sound strange or you can't pronounce them it's not the best. If eating the best ice cream on Thanksgiving shortens your life by 10 min. you can say it was worth it.... that's my attitude. VBG
Minority opinion here: I hate Breyers! Breyers is the only ice cream I have ever thrown out - two different times. The second time I bought it, it was on sale and I thought to myself - Aw, it can't be as bad as I remember. But again, it laid around forever and neither I nor the DH would eat it. (He doesn't like it either.)
I can't explain it - most people love it, but it has no taste to me. Perhaps I just grew up eating ice cream with all the scary addendums and that's the way I like ice cream (?) I don't know. I like almost anyone else's vanilla. Friendlys, Turkey Hill, Edys, Hagen, you name it. Anything but Breyers.
We were just in Disney World and the ice cream at Ghirardellis in Downtown Disney was heavenly.
Breyers, I called them and complained about how bad the stuff I bought was. It has been a while and I don't buy ice cream often but they had some bad products. When I want good ice cream I make it myself in the old ice cream machine. There are some new spiffy machines available but the old one works.
Disneyland used to have the Carnation ice cream place. I feel kind of bad it has been replaced. : ( Taria
OMG! That was a fabulous description of what goes on. I can't wait to watch the parade this year. I have a new appreciation of the workers behind (and under!) the scene!
My DH and I will be alone on Thanksgiving as we are going to the mountains for the week and our daughters are unable to join us. We will be on a river with snow all around and it will be beautiful! Like Polly and Mr. Ester, we will not be doing the traditional dinner. Probably halibut on the grill. No matter.
Thanks for starting this topic, Polly!
Laurie G. in CA
"AuntK" wrote in message news: snipped-for-privacy@e20g2000vbn.googlegroups.com... On Nov 15, 11:17 pm, "Polly Esther" wrote:
We actually started out several years ago as handlers - the people you never see on camera holding all those lines coming from the balloon. We then progressed to captain (me) and pilot (DH). We have field training each year with the actual balloons and run around a parking lot or football field doing turns and keeping everyone in line looking pretty. The training is held regardless of weather since the parade happens regardless of weather. We've been drenched during both; had snow on the trip into the city, etc. The parade route is
2.5 miles long. We arrive in NYC about 5:30AM, get into our coverall costumes and then get bussed to the start of the parade - 77th st. and central park west. The balloons are lined up on the 2 side streets and all the floats are lined up on central park west. There are a bazillion people in clown costumes and make up running around everywhere. Party atmosphere doesn't even cover it. One by one each float and balloon is called into the parade. The giant balloons (like Buzz Lightyear) have 3 pilots; 3 captains; 2 vehicles and about 50-70 handlers each. Along with a NYC policeman. The pilots make sure the balloon is 'flying' at the correct height for the wind/weather conditions and the captains make sure all the handlers have their lines in correct position and that they are in proper formation and to make sure that the balloon does not hit any trees, light poles, etc. Spectators are held behind low, portable fencing by said police and everyone is incredibly polite and jovial. The kids get a tremendous kick out of the whole thing. As do the adults, actually. You eventually make your way past the camera area and the parade ends at the Macy's store in Herald Square. You then continue to the deflation area, let out all the helium, squish these monsters as flat as you can, put them back in their carts - which are basically giant postal bins on wheels - and then walk back to the New Yorker hotel to get your pin and head home. There are NO potty breaks during the parade. They don't feed you until you are done and then it's packaged danish and coffee/tea/water. We get home about 2-3PM and then head over to friends and have dinner there. Usually in my slippers cuz the feet are DONE by the time we get home. Eat dinner about 4 and usually nodding off during dessert. I'm usually in bed by about 8:30 that night. It's a VERY LONG day but it's great fun. All the participants are either Macy's employees or, like us, members of a hot air balloon organization. The employees are from all over the country. Most are bussed from the more local areas and I'm guessing those from further away fly, probably at their own expense. All are volunteers - there is no pay involved.
Enjoy those salads and banana splits. We'll be thinking of you as our tummy's are growling.
You are very welcome, Laurie. I can't wait for the parade either. DH and I supported Mardi Gras parades for about 25 years. It's exhausting but there's hardly any thrill like the crowds, especially the little guys, having such a happy time - and they never forget it. Polly
I'm with Iris...can't stand Breyer's..yuk. it's watery or something, really no taste whatsoever. I really like Blue Bunny. WalMart at home carried it, I am not sure if you can get it here in SoCal. Hershey's is terrific too, and we had a couple local dairies make their ice creams: Byrne Dairy and Hood come to mind. Just creamy yummyness. m.m.m...
I LOVE the Macy's T/G parade. How fun it must be to be part of that. If i remember correctly, Mia ( from NY) and her DH do something with it as well.
amy in SoCal (now off to Albertson's for ice cream...)
several responses here...Thanks for all the support. DH & I certainly appreciate the good wishes. Currently it looks rainy for the Parade. Been there, done that, wasn't fun. Especially the 4 hr. drive to Dad's house after the parade in wet clothes. Thank goodness for a cooler appropriately filled! And thankfully that's not the plan this year.
As to ice cream...I I definitely consider myself to be an ice cream snob. Apparently there are dissenters but I'm a Breyer's girl unless I make my own. Granted that happens few and far between. I'll settle for others but for commercially available here in central NJ, it's Breyer's for me. And Vanilla Bean is the best. Maybe it's the purity of flavor but a good vanilla is my absolute fav.
And Steve's cream topping - or whatever that was - sounds FABULOUS. I'm going to try that for our holiday party. OK - it's a Christmas party but this year will be the week before. Anyone in the neighborhood is more than welcome. Just a big ol' welcome house for any and all. There have been times when people show up at the front door and we just point them in the direction of food and beverages and then DH & I look at one another and ask 'do you know who that is'???? All are welcome. 18th - be there or be square! Last year we had a blizzard so we fed the local road crews as well as anyone who was brave enough to weather the weather!
Keep your eyes open for Buzz Lightyear. DH will be at the rear of the balloon. With any luck I'll be on the camera side - depends on who wants to be near their friends and family in the stands. Hard to tell any of us apart as the pilots/captains all have white coveralls on with red or green caps and tons of radio stuff. I'll be the short one. So wave to us if you can - we certainly appreciate it.
OK - we just finished our hot air balloon flight for the day and it's hot tub time for me. Running through fields at 55 yo and all that goes with it is just not as easy as it sounds. Time to relax with a nice glass of wine. Good night all!
InspirePoint website is not affiliated with any of the manufacturers or service providers discussed here.
All logos and trade names are the property of their respective owners.