Welcome to autumn! A symphony of color mixed with crisp, cool breezes, fall is one of our favorite seasons. Fall means scarecrows, pumpkin pies, and of our favorite Lancaster County treats: baked apple dumplings. Peeled and cored apples in a blanket of flakey dough baked with cinnamon and sugar to bubbly perfection. Naturally we serve them piping hot with a scoop of Turkey Hill All-Natural vanilla ice cream on the side. While we were enjoying one (or two or three) of these a few falls back, we decided that baked apple dumpling would be perfect for a fall Limited Edition flavor and it’s been a hit ever since. Our fall favorite is back again – cinnamon ice cream with caramel apple swirl and real dumpling pieces. Enjoy!

We’re not sure how many of you are fans of NBC’s TV show The Office, but a bunch of us here around the Turkey Hill office can’t get enough of it. So you can imagine our delight when, in the closing minutes of last night’s season premiere, as Jim was proposing to Pam in front of a gas station (it’s just like him to be unpredictable), there on the window of the store was a giant Turkey Hill Iced Tea ad!

The product placement, which was completely unplanned by the way, makes sense since the show is set in Scranton, PA. Even though it’s filmed in Los Angeles, the producers go to great lengths to create a northeastern Pennsylvania atmosphere in every episode. Granted, the exposure isn’t for our ice cream, but it’s still Turkey Hill and we’re so happy to be a part of a moment that Office fans have been anticipating for almost four years!

As for what Pam said, we won’t spoil it for anyone who recorded the episode and hasn’t watched it yet. If you didn’t record and would like to watch it, you can check it out here (the proposal scene starts around minute 38 and 30 seconds, and don’t miss the Turkey Hill magnet between minute 12 and 13). Just out of curiosity, what are some of your favorite TV shows that you think Turkey Hill products or signs can be a part of?

The second Turkey Hill Eagles Touchdown Sundae Eating Contest was held before the Eagles game against the Steelers this past Sunday and another ice cream lover/Eagles fan has emerged victorious (and with a slightly frozen face).

Eating from a giant bowl of ice cream using no hands, Gene W. of Pottstown, PA was crowned the winner when he downed 27.2 ounces of ice cream in three minutes. It was an extremely close contest, with the second place winner finishing just one-tenth of an ounce behind Gene. That’s less than one spoonful of ice cream!

For his efforts, Gene won a football and helmet signed by Eagles star Brian Dawkins. He’s also eligible to compete in the final contest on November 9, where the winner will receive a prize package that includes limousine transportation, hotel accommodations and two tickets to see the Eagles take on the Giants on December 7.

The next Turkey Hill Eagles Touchdown Sundae Eating Contest will take place on October 5 before the Eagles/Redskins game. If you think you’ve got what it takes to win, feel free to sign up on the WIP website. Good luck!

The gals at Scoopalicious are at it again, this time with an astute observation about the ice cream eating habits of the presidential candidates. It seems like a little ice cream is the perfect pick-me-up for those long days on the campaign trail because both camps have been spotted indulging a scoop or two of their favorite flavor.

While in Aliquippa, PA (north of Pittsburgh), Barack Obama and running mate Joe Biden made a pit stop at the Windmill Ice Cream Shop. Obama opted for a scoop of butter pecan on a cone. According to a CBS News report, Biden, was very frank about his love of ice cream, saying, “I may have vices but this is my biggest one,” Biden told the Obamas as he ordered two large scoops of chocolate and vanilla ice cream. “I ran for vice president just so I could get ice cream.”

John McCain and Sarah Palin have also taken time out to satisfy their sweet tooth. The pair stopped at the Dairy Dutchess ice cream shop in New Concord, Ohio on August 31. Interestingly, both candidates ordered their treats in a bowl instead of a cone, with McCain requesting a medium serving of chocolate ice cream. The team also ordered many of the Dairy Dutchess’s signature dipped soft serve cones for family members along with “15 hamburgers and/or cheeseburgers, 12 Coney dogs, six hot dogs and several orders of french fries” for the rest of their hungry campaign team. 

Speaking of presidential ice cream habits, did you know that former president Bill Clinton is the only person to have ever been allowed to break the Penn State Creamery’s rule against combining two flavors in the same dish or cone? He asked for a scoop of Peachy Paterno and Cherry Quist and he got it! You can read all about it here.

Remember when you were in the first grade and you made really neat things out of popsicle and ice cream sticks? Of course you do. There was the popsicle stick box. The popsicle stick house. And, of course, the popsicle stick picture frame. We’re sure mom still has that thing laying around somewhere.

An Ice Cream Journal reader forwarded us this story about a guy who took that art to whole new level by building a fully-operational replica of a Viking ship out of ice cream sticks…15 MILLION ice cream sticks to be exact. That’s a picture of his amazing creation on the right. Something tells us it’s not held together with Elmer’s glue and paste.

The builder, Robert McDonald, was helped by his own son and 5,000 other kids. Said McDonald, “If you can dream it, you can do it. I want to teach children that anything is possible.” Hard to argue with that!

Graeme W. from Vancouver, British Columbia writes:
I can’t stop thinking about eating ice cream, is there any reason for this?

Graeme,

Let me first start by congratulating you for being brave enough to face your addiction and share it with the world here on the Ice Cream Journal. You’re among friends, many of whom have the same thoughts and cravings that you do. I am one of those friends.

You’ll be happy to know that millions of people across the world have been diagnosed with what you describe. Doctors call it Obsessive Icecreamitis (also known as “the scoops”). Fortunately, there’s no known cure, but experts do recommend daily doses of vanilla, chocolate or other flavors of ice cream to curb the cravings. In extreme cases of Icecreamitis, as many as four scoops per day may be needed to satisfy the urge.

No one knows exactly why certain people develop Icecreamitis, though researchers have linked the affliction to repeated childhood interactions with ice cream trucks and giant, drippy ice cream cones at circuses, fairs and amusement parks. Other studies have found that the absence of these treats during a person’s younger years can also trigger Icecreamitis later in life.

My advice to you, Graeme, is to embrace your compulsions and feed your inner child whatever flavor of ice cream he desires. You should also seek the company of others with Icecreamitis (every flavor tastes a little better when shared with friends). You’ll find your peers in the usual places: the frozen foods aisle of your local grocery store, your neighborhood ice cream shop, chasing the ice cream truck (either on foot or by vehicle), or simply sitting on their porch on a warm day with a big bowl and a big smile.

Above all, you should be proud of your condition. Having Icecreamitis is a badge of honor that says, “I love the simpler things in life and I’m not afraid to admit it!” So get out there and have a scoop (or three) and remember: There’s never a bad time to enjoy ice cream.

Good luck,
Ernie

Who doesn’t love milkshakes? (We’re almost positive no one is raising their hand right now.) For the 100 percent of us who can’t turn down a good shake, here’s an easy recipe made with Raspberry Duetto.

INGREDIENTS:
3 scoops of Turkey Hill Raspberry Duetto
3/4 cup milk
3 fresh black raspberries
2 fresh red raspberries

DIRECTIONS:
Place three scoops of Raspberry Duetto into a blender.  Add milk and fresh black and red raspberries.  Blend together until smooth and creamy.  Serves one.

Last week we told you about the Turkey Hill Eagles Touchdown Sundae Eating Contest we’ll be co-sponsoring this year with Philly’s #1 sports radio station, 610 WIP. The first contest was held this past Sunday before the Eagles season opener and needless to say, it was a battle!

In the end, Matt Clement of Lafayette Hill, PA emerged as the winner by eating 36 ounces of Eagles Touchdown Sundae ice cream in just three minutes (that’s the champ on the right). For those keeping count, that’s over two pounds of ice cream, and he wasn’t even allowed to use his hands! Congratulations to Matt. For his effort, he won a poster and helmet autographed by Eagles star Brian Dawkins. He also advances to the final showdown on November 9, where the winner will receive a prize package that includes limousine transportation, hotel accommodations and two tickets to see the Eagles take on the Giants on December 7.

The next Turkey Hill Eagles Touchdown Sundae Eating Contest will take place on September 21 before the Eagles/Steelers game. If you think you’ve got what it takes to win, feel free to sign up on the WIP website. Good luck!

The photo above may look like three delicious soft serve vanilla ice cream cones, but the treats are actually cupcakes! Thanks to Glorious Treats for letting us use this very tempting photo. If you’re looking for a recipe to make these treats, check one out here. We can’t promise they’ll look as tempting as these, but they’ll probably taste just as good!

Many of you many know that that Turkey Hill’s Eagles Touchdown Sundae ice cream is the official ice cream of the Philadelphia Eagles football team. It’s a distinction we’re very proud of, which is why Turkey Hill has partnered with Philly’s #1 sports radio station, 610 WIP, to host this year’s Eagles Touchdown Sundae Eating Contest.

Long story short, if you love ice cream, love football and don’t mind being whisked around New York in a limousine, this contest is for you. Here’s how it will work:

The contest will feature four preliminary showdowns held at the WIP game day tent at the Wachovia Center before the first four Eagles home games of the season. In each contest, eight contestants will battle to see who can eat the most ice cream. But there’s a catch: They can’t use their hands (you didn’t think it would be easy, did you?). The winner will advance to the final eat-off on November 8 and will also receive a poster and helmet autographed by Eagles star Brian Dawkins.

On November 8, the four winners of the preliminary rounds will face off and the champion will receive two tickets to see the Eagles take on the Giants in New York as well as limo transportation and hotel accommodations!

We may be a little biased, but it’s a pretty sweet prize package. A lot of us around the office wish we were eligible, but we’re not, so it’s up to you to take a shot at it! The good news is, you don’t have to have Eagles tickets to compete. You just need to sign up on the WIP website (here) and show up at the booth on game day. We’ll keep you posted about the winners of each round and offer complete coverage of the championship round here on the Ice Cream Journal. Stay tuned and good luck!