Posts Tagged ‘chocolate’

THE GREAT CHOCOLATE VS. VANILLA DEBATE

Friday, July 2nd, 2010

Our first reader-written entry of National Ice Cream Month comes to us from Jacqueline S. from Fort Lee, NJ. In Jacqueline’s entry, she tackles the debate over which is better, chocolate or vanilla? Feel free to comment and weigh in your opinion!

A man and woman were having a heated discussion in front of the frozen foods section of our local supermarket. I listened with interest, as it concerned ice cream, and ice cream just happens to be my favorite dessert.

SHE: Turkey Hill is on sale today. Let’s buy some chocolate ice cream for dessert this evening.

HE: You know I prefer vanilla.

SHE: But honey, chocolate has such a sweet taste, smooth as silk texture, warm brown color, and an aromatically enticing smell. What could be better?

HE: I’ll tell you what could be better, vanilla. Talk about smooth taste! Vanilla has it all over chocolate. And what could be sweeter?

SHE: Dark and divine, chocolate makes me feel creative. I love the stimulation that chocolate provides. It’s even more vitalizing than the caffeine rush of coffee. Chocolate gives me energy. The caffeine in chocolate like that in coffee sharpens the brain, illuminating the thinking process. It is quite literally the food for thought.

HE: While you’re rhapsodizing over chocolate, let me point out that vanilla is the number one favorite ice cream flavor. A majority of people in the world realize that vanilla is best, why don’t you?

SHE: Chocolate is healthier than vanilla. Flavanols, a key ingredient of dark chocolate, boosts blood flow to key areas of the brain for two to three hours. And what delivers that amazing high you ask?

HE: Actually, I didn’t ask.

SHE: Well, you should ask. Chocolate is complex, containing tiny amounts of more than 300 chemicals besides caffeine.

Chocolate, long considered the food of love, has inspired many authors. For example, Joanne Harris in Chocolat and Laura Esquivel in Like Water for Chocolate both explored chocolate recipes for romance in their novels. Not to be outdone, mystery writers have also found inspiration in chocolate: for instance, Diane Mott Davidson’s Dying for Chocolate and Death by Chocolate: A Savannah Reid Mystery by G. A. McKevett.

HE: Show off!

SHE: (shrugging) I can’t help it if I read more than you do.

HE: Vanilla is still the best choice.

SHE: It’s too bland for me. Chocolate ice cream is divine food.

HE: It’s also devil’s food.

SHE: Chocolate not only stimulates the heart but protects it as well.

HE: Look, why don’t we compromise, since we can’t seem to agree.

SHE: What do you have in mind?

HE: We’ll buy chocolate ice cream for you and vanilla for me. That way, we’re both happy.

SHE: Great idea!

HE: Problem solved?

SHE: Definitely.

After the couple added their Turkey Hill ice cream packages to their shopping cart, they smiled at each other and walked away together.

I decided to follow their example. I picked up one container of Turkey Hill chocolate and another of vanilla before I drifted off to the checkout line.

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12 DAYS OF ICE CREAM (DAY 11) – CHOCOLATE OVERLOAD

Thursday, December 24th, 2009

WARNING: The following image may cause uncontrollable drooling and extreme hunger. Please view only if freezer is well stocked with ice cream.

icecreamcone

We warned you! Now you have to deal with the consequences of viewing such a delicious photo of chocolaty goodness. Okay, now here’s the bad news: The ice cream in this photo is fake. That’s right, fake. Turns out, “ice cream” used for photo shoots is often not really ice cream, but a concoction made to look like the real thing so it doesn’t melt under the hot lights of the studio.

We talked about it before on the Ice Cream Journal (here). Hopefully you have some real ice cream in the freezer though. And if you don’t, go get some to enjoy with family on this Christmas Eve!

TODAY’S PRIZE: On the 11th day of ice cream, my true love gave to me…a cute little monkey ornament made by emgrace on Etsy! Mr. Monkey looks like he can’t wait to dig into that ice cream cone — or share it with a friend. One comment chosen at random from all the comments left on this entry will get to monkey around with this guy.

12daysmonkey

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ULTIMATE HOLIDAY RECIPE CONTEST (FINALIST #1): DECADENT DUTCH CHOCOLATE PEANUT BUTTER ICE CREAM PIE

Monday, December 7th, 2009

The following recipe is the first of four finalists in our Ultimate Holiday Recipe Contest, which challenged Turkey Hill fans to submit recipes in one of two different categories: recipes using our seasonal Ginger Snap ice cream, or recipes using any other Turkey Hill ice cream flavor. Over the next four days we’ll feature two recipes from each category and everyone will be asked to vote for their favorite beginning on Friday. The winner will receive a one year’s supply of Turkey Hill Ice Cream, and the other three finalists will receive a one month supply of ice cream. Enjoy the recipes!

Our first finalist in the category of “Any Other Turkey Hill Ice Cream Flavor” comes from Patti W. of Flushing, Michigan. The name of the recipe is a mouthful, and for good reason… this creation is DELICIOUS! The best part is the ability to customize it by topping it with any chopped candy bar you’d like. When we made it, we used a Heath bar (there are a few toffee lovers here). If you like this recipe, stop by this Friday and throughout next week to vote for it!

Finalist 1 - Chocolate ice cream pie SMALL

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DECADENT DUTCH CHOCOLATE PEANUT BUTTER ICE CREAM PIE

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INGREDIENTS:

Crust
Ready made chocolate pie crust

Chocolate Layer
2/3 cup evaporated milk
1/2 cup semi sweet chocolate chips
1/3 cup sugar
1/4 cup butter

Ice cream layer
4 cups Turkey Hill Dutch Chocolate Ice Cream
1 cup crunchy peanut butter
1 chocolate candy bar(any kind) chopped

INSTRUCTIONS:

In a small saucepan combine evaporated milk, chocolate chips, sugar and butter. Cook over medium heat until just beginning to boil.  Reduce heat to low while simmering and stirring for 3 to 5 minutes or until thickened and smooth. Set chocolate mixture aside to cool.  With the back of a spoon, spread a thin layer over bottom of pie crust and 1/2 inch up the sides. Reserve remaining chocolate sauce for topping. Freeze crust for 30 minutes.  With mixer, or by hand, mix softened ice cream with peanut butter until combined. Spoon into frozen crust.  Top ice cream with reserved chocolate mixture, garnish with chopped candy bar and freeze for 5 hours until firm or overnight. To serve, remove from freezer 10 to 15 minutes before serving for easier slicing.

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P.S. – Thank you very  much to everyone who submitted recipes in this year’s contest. We received over 220 entries this year, easily outpacing last year’s total number of entries. There were so many great recipes to choose from, which made selecting just four extremely difficult. Needless to say, there was a lot of heated debate here at the Dairy about which ones should make the cut, but we finally came to a consensus. However, because there were so many great ones, we’re going to feature several “honorable mention” recipes (a dozen or more deserve that honor) over the first several months of the New Year.

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RECIPE CONTEST FINALIST #3: DREAMY CHOCOLATY EGGNOG PIE

Wednesday, December 10th, 2008

The following recipe is the third of four finalists in our Ultimate Holiday Recipe Contest, which challenged Turkey Hill fans to submit recipes using our two seasonal ice cream flavors, Peppermint Stick and Egg Nog. The other finalists will be posted on the Ice Cream Journal this week and voting for the winner will begin on Thursday, with the winner receiving a one year’s supply of Turkey Hill Ice Cream. The other three finalists will all receive a one month supply of ice cream. Congrats to them, and enjoy the recipes!

If you like chocolate, then you’ll love this old fashioned recipe with an egg nog twist. It was sent to us by Ronna F. of Rockville, MD. Like the Peppermint Stick cookies from yesterday, this one is also simple, but just as delicious. The warm, leftover chocolate pie filling makes an great topping for ice cream, which you can eat while you’re waiting for this masterpiece to cool!

INGREDIENTS

Filling:

3/4 cup semi-sweet chocolate chocolate chips
1/2 cup milk chocolate chips
2 3/4 cups Turkey Hill Eggnog Ice Cream, melted, divided
1/2 cup  granulated sugar
5 tablespoons cornstarch
2 eggs, beaten
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 – 9-inch frozen pie shell, baked according to package directions

Topping:

1 cup heavy cream
2 tablespoons powdered sugar
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract

DIRECTIONS

1. Place semi-sweet and milk chocolate chips  into a medium-sized heat-proof bowl.

2. Set aside 3/4 cup melted ice cream.

3. In small saucepan over low heat, heat remaining 2 cups melted ice cream until very hot, stirring occasionally. Remove from heat.

4. Stir hot ice cream into chocolate. Allow to stand for a minute, then stir or whisk gently until smooth. Set aside.

5. In a large saucepan, combine sugar and cornstarch; set aside.

6. Place eggs in small bowl; with fork, gradually beat in 3/4 cup remaining melted ice cream.

7. Pour egg mixture into sugar mixture in saucepan. With whisk, stir until combined, scraping pot sides and bottom with rubber spatula.

8. Stir until mixture comes to a boil. Boil and stir 1-1/2 minutes; remove from heat.

9. Immediately add melted chocolate mixture and vanilla. Gently stir until combined.

10. Pour into the cooled pie crust. Place a piece of plastic wrap over the pie, having it touch the filling so that a skin won’t form in the refrigerator; chill for at least 4 hours.

11. For whipped topping, in a medium mixing bowl, beat cream with powdered sugar and 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract until stiff.

12. Spread over chocolate cream pie. Garnish with chocolate shavings or mini semi-sweet chocolate chips, if desired. Store pie in refrigerator.

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A TASTE OF LANCASTER COUNTY: LITITZ

Wednesday, July 9th, 2008

Each Wednesday throughout National Ice Cream Month, we’ll take a closer look at a part of our home, Lancaster County. This week’s “Taste of Lancaster County” entry is about a small but lively little town called Lititz. Each Wednesday, we’ll also give away a Lancaster County prize to one commenter chosen at random. Good luck!

Lititz is a serene town nestled in the heart of Lancaster County farmland. Founded in 1756, Lititz is typical of many of the small, close-knit towns found throughout the County. Walking downtown, the smell of chocolate and fresh-baked pretzels lingers in the air. Visitors marvel about the small town, whether they’re feeding the ducks on the natural springs located in the center of town, shopping in the many local stores, or gazing at the 18th century buildings. 

The Wilbur Chocolate Factory is one of the main attractions in Lititz. (Thanks to Esywlkr over on Flickr for letting us use his Wilbur photo on the left.) The present company originated with Mr. Henry Oscar Wilbur, in Philadelphia, PA and the Kendig Chocolate Company, in Lititz, PA. Wilbur Chocolate Company is the product of over a century of making some of the finest chocolate around. People visit the plant and tour the museum located in the over 100-year-old factory, and each tour isn’t complete without a sample of the famous Wilbur Bud. Another delicious attraction in Lititz is the Sturgis Pretzel Factory, the oldest commercial pretzel bakery in the United States. The Sturgis Bakery has been making pretzels since 1850 and continues to make them to this day.

To celebrate Lititz and give you a taste of the best chocolate Lancaster County has to offer, this week’s prize will be a gift basket of Wilbur chocolates. If you can’t wait to try the treats for yourself, you can buy them on the Wilbur website. Enjoy!

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