Look for limited-edition holiday ice cream flavors at your favorite market or scoop shop. Egg Nog, Ginger, Gingerbread and Peppermint/Candy Cane/Peppermint Bark are ice cream flavors that we could enjoy all year.
A scoop with or without chocolate sauce is a holiday treat. But you can go one step further and make an easy holiday ice cream cake.
Here’s a recipe for a Chocolate-Candy Cane Ice Cream Cake from Dreyer’s—which has limited edition 1.5-quart containers of Egg Nog, Peppermint and Hot Cocoa With Marshmallows.
The flavors are part of the Slow Churned Rich & Creamy line, which has half the fat and one-third fewer calories than regular ice cream. The Hot Cocoa With Marshmallows is especially fun: The miniature marshmallows are soft and airy and fun to bite into.
RECIPE FOR CHOCOLATE-CANDY CANE ICE CREAM CAKEThe recipe specifies boxed cake mix and premade frosting as time-savers, but you can substitute your own from-scratch recipes.
Peppermint candies or candy canes to crush as garnish
Preparation:
1. Bake two nine-inch layers according to the package directions and cool completely.
2. Remove cake from pans. Using a serrated knife, cut the rounded top off one of the cakes to make one flat, even layer. Wrap and freeze the second cake for later use.
3. Remove ice cream from the freezer and let sit for 5-10 minutes to soften. While it softens, wash one of the cake pans and dry completely. Line the pan with plastic wrap.
4. Carefully spread the ice cream in the pan using the entire container. Freeze for 1 hour or until very firm.
5. Remove the ice cream pan from freezer. Spread the chocolate frosting over the ice cream and place the trimmed cake on top of the frosting. Cover tightly with plastic wrap and freeze overnight.
6. To serve, take the cake out of the freezer and let sit for about 5 minutes. Unwrap cake and invert onto a serving plate. Remove plastic wrap from the ice cream. Sprinkle crumbled pieces of peppermint candies over top of cake. Cut into slices and serve.
You may not have room (or the energy for) a six-foot Christmas tree.
But there’s no significant space or energy requirement for a miniature topiary Christmas tree. It can sit on the dining table, your bedroom or anywhere else an 18-inch tree can perch.
A topiary is a plant pruned and trimmed into a special shape—geometric, animal or other fanciful design.
Large topiary plants date to Roman times. Topiary underwent a renaissance in the late 1500s in Europe, decorating the gardens of the European elite.
Miniature topiaries were created for indoor enjoyment.
Each holiday season we purchase a rosemary topiary tree or two. We look for one 12 inches or shorter for the dining table and a bit taller as a coffee table centerpiece.
We love the heady aroma of the fresh herb. When we pass by we run our hands over the tree and inhale the rosemary perfume on our palms.
A rosemary topiary tree is more than a holiday/winter home decoration: It’s a supply of fresh rosemary for cooking and garnishing throughout the year. You can keep it indoors or plant it in your garden when the weather turns warm.
You can eat this rosemary topiary Christmas tree. Photo courtesy ProFlowers.com.
Is there anything cuter? Photo of
Brownie Pops courtesy MackenzieLtd.com.
What’s more fun than a brownie on a stick? A Nibble Top Pick Of The Week, these whimsical and delicious treats will delight sweet tooths of all ages.
Fudgy brownies are hand-dipped in chocolate and decorated with the smiling faces of Frosty, Rudolph and Santa. The box contains two pieces of each character.
While the Holiday Brownie Pops are pricey due to the elaborate hand-decorating (6 Pops $39.95, 12 Pops $69.95), you can also buy round brownie pops for $24.95 per set of 6.
One reader will be the envy of gourmet friends if he or she wins this elegant prize from House of Balsamic.
The balsamic jellies from House Of Balsamic are quite delicate. This week’s winner will receive three jellies:
Fragolina, an ideal topping for fresh cheeses, crackers or fresh fruit
Prelibato, delicious paired with hard and salty cheeses
Saporina, perfect for breads, cheeses, fruits and meats; as a spread on hors d’oeuvres, tea sandwiches, even for morning toast
Retail value: $43.50.
To see all of the delicious gourmet products from House Of Balsamic, visit HouseOfBalsamic.com.
To Enter This Gourmet Giveaway: Go to the box at the bottom of our Jams, Jellies, Preserves & Peanut Butter Page and click to enter your email address for the prize drawing. This contest closes on Monday, December 13th at noon, Eastern Time. Good luck!
These sweet spreads are delicious with
cheese. Photo by Katharine Pollak | THE NIBBLE.
December 6, 2010 at 4:04 pm
· Filed under Chocolate
Nibble on delicious candies from See’s.
Photo courtesy See’s Candies.
Twenty lucky winners will enjoy sweet dreams with gift certificates from See’s Candies, one of America’s most beloved brands.
Choose from 100 types of candy: boxed chocolates, fudge, truffles, nut clusters and mints are just a few. See’s also makes some of our favorite sugar-free chocolates and brittle.
You can also use the gift certificate to send candy to your Valentine. Certificates can be redeemed in See’s stores or online.
Retail Value: $25.00
To start dreaming of what you’d buy if you’re a winner, visit Sees.com.
To Enter This Gourmet Giveaway: Go to the box at the bottom of our Gourmet Chocolate Gifts and click to enter your email address for the prize drawing. This contest closes on Monday, December 13th at noon, Eastern Time. Good luck!
