A Caprese salad, made with cherry tomatoes
and bocconcini.* Photo courtesy Inspire,
Design and Create. Here’s the recipe.

12 WAYS TO USE MARTINI GLASSES—BEYOND DRINKS

If you don’t like fennel, substitute ingredients you do like in the recipe below, from EatWisconsinCheese.com. Also take a look at this Dirty Martini Salad—simple greens with olives and an olive dressing (the dressing has chopped olives, vodka and olive oil).

Ingredients For 4 Servings

1. WASH and thoroughly dry the fennel, celery and romaine. Cut the fennel into thin slices, about 2 cups. Cut the celery into julienne strips, about 1/2 cup. Reserve four well-shaped romaine leaves for garnish; then cut the remaining romaine into julienne strips, about 3 cups. Cut the mozzarella into thin strips. Place all into a large mixing bowl.

2. PUT the olive oil, lemon juice, mascarpone, mustard, salt and pepper in a blender container. Blend until thick and smooth, about 5 seconds. Pour over the salad; toss to coat. Divide the salad, arranging on serving plates, using the reserved lettuce leaves for garnish.

 
*Bocconcini are bite-size fresh mozzarella balls. You can substitute ciliegine (cherry size) or perlini (pearl size) if you can’t find bocconcini. Here’s a recipe that adds bowtie pasta for a Caprese pasta salad.
  

While we can’t keep on top of it all, here are recent updates to some of our favorite products.

ANGRY ORCHARD CIDER’S SUMMER HONEY

There are seasonal ciders, just as there are seasonal beers. Angry Orchard’s Summer Honey is a perfect poolside drink—or it would be, if we had a pool. Instead, we’re enjoying it in the great air-conditioned indoors.

Here’s our original review of Angry Orchard Cider. The company website is AngryOrchard.com.
 
APPLEGATE NATURAL UNCURED BEEF HOT DOGS
NOW GRASS FED

Ever since we published our review of the best organic hot dogs, Applegate has become our brand of choice.

Now, the beef is 100% grass fed, something of interest to healthier eaters. Compared with other types of beef, grass-fed beef typically has:

 
Learn more at Applegate.com.
BELVITA BREAKFAST BISCUITS IN CRANBERRY ORANGE

Since their launch by Nabisco in 2012, belVita has been a favorite breakfast and snack item at our office and a Top Pick Of The Week. We prefer the original crunchy biscuits to the subsequent Soft Baked and Biscuit Bites variations.

Recently, Cranberry Orange was added to belVita’s crunchy flavors. Along with Blueberry and Chocolate, it’s a favorite. The line is certified kosher (dairy) by OU. Discover more at BelvitaBreakfast.com.
 
HALFPOPS

Halfpops, a NIBBLE Top Pick Of The Week, has added two new flavors to originals Butter & Sea Salt and Aged White Cheddar.

The newcomers, Caramel & Sea Salt and Chipotle Barbeque, are equally delicious. The line is certified kosher (dairy) by OU, and certified gluten free. Find the retailer nearest you at Halfpops.com.

Nonni’s Thin Addictives, a lower-calorie alternative to biscotti, has released Mango Coconut Almond Thins.

It joins Banana Dark Chocolate, Blueberry Oat Almond, Cinnamon Raisin, Cranberry Almond and Pistachio as a crunchy side to coffee and tea.

The line is certified kosher (parve) by MK, a Montreal certifier (the product is made in Canada). Discover more at Nonnis.com.
 

PRETZEL CRISPS, GLUTEN-FREE

Flat, crunchy Pretzel Crisps are another favorite snack. We used the Dark Chocolate & Peppermint and White Chocolate & Peppermint flavors as stocking stuffers last December, and extolled the Sriracha & Lime flavor more recently.

Now, there are four gluten-free varieties that taste just as good as the conventional versions: Gluten Free Original Minis, Gluten Free Dark Chocolate Flavored Crunch Minis, Gluten Free Salted Caramel Minis and Gluten Free Vanilla Yogurt Flavored Crunch Minis.

From Deli Style to Minis to Modern Classics to Everyday Indulgents and Holiday Indulgents, there are quite a selection of Pretzel Crisps. See the whole line at PretzelCrisps.com. The line is certified kosher (dairy) by OU.

Chipotle Barbeque joins Caramel & Sea Salt in the Halfpops line. Photo courtesy Halfpops.

Quaker has introduced new Quick 3-Minute Steel Cut Oats, which delivers the same hearty texture and nutty taste that has made steel cut oats our favorite—but with a far more convenient cook time.

Available in plain oats in canisters, and flavored individual pouches: 3-Minute Blueberries & Cranberries and Cinnamon and Sugar. Discover more at QuakerOats.com.
 
SAMUEL ADAMS SUMMER BEERS

Some people like a lighter brew for the hot weather, and Samuel Adams offers a good selection. Two new lighter brews for summer refreshment include Downtime Pilsner, a “laid-back” golden pilsner, and Rebel Rider IPA, a hoppy West Coast-style IPA with a lighter body. These new brews are joined by traditional summer favorites, Boston Lager, Porch Rocker and Summer Ale.

Also new, from the Small Batch Collection, is Honey Queen, a blend of mead and beer. Dating back to the 12th century, this combination is known as a braggot—a new word for our Beer Glossary. It’s brewed with three different honeys, complex hops and chamomile for a tart sweetness with a lovely honey finish.

Learn more at SamuelAdams.com.

Many of the ice creams we eat contain that many calories in 1/4 cup! Otherwise stated, this ice cream has one-quarter the calories of premium brands.

Yes, this is great ice cream for people who like to consume it by the pint.

Halo Top was developed by an attorney who felt guilty about his ice cream habit. The lower-calorie ice ceams on the market had artificial ingredients he wanted to avoid. So he took a year and a half to develop a brand that met his criteria: all-natural, non-GMO, hormone-free milk and cream, greatly reduced calories and greatly increased protein (a major “guilt-free” factor).

Equally noteworthy is the taste: Made with top-shelf ingredients like Belgian chocolate, organic fruits, organic cane sugar, cage-free eggs and hormone-free milk and cream, these are lovely pints!
 
HALO TOP ICE CREAM FLAVORS

The line currently includes:

 
*This flavor has 280 calories per pint. Flavors without an asterisk have 240 calories.

CLEVER INGREDIENTS

The calories are reduced by substituting part of the sugar for non-caloric stevia and erythritol, both natural ingredients. The extra protein comes from milk protein concentrate and prebiotic fiber.

It’s an inspired approach, a boon to ice cream fans who eat too much of it and would like to cut back somehow.

This is how. We affirm that the ice cream deserves its halo—represented by a gold circle on the rim of the pint.

The line is certified kosher by KOF-K and certified gluten free.

Discover more at HaloTop.com, including a store locator.

Those who buy cones at a scoop shops know the joy of selecting toppings (and chagrin that you want more than will fit on a scoop of ice cream). Why not port the practice to your home?

You don’t even have to buy sprinkles. Use what you have at home:

 
The finishing touch: whipped cream. You can buy Reddi-Whip in vanilla or chocolate flavors; or if you have a cream whipper, make a gourmet flavor.

 
It takes only a minute to change a perfectly yummy ice cream cone into something wonderful.
 
  

Yesterday, we explored the history and glories of icebox cake. Today we present the icebox pie

Unlike yesterday’s recipe, this one does require a bit of baking—just 10 to 15 minutes in the oven. You make the filling while the crust bakes. Then, into the fridge it goes, to chill and set the filling.

This recipe has a white chocolate and cream cheese filling swirled with fresh raspberries with a buttery crust made from vanilla wafers. vanilla wafer crust. It’s cool and creamy and sweet and refreshing. Just the thing to satisfy your summertime sweet tooth!

This Raspberry White Chocolate Icebox Pie was developed by Jennifer McHenry of Bake Or Break, and sent to us by GoBoldWithButter.com.

Prep time is 25 minutes, cook time (for the crust) is 15 minutes.
 
 
RECIPE: WHITE CHOCOLATE ICE BOX PIE

Ingredients For A 9-Inch Pie

 
Preparation

1. PREHEAT oven to 350°F. Lightly butter 9-inch tart or pie pan.

2. COMBINE the crushed vanilla wafers and butter until thoroughly mixed. Press mixture firmly and evenly into the bottom and up the sides of the prepared pan. Bake 12 to 15 minutes, or until crust is lightly browned and dry. Set the crust aside to cool.

3. PLACE the white chocolate in a microwave-safe bowl. Heat at half-power in the microwave in 30-second increments, until the chocolate melts when stirred. Set aside to cool.

4. BEAT the cooled chocolate, cream cheese, sugar, and vanilla with an electric mixer on medium speed, until smooth and creamy.

5. PLACE the heavy cream in a large, chilled mixing bowl. Using an electric mixer with a whisk attachment, beat at medium-high speed until soft peaks form. Gently fold the whipped cream into the white chocolate mixture. Transfer the mixture to the cooled pie crust and spread evenly.

6. PLACE the raspberries in a blender or food processor and process until puréed. Use a small spoon to drop the raspberries over the top of the pie filling. Use a thin knife to swirl the raspberries into the filling.

7. REFRIGERATE the pie for at least 2 hours before serving.
 
 
> The history of ice box cake/pie.
 
 
> The history of white chocolate.
 
 
> The history of raspberries.

[1] White chocolate with raspberries icebox pie (photo © Bake Or Break | Go Bold With Butter).

[2] Fresh raspberries (photo © Good Eggs).

[3] Our favorite affordable white chocolate is Lindt, widely available in the U.S., MSRP $3.99 for a 4.4-ounce bar. For pricier gourmet brands, here’s our article on the best white chocolate bars.

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