National Ice Cream Pie Day: Banana & Toffee Ice Cream Pie

August18

Yippee! Today’s National Ice Cream Pie Day!

Banana and Toffee Ice Cream Pie-Mama's High Strung

This is a serious holiday, folks, so before we move forward, here’s a little ice cream info you should have in your foodie-knowledge arsenal from the Ice Cream History website:

1. In 1851, the industrial production of ice cream began in Boston, Massachusetts.

2. The average American consumes almost 50 pints of ice cream in a year.

3. Vanilla is the most popular flavor of ice cream, followed by chocolate and strawberry.

4. More ice cream is sold on Sunday than any other day of the week.

5. It takes 12 gallons of milk to make 1 gallon of ice cream.

Now, back to the party.

I love the banana ice cream recipe in Jeni Britton Bauer’s cookbook “Jeni’s Splendid Ice Creams at Home.” I changed it a bit and added an extra banana for more flavor-wow and threw in some chopped English toffee for a bit of a crunch. You will need an ice cream maker for this recipe.

Wilton’s Mini Pie Pan is absolutely perfect for making individual pie servings. I used my favorite vodka piecrust recipe, but you can use Pillsbury Ready-to-Bake Piecrust sheets to make it easier.

A lot of effort, I know. But this day only comes once a year… so give it all you’ve got!

Like this? Try this: Easy Ice Cream Peach Pie 


Gadget Tree: Rolling Dough Docker

December2

Lee asks: I got this at a Secret Santa exchange, but have no idea what it is!

 Rolling Dough Docker

You were gifted, Lee, with a “rolling dough docker,” a very common baking tool that’s like a rolling pin…but, in this case, with spikes. The process of “docking” makes dozens of little holes in the dough you’re working with, which allows steam to escape while baking.

The rolling dough docker is used on flatbreads, pizza dough, pie crusts (when blind baking) and pastry dough to keep the dough from bubbling up unevenly. That way your dough is flaky, crisp and flat, which is important if you’re topping or filling the baked dough with something.

Your rolling docker, also called a pastry pricker, is made of stainless steel and plastic, so it’s probably dishwasher safe.

A rolling dough docker is a kitchen gadget that’s great to have if you bake a lot… but a fork usually can get the job done just as well!

 

Gadget Tree: The Pie Weight Disc

November25

Here’s a great gift or stocking stuffer for the pie-maker on your list: The Pie Weight Disc. 

Pie Weight Disc from Williams-Sonoma

Pie Weight Disc from Williams-Sonoma

Some pies call for “blind baking” the crust before filling it with deliciousness. When you blind bake an unfilled piecrust, you need pie weights to make sure the crust keeps its beautiful pie shape and doesn’t rise and shrink while baking.

Ah, pie weights. What a pain. They can be stainless steel beads on a chain, loose ceramic beads or even rice and beans piled in the middle. Sounds like a hassle, doesn’t it?

Trust me…it really is.

The Pie Weight Disc from Williams-Sonoma takes care of that. The daisy-shaped gadget has silicone petals and a silicone handle and a perforated steel center to let moisture escape so you don’t wind up with a soggy crust. It fits a 9-to-11-inch pie pan.

Best part: It’s dishwasher safe.

So, that takes care of one gift on your list…right??? Get that shopping done early this year!

 

posted under Gadget Tree | 5 Comments »

Hi…
I’m Christina Chavez

I was a TV journalist for many years, but with a house full of kids I decided to come off the road, go to culinary school and follow my passion for cooking. Mama’s High Strung is all about food… everything from creative recipe ideas to some really cool kitchen gadgets and cooking tips. I live in Chicago, but I love to travel and write about my food discoveries! You can reach me by email: mamashighstrung@gmail.com