Dirty Mint Ice Cream

I absolutely adore mint in everything from my salads to my cocktails to my desserts—but most especially my ice cream. Recently, I have observed that the mint-chocolate flavor combination is becoming increasingly overlooked in favor of things that are more inventive and current, like mascarpone and fig or honey and lavender ice cream flavors. But what flavor is as refreshing as mint? It stands alone. What food is as celebrated as chocolate? None. It is time to revive this classic and celebrate her contributions to our spoons and stomachs. I’m a proud member of the ice cream party and am voting Mint-Chocolate 2020!

Ingredients:

• 3 cups whole milk

• 3 cups heavy cream

• 2 teaspoons kosher salt

• 3/4 cup sugar

• 1/2 teaspoon mint extract

• 3-5 drops green food coloring, personal color preference

• 1 cup Oreos, crushed

• 2 tablespoons chocolate hard shell (optional)

Method:

1. Freeze ice cream maker bowl at 0 degrees for 24 hours.

2. In a large bowl combine, milk, sugar, and salt. Stir together until sugar and salt are dissolved.

3. Add in cream and mint extract and food coloring. Stir until incorporated.

4. Cover and chill for 2 hours, or if needing quicker, put in the freezer for 30 minutes.

5. Pull out mix and give it a final stir.

6. Pour into ice cream bowl and make according to your machine’s settings.

7. While that’s churning, count out 12 Oreos and put 10 into a plastic bag and smash into crumbs with a rolling pin. This should yield about 1 cup. Snack on the saved two while waiting for ice cream to finish; when you finish the package of Oreos without sharing, hide the evidence.

8. With 5 minutes left on the churn, add in crushed Oreos and drizzle in chocolate hard shell.

9. Once completed, put in a freezing container, and let harden for 3-4 hours or overnight.

10. Welcome to the Ice Cream Party! We are glad to have you!

Watermelon Crawl

Truth be told I pretty much avoid alcohol Monday through Friday unless I am celebrating a special occasion—even then I am a one drink with dinner kind of girl. But yesterday I got a hankering for the watermelon juice that I typically make myself in the summer afternoons (think of an agua fresca!) where you basically just blend watermelon and ice together (so refreshing and hydrating). As I started blending the watermelon though, the proverbial creative juices really started flowing and all of the country songs involving alcohol-soaked watermelons at church picnics started playing in my head: I decided this juice needed a kick and a twist! My husband, seeing me pouring out a shot of vodka, walked by the kitchen laughing and said, “Quarantine has changed you!” I told him to hold onto his socks, and into the blender went the vodka. Next, I decided on lime juice, simple syrup, and mint and blended it together. It smelled amazing! Then I shook it over ice, strained it, served him a tester of the concoction. One sip in he decided that he was on board with the cocktail train that was leaving the station. This cocktail is refreshing with a citrus and mint kick and while it does have vodka in it, it is very light and not boozy! See also: perfect for sipping on a sunny afternoon. Happy Friday!

Tip: Serve with a watermelon wedge and eat your booze-infused watermelon once you have finished the drink!

Ingredients:

• 1 1/2 cups watermelon juice

• 2oz vodka or tequila

• 1.5oz lime juice

• .5oz of simple syrup

• 2-3 mint leaves

Method:

1. In the jar of a blender combine, watermelon juice, your spirit of choice, lime juice, simple syrup, and mint leaves.

2. Blend until liquified.

3. Pour juice into cocktail shaker and fill shaker 1/2 way full of ice. Shake it for 10 seconds.

4. Fill a cocktail glass with ice and strain juice into glass. Serve with a watermelon wedge and a sprig of mint.

5. Enjoy!