Welcome to Day 4 of Ice Cream Week 2014! This year the event is hosted by Kim ofCravings of a Lunatic and Susan of The Girl in the Little Red Kitchen. We have teamed up with 25 amazing bloggers to make satisfy all your Ice Cream Cravings!
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FULL DISCLOSURE SITUATION: I watched all 8 seasons of Desperate Housewives last year. Back to back. I watched NOTHING but Desperate Housewives. For WEEKS.
What can I say? There was a lot going on in my life, lots happening in my brains – And I needed a mindless show. Otherwise I would have lost my mind. I know… Weird.
Honestly, I hit play with an eye roll as I intended to watch only a few episodes – but got totally immersed in the show, in the characters each of these women portrayed. I began to see facets my personality in each and every single one. If I lived in Wisteria Lane I would be like, desperate Sybil or something – Baking muffins like Bree, tripping over the tray like Susan, while sharp mouthing it like Lynette in a pair of Gabrielle coveted Jimmy Choos.
When I finished watching all 8 seasons I was fully convinced I wanted to live in Wisteria lane and eat Chardonnay floats for the rest of my life. I didn’t. There is no such thing as Wisteria Lane. But I wanted to live there. I even convinced Mr. M.O.B. to plant wisteria. He didn’t. It’s not a weather feasible situation in NYC.
Damn it – I don’t even drink Chardonnay. I’m not a wine drinker, actually. It’s not that I don’t like wine, I do – It’s just – And flame me if you want, but I find some wine drinkers sort of pretentious. It’s booze. From grapes. Stop the insanity – It’s not that serious. Holding a wine glass and looking down at us rum drinking folk does not automatically make you classy – Nor does it make you an instant sommelier. It makes you a wino know-it-all.
Ah, there’s the Lynette personality. It’s the one I like best. Let’s talk about this strawberry vodka ice cream float.
Flow with me…
I infused vodka. With strawberries.
BOOM.
And if you follow me on The Facebook, I asked my followers to infuse vodka with me – For the purpose of making a booze float – ‘cause it’s still summer, and I’m boozing like a mofo. I planned to make this a mojito float, but nah – We’re making strawberries shine here; kicking doors, smashing windows – Highlighting strawberries till it’s time to showcase apples and cinnamon.
Strawberry simple syrup situation. Make that happen.
Macerated strawberries. Do it.
Build yourself a float, homies.
Place macerated strawberries and syrup in a glass.
Add your newly infused vodka. Pour as much as you can tolerate. Half a glass is your tolerance situation? I’m not judging you. Go.For.Yours.
A few ice cream scoops.
And a float ain’t a float without seltzer.
Go deep. Make it count.
Repeat.
Repeat.
Repeat.
Strawberry Vodka Float #IceCreamWeek
By Miss Bosslady,
08/21/2014
Ingredients:
For the strawberry infused vodka
1 lb of fresh, ripe strawberries -
750 ml bottle of vodka (decently priced bottle) -
One 1-Quart jar or any 1-Quart container with a tight fitting lid -
For the macerated strawberries
10-12 strawberries, sliced in half or quarters -
3 tablespoons granulated sugar -
1/4 teaspoon vanilla bean paste (optional) -
For the strawberry syrup
3 cups fresh strawberries -
1 cup of cold water -
1 cup of granulated sugar -
Splash of vanilla extract -
For the strawberry vodka float
1-2 tablespoons strawberry syrup (or as much as you want) -
2 heaping tablespoons macerated strawberries -
2-3 ounces strawberry infused vodka (more if you want a real boozy situation) -
Few scoops of vanilla ice cream -
Seltzer water -
Strawberries for garnish -
Instructions:
Infuse the vodka (about 3-4 days in advance of your float)
Hull and slice the strawberries. Place strawberries in the jar and pour enough vodka to cover the strawberries.
Seal with a tight fitting lid and store the jar in a cool dark place for 5 days and up to a week, giving it a daily dose of agitation (shake it, baby). Strain the mixture over a strainer lined with a coffee filter or cheesecloth taking care to squeeze the strawberries to extract all the liquor. Pour into 2 one cup jars and cover with a lid. Makes about 2 cups of strawberry flavored vodka.
Macerate your strawberries:
Place the strawberries in a small bowl and sprinkle the sugar on top. Add the vanilla bean paste (if using) and stir until combined. Stir the strawberries occasionally until the berries are juicy, 30 minutes to 1 hour.
Make the strawberry syrup:
Combine the strawberries, water, sugar, and vanilla extract in a small pot. Bring to a boil over high heat. Lower the heat and simmer until the sugar is completely dissolved and the strawberries have and softened, about 15 minutes. Remove from heat and strain the mixture, pressing on the solids to extract as much liquid as possible. Discard the solids or save them for another use. Syrup will keep in the refrigerator for about a month and can be used for sodas and other boozy drink situations.
Build your float:
To an 8 ounce glass add the strawberry syrup, followed by 1 tablespoon of macerated strawberries. Add your strawberry vodka and stir to combine. Add a couple of scoops of ice cream, followed by the remaining macerated berries. Top with seltzer and another scoop of ice cream, if desired.Garnish with strawberries if you want your jam to look pretty.
Vodka, macerated strawberries, and syrup makes at least 4 floats.
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Be sure to stop by all of today’s Ice Cream Week Participants:
Cherry Cola Float by Cravings of a Lunatic
Maple Bacon Bourbon Brown Sugar Ice Cream Sandwiches by The Girl in the Little Red Kitchen
Coffee and Donuts Ice Cream Sandwiches by The Redhead Baker
Chocolate with Buttercream Icing Ice Cream by Cookistry
Dulce de Leche and Pecan Sundae by My Catholic Kitchen
Banana Split Finger Sandwiches by The Life and Loves of Grumpy’s Honeybunch
Strawberries and Cream Ice Cream by Hezzi-D’s Books and Cooks
Cinnamon Chunk Ice Cream by Farm Fresh Feasts
Chocolate Mint Frappe by Noshing with the Nolands
Gluten Free Lemon Mint Frozen Custard by Gluten Free Crumbley
Oreo Ice Cream by That Skinny Chick Can Bake
Peach Pie Milkshake by The Messy Baker
Coconut Cream Fudge Bars by Quarter Life (Crisis) Cuisine
Flourless Chocolate Almond Coconut Ice Cream Sandwiches by Cupcakes & Kale Chips
How to Make an Old-Fashioned Ice Cream Soda by Mother Would Know
No Churn Low Carb Mint Ice Cream by Yours and Mine are Ours
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Our sponsors for the event have provided us with some great prizes. A huge thanks to Cake Boss, Anolon, Microplane, WÜSTHOF, Page Street Publishing andQuarry Spoon. Kim of Cravings of a Lunatic and Susan of The Girl in the Little Red Kitchen have tossed in a bonus prize of a Cuisinart Ice Cream Maker because they think everyone should own one!
Here’s what is up for grabs, One Winner Takes All:
1 Cuisinart Ice Cream Machine in White
One Cake Boss Mechanical Ice Cream Scoop with Red Silicone grips
One Cake Boss 4Pc Ice Cream Bowl Set, Icing Pattern
One Anolon Advanced Bronze 2 Qt Covered Straining Saucepan with Pour Spout
One Microplane Herb and Salad Chopper
One Microplane Premium Classic Grater in White
One WUSTHOF CLASSIC 9-inch Double Serrated Bread Knife
One Copy of the Cookbook Making Artisan Gelato by Torrance Kopfer
One Copy of the Cookbook Everything Goes with Ice Cream by Koralee Teichroeb
One Copy of the Cookbook Vegan Scoop by Wheeler del Torro
One Copy of the Cookbook The Great Vegan Bean Book by Kathy Hester
One Copy of the Cookbook Eat More Dessert by Jenny Kellar
One Copy of the Cookbook The Perfect Scoop by David Lebovitz
One Copy of the Cookbook Scoop Adventures by Lindsay Clendaniel
a Rafflecopter giveaway
The Ice Cream Week Giveaway is open to U.S. and Canada. It closes at midnight on 31st. It’s ONE WINNER TAKES ALL!