Satan Called…
…And He Wants His Weather Back!
What in holy hell is going on? I returned to the UK with a case crammed with obligatory summer jumpers and rain protection, only to be greeted by something rather welcome and extremely hot – no, not the team members of the Icelandic World Cup Football Team – but the sun!!!
The weather is hot, hot, hot and with the heat showing no signs of relenting, today I’m sharing my Five Favourite Foodie Ways To Keep Cool and not fry during the heatwave…
1. Homemade Ice Pops
I don’t know what it is, but there is something really satisfying about freezing your own ice pops. I remember how much fun we used to have making them as children, thinking that we were actually “cooking”.
Making popsicles at home is not only more economical, but also means that you know exactly what you’re putting into your mouth. You can control the amount of sugar that you put in them and avoid the nasty additives and preservatives that are sneaked into ready made versions.
Freeze freshly blended fruit smoothies, yoghurts and fruit juices for a cool, refreshing and healthy pop. You can even freeze them in bright and colourful layers by using different fruits and food colours. I like to take a trip back to my childhood and make Copycat Rocket Ice Pops using these Classic Ice Pop Moulds.
2. Frozen Cocktails
Reminiscing back to my childhood – yes, I can remember back THAT far! – there was nothing like a trip to the local 7/11 for an ice cold Blue Raspberry Slush Puppy. Wasn’t it always the worst feeling when you got to the ice remnants at the bottom of the cup only to find out you had sucked out all the flavour?!
You’re never too old to cool down with a slushy, but why stick to innocent ones? I can never say “no” to a frozen margarita on a hot summers’ afternoon, evening, or dare I say, morning? Well if you can have a mimosa for brunch, why not a frozen cocktail? Go on be a devil, I promise I won’t tell!
Try this Frozen Strawberry Margarita recipe it’s to die for!
3. Ice Cream Sandwiches
Do you remember the ice cream filled wafer clamshells you used to get from the ice cream man as a child? Apart from the fact that most of the ice cream usually ended up on my face, hands, dripping down my arms, in fact, anywhere BUT inside my mouth, I loved ice cream clamshells. Imagine the added fun I could have had with an Ice Cream Sandwich!
An Ice Cream Sandwich is one step beyond those childhood clamshells. Trade one measly ocean-themed wafer for two delicious cookies? Hell yeah! Sandwiching a block of cold and creamy ice cream between two cookies is pure ice cream genius!
My Peanut Butter Ice Cream Sandwich Recipe is perfect for any fellow peanut butter lovers out there. It sandwiches delicious No Churn Peanut Butter Explosion Ice Cream in between two Peanut Butter Cookies – peanut butter heaven XXXL!
If Peanut Butter isn’t your thang – I guess there may be one or two of you out there?! – why not try one of these delicious ice cream recipes (all are no-churn so do not require an ice cream maker) and sandwich between your cookie of choice.
I also love to pimp up my ice cream sandwiches by using shaped cookie cutters. I love these Sugar Skull Cookie Cutters that can not only be used to make skull shaped cookies and ice cream layers, but also stamp detailed designs into the biscuits – no skill required!
4. Sub-Tropical Chilled Cocktails
There is no better feeling in the world than being on holiday, laying on a sun lounger beside the pool with a good book in one hand and a fancy cocktail in the other.
Recreate that holiday feeling by making tropical cocktails at home that have all the flair and finesse of your poolside cocktail. Add fun flamingo-shaped cocktail stirrers and colorful cocktail umbrellas, then slather yourself in some coconut scented body lotion and play Wham’s “Club Tropicana” on full volume. My Watermelon Pina Colada makes for the perfect pairing!
But if the reading, dancing and lip syncing are distracting you from your cocktail, you’ll want it to stay chilled for longer. My biggest and best tip for this, is to go large with your cocktail ice. The larger the ice cube the longer it takes to melt, which means that not only does it keep your drink cool for more than just one “poolside performance” of George, but it won’t dilute and make your drink all watery. Try these jumbo sized ice moulds for size.
As the old saying goes, size isn’t all that matters – apart from when it concerns your choice of cocktail glass of course! Go for bartender quality ice spheres, crystal clear cubes, or freeze coconut milk or fruit juices for colorful ice features.
You don’t need to to have a full bartenders kit to make a good cocktail. All you need is this handy two-in-one cocktail tool that works with any cocktail shaker or jug. Use it to squeeze lemon or limes directly into the shaker, then remove the juicing attachment and strain any herbs and other remnants out of the drink when pouring into your glass – so pour your heart out!
5. Ice Cream Cake
Cake + Ice Cream = Happiness²
Ice Cream Cake is yet another phenomenon that I had never experienced before visiting the USA. There are many things I cannot fathom in life and the reason why ice cream cake isn’t more common in the UK is one of them.
Ice cream cake is a wonderful layered deliciousness of ice cream, cake, ice cream, cake, ice cream, cake – and as if that isn’t enough – some whipped cream frosting for good measure!
Try this Fruity Pebble Ice Cream Cake (Credit: Beyond Frosting) layers delicious Fruity Pebble Cake with a no-churn Fruity Pebble Ice Cream and whipped cream frosting.
You can buy many of the items featured in this post from our online shop on Amazon in the UK and Europe.
Arugula & Rocket 