no-bake desserts

guys, it's so hot here in Philly. ungodly-stupid-can't move-want-to-kill-someone hot. here's the proof:

102 degrees? for realz?

i don't know about you guys, but turning on the oven in this heat is just a silly idea. I don't care who wants a cupcake - not happening. but with the summer heat comes summer produce as well as a bundle of other goodies which are always more delicious from May-July (like ice cream. duh!)

if you're having guests this weekend or you're just hunkering down inside to avoid melting in the heat, try one of these delicious no bake desserts. so easy and you won't asphyxiate yourself by turning the oven on. HOORAY!

Shortcut Shortcake
Top a pre-made angel food cake or mini sponge cakes (you can find these pups by the produce) with a gaggle of your berry of choice. top with store-bought whipped cream or be brave and whip up some of your own with some heavy cream and sugar (me love this).

Waffle Ice Cream Sandwiches
Toast your favorite frozen waffle. Spread a little hot fudge or Nutella on the inside. Add your favorite softened ice cream and top with the other waffle.

Banana Split Ice Cream Pie
Start with store bought chocolate or graham crust. (don't hate on these Ready Crusts. They are amazing in the summer months.) Line the bottom of the crust with a layer of hot fudge. Refrigerate for 15-20 minutes or until the fudge has hardened a bit. Top the fudge layer with sliced bananas and stick it back in the fridge (or freezer) for another 10-15 minutes. Top with your favorite flavor of ice cream, softened. (i prefer breyer's vanilla bean for this) Top the ice cream with another drizzle of hot fudge and some chopped nuts. Add a few swirls of whipped cream, a cherry on top and serve.

whipped cream vodka 101

As a dessert blogger, I realize that I should probably be providing some recipes for the 4^th, chock full of raspberries, strawberries, blueberries, some sponge cake and a bucket of whipped cream. But I’m not going to do that. Here’s why:

1. It’s a holiday weekend and we should all be getting our drink on. Not our baking. It’s hot and ovens should stay off.
2. I’m going to give you some drink recipes using whipped cream vodka. So it’s a little festive, you know?

A little background…For my bridal shower, I received a bucket full of liquors and drink mixers from a new cousin. Basically, the best gift ever. However, a bottle of whipped cream vodka lies in the bucket still because I have no idea what to do with it. When cocktail time rolls around, I tend to stick to more basic drinks… a beer, vodka soda, maybe a dirty martini when I’m feeling frisky. But alas, the whipped cream vodka sits alone in the bucket and I’m on a mission to drink it down this weekend.

what to do with you, friend.....

With some help from the Pinnacle website, I’ve narrowed it down to a few winners. (because is there a better drink name than a “Woo Hoo”? I think not…)

Woo Hoo

2 oz. Pinnacle Whippted

4 oz. limeade

Mix in a glass filled with ice

and garnish with a lime wedge.

Cream Saver Cocktail

2 oz. Pinnacle Whipped

2 oz. pineapple juice

2 oz. orange juice

Mix in a glass filled with ice

and garnish with an orange wedge.

Cream Saver-tini

2 oz. Pinnacle Whipped

1 oz. pineapple juice

1 oz. orange juice

Shake over ice and strain into

a chilled martini glass. Garnish with

an orange slice and a cherry.

Light n’ Sweet

2 oz. Pinnacle Whipped

4 oz. club soda

Splash pineapple juice

Mix in a glass filled with ice

and garnish with an orange wedge.

Dallop Daiquiri

2 oz. Pinnacle Whipped

2 oz. half & half

4 strawberries

1 cup ice

Blend all ingredients until smooth.


.. remember to drink responsibily, party people. and..

HAPPY FOURTH! YAY AMERICA!

i kicked something off my bucket list

i have a lot of things on my bucket list. on our honeymoon, i kicked "seeing wild horses" off the list and 90% of the other items are related to places I'd like to visit (Alaska, Belize, Italy, etc.) and things I want to do (go on a safari, hold a koala, thru-hike the Appalachian Trail, see a whale...)

however, this weekend in Cape May, i kicked something else off my bucket list.

i visited an old-fashioned soda fountain.

I get that this could seem pretty boring and maybe a little weird... but soda fountains are so symbolic in American history and pretty rare to come across these days. Not just any soda fountain, either. a legit in a drug store (or woolworth) soda fountain with men in wedge caps, singing and tossing ice cream in the air. (alright, maybe not that far...)
...I also love ice cream and firmly believe that I should have grown up in the 1950's. So you could get why I reallllllyyy wanted to try and find one of these. 

and here's how it went down:
...walking down a street in Cape May with my hubs and my inlaws when I see an old five and dime with the words "SODA FOUNTAIN." (O M G)..I walk in and there it was; right next to the silly putty and penny candy... my soda fountain.



the picture is a little grainy, since I took this with my blackberry.
didn't know if these gentleman would have appreciated having a photo shoot with me.


I have no idea how long I was in there for, analyzing every last item on the menu. Dreaming about sitting at the counter and ordering an egg cream.. or a cherry bomb.. or a raspberry lime rickey. the options are endless and if "Let the Good Times Roll" would have been playing, I probably would have never left.  

...but Bill eventually was standing next to me (laughing, of course) and said "I figured I'd find you in here. Do you want to get a treat?" ..I stupidly declined, because we hadn't had lunch yet. clearly, i have priorities. so sadly.. we left. but I have big plans to return to Margie D's Soda Fountain. Or maybe I'll go here in the meantime. who knows? i do know this....an egg cream is most definitely in my near future.