"It's amazing how quickly you recover from misery
when someone offers you ice cream."
- Neil Simon, Brighton Beach Memoirs

Ice Cream Socials can be the sole reason for a summer gathering, or just a fun way to serve dessert! I have several theme ideas below, as well as hints and tips for a successful ice cream social!

A "sundae bar" allows everyone to create their own ice cream treats. Besides sundaes, you can also serve root beer floats, ice cream sandwiches, ice cream cones, fruit smoothies or milkshakes.

Setting up an ice cream sundae bar requires many bowls and spoons. Use a variety of colors or colors matching the theme of your party. Plus you need coordinating sundae bowls, spoons and extra napkins!
You will want to supply a large selection of different toppings and mix-ins. Use crock-pot slow cookers or fondue pots to keep Hot Fudge & Caramel Sauce warm. Plan on using a plastic tablecloth, as these buffets tend to get messy!

1890's - Gay 90's - Gibson Girl
Ice Cream Social

Using casual victorian decor, with plenty of florals and white wrought iron.

Hire a barbershop quartet, or a piano player, and make sure any men hosting the party are wearing vests , mustaches, straw hats, and arm garters.

Stick to olde-fashion ice creams and toppings, such as home made vanilla bean ice cream and simple toppings such as caramel sauce and chopped nuts.

Personalized Parasols are a fun activity, let everyone paint on each parasol with tubed fabric paints and the ladies will love taking them home. Make a sample beforehand, with simple floral designs.

Use coca-cola shaped drinking glasses, or Sundae or Soda Tulip Sundae Glasses

Rent or buy an 1890's style popcorn maker, for a salty alternative snack.

Victorian Ice Cream Social:
Setting up the Ice Cream Bar & lovely decorating ideas

Wrap ice cream cones in paper doilies with ribbon. Royal Paper Products Lace Paper Doilies 4 in. white pack of 36

I have created an entire page with
Victorian theme party ideas, click here!

1950's Sock Hop - "Soda Shop"

Rent or buy a jukebox, filled with fun dance music from the 50's... Set up a black & white checkered dance floor, dress the part with a 50's poodle skirt .

Set up a soda fountain with tall glasses and straws.
Be ready with root beer and simple soda for floats.
Get out the blender for shakes and malts.

Sundae/Soda Glasses

Hamilton Beach DrinkMaster Classic Drink Mixer- Black Chrome Enjoy thick shakes & soda fountain drinks at home 28 ounce stainless steel mixing cup Two speeds Tiltable mixing head Easy-clean detachable spindle Hamilton Beach DrinkMaster Classic Drink Mixer- Black Chrome

Recreate the look of an old fashioned diner with these nostalgic looking sundae dishes. Made of stainless steel with a lustrous, mirror finish, they are great for serving your favorite desserts - from ice creams to puddings!

This tabletop system is a reproduction of a classic 1950s diner jukebox, and plays CDs and MP3-CDs. Classic Diner CD Jukebox The classic Wurlitzer replica jukebox is updated to play CDs. Features a 100-CD changer and comes stocked with 50 Billboard CDs to mix with your own. Wurlitzer CD Jukebox with 50 CDs

Use old black vinyl LP's (really cheap at thrift stores) as decorations,
as bases to dishes or centerpieces,
and dangle 45 records from the ceiling.

Click here for large selection of
pinatas for your next party!

Record Centerpiece, 9''

Amazon "classic 50's" CD's

Candy you ate as a kid®... Wax Lips, Candy Cigarettes, Sugar Daddies, Candy Buttons on paper tape, Kits, Wax Syrup Bottles, Now and Laters, BB Bats and many more fresh candies from the 50s, 60s and 70s... still available after all these years!

Louise Max Posters Prints - Vanilla Malted Art Framed Art Print - Artist: Louise Max - Poster Size: 20x23

Choosing The Best Ice Cream Maker
By Sharon Chennault

You can make delicious ice cream at home, as good as any premium store brand, if you choose a good ice cream maker and follow a few tips. Ice cream makers can range in price from under $100 to over $500. The more expensive models contain built in freezing compressors. The less expensive models are perfectly suited for use in the home and come in two basic types. There is the type that uses rock salt and ice to cool the ice cream mixture and the type that has a canister that is placed in the freezer. Each of these is equipped with an electric crank or a manual crank. Your particular needs will determine which is right for you.

If you want to make a large quantity of ice cream, you will need to purchase a model that uses rock salt and ice. The canister models will only make up to 1.5 quarts at a time. If you would like to turn ice cream making into a family activity, you can choose the hand-crank model, which will also use rock salt and ice. The crank must be turned manually for a fairly long period of time, thus allowing each family member a turn. An electric crank is quite a bit easier than the manual crank models. You will also get more consistent results due to the bowl turning at a constant speed. Most electric crank ice cream makers will have an automatic cut off feature that will stop the motor when the ice cream reaches the desired consistency. The consistency is judged by the amount of resistance while the bowl is turning.

After you choose which type of ice cream maker is right for you, you will need to find the perfect ice cream recipe. Remember that the faster the ice cream freezes, the better it will taste and the smoother the texture will be. It will be best to pre-mix all your ingredients and let them chill for several hours before placing them in the ice cream maker. When your ice cream is done, it will resemble soft-serve ice cream. You can place the canister in the freezer for a few hours and you will be much happier with the results. If your canister is plastic, consider removing the ice cream as soon as it is done, and placing it in a metal bowl covered with foil. The metal will allow the ice cream to freeze faster and become firmer more quickly than in a plastic container.

You can purchase a mix that is quite easy to make into ice cream very quickly. While the mixes are convenient, the best homemade ice cream is made from fresh ingredients. Milk, sugar, eggs, vanilla, and cocoa if you desire will give you the best results. You can find numerous ice cream recipes, some which require cooking some which require no cooking. The ice cream recipes that do not require cooking are generally just as good as the cooked type, and require a lot less time. The best ice cream recipes usually contain eggs, however there are many recipes that do not use eggs if you or someone in your family is allergic to eggs.

This article has been provided courtesy of Kitchen Junkie. Kitchen Junkie offers great kitchen articles available for reprint and other tools to help you get the best bargain on kitchen gadgets and more.Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Sharon_Chennault
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Sundae Buffet Suggestions:

HOLDERS: small sundae and long "banana boat" bowls, cake cones, sugar cones, waffle cones. (Fresh made waffle cones smell fantastic) Straws & cups for smoothies.

ICE CREAMS: 2 or 3 flavors like vanilla, strawberry, and chocolate. If you are making home-made ice cream, start early! Don't forget extra scoops!

SAUCES: Chocolate, caramel, espresso, strawberry, peach, hot fudge, pure maple syrup, pineapple, butterscotch, "magic shell" hardening topping, jams and jelly

FRUIT: split bananas, bing cherries, sliced fresh strawberries, blueberries, raspberries, peaches, shredded coconut

CANDIES: jimmies, white & dark chocolate chips, crushed Reeses, Butterfinger, Snickers, Mars, mini M&M's, cinnamon bears

COOKIES: Crushed Oreos, Thin Mints, Vanilla Wafers, chocolate chip, iced animal cookies, macaroons

TOPPERS: whipped cream & maraschino cherries

NUTS: Chopped walnuts, pecans, macadamia, pistachios, almonds, or peanuts

thanks for clicking!

DRY ICE!

Dry ice is frozen carbon dioxide,
and is very, very, very, very, cold (-109 F)
It's nothing to be afraid of, but
there are some simple safety concerns,
like this list for example:

• Always use dry ice with adult supervision.
• Always wear gloves or tongs when handling dry ice.
• 5 pounds will keep food frozen for 12 hours, 10 pounds -24 hours, etc.
• Do not place directly in food. Keep food wrapped in freezer paper.
• Do not ingest dry ice.
• Use dry ice in a well ventilated area, like outdoors.
• Do not place bottled or can sodas in dry ice. They will explode.
• Do not keep dry ice in an airtight container. Ice chests are fine.
• Do not keep dry ice in your regular freezer, it will shut off the thermostat.
• Dry ice is generally available in blocks or small nuggets and costs around $1 per pound.
• Do not chop up the block yourself, if you want small chunks, buy those.

More Dry Ice Storage Ideas - ELM DRY ICE in Falmouth Maine
More Dry Ice Safety Tips - PRAXAIR worldwide supplier of atmospheric gases
Fun Dry Ice Party Ideas for halloween or anytime - DIY NETWORK

To find a dry ice dealer in your area,
search google for "dry ice" + your zip code.

RECIPES

There are far too many home-made ice cream recipes for me to list here. Your ice cream maker probably comes with a book full of them, and if not, click on these links for many wonderful recipes!

Country Kitchen: Enjoy Ice Cream in the Summertime

Low Carb Standard Vanilla Ice Cream Recipe

Check out these ice cream recipes from Better Homes and Gardens® Online.

Mexican Ice Cream Dessert Recipes

ice cream recipe books from shopperschoice.com

125 Best Ice Cream Recipes (Paperback)

Ice Cream (Williams-sonoma Collection (new York, N.y.).) (Hardcover)

Ben & Jerrys Homemade Ice Cream & Dessert Book (Paperback)

The Ultimate Ice Cream Book: Over 500 Ice Creams, Sorbets, Granitas, Drinks, And More (Paperback)

Ice Cream & Frozen Yogurt Cookbook: Enjoy Homemade Ice Creams, Frozen Yogurts, Sorbets, Sherbets, And More (Paperback)

Fun Party Activity - at home or a picnic!!
Home Made Ice Cream Recipe
Using only Coffee Cans!
By Patricia Jensen

The very best thing about having birthday cake is the ice cream that goes along with it. This delicious home made ice cream recipe can be made with a few simple ingredients and a couple of coffee cans.

Learn how to make your own yummy blend! It's so easy to make and fun to eat! A great hands-on kids party activity!

There's always room for ice cream. (That's my motto!)

Home Made Ice Cream Recipe

1 lb. Coffee Can
3 lb. Coffee Can
1/2 cup Rock salt
1 pint Half and Half
1 1/2 tsps. Vanilla
1/3 cup + 2 tblsps. Sugar

For flavored ice cream, choose one:

3 tblsps. of your favorite flavor of instant pudding
1/3 cup of fruit (such as, bananas, strawberries, peaches)
3 of your favorite cookies, crushed into pea-size pieces
1/4 cup finely chopped nuts

METHOD:

Mix the first three basic ingredients together and pour into the one pound coffee can. Add flavorings if desired. Place the lid on securely and set inside the three pound can.

Add ice, and alternate layers of ice and salt outside the small can and inside the large can. When totally full, secure the lid on the large can. You may wish to add duct tape for good measure.

Now here comes the fun part! Place a sheet on the floor or wrap the can in a large towel. Let party guests roll the can back and forth for at least 10 minutes. Open the cans and check the ice cream.

If it is not starting to freeze, replace lids and roll 10 minutes more. The ice cream should be frozen to the sides and bottom of the can. If not thick enough, place in freezer and check every 10 minutes or so.

YIELD: 2 cups ice cream

Note: This recipe can be effected by temperature, humidity, and other environmental factors, so make a trial run before attempting in a group setting.

Copyright 2005 Kids Party Paradise All Rights Reserved

Patricia B. Jensen is a mother of three and kids party enthusiast. She is the webmaster and owner of Kids-Party-Paradise.com - a complete resource for kids party ideas including invitations, cakes, decorations, games, costumes, favors, and food.

For all the latest party news, read her Kids Party Blog

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Patricia_Jensen
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