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Tag: Newtown


you scream, i scream

12
July

ice cream

We have been making a lot of homemade ice cream at my house this year with our old hand crank ice cream maker…the last batch was my favorite…Turkish cherries and dark chocolate in a country vanilla base.  Yum!  So, I haven’t really been motivated to visit my favorite ice cream shop.  But, this week I did end up going for ice cream, just not to my usual spot.

Ice cream in Newtown

One of my friends had never visited The Creamery at Ferris Acres Farm in Newtown, so I took it upon myself to introduce her to The Creamery and I am sharing the visit with you on today’s Friday field trip .

cow

Ferris Acres is the last working diary farm in Fairfield County and it certainly is a beautiful location to enjoy some good quality ice cream.   Something about a farm and cows just seems to make the ice cream taste all that much better.  And, flavors?  Yeah, they got ’em…the flavors in these photos are not even the complete list of offerings…

Ice cream flavors at Ferris Farm in Newtown

I really enjoy a creative name for an ice cream flavor…it’s almost as good as a great nail polish color name or paint color name.  They have a few good ones, don’t you think?  I had a scoop of coconut chocolate chunk…not one of the more creative names on the list, but a delicious ice cream!

ferris farm ice cream flavors

I also had a scoop of Salty Cow…delicious!

ferris farm ice cream

As you can see, my friend certainly made her first visit count…waffle cone and all!  I have a strong feeling she will be back for a visit!

Ferris Farm in Newtown, CT

 

eating ice cream in Newtown

How could I resist snapping a photo of this happy customer..yes, life is good with an ice cream cone in hand on a hot day!

ice cream at Ferris Farm

Can’t imagine why this customer didn’t convince his parents to take the “The Creamery Challenge!”

Ferris Farm Ice cream challenge

Hope you enjoyed our visit to Ferris Acres Creamery in Newtown, Connecticut…if you find yourself in the neighborhood, be sure to stop by Sugar Street!  Yes, that is the name of the street!

Ferris Farm sign

Have a really great weekend and remember to take pleasure in simple things, Jackie

Sharing at The Tablescaper.

7 comments » | field trips, food & festivities

focusing on family traditions – holiday lollipop recipe

18
December

holiday traditions

Every family has traditions surrounding the holiday season.  Our family certainly has plenty…making our annual ornament from a slice of the Christmas tree trunk…getting woken up on Christmas morning by sleigh bells…to name a couple.  And, as in most families, baking is a part of our holiday tradition.  In recent years, I have cut back on the huge variety of cookies I always baked.  Instead, each family member can pick their favorite variety to be included in the baking selection.

In addition to the family cookie selection, it is a tradition to create some treats to wrap for giving.  It is nice to be able to hand out a homemade treat to an unexpected visitor, or to bring a pretty wrapped treat to a neighbor while on a holiday visit.  This year, my wrapped treats will be holiday lollipops and rosemary shortbreads.

I made the lollipops out of white chocolate and added dried cranberries and pistachios.  They are very easy to make and can be personalized to your own taste.  Crushed candy canes, or any combination of your favorite candy and/or nuts can be added to the basic lollipop.

family tradtions

Be sure to use a good white chocolate (like Lindt or Ghirardelli).  10 oz. of chocolate will make about 8 lollipops that will measure approximately 2 1/2″ in diameter.  The perfect size for each lollipop is 2″ – 2 1/2″…anything larger may break off the stick.

You will need:

  • lollipop sticks
  • 10 oz. of white chocolate
  • dried cranberries, fresh pistachios, or chosen addition
  • large cookie sheet covered in wax paper
  • double boiler

family traditions

TO MAKE:  gently melt the chocolate in a double boiler, just until melted.  Using a large spoon, or pouring carefully from the pan onto the wax paper covered cookie sheet, make a circle of chocolate approximately 2″ to 2 1/2″ in diameter.  Take a lollipop stick and insert into the chocolate by laying it onto the circle of chocolate while slowly twirling the stick until it is embedded into the chocolate.  Position it so that the end of the stick is about half way on the circle of chocolate.  Gently press the cranberries and pistachios into the lollipop.  Continue with the rest of the chocolate…if you have a large sheet, you should be able to accommodate them all – approximately 8.  If you have a smaller sheet, you may need two sheets to fit all the lollipops.

After they are firm, package them in cellophane bags tied with ribbons or raffia.  I added a book print gift tag (purchased from the West Elm clearance section last year after Christmas).

In addition to the lollipops, I made shortbreads made from a recipe modified from Family Circle magazine.  I simply added 2 tablespoons of fresh, chopped rosemary to a favorite shortbread recipe.  (If you want a recipe and don’t have one, send me an email and I will send you out one.)  I made these in a traditional cookie size from Christmas tree cookie cutters for wrapping.  I also made some with mini cookie cutters to put into bowls for tasting.  They are wonderful…such a great rosemary fragrance and great flavor.

A photo of rosemary shortbreads….some wrapped to give and others in a bowl for tasting.

I am focusing on family and family traditions this Christmas and leaving many of the seasonal trivialities behind… in light of this past week.  The aspects of what is important about the holiday have come so sharply into focus…

Thanks for visiting.  Wishing your family peace… and, pleasure in simple things, Jackie

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