Summer in the tropics has its pros and cons. The sunny weather is a welcome excuse to head to the beach. It also stirs one's creativity in organizing parties. School is out, after all. However, the humidity can also be taxing. The temperature can reach to dangerous levels, putting people at risk of heat stroke. But for someone who's lived near the equator all your life, you should know a couple of tricks to beat the summer heat.
It's the season of halo-halo, sago't gulaman and ice cream again! Cool down with homemade cold desserts. You can involve your kids and make it a fun weekend activity. Get them busy in the kitchen instead of spending their summer break in front of their computers. Perhaps your little ones can have an entrepreneurship training as well. Let them run a small summer business in your DMCI Homes condo selling frozen delights. Give them choices of ice cream flavors.
Here are 7 ice cream flavors to try this summer.
#1: Chocolate Ice Cream
Chocolate-flavored ice cream is an all-time favorite. Even for adults, this dessert can offer instant cure to summer blues.
Ingredients:
1 can (14 ounce) condensed milk
2/3 cup chocolate syrup
2 cups heavy cream
fruit chunks (strawberries or banana)
Stir the condensed milk and chocolate syrup in a large bowl until the color is even. Whip the heavy cream in a separate bowl until it forms a stiff peak. Fold the cream into the chocolate mixture and put into a pan with aluminum foil. Cover the pan and freeze for 6 hours. Serve with frozen fruit chunks.
#2: Butter Pecan Ice Cream
Make healthy frozen snacks for everyone. Try Butter Pecan Ice Cream. Pecans are antioxidants that contain more than 19 vitamins and minerals including calcium, magnesium and potassium.
Ingredients:
1/3 cup chopped pecans
1 tablespoon butter
1 cup brown sugar
2 eggs
1 ½ cups half-and-half cream
½ cup heavy cream
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Heat up a pan over medium heat. Cook the pecans in butter until lightly brown. Set aside.
Whisk the eggs in a bowl and set aside. Mix the brown sugar and half-and-half cream in a pan and boil over medium heat. Pour and whisk the mixture into the eggs. Bring the custard to a boil in a pan until the mixture coats the back of a spoon. Try drawing your finger down the back of the coated spoon. Once you see a clear line, the custard mixture is ready. Turn off the heat and stir in the heavy cream, vanilla and pecans. Pour into an ice cream maker and freeze for at least 3 hours.
#3: Coconut Ice Cream
Nothing says “summer in the tropics” than coconut-flavored desserts.
Ingredients:
1 cup milk
1 can (14 ounce) sweetened cream of coconut
1 ½ cups heavy cream
1 ½ cups coconut flakes
Nata de coco or mango cubes.
Combine the milk and coconut cream in a blender and mix thoroughly. Stir in the heavy cream and coconut flakes. Pour the mixture into an ice cream maker and freeze for about 30 minutes. Serve with nata de coco toppings or mango cubes.
#4: Hot Fudge Ice Cream Bar
The agonizing heat outside can truly dampen one's mood. Cheer up with a satisfying ice cream dessert.
Ingredients:
1 cup chocolate syrup or hot fudge sauce
¾ cup peanut butter
19 ice cream sandwiches
12 ounces frozen whipped topping
1 cup salted peanuts
Heat the chocolate syrup in the microwave for 2 minutes, stopping every 30 seconds. Put the heat on high. Mix in the peanut butter and stir until smooth. Allow the chocolate and peanut butter mixture to cool to room temperature.
In a dish, place a layer of ice cream sandwiches. Spread half of the whipped topping on the layer. Spread the chocolate-peanut butter mix over that. Sprinkle with peanuts. Repeat the layers.
Freeze the dessert for at least 1.5 hours. Cut into squares and serve.
#5: Salted Caramel Ice Cream
Kids on a sugar rush can be a handful. But you can let them run around the condo playground after enjoying sweet desserts. Make a Salted Caramel Ice Cream for an amazing fusion of two contrasting flavors.
Ingredients:
3 cups half-and-half cream
1/3 cup sugar
3 egg yolks
1 tablespoon vanilla extract
½ cup salted caramel
Mango slices
Mix cream and vanilla, then simmer in a pot over medium heat for 15 minutes. Strain the mixture and set aside. In a separate bowl, whisk together the egg yolks and sugar. Whisk about 1 cup of the cream mixture into the egg mixture until smooth. Then whisk the egg mixture into the cream mixture in the pot. Cook the mix on medium heat until the temperature reaches 76 degrees Celsius or 170 degrees Fahrenheit. Stir the mix constantly.
Remove from heat and strain the mix into a bowl. Cool to room temperature in an ice bath. Freeze for at least 2 hours. Place the chilled mix in an ice cream maker. Transfer into a container and freeze until firm. Add the salted caramel and mango slices before serving.
#6: Banoffee Pie Ice Cream
Instead of constantly complaining about the scorching weather outside, why not make your own banoffee ice cream and enjoy this delectable cold dessert by the pool? Make the most of summer!
Ingredients:
1 cup whipped or double cream, cold
1 can (14 ounce) of condensed milk
1 tablespoon vanilla extract
2 bananas, mashed
½ cup crumbled digestive biscuits
½ cup toffee sauce
Whip the cream with a mixer for about 4 minutes until soft. Pour the condensed milk and vanilla extract. Mix the combination until it forms a stiff peak. Add the mashed bananas and crumbled digestive biscuits. Drizzle with toffee sauce. Fold a few times. Transfer the mix into a container and freeze for at least 6 hours.
#7: Green Tea Ice Cream
Enjoy a guilt-free (sort of) frozen dessert. Similar with the Banoffee Pie Ice Cream, you don't need an ice cream maker to make a Green Tea Ice Cream.
1 cup whipped or double cream, cold
1 can (14 ounce) of condensed milk
1 tablespoon vanilla extract
3 tablespoons Matcha green tea powder
Whip the cream with a mixer for about 4 minutes until soft. Pour the condensed milk and vanilla extract. Mix the combination until it forms a stiff peak. Add the matcha green tea powder and mix on medium speed until the mixture turns into an even mint color. Transfer the mixture into a container and freeze for at least 6 hours.
Make the most of condo living by spending more time with your family in your resort-style condo community. There's so much to do this summer! You can have a swimming party or an ice cream festivity, or both. An afternoon picnic on the open lawn or a dinner under the stars. Living in a tropical country has its pros and cons. But focus on the pros. Don't let the heat dry up the joyous summer vibe.