DeLonghi's Il Gelataio

The sound of my father-in-law's gelato maker whirring on his kitchen counter is something I'll always remember from our recent trip to Brazil.  During the two weeks we spent at his house in Bahia, he made gelato almost every day. Two times a day, on occasion. This, and the beach, and the little monkeys that occasionally arrived in the afternoon to see what sort of food they could snatch might explain why Nico said to me out of the blue the other day, "Mama, I really enjoyed our trip to Brazil."

Nico would happily welcome a bowl of ice cream at any time of day, and in Bahia, he was able to eat plenty of it, at the oddest hours, and help his Vovô make batch after batch. Coconut was my favorite, and although we couldn't convince Andreas to throw some pieces of dark chocolate into his machine, we always chopped some up that we brought from Brooklyn and encouraged people to sprinkle it on top.

The machine—DeLonghi's Il Gelataio—made it way too easy to have incredible gelato. There was no slaving over a stove and cooking eggs and all the other complicated steps that come with making ice cream. The machine takes up a lot of counter space and is over $200, and with so many great ice cream shops nearby, I really can't justify buying one. But maybe you can? I never did get a good shot of the gelato, or more accurately, I never really bothered because I'd much rather be eating ice cream than taking pictures of it. Bad blogger.

Strawberry and Chocolate Ice Cream Cupcakes

Ice cream cupcakes aren't exactly ideal in 98 degree weather, but how was I supposed to know it would be that hot on Leo's first birthday? We ordered a dozen from Blue Marble using the Doodledeal I bought back in February and went with strawberry ice cream with crushed Newman's O's and chocolate icing. Leo and Nico both loved them. I thought they were way too rich and the buttery icing kind of clashed with the ice cream.  I'd prefer a simple scoop of Blue Marble's stawberry ice cream any day, but first birthdays call for something extra special and these did the trick.

An Afternoon at Ample Hills

Today was beautiful in Brooklyn. With a blinding blue sky and not a cloud in sight, it was the kind of weather that begs you to have a picnic in the park followed by a trip for ice cream. And since Ample Hills Creamery—the new Prospect Heights ice cream parlor—officially opened this afternoon, that's just what we did.

At an Ample Hills fundraiser a month or so ago, I wasn't eating sweets because of Lent and had to just watch as Nico slowly ate a few scoops. I made sure to sample a bunch of flavors today, loving how they're all made from scratch in the shop (with lots of local ingredients!) and are packed with fun mix-ins like chocolate covered pretzels, brownies, and cookies. I finally settled on Peppermint Pattie—peppermint ice cream with homemade peppermint patties and a dark chocolate fudge swirl—a nice spin on classic mint chocolate chip. I wanted something refreshing and it really hit the spot.

Ample Hills is ultra kid-friendly and has plenty of space to park strollers, a changing table in the bathroom, and even a small ice-cream themed play area that Nico loved. In fact, he and Fox had so much fun playing with pretend ice cream that they didn't try any of the real stuff for a while. Eventually, Nico made his way over to the counter and requested a scoop of dark chocolate. He really wanted it on a cone but they were all out of them at the time. They started making fresh ones as we were getting ready to leave and I contemplated having another scoop just so I could try one, but talked myself out of it knowing we'll be back again soon. Maybe even this week since it looks like the good weather is here to stay, for a little while at least.

(A big thanks to Karlyn for taking all these photos with her phone, and for always being up for long walks for food with me!)

Ample Hills Creamery
632 Vanderbilt Avenue
Prospect Heights, Brooklyn

Ample Hills Creamery Opens This Week!

Remember that fundraiser for Ample Hills Creamery I mentioned a few weeks ago? Well, Nico and I went and he had fun sampling a few flavors while reminding me that I couldn't have ANY because I had given up sweets for Lent. I've been waiting to try the ice cream myself ever since and will finally have my chance when the Prospect Heights parlor opens this Wednesday. For more information about Ample Hills—the only ice cream parlor in New York City that makes all of their ice cream from scratch, on site—read the post I wrote for Mommy Poppins last week.

Ample Hills Creamery
632 Vanderbilt Ave between Prospect and Park Places
Prospect Heights, Brooklyn

Summer Scoops and Places to Play

It's official. Nico's addicted to sweets. I guess I shouldn't be surprised—I am too. On Mother's Day, he said to me and my Mom: "I have a great idea! We can get an ice cream or donut today. Which do you prefer?" He paused, then said: "Actually, I prefer ice cream because it's such a sunny day!" (Actually is one of his favorite words. Usually is another.)

With the weather being so nice lately, he's been asking for ice cream a lot. And he's learned that blaming his cravings on the sun usually works. I'm picky about sweets, so he knows I won't settle for a scoop of Mister Softee. He kind of stares longingly at those trucks sometimes, but doesn't even ask me to stop. He knows that I prefer special ice cream parlors.

I shared some of my favorites on Mommy Poppins today, plus fun places to play nearby.

A Spring in Our Step

It's amazing what a little sunshine can do. After months of bundling up, searching for missing mittens, battling about winter hats, and braving the cold, the boys and I can finally leave home with short sleeves and sunblock on, light jackets tucked into our bag just in case, toes peeping out of sandals and Crocs without socks. Walking around our neighborhood is such a treat right now. Flowers are blooming everywhere and just like last year, Nico longs to pick them all. I spend a lot of time explaining why certain rules apply to other people's gardens, but as much as he likes magnolias, daffodils and tulips, he's fond of dandelions too. His pockets are usually full of them by the time we get home.

On Tuesday, a long walk led to a search for ice cream. We ended up at Red Horse Cafe, a popular Park Slope spot that recently started serving scoops from SoCo Creamery, a company in the Berkshires that makes small batches of cool flavors like chai spice, mission fig and lavender honey.  We'd picked up some watermelon along the way, and I was hoping that would keep Leo happy since he hasn't had much sugar yet. When I went to reach for the container, I forgot that the top was already off and it went flying and slimed him, bringing to mind the show You Can't Do That On Television that I loved as a kid.

Splashed with a lot of watermelon juice and fat pieces of fruit, he didn't cry, but looked at me wide-eyed and bewildered while his big brother filled in the blanks: "Why did you DO that to him?!?" The whole incident helped me realize how unthoughtful we were about to be. "Here little guy, let me rub it in your face, literally, the fact that we get to lick luscious scoops of ice cream while you munch on some deeelicious watermelon!" I guess it ended up working in his favor because I couldn't possibly withhold ice cream from him after that. He had a few bites.

Afterward, Nico used a sippy cup to give his little brother a light shower. Watching him make Leo laugh—those wonderful belly laughs that are seriously the best sound in the world, especially when coming from a baby with a sweet, sticky face and a watermelon seed or two stuck to his cheek—made my day even better.

Red Horse Cafe
497 Sixth Ave, at 12th Street
Park Slope, Brooklyn
718-499-4973

Ice Cream: A Global History

Cookbooks continue to be my reading material of choice these days, and I now have a new one to add to the list. Written by my friend Laura Weiss, Ice Cream: A Global History explores the enduring appeal of a frozen treat that's adored all around the world. A fun-filled guide, it's full of sweet facts (did you know ice cream in Turkey is so thick you need a knife to cut it?), striking photos, and 26 vintage and modern recipes, including one for sweet corn ice cream from pastry chef Claudia Fleming. Laura's book is one of three that was released this month as a part of Reaktion's Edible Series (the other two focus on potatoes and dates) and The Wall Street Journal said they're all an unpretentious and welcome relief in this age of culinary excess.

Ample Hills Creamery Sneak Peek Concert

I took this photo of Nico a few days after his 1st brithday. He had just tasted ice cream for the first time (a scoop of strawberry from Blue Marble), and as you can see, it was love at first bite. It was a moment I'll remember forever. I'm a little embarrassed to admit he was wearing a washable bib, something I somehow remembered to bring along on outings back then. Wow, those days are so over. Bibs are overrated anyway.

On Wednesday night, I'm taking my little ice cream lover to a fundraiser for Ample Hills Creamery, a new ice cream shop that's coming to Prospect Heights. I'm covering it for a freelance assignment, and even though I'll still be observing Lent, it looks like I might need to break some rules in the name of research.

If you haven't heard about Ample Hills, it sounds pretty cool. They'll be pasteurizing their own mixes which the Village Voice said is the ice cream equivalent to the bean to bar approach at Mast Brothers. Some of their 24 flavors will include stout 'n' pretzels, salted crack caramel and maple bacon and their shop will have space for birthday parties. The birthday boy or girl will get to design their own flavor and guests will take turns riding a stationary bike that powers a hand-crank ice cream maker. Ice creams cakes will be available as well.

If you live in Brooklyn, like to support local businesses and enjoy eating ice cream, you should come to their sneak peek concert too.

Ample Hills Creamery
623 Vanderbilt (at St. Mark's)
Prospect Heights, Brooklyn

A Pretty Ice Cream Parlor

In my opinion, yesterday's weather called for celebratory scoops of ice cream. Too bad I'm in the middle of Lent. Still, I couldn't keep myself from checking out Van Leeuwen's new shop in Boerum Hill. I managed to just walk by the other day without going in. But the place practically beckoned to me yesterday with its floor to ceiling windows. I tried to just take a peek, but it wasn't long until I was inside gazing longingly at their case of baked goods and pretty ice cream menu. To distract myself from how badly I wanted to try something, I focused on all the other things I liked about the shop. How those windows let in so much light, for one. And the white brick walls, dainty light fixtures, marble countertops, cheery yellow stools, and cool botanical wall paper that features the same plants from their menu. I was planning to go back in a few weeks when Lent is over. Turns out I left my camera case there which means I'll be back again this weekend for a little more torture.

Van Leeuwen Ice Cream
81 Bergen Street (at Smith)
Boerum Hill, Brooklyn
347-763-2979

Blue Marble Ice Cream Cupcakes

Nico and Leo's birthdays are still a few months away, but I bought 12 ice cream cupcakes yesterday for one of them. I got them through Doodledeals, a site that has cool offers for kids and moms. I'm subscribed to their newsletter and get an email each morning. When I saw yesterday's deal, it was 6:55, and I hadn't even eaten breakfast. That didn't stop me from buying some before it was 7:00. Most people who read my blog regularly know I love Blue Marble and who doesn't like cupcakes?

I meant to share this sooner, but it turns out the deal is available until tomorrow at 5am. If you live in New York City and want some awesome sweets for an upcoming birthday or just want to treat yourself to a dozen ice cream cupcakes, don't pass this up. For $27, you'll get 12 artisanal cupcakes made with organic ice cream and you have until June 30, 2011 to order them.

Windsor Terrace is Waiting, Blue Marble

Obviously I was excited when Lia's Ices first opened in Windsor Terrace. For one, I loved their sign. It felt like a place just for me, complete with smiley sweets. Close to Prospect Park and The Pavilion, it was on quiet side street with a few benches. I could sit while Nico played on the sidewalk, ice cream dripping down his arms. On occasion, we'd strike up a conversation with another family. In a big, busy city, benches work wonders at bringing people together. I really wanted to love the place. We shared a name after all, but everything I tried was kind of blah, including the soups and smoothies. The gelato always seemed sort of runny and while I ate my fair share of rainbow Italian ices when I was little, food coloring freaks me out these days.

It's always sad to see a local business go away, but it's a little less upsetting if another takes its place. I'm crossing my fingers for Blue Marble. Their ice cream is the best in Brooklyn if you ask me. The strawberry is tart, not too sweet, and one of my favorite things in the summer, or on a snowy, winter day. Dark chocolate, root beer, and peach are also out of this world. They closed their Atlantic Avenue location a few months ago, a place with where lines regularly ran out the door. I hear their landlord raised the rent, so maybe a former refreshment shack would be more budget-friendly?