Crank and Boom

Originally posted on HerKentucky.com!

For National Ice Cream Month, I decided to check out a local ice creamery that popped up at the Farmer's Market over the last year or so.  Its name is Crank and Boom.  The owner, Toa Green, is the daughter of another famous Lexington restaurant couple (Taste of Thai which I have been eyeballing for a while to try out), and she grew up here in the beautiful Bluegrass state!
 

 {Crank and Boom stand at the Farmer's Market}

I try to be VERY picky about what I eat.  I rarely buy anything pre-made or pre-packaged from the store to avoid preservatives and other unnatural chemicals added to food.  That is a HUGE reason I was so drawn to this ice cream.  Crank and Boom makes their ice cream with simple ingredients--milk, cream, sugar, and other natural flavorings.  No preservatives!  You do pay for it in the price ($8 at farmer's market or $9.27 at Hamburg Liquor Barn), but I am a firm believer in quality over quantity (and supporting locals!).  I selected five flavors to test: chocolate fudge brownie, dark chocolate truffle, vanilla, coffee stout, and blackberry and buttermilk.  I also tried the bourbon honey and at the farmer's market (they didn't have pints for sale when I went to the store!).

Now on to what you are here for--the review!

 {The hubby and I had a blast trying these out!}

Coffee Stout--A spoonful of this is like taking a shot of espresso!  WOW!!!  I've had coffee flavored ice cream before, and this ice cream blew them out of the water.  If you love coffee, this is definitely one for you.  My mom also loved this the best, and she loves herself a great cup of coffee!

Dark Chocolate Truffle--Being a chocolate lover, I found this chocolate ice cream delicious!  It has a ribbon of chocolate throughout that is crunchy when you bite into it making it an extra little chocolate surprise. 

KY Blackberry and Buttermilk--Although this sounds completely strange, it was fantastic!  This ice cream has sweetness from the blackberries but tang from the buttermilk.  It's light and refreshing which I prefer in my desserts!

Bourbon and Honey-- WOW!  This has a definite bourbon kick with none of the alcohol effects.  Crank and Boom use Buffalo Trace bourbon in this delicious ice cream!  It's got the hint of bourbon with the sweetness of honey, and I can't lie when I say I bought peaches just to grill them and have them with this ice cream (it was FABULOUS if you are wondering!)!!!

Vanilla Bean--My philosophy is that if you can't get the basics right, then there is little hope for the rest of the line.  This vanilla was the perfect vanilla--light and refreshing with just a slight sweetness.

Chocolate Fudge Brownie--It's flavor is only slightly chocolatey compared with the dark chocolate truffle.  In it's defense, it's made with milk chocolate not dark chocolate.  After further digging (more than the picture above) the brownie bits did make up for the lack in chocolate flavor.  The hubby said that maybe we got the last of a batch or something. 

The hubby and I ranked them according to our preferences, and the results are below:

Hubby

1. Coffee Stout
2. Dark Chocolate Truffle
3. Bourbon and Honey
4. KY Blackberry and Buttermilk
5. Vanilla Bean
6. Chocolate Fudge Brownie

Mine

1. KY Blackberry and Buttermilk/Bourbon and Honey
2. The rest--what can I say?  I LOVE ICE CREAM!!!!!  Sometimes I'm in a dark chocolate mood and others a vanilla mood--as long as it's good ice cream, I don't care!

Overall, I would highly recommend this ice cream company to my fellow Lexington dwellers!  For me, a few bites satisfied because the flavor is so intense and delicious.  I can't wait to try some of their other flavors like coconut and strawberry!  It'll be my ice cream of choice from now on!

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National Ice Cream Month Recap Celebration

Originally posted on HerKentucky!

In honor of July being National Ice Cream Month, below are links to some delicious ice cream or frozen yogurt recipes!  Check back for more ice cream recipes and local ice creamery reviews throughout this month!

Red Velvet Cake Batter Ice Cream or Cake Batter Ice Cream

Coconut Ice Cream with Chocolate and Roasted Almonds

Berry Ricotta Ice Cream

Banana Bread Ice Cream

Banana Ice Cream or Nutella Banana Ice Cream

Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough Frozen Yogurt

Frozen Berry Cake

So go make yourself one or two recipes this month!  Not that anyone needs much of an excuse to make or eat ice cream!

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KY Bourbon Barrel Ale Beer Cheese

 Originally posted on HerKentucky!

A while ago, I shared our family's original beer cheese recipe with a German beer.  Having lived in Lexington, KY for several years, I had to use my favorite beer of all time and make our beer cheese.  The hubby prefers if with the KY Bourbon Barrel Ale compared to the German beer, and I have to admit, that it might be my favorite too!

 {KY Bourbon Barrel Ale Beer Cheese}

 {Gathering the beer and cheese}

 {I made a double batch which required 3 pounds of cheese!}

 {You want to release the carbon from the beer which happens in stages.  The picture on the left is when the beer first gets poured into a pan.  As you heat the beer up, it begins to foam which means it's releasing the carbon (right picture)}

 {It takes about 5 minutes for all the carbon to release, and you will think that the beer will overflow the pot (picture left).  Then you will begin to see beer again meaning that it's almost cheese time! (picture right)}

 {Add the cheeses in batches, making sure to whisk constantly so it doesn't burn!}

 {Add the spices and garlic}

 {Try not to eat it all at once}

 {Reward yourself with a ham and beer cheese sandwich!}

KY Bourbon Barrel Ale Beer Cheese

Makes 1.5 pounds (16 servings)

Prep time: 10 minutes
Cook time: 20 minutes


8 oz KY Bourbon Barrel Ale
8 oz cream cheese
16 oz extra sharp white cheddar
2 cloves garlic, minced
1/4 teaspoon Worcestershire
1/2 teaspoon mustard
pinch of cayenne
Salt and pepper

1. Heat beer in a saucepan to release the carbonation.  The beer will get very foamy as it does.  When you can see the beer again, the carbonation has been released, and then you can get to the adding cheese!
2. Add cheese and whisk until completely melted.  DO NOT WALK AWAY!
3. Remove the beer cheese from the heat, and add the remaining ingredients.
4. Season with salt and pepper.
5. Serve with pretzels, on sandwiches, with veggies, on burgers, by the spoonful directly into the mouth....  Use your imagination!!!

The Winchester Beer Cheese Festival is this weekend in Winchester, KY (which is why I've posted this!)!  Is anyone going?  I've heard there were around 12,000 people there last year!

Do you like/love/are-obsessed-with beer cheese?  My family--obsessed!

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Peach Raspberry Mint Julep

Originally posted on HerKentucky!

We all know what's right around the corner--the Kentucky Derby!  One race tradition is to have the famed Mint Julep!  According to The Kentucky Derby Museum, the Mint Julep has been sold at the Derby since 1938.  Mint Juleps are traditionally served in silver or pewter cups, but this recipe is too beautiful to place in anything but a Mason jar! 

{Peach Raspberry Mint Julep}

Traditional mint juleps are just simple syrup, bourbon, mint and ice, but I wanted something a little different this year.  I was speaking with a bartender, and they made some suggestions that I had to try!  For instance, using honey instead of simple syrup and adding some fruit.  At the last minute, I decided to pour some sparkling cider in this drink which gives this a light, crisp finish.  Watch out though!  Those peaches pack a bourbon punch!

{I used Woodford Reserve Double Oaked Bourbon (seriously delicious, and I am not a bourbon drinker!)}

{Peaches soaked in bourbon overnight}

{Muddle fruit and mint together to release and mingle the flavors}

Peach Raspberry Mint Julep

Serves 8

Prep time: 10 minutes

Stand time: 1 day

Assembly time: 10 minutes

2 peaches, cut into bite-sized chunks

1 cup Woodford Reserve Double Oaked Bourbon (or whichever bourbon you prefer)**

1 pint raspberries

1 package mint leaves

8 tablespoons KY Proud honey, divided (one for each drink)

Ice

1 liter sparkling cider

1. The day before your event, mix peaches and bourbon together and allow to set overnight.
2. Place a few peach chunks, a couple of raspberries, 1 tablespoon of honey, and 4-5 mint leaves in each glass.
3. Take a spoon and muddle the fruit together.
4. Add 1 oz of bourbon to each glass.
5. Top with ice.
6. Pour cider over ice.
7. Stir drink with a spoon.
8. Serve!

**Bourbon is a form of alcohol so please be responsible while consuming any beverage containing it.**

To say that this was delicious was an understatement!  I can see making this beyond just for the KY Derby, during those hot summer days, when we have fresh peaches (we used peaches that we froze from last year) and mint that we planted. 

Have you ever had a mint julep?

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