Dahl Family Reunion

This last weekend was the Dahl Family Reunion.  The Dahl family is my grandma's (on my mom's side), mom (her parents and siblings).  At the reunion, were my grandma's cousins (from her mom's side) and their kids/grandkids.  My grandma, her sister, and their cousin planned this family reunion.  The event started on Friday night at my grandparents', who live in a condominium.  Their building is well equipped for entertaining - a party room, game room (more of a not-so-formal party room with a tv, pool table, and foosball table), and an indoor swimming pool & hot tub with locker rooms.  Relatives could stay in a near by hotel if they needed to.

On Friday evening, relatives were welcome to my grandparents' game room for appetizers.  Saturday started with an optional breakfast down at a restaurant a few blocks from the condo and hotel.  Relatives were given ideas of what there was to see around the city.  The list included museums, parks, and some Scandinavian places (for the family's ancestors come from Norway).  On Saturday, the [formal] party room was rented out.  Relatives could also hang out in there for the afternoon.  That evening was the main gathering.  Beginning at 4:30, relatives started coming for the reception.  

The party room is located between two floors of the condominium, but is split into three levels.  There is a bar, tables and seating areas around the room, and an attached kitchen.  An event organizer was hired to come and help with the reception.  She made sure food was out when it was supposed to be and helped clean up.  My grandparents also asked for me to help her with whatever she needed.  A caterer was hired to prepare the food.  The food was delivered to the party room, ready to eat, in disposable serving dishes.  The caterer dropped it off and then the event organizer got it set up.

Appetizers were served at the beginning of the reception, followed by the meal.  The meal was ham, cheesy potatoes, green beans, salad, and dinner rolls.  There were desserts and then a little program.

While the reception for adults was going on in the party room, children were playing down in the game room.  The children were served pizza for supper.

On Sunday, relatives were invited out to a family's house in a suburb for brunch.  The home had great outdoor activities for the children - a basketball/tennis court, a play set, a pool.

The table settings. 

The coffee pot actually wasn't out until the desserts were put out.  It was sitting here when I took the pictures and then it was taken away.

The appetizers were chips, guacamole, herring, salmon dip, cashew clusters, crackers, cheese, peanuts, and grapes.

Relatives could go there the line to dish-up.  I thought it was funny how the event organizer put out the food - completely opposite of what I would have done.  For the whole reunion, we just used disposable plates and utensils.  It made for easy clean-up, and worked great! 

On the top level of the party room, a board with a family tree was made.  There were also lots photo books to look through.

Now, for the desserts!  My grandparents made me in charge of the them.  I got to make them, prepare the dessert table, and replenish them as they went.  I made frosted brownies, raspberry crumb bars, and spritz.  I also made the kids some cookies.

I added fresh sprigs of mints to the table, along with labels of what each bar was.  I decided to leave  the cashew clusters and grapes out too.

I made the spritz into the shape of a 'D' for Dahl.  I think the spritz were the biggest hit!

The flowers were added after I took the pictures.  They were a great addition!

Recipes | Ice Cream Dessert + Salted Caramel Sauce

Well, so far this summer has been pretty laid back.  There hasn't been much on my schedule.  Since I never know what time in the day I will get done with work, or if I will get any last minute days off, it is really hard to plan much.  So, I have been home a lot cooking, baking, gardening, and I am working on a sewing project.

This ice cream dessert recipe comes from one of our family friends.  It is so good!  The graham cracker crust is what makes the cake.  I like to use graham crackers from Trader Joe's.  The chocolate layer isn't too chocolatey at all.  It sort of blends in with the crust, which is sensational.   And, to top it off, the salted caramel sauce drizzled all over it.

This ice cream cake makes a great summer dessert.  There is no baking involved, so on hot summer days you don't have to heat up the house with the oven.  Also, this dessert can be made days in advance before you need to serve it.  And, left overs can be sliced into serving sizes and stored in a covered container in the freezer to enjoy all summer long.

This cake really doesn't take that long to make.  The first two layers can be made in one work time.  On a hot, summer day, the ice cream should take no time at all to soften, and then back in the freezer it goes.

This recipe says to add nuts into the middle layer.  It doesn't specify what kind, but I think pecans would be good.  I never add nuts - I like to sprinkle some on top.  But, if I were to, I think I would sprinkle them on top of the middle layer before freezing.

It works best to scoop the ice cream on top of the middle layer while it is still frozen and then let it soften that way - on the cake. Once it is spreadable, spread the ice cream to form an even layer.  Sprinkle with graham cracker crumbs and freeze.

Now, to eat this treat.  We like to add some toppings.  There are lots of topping that would be great, but we usually add our favorite salted caramel sauce and some nuts.  Peanuts are delicious, but pralined pecans or just plain pecans would be great too.

This is our favorite caramel sauce!  It is so good... I could eat it by the spoonful.  It is great to have a jar of it in the fridge.  We usually drizzle it over a bowl of ice cream for a quick treat.  

This caramel sauce also makes a great gift - a jar of caramel sauce, some pralined pecans, and some chocolate chips all packaged together for a ice cream sundae package.

Ice Cream Dessert

Bottom Layer

2 cups graham cracker crumbs*
1/2 cup melted butter
2 T. sugar

Mix together and press into a 9 x 13 pan.


Middle Layer

3 eggs, separated
2/3 cup butter
2 cups powdered sugar
2 squares chocolate, melted
1 tsp. vanilla
nuts, options**

Beat the 3 egg whites until they are stiff.  Set aside.
Cream together the butter, powdered sugar, chocolate, and vanilla.  Beat the 3 egg yolks and add to the creamed mixture.  Fold in the egg whites and nuts if desired.

Spread over graham cracker crumbs and freeze.


Top Layer

1/2 gallon vanilla ice cream

Scoop the frozen ice cream over middle layer.  Let the ice cream soften some.  When it is spreadable, spread the ice cream evenly over the middle layer.  Sprinkle with extra graham cracker crumbs and freeze.


Serve and top with caramel sauce and/or nuts (peanut are good).

*While you are crushing graham cracker crumbs, crush some extra to sprinkle on top of the cake.
**If I were to add nuts to the middle layer, I would sprinkle them on top of the middle layer before freezing.


Salted Caramel Sauce

1/4 cup butter
1/4 cup brown sugar
1/4 cup granulated sugar
1/2 cup whipping cream
1/2 tsp. sea salt

Melt butter in saucepan.  Add sugars and bring to a boil, stirring constantly.  Stir in whipping cream and bring back to a boil.  Boil for 2 minutes, stirring constantly.  Remove from heat and stir in salt.

For a more glaze-like sauce, let it cool at room temperature.  If you want a thick, fudgy sauce, pop it into the fridge immediately to chill.

You can always double the recipe.  But never make more than a double batch in one pot.

Enjoy!

My Favorite Chocolate Chip Cookies

A couple weeks ago, I finished my first year of college.  It feels good to know that I have made it through a year of college, but by the end I was ready for summer break.  I had a nice three day weekend and then jumped right into working my summer job.  I am working a Mrs. Gerry's Kitchen in a town near us.

Mrs. Gerry's is a food company that makes salads and sides - like potato salad, coleslaw, pasta salads, and much more.  As a summer worker, I am just out on the factory floor.  So far, all I have done is worked in retail where I box the products and stack the boxes on pallets to be shipped out (and, for two short times I have worked in veggies where I cut vegetables).  We were told that each day we will be working in a different area of the factory, but that hasn't been the case for me.

This job is factory work - which motivates me all the more to go to college, and do well, so that I am not working in a factory in my life.  The work isn't super fun, but this job is in the food industry, which is where my food science degree will take me, and it pays pretty good.  When I am kept busy at work, the day can go by fast, but sometimes there is a lot of standing around time, which is quite boring.

In the first week, I worked 56 hours!  With these hours and having to be at work by 6:30 a.m., the first week was a bit overwhelming and draining.  But, I think it is going to settle down some.  Or at least I hope so because I would like to have a little bit of a summer to enjoy.

Even with this crazy new work schedule and having to adjust to my summer schedule, I have of course found some time to bake.

Over the last couple years, I have tried so many chocolate chips cookie recipes - trying to find that perfect one.  It always comes back to these being my favorite.

For how simple chocolate chips cookies are, it can be hard to find that perfect one.  Everyone has there recipe, and this one is my favorite.  These are really just a simple chocolate chips cookie recipe - crisp on the outside and chewy in the middle, not-too-thin and not-too-thick.  What makes these different is the additional chocolate chips and that they are baked in a convection oven.  In the recipe, I say to use one to two packages of chocolate chips, depending on how chocolatey you like them.  I usually do one and a half packages.

Chocolate chip cookies and milk are a favorite of mine.
I also like to use these cookies to make SMORES!  Instead of using graham crackers, I use chocolate chip cookies.  Adding addition chocolate is up to you... depending on how much chocolate you want.
Or, making an ice cream sandwich would be delicious too... smearing a layer of ice cream on a cookie, topping it with another cookie, and sticking it in the freezer for a little while.

This chocolate chips cookie recipe can also be made into bars - so so good!  When I make them as bars, I like to add some chopped walnuts in.  For this, I do one package chocolate chips and one cup walnuts.

My Favorite Chocolate Chip Cookies

2 1/4 cups flour
1 tsp. baking soda
1/2 tsp. salt, preferably kosher
1 cup butter, softened
3/4 cup sugar
3/4 cup brown sugar, packed
2 eggs
1 tsp. vanilla
1 - 2 packages chocolate chips


Sift together the flour, baking soda, and salt.  Cream together the butter and sugars.  Turn the mixer to low, and add the eggs, one at a time, and the vanilla.  Gradually add the dry ingredients.  Fold in the chocolate chips.

Bake on convection oven at 375 degrees for 10 - 13 minutes.  For larger cookies, measure the cookies with a 1/4 cup measuring cup and bake for 13 - 15 minutes.

For bars, spread the batter into a 9 x 13 inch pan and bake at 350 degrees for 30 minutes.