When our children were small, this Grandma took gourmet cooking lessons. Now I cannot find those fabulous recipes I compiled as we used to keep recipes on cards, long lost. But, one that is easy to remember is the layered ice cream pie that went into Baked Alaska.
Our gourmet chef teacher liked to make fancy recipes simple. So, his Baked Alaska was made the easy way, taking a premade graham cracker pie crust, and softened vanilla, chocolate, and strawberry ice cream, layering each flavor, freezing each layer for fifteen minutes before adding another layer. Of course, one could make their own graham cracker crust. Then, this Grandma would follow the gourmet chef teacher exactly. Now, decades later, I do not care that I cannot find the recipe. First, this Grandma makes reservations and knows every good bakery in the entire area. Second, baking is for grandchildren, and preferably, with them.
The internet is a treasure trove of recipes for anything of interest. This Grandma put “Baked Alaska” into Google and got dozens of hits, many with recipes going back to the 50s, 60s, and 70s. The recipes were all very similar, and each had a little twist, so take a look for yourself. However, this Grandma, with longer years, knows that recipes are guides and it is more fun to play . . . .especially when cooking or baking with grandchildren. Of course, the grandchildren wash their hands, and prepare all the kitchen counters with old towels for easy cleanup.
We have options fun to explore, plan, and even add a supermarket or gourmet market visit in the planning.
First, we can vary the pans from round to square to any shape the grandchildren want, even make individual cup cake versions, or ice cream pop versions ( with this version line the pan with waxed paper to easily lift and put popsicle sticks on squares).
Second, we can vary the bottom layer, and not use a graham cracker crust. We can use the chocolate oreo cookie part crushed, about 20 cookie sides (10 cookies) worth mixed with melted butter and frozen ten minutes. If with grandchildren, the double stuff filling will go quickly as their treat.
Third, we can vary the ice cream flavors. Of course, this depends on how many grandchildren with three choices of flavors, and how much a grandma REALLY wants to spoil!
Fourth, we can stop with just the ice cream, or go to a meringue topping or on to Baked Alaska. If we are adding meringue or going with the full show of Baked Alaska, the ice cream must be very hard, and most grandchildren will not wait to do this next step. If you are thinking of introducing either, then it is better to make a double batch of whatever is the ice cream base, one to enjoy immediately as a break and another to continue the experience.
Even a meringue topping alone adds a new word, new experience, and new taste for the grandchildren, and it is fun to make. This Grandma had to look on line for a meringue topping recipe. There are many. They are all so similar, none stands out. 6-8 egg whites (grandchildren love using the egg separator but be sure to have extra eggs) with one cup of sugar and a pinch of cream of tartar (I have no idea why). Using an electric mixer means grandma holds too, or after dividing up jobs, this is saved for the oldest grandchild. The egg whites and cream of tartar are put in a large bowl, and using the electric mixer on medium speed, mixed until the egg whites are foamy 2-4 minutes, then slowly beaten in the sugar on high speed until you have meringue, shiny and able to shape. Now we top the frozen ice cream with the meringue.
Baking means high heat for a small period to brown the meringue but not melt the ice cream. Most recipes go from two to three to a maximum of five minutes on 500 degrees. I would say it should be watched.
if you want to wow grandchildren with Baked Alaska flambe, they will light up when you light up the Baked Alaska. Although the older grandchildren will surely enjoy the idea of high alcohol content liquor– 80 proof or higher, will their parents be happy when we educate them about what that means. The recipes that talk about lighting Baked Alaska mention making a cup at the top of the meringue before baking. Many sites talk about how to “flambé, ” another new word, taste and experience, but one does it better. Take a look at here.
Spring and summer are ice cream times. Now, play, literally, with ice cream layered into treats, and treat the grandchildren to new words, experiences, and maybe, if they are brave enough or old enough, new tastes.
Joy,
Mema
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