Wednesdays Unplugged - Ice Cream Wednesdaes in Chocolate Cups

"You can’t buy happiness . . but, you can buy ice cream and that is pretty much the same thing. " ~ Unknown

NOTE: I spend my Wednesdays Unplugged from appointments. It's my day to stay home, enjoy cooking and welcome our kids and grandkids for dinner in the evening. We end our meal with quotes from the Norwegian 'Quote Cup' passed on to me from my grandmother. I share a quote and a recipe here each week, and sometimes some photos of family fun. I love trying new recipes...and love getting recipes you would like to share!

A mix of photos to remember this week... our now 5-year-old granddaughter with her Aunt Sara who made amazing matching circle skirts for her birthday... our son's original metal sculpture of 'his' symbol that he at one time used to sign his paintings (re-discovered while cleaning out the garage)... Breakfast Club at our fun fall outing at Big Stone Mini Golf and Sculpture Garden (supporting each other in good times and bad for over 20 years!)

RECIPE OF THE WEEK

This week it was our granddaughter's turn to pick 'her' menu in celebration of her birthday. She asked for pancakes, sausage and 'Ice Cream Wednesdaes'. We used a new recipe for pancakes that were a hit... I will share next week. But the most fun part of this week's meal was making the chocolate cups for the ice cream... made by dipping balloons in melted chocolate. We learned the hard way not to let the chocolate get too hot or the balloons pop spontaneously!

ICE CREAM WEDNESDAES in chocolate cups

12-ounce package semi-sweet mini chocolate chips
2 tablespoons plus 2 teaspoons hard shortening (NOT butter, margarine, spread or oil)
Water balloons

Cover cookie sheet with waxed paper. Blow up 9 water balloons... wash and dry them... may spray very lightly with cooking spray (I didn't and they worked fine).

Using two stainless steel mixing bowls from stand mixer, place chocolate chips and shortening in smaller 'inside' bowl. Put very warm water in larger bowl and place bowl with chocolate chips into bowl with water... do not let water get into inside bowl.

Stir chocolate and shortening constantly with rubber spatula until mixture is smooth, changing water as needed to keep it warm enough to melt chocolate. Remove chocolate bowl from water bowl.

Place a dollop of chocolate on the prepared cookie sheet, then dip balloon in melted chocolate and place on dollop to form stand. Repeat until all are completed. (I made the mistake of leaving the chocolate bowl in the water bowl and as the chocolate supply got less the remaining chocolate got warmer to the point of bursting balloons.)

Let cool completely, can chill in refrigerator. Burst the balloons, remove from the cups... add ice cream and toppings... and serve!

Sharlene Hensrud, RE/MAX Results - Email - Minneapolis Realtor Who Cooks