Monday, August 1, 2011

A big welcome to all of you visiting from the Channel 2 Fresh Living Show. I loved being on the show today! And the rest of you...glad you are here too! Here are theFREE ICE CREAM SOCIAL PRINTABLES/ DOWNLOADSI promised {and some fun ice cream party tutorials below}. Just download, print & cut. A huge thank you to Kori of Paper & Pigtails for designing these printables exclusively for Kara's Party Ideas! More Ice Cream Social party photos to come.

Keep reading/scrolling for some great Ice Cream Party activities...
Photography by Lyndsey Fagerlund

Over the next two weeks I will be showcasing the latest party I planned....An ICE CREAM SOCIAL! This party was so much fun to style and put together. I am dreaming about ice cream all night long now! I'm starting off with the party activities...

The first activity- ZIPLOCK BAG ICE CREAM

Have the kids make their own ice cream in about 5 minutes with ziplock bags and simple ingredients.

1. Fill the large bag half full of ice and add the rock salt. Set aside.
2. Put half & half, vanilla and sugar into the small bag and seal it.
3. Place the small bag inside the large one and seal it again carefully.
4. Shake the bag until the mixture is ice cream, which takes about 5 minutes.
5. Wipe off the top of the small bag and open it carefully. Eat it!

*Makes about 2 scoops of ice cream, so double the recipe if you want more. Don't increase the proportions too much though-- a large amount could be too heavy for kids to pick up.*

This second party activity is similar to the ziplock bag activity. It's just one more way for the kiddos to make ice cream. Either one is super fun and easy....

KICK/ROLL THE CAN ICE CREAM

You will need:

- 1 pint half & half

- 1/3 cup granulated sugar

- 4 tablespoons of your favorite pudding mix

- 10 cups ice

- 1 1/2 cups rock salt {kosher salt or sea salt may be used too}

- 3-pound can, emptied and rinsed

- 1-pound can, emptied and rinsed

- Duct tape

How to make:

1. In a medium bowl, combine half and half, sugar and pudding mix with a whisk until mixed.
2. Place the 1-pound can inside the 3 pound can and pour ice cream mixture into the smaller can.
3. Cover the smaller can with it's lid and seal with duct tape.
4. Surround the smaller can with ice and salt by layering 5 cups of ice with 3/4 cup of salt, etc.
5. Cover the 3-pound can with it's lid and seal with duct tape.

6. Have the kids kick the can around! They can also roll the can back and forth on its side. Do this for 10 minutes.

7. After 10 minutes, open up the cans and check the ice cream. The mixture on the sides of the smaller can will set up faster than the center so use a rubber spatula to quickly scrape down the sides and give the ice cream one big stir. Replace the lid on the smaller can and reseal with duct tape.

8. Dump out the melted ice and place the smaller can back into the larger one. Surround the small can with new ice and salt and put the lid back on and seal with duct tape.

9. Ask the kids to roll or kick the can for 10 more minutes.

10. Once they're done, open the cans and serve the ice cream to your little guests!

*Use your favorite flavor of pudding to change the ice cream flavor.
*After the first 10 minutes of kicking the can, mix in some nuts, chocolate chips, or cookie crumbles to enhance the flavor of your ice cream.