As the weather warms up outside, it can be fun to beat the heat with flavorful treats. Here, chef Giada De Laurentiis shares some of her favorite recipes for ice cream sodas, sorbet and more.
Recipe: Raspberry ice cream sodas (on this page) Recipe: Pomegranate and mint sorbet (on this page) Recipe: Mocha semifreddo (on this page)To make the raspberry ice cream sodas:
Using an ice cream scoop, place 1/2 cup sherbet into each glass. Scoop 1/2 cup of vanilla ice cream on top of the sherbet. Pour 1/3 cup club soda on top of the ice cream. Drizzle 2 tablespoons of raspberry syrup into each glass and garnish with fresh raspberries. Serve immediately with straws and sundae spoons.
Yield: 4 servings. Prep time: 5 minutes.
To make the raspberry syrup:
In a small saucepan, whisk together the orange juice and cornstarch until smooth. Add the raspberries, raspberry jam and sugar. Bring the mixture to a boil over medium-low heat, stirring frequently. Reduce the heat to medium-low and simmer for 5 minutes. Pour the mixture through a fine-mesh sieve into a small bowl, pressing on the solids with a wooded spoon to extract as much liquid as possible. Cool the syrup for 30 minutes.
Yield: 1 1/3 cups. Prep time: 5 minutes.
To make the sorbet:
In a glass pitcher, combine the simple syrup, pomegranate juice and orange juice. Pour the pomegranate mixture in an ice cream maker and freeze according to the manufacturer's instructions. During the last 10 minutes of freezing time, add the mini chocolate chips.
Scoop the sorbet into dessert bowls and garnish with fresh mint sprigs.
Yield: 1 quart. Prep time: 3 minutes. Freezing time: 30 minutes.
To make the mint simple syrup:
In a small saucepan, combine the sugar, water and mint leaves over medium heat. Bring to a boil, reduce heat and simmer for 5 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the sugar has dissolved. Remove the pan from the heat and allow the syrup to cool for 20 minutes. Strain before using.
Yield: 1 cup. Prep time: 2 minutes.
Spray a 9 1/4-by-5 1/4-by-3-inch metal loaf pan lightly with nonstick spray. Line the pan with plastic wrap. Finely grind the cookies in a food processor. Add the melted butter and process until the crumbs are moistened. Press the crumb mixture onto the bottom of the prepared loaf pan. Refrigerate.
Whisk 1/2 cup of sugar, egg yolks, espresso, Marsala and salt in a large metal bowl to blend. Set the bowl over a saucepan of simmering water (do not allow the bottom of the bowl to touch the water). Whisk the egg mixture until it is thick and creamy and a thermometer inserted into the mixture registers 160 degrees F, about 5 minutes. Set the custard over another bowl of ice to cool completely.
Using an electric mixer, beat the cream and remaining 1/4 cup sugar in another large bowl until firm peaks form. Using a large rubber spatula, fold the whipped cream into the custard. Spoon the mixture atop the prepared crust. Cover with plastic wrap and freeze until frozen, at least 8 hours or up to 3 days.
Unfold the plastic wrap. Invert the semifreddo onto a platter. Remove the plastic wrap. Cut the semifreddo into 1-inch slices and serve.
© 2013 NBCNews
How many stars would you give the dish? If you made changes, tell us how you customized it.
Melissa d’Arabian shares how LACTAID® helped her entire family fully enjoy dairy.
TODAY’s anchors are trying out all things Hawaii, from surfing to hula dancing.
The show's broadcasting from Honolulu's historic Royal Hawaiian hotel, a landmark in Hawaii since 1927.
video The TODAY anchors engaged in a friendly battle of the sexes in Hawaii, as Al and Matt raced Natalie and Savannah in hokulea – traditional Hawaiian sailing canoes.
A television station in Kansas was forced to evacuate during a live broadcast Sunday after a massive tornado — one of three that ripped through the Plains States over the weekend — touched down.
“ ”