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Welcome to Simple Fare, Fairly Simple. This is a place for me to post recipes of all kinds...along with other miscellaneous fodder from my so-called life here in the south. Who knows what you will find here. Could be anything from my husband...known as IT Guy...to my kids and beautiful grandbabies that are growing up way too fast right before my eyes. But...mostly this will be a place for food. I hope you'll see something you like and if you decide to try something from the list...leave me a comment and let me know!



Wednesday, January 26, 2011

Yesterday was the birthday of my second born. (Hi Evan!) One thing I've always let my kids do is pick their birthday dessert. I could guarantee that what would be picked by my first son is THIS dessert. He's not a huge sweet lover, but he does love this. And I can't say I blame him. My mom used to make this when I was a kid and I LOVED it. Crunchy, creamy, chocolatey....this dessert has it all! It has the ability to be versatile as well. You can switch up the ice cream flavors...the topping flavors. I think strawberry ice cream and chocolate topping would be heavenly! What about adding some caramel to the mix somewhere? Get creative with this dessert and if you're not adventuresome, stick to the original and you can't go wrong!

Ice Cream Crunch



Crust ingredients:
2 cups flour
½ cup quick oats
½ cup brown sugar
1 cup chopped nuts - any kind
1 cup butter – softened

Preheat oven to 350 degrees

Cut butter into all crust ingredients until mixture resembles coarse crumbs. Pat into a rimmed cookie sheet and bake for 15 minutes until lightly browned. Remove from oven and allow to cool for about 10 minutes. Crumble while still warm.

½ gallon vanilla ice cream - slightly softened
2 jars chocolate ice cream topping

Spread 2/3 of the crumbs onto the bottom of a 9x13 inch pan. Heat 1 jar of chocolate topping in the microwave until pourable. Drizzle warm topping onto the crumb mixture.

Spread softened ice cream on top of crumbs and chocolate. Spread to smooth. Sprinkle remaining 1/3 of crumbs over ice cream. Warm 2nd jar of topping in microwave until pourable. Drizzle topping over ice cream and crumbs.

Cover with plastic wrap and freeze several hours or overnight. Allow to set for about 10 minutes before cutting.


Here's the goods. I show two containers of ice cream because I wasn't sure if I'd need two since I was making this for company. I only used one of them.
Here's the goods. I show two 
containers of ice cream because 
I wasn't sure if I'd need two since 
I was making this for company.
 I only used one of them.
 
Combine the flour, brown sugar, oatmeal and butter. And nuts! Don't for get the nuts. I used chopped, sliced almonds because we have a family member who is allergic to pecans...which by the way, are HEAVENLY in this dessert.
Combine the flour, brown sugar, 
oatmeal and butter. And nuts! Don't 
for get the nuts. I used chopped, sliced 
almonds because we have a family member 
who is allergic to pecans...which by the way, 
are HEAVENLY in this dessert.
 
Work it until it's combined...
Work it until it's combined...
 
..then spread it out. No need to be perfect since you're going to crumble it up.
..then spread it out. No need to be 
perfect since you're going to crumble it up.
 
Let it cool then crumble. I use a spatula to lift it then I use my fingers to crumble it up.
Let it cool then crumble. I use a 
spatula to lift it then I use my 
fingers to crumble it up.
 
All done. You don't want teeny-tiny crumbles here. Chunky is the name of the game!
All done. You don't want teeny-tiny 
crumbles here. Chunky is the name of the game!

Sprinkle 2/3's of the crumbs in a 9x13 pan.
Sprinkle 2/3's of the crumbs in a 9x13 pan.
 
Drizzle the warm chocolate topping over the crumbs and resist the urge to eat it at this point.
Drizzle the warm chocolate topping 
over the crumbs and resist the urge 
to eat it at this point.
 
Make a HUGE ice cream mess because you let your ice cream get too soft. Or if you don't want to be like me, just slice it nice and neat and lay the slices over the topping.
Make a HUGE ice cream mess because 
you let your ice cream get too soft. Or 
if you don't want to be like me, just slice 
it nice and neat and lay the slices over the topping.
 
Then pour any melted ice cream into the pan.
Then pour any melted ice cream into the pan.
 
Spread it out nice and even like....
Spread it out nice and even like....
 
Sprinkle the remaining crumbs over the softened ice cream.
Sprinkle the remaining crumbs 
over the softened ice cream.
 
Drizzle the remaining jar of topping over the top. Cover with plastic wrap and freeze!
Drizzle the remaining jar of topping 
over the top. Cover with plastic wrap and freeze!