Eat Ice Cream For Breakfast Day!

HVCreameryWhat's Churning?

Breakfast

Pana Choca – Buttermilk Pancakes with Chocolate Ice Cream

Are you ready for the upcoming holiday? No, not the Super Bowl or the one celebrating love and romance, the one celebrating good tastes.

The first Saturday every February is Eat Ice Cream for Breakfast Day. It’s an important holiday, and it’s been around longer than you might think.

History

It was started in the 60’s by a mother trying to entertain bored children who were snowed in. They, naturally, grabbed on to the idea of having ice cream for breakfast, and passed it on to their friends and carried it on with their own children. The family traveled widely, spreading Eat Ice Cream for Breakfast wherever they went, and now it is celebrated all over the world.

You definitely want to jump on this bandwagon.

Benefits?

Yes, ice cream for breakfast might even be good for you. A widely reported 2016 study by Yoshihiko Koga suggested that people who ate ice cream for breakfast performed better at tests of mental agility by having faster reaction times and better information-processing results. It’s been criticised – ice cream vs. fasting leaves the question of whether other foods would have the same results – but is still widely talked about. (We all want good reasons to do something fun!)

Additionally, ice cream (and food formulas similar to ice cream) has been demonstrated in a much less controversial study to cause happiness, as in, a single spoonful of ice cream activates the same pleasure centers in the brain as winning money or hearing your favorite song.

A jolt of happiness is not a bad way to begin a day. And this Saturday is the day to try it out for yourself.

Celebrate!

Take a moment to imagine the ways to celebrate this holiday. A bowl of your favorite ice cream to start out the day. You have an excellent excuse for the indulgence – it’s how you celebrate the holiday!

Celebrate by yourself – ice cream is good alone. Make yourself a large, elaborate sundae, with all the toppings and flavors you want. It’s a holiday – go all out!

Celebrate with your family. Holidays are great family events. And think about the looks on your kids’ faces when you tell them that, because of the holiday, breakfast is ice cream today. (You might want to plan an after-breakfast trip to a park, a zoo, or some other place they can run off the sugar rush.)

Make your significant other ice cream in bed for breakfast. Dishes optional.

Celebrate with a group of friends – a build-your-own-sundae party is always fun. Everyone bring a favorite flavor and topping to brunch, and see what you end up with.

Go ahead, pick up some udderly awesome ice cream, and get ready to add Ice Cream for Breakfast Day to your holiday traditions. We bet that it will rapidly become a favorite!

Share

It’s National Strawberry Ice Cream Day!

HVCreameryWhat's Churning?

National Strawberry Ice Cream Day

Here in Harmony, when there’s a holiday that fits us as perfectly as National Strawberry Ice Cream Day, you know we have to shout it from the rooftops!

HAPPY NATIONAL STRAWBERRY ICE CREAM DAY!

January 15th is National Strawberry Ice Cream Day, and while it may seem like an odd day to celebrate an ice cream- with it being in the chill of winter for much of the rest of the country- it’s actually kind of perfect, because Presidents’ Day follows right after in February, and did you know that strawberry ice cream was served at James Madison’s second inauguration in 1813?

Strawberry ice cream has a rich history, and it also has roots right here in California, because the Golden State produces 80% of the country’s fresh strawberries, according to the University of California Cooperative Extension. Approximately 22,000-25,000 acres of our state are dedicated to growing strawberries each year- four times any other state- producing an average of 1.5 billion pounds- that’s a LOT of strawberry ice cream!

But never mind the numbers- if you’re as excited as we are about celebrating this “berry” sweet holiday, visit your local grocery store and pick up some Harmony Valley Creamery School’s Out Strawberry Ice Cream and celebrate National Strawberry Ice Cream Day with us! Our creamy berry blend has just the right amount of tart and sweet- thanks to those authentic California strawberries- to tickle your tastebuds and make you feel like school’s just let out for the summer.

If you want to really celebrate in style, try our School’s Out Strawberry Ice Cream as the filling for this Strawberry Ice Cream Pie, or as the star ingredient in this Yummy Strawberry Shake.

Check out our Where to Buy page to find the Harmony Valley Creamery supplier closest to you.  If you local market doesn’t carry our Udderly Awesome craft ice cream, be sure to ask them to.

Oh, and in case we forgot to say it, HAPPY NATIONAL STRAWBERRY ICE CREAM DAY!!

Share

What’s new in Harmony? Wedding bells, ice cream and more

HVCreameryNews

Town of Harmony, CA

The Harmony Valley Creamery building serves as the centerpiece of the small town’s central strip. Kathe Tanner ktanner@thetribunenews.com Read more here: http://www.sanluisobispo.com/news/local/community/cambrian/article191899889.html#storylink=cpy

The Cambrian

By Kathe Tanner

Imagine getting married in the tiny town of Harmony or spending a weekend there in a cozy vacation-rental cottage.  Read more here… 

Share

Harmony Ice Cream for the Holidays

HVCreameryWhat's Churning?

Holiday Ice Cream

The holidays are here, family gatherings are being planned, and final touches on menus leave us anticipating a delicious home-cooked meal. But we all know that the best part of any holiday meal is dessert, of course!

For the traditionalist at heart, serve up a scoop of Harmony Valley Creamery’s Vanilla Bean ice cream alongside pumpkin pie, pecan pie, or cranberry crisp. Or, mix it up, live on the edge, and create new traditions by serving banana splits with a mix of our flavors, or whip up a cool Mint ‘N Chip shake.

Stock up your freezer now in preparation for the arrival of your out-of-town guests. Give your guests a taste of small batch goodness, rich and creamy decadence, and the simple pleasure of enjoying local craft ice cream. Pints are now sold at these markets:

For a fun outing, bring your guests to the town of Harmony on weekend afternoons and get a dairy-licious scoop of small batch craft ice cream from our Scoop Truck. It’s sure to be a pleasing treat for young and old alike.

Wish you didn’t have to drive so far to get your scoop fix? Tell your local market manager about us to get our pints available close to home. Seeing you happy makes us happy…one delicious spoonful at a time.

We’d love to hear from you! Tell us your favorite flavor, ask us a question, or tell us a joke. We are all udders and ears – contact us today!

Share

Harmony Ice Cream Gives Back

HVCreameryWhat's Churning?

gives back

You probably already know that one lick of our craft creamy ice cream makes your taste buds dance. But did you also know that buying Harmony Valley Creamery ice cream is a choice you can truly feel good about? We’re not just bringing craft ice cream to our corner of California, we’re doing what we can to give back to this great community.

1% For the Planet is an international network of businesses, nonprofit organizations, and people who have come together to support the environment. This organization helps its members find trustworthy environmental causes they can support through financial donations, volunteer work, and in-kind donations. Working together can be an amazing force, and 1% For the Planet is dedicated to harnessing that power for our world. We are all for a healthy planet (after all, it’s where we find our favorite cows), so we’re proud to say we’ve joined forces with them.

Of course, our heart is always local, so the local environmental cause we’ve chosen is The Land Conservancy of San Luis Obispo County. Specifically, we’re supporting their Octagon Barn restoration project. This historic landmark was just about to collapse. Now it’s being restored to become a great public space where people can learn about agriculture in our area. You could say we’re pretty fond of cows and barns around here, so it’s a natural fit for us.

So the next time you decide to treat yourself to some of our ice cream, you can feel even better about it than ever. Not only do you get to enjoy delicious ice cream, made from the highest quality ingredients, you’re supporting a family owned business that is giving back to the community. Whew! That might just deserve an extra scoop.

To learn more about Harmony Valley Creamery and our commitment to the community, contact us or visit us on Twitter.

Share

DIY Ice Cream Sundae Tips

HVCreameryHVC Secret Recipe Book

ice cream sundae

The ice cream sundae is the height of decadence when it comes to dessert (or breakfast…we’re not here to judge). What other treat has so few rules and so many possibilities? You can easily screw up a tiramisu or a chocolate cake, but there’s no way to ruin an ice cream sundae. (Unless, maybe, you pull out the anchovies.)

Just like you want a strong foundation when you build a house, your sundae needs a strong foundation, too: Harmony Valley craft ice cream. The right homemade flavor sets the tone for your entire treat, and you’ve got several incredible signature flavors to choose from. Try some of these delectable sundae combinations:

Mayor Freddy’s Vanilla Bean

  • Apple pie filling, cinnamon, and whipped cream.
  • Crushed pretzels, chocolate hazelnut spread, and sprinkles.
  • Pineapple, shredded coconut, and coconut cream.

Harmony Chapel Chocolate

  • Peanut butter, peanut butter chips, and peanuts.
  • Marshmallows, graham crackers, and chocolate sauce.
  • Toffee, butterscotch syrup, and walnuts.

School’s Out Strawberry

  • Crushed shortbread cookies, fresh strawberries, and whipped cream.
  • Bananas, hot fudge, and walnuts.
  • Rhubarb sauce, crushed graham crackers, and whipped cream.

Local Yodelers Cookies ‘N Cream

  • Cookie butter, chocolate chips, and chocolate sauce.
  • Fresh blueberries, walnuts, and whipped cream.
  • Brownie, chocolate sauce, and cherry pie filling.

Doo Dah Mint ‘N Chip

  • Mint liquor (adults only!), chocolate sauce, and whipped cream.
  • Crushed Oreos, shredded coconut, and mint chocolate chips.
  • Raspberry jam and chocolate chips.

Blue Door Butter Pecan

  • Crushed bacon, maple syrup, and extra pecans!
  • Crushed vanilla wafer cookies, caramel sauce, and toffee.
  • Bananas, butterscotch syrup, and whipped cream.

Those ideas should get you through a couple of weeks, but after that you’ll have to start developing your own flavor combinations. The good news is that you really can’t go wrong, especially when you start with our craft ice cream. Pick up a pint (or 18) at your local market, or keep an eye on our Twitter account so you know where to find the Scoop Truck! If you have any questions about building the perfect ice cream sundae, don’t hesitate to contact us we love sharing ideas!

Share

Straight from the Dairy Farm

HVCreameryChillin' in Harmony

dairy farm, cow, ice cream

Ever wonder who puts the cream in our signature craft ice cream?

Dairy cows, silly!

Our cream is straight from the dairy farm, based right here in Southern California.

We are so proud to work with local businesses to bring creative ice cream flavors and sweet creations to Harmony. Today, we’re excited to share more about our dairy supplier, Scott Brothers Dairy.

Scott Brothers Dairy is a family owned operation that was founded by Ira J. Scott in 1913. The Scott family has been perfecting their craft for four generations.

Each day, tanker trucks of milk from the family’s dairy farm in San Jacinto are brought to the creamery in Chino. In Chino, the dairymen test the milk, then move it through giant silver tanks for pasteurization. The creamery produces all sorts of products, from sour cream and yogurt to the delicious cream that we use in our treats.

Scott Brothers Dairy is committed to sustainable agriculture, and have adopted practices to preserve Southern California’s beauty. This means using solar panels and raising happy, healthy cattle. Over 1,000 cows live on the Scott Brothers Farm and eat feed grown right on the farm. The low-stress life the cows lead means they produce more milk naturally, without the use of bovine growth hormone (rBST).

The Scott family believes that dairying is such a rewarding experience that they hope to someday bring micro-dairying back to Harmony. Harmony was once a major dairy and creamery producer, and the return of micro-dairies could be the future of farming here in Southern California.

To learn more about Scott Brothers Dairy, contact us.

Share

DIY Indian Summer Ice Cream Creations

HVCreameryHVC Secret Recipe Book

blueberry, buttermilk, ice cream

School is back in session and we’re thinking of autumn, but the central coast is know for its Indian Summers, so make time to start whipping up some tasty and cool homemade ice cream treats to stave off the Indian Summer heat. Be sure to make use of all of the fantastic late harvest fruits available, such as raspberries, blackberries, blueberries, peaches and persimmons, and if you’re not too keen on breaking out grandma’s hand crank ice cream machine, all of the following DIY summer ice cream recipes also work well with electric ice cream churns.

  1. Old Fashioned Tutti Frutti Ice Cream: This flavorful ice cream is a tasty blend of summer flavors, and the best part is that you can really use any fruits you like! A stone fruit is recommended for the base, such as peaches, apricots, cherries, or nectarines, and mashed strawberries, raspberries, and/or blueberries can be added to the mix as well for a pretty swirl throughout.
  2. Key Lime Pie Ice Cream: Key Lime Pie is a favorite summertime dessert for many, and this frozen version is just as satisfying. This homemade ice cream is custard based with a pleasant crunch from the addition of graham crackers, and it’s also delightfully tangy thanks to the abundance of lime zest and juice.
  3. Perfect No-Cook Strawberry Ice Cream: Strawberries are one of summer’s best fruits, and this tasty DIY summer ice cream is easy and flavorful, and does not require any eggs or cooking. Simply mix up a few simple ingredients in your ice cream maker and you’ll have a perfect strawberry ice cream in no time.
  4. Homemade Georgia Peach Ice Cream: Right alongside strawberries, peaches are a highly sought after summer fruit that can be turned into a sweet and creamy homemade ice cream in a snap. Be sure to buy a lot of them, though, because this recipe calls for two and a half pounds of peaches!
  5. Blueberry Buttermilk Ice Cream: End of summer blueberries and rich buttermilk work together to create a surprisingly pleasant and tangy warm treat that will please the palates of youngsters and adults alike.

Be sure to visit us at Harmony Valley Creamery to beat the Indian Summer heat and to share some of our own delicious ice cream flavors!

Share

All Hail the Ice Cream Cone

HVCreameryWhat's Churning?

Ice cream cone

Ice cream just wouldn’t be the same without the cone. Waffle cones, sugar cones, pretzel cones, any cone will do. On September 22nd, we celebrate National Ice Cream Cone Day. As if we needed an excuse to pick up a pint of Harmony Valley Creamery’s udderly awesome ice cream and some cones to honor our favorite dessert!

The ice cream cone was first mentioned in French cookbooks in the early 1800s but it wasn’t until 1902 that a patent was issued to an Italian ice cream merchant named Antonio Valvona for a machine that turned biscuits into ice cream cups. His invention spread across the U.K. but it was a another Italian entrepreneur that introduced the ice cream cup to America. Italo Marchiony was an ice cream vendor in New York City and he applied for a patent in 1903 for his machine that made edible ice cream cups.

The idea really took off in 1907 when Abe Doumar, a quintessential salesman trading in all sorts of oddities twisted a Belgian waffle into a cone and topped it with ice cream to sell at the St. Louis Exhibition of the World’s Fair. His ice cream cones were such a hit that Abe stopped selling his other merchandise and focused solely on waffle cones. He bought a waffle iron that could make 36 waffles at a time and went into the ice cream cone business at a foundry in Virginia.

The ice cream cone changed ice cream forever, giving us the opportunity to take our scoop on the go and sans (without) spoon. So why not celebrate the innovative figures who helped us lick our way through a scoop year in and year out? Buy a pint (or two) of Harmony Valley Creamery’s delicious craft ice cream and don’t forget the cone!

Share