Kitchen Remedy An Old Fashioned Ice Tray Food

KITCHEN REMEDY: AN "OLD FASHIONED" ICE TRAY

Steps:

• A few months ago my ice maker broke. I went to the outside freezer and grabbed the archaic device you may call and "ice tray". To most of us an ice tray seems perfectly normal, but to my kids it seemed like a totally absurd concept. My oldest thought it was great and wanted to fill it, empty it, put it in the freezer. It was hilarious... almost as good as when I showed him a rotary phone. Kids these days! Maybe you still use ice trays on a daily basis and maybe they are a thing of the past at your house, but here are 10 great reasons to get them back in the freezer! 1. Freeze lemon or lime juice so all the fruit off your tree doesn't go to waste. 2. Freeze leftover soup and then bag the cubes in freezer bags. When you are ready to eat it, throw a few cubes in to a bowl or thermos and heat it in the microwave. 3. Freeze homemade stocks. One ice cube is usually equivalent to two tablespoons. Which means 2 cubes = 1/4 cup, 4 cubes = 1/2 cup, 6 cubes = 3/4 cup, 8 cubes = 1 cup 4. Freeze and store homemade baby food (it's so easy - just steam and puree veggies, and add water until you get to the desired consistency). 5. Use as a jello mold for kid-size portions. 6. Freeze pesto. Then you can just drop a cube or two in to your pasta when you are ready to eat. 7. Freeze tomato paste so you always have some on-hand when a recipe calls for one or two tablespoons and you don't have to waste. 8. Use to make popsicles. Pour juice, fruit purees, or pudding into the tray, cover with foil, and poke wooden sticks through the foil into each cube. 9. Freeze freshly chopped herbs. Just place the herbs in the compartments and then fill with water or stock. Once they freeze, remove them and store the cubes in freezer bags, making sure you removed all the air. 10. Freeze leftover juice or wine to avoid wasting and enjoy it later.

OLD-FASHIONED ICE TRAY CHOCOLATES RECIPE BY TASTY

Steps:

• Add the cherries and whiskey to a small container. Cover and let soak for at least 1 hour, or up to 2 days.
• Add the butter and cream cheese to a medium bowl. Beat with an electric hand mixer on medium speed until light and fluffy, 1-2 minutes, scraping down the sides of the bowl as needed. Sift in the powdered sugar and beat on medium-low speed to incorporate. Add the orange zest and fold with a rubber spatula until incorporated. The mixture should be stiff. Cover with plastic wrap and chill in the refrigerator for 30 minutes.
• Set a medium bowl over a small pot of simmering water. Add the dark chocolate and coconut oil to the bowl and warm for 4-5 minutes, until about two thirds of the chocolate is melted. Stir to melt the chocolate completely, then remove the bowl from the heat. Let cool for 5 minutes, until slightly thickened.
• Pour about half of the melted chocolate into a clean 14-cavity ice cube tray, tilting the tray to create a thin, even layer around the walls of each mold. Pour any excess chocolate back into the bowl and wipe away any excess chocolate from the sides of the tray. Freeze for 15-30 minutes, until the chocolate is set.
• Remove the cherries from the whiskey and drain on paper towels to remove excess moisture.
• Fill each chocolate-lined ice cube mold with 1½ teaspoons of the orange-cream cheese filling. Use your finger to create a divot in the filling, then spoon ½ teaspoon of orange marmalade into the divot. Place a cherry in each divot, pressing down so the tops are below the rim of the tray.
• Melt the chocolate again over simmering water if necessary, then pour over the ice cube tray, tilting to evenly distribute. Tap the tray on a flat surface to release any air bubbles and smooth the top. Freeze for 30-60 minutes, until set.
• Remove the ice cube tray from the freezer and let sit at room temperature for 5 minutes to loosen the chocolates. Then, invert the tray to release the chocolates. Cut into individual chocolates and trim any messy edges with a paring knife. Serve immediately or store in the refrigerator for up to 1 week.
• Enjoy!