Warm Weather = Cool Concoctions by Ang

One of the most significant initiations of Spring in towns all across America is the opening of the local ice cream shop. In Loveland, OH it's the Whippy Dip and the Hawaiian Ice Stand. I always liked the Hawaiian ice stand - mounds of sugary sweet ice with a thousand and one possibilities to choose from. What could be better than that? In Champaign, IL it's Jarlings Custard Cup. I haven't actually been there yet, but I hear it's pretty amazing! And I can guarantee you I'll be over there soon enough (especially since I work right down the street from it!)

All these sweet treat shops are great during the summer, but what about when it's just too hot to leave your place? Or you just don't feel like dropping another 4 bucks on a momentary sugar rush? The solution is easy.

Homemade Ice Cream Sandwiches

Ingredients
1 package of square chocolate covered graham crackers (or some kind of cookie)
1/2 gallon of any ice cream you desire, boxed packaging is easier to use
Cut up sheets of wax paper big enough to wrap your treat

Directions
Set out two cookies or cc grahams, insides up, on each piece of wax paper. Get out a cutting board and open up your box of ice cream. You'll probably want to just unwrap the ice cream completely from the cardboard box so that you have a block of ice cream sitting on the cutting board. take a big knife and cut block of ice cream to desired size and thickness (size depends on cookie). Sandwich ice cream between both cookies. Wrap in wax paper. Put in freezer. Enjoy at leisure!

Variations
The wonderful thing about this recipe is that the possibilities are endless! Some of my favorite combinations are chocolate covered grahams with peppermint stick ice cream inside, chocolate chip cookies with neapolitan ice cream, sugar cookies with butter pecan ice cream. You can also do mini versions with vanilla wafers or any other cookie. You can also try mixing it up a little with banana slices or other toppings that your sweet tooth desires. Or even try cutting a hole out of the middle of the ice cream and filling it with something fun like fudge or caramel or pie filling. Whatever you want! Make as many as you want and pull them out when you don't feel like dropping another 4 bucks. It will be one of your best summers ever :)