I is for Ice

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What's So Cool About Ice? Everything!

My freezer is full of ice. I make cubes from freshly squeezed lemons, coffee, and even leftover wine! The cubes last for several months in ziploc bags and are ready for use in soups, sauces, and beverages even months after the last lemon has been picked from our tree. Ice was something I took for granted until my first trip to Europe. Unlike the United States, where a glass of refreshing ice water is typically placed in front of you the moment you sit down in a restaurant, ice is a rare luxury abroad. Since then, I've learned to treat ice with respect. Listed below are tips and tools for making ice an important part of your meal and beverage plans. By varying the colors, flavors, and shapes, you'll be excited to put ice in the spotlight at your next gathering.

Ice Cubes 

A Few Facts Courtesy of Wikipedia

Ice cubes are small, roughly cube-shaped pieces of ice, conventionally used to cool beverages. Ice cubes are often preferred over crushed ice because they melt more slowly; they are standard in mixed drinks that call for ice, in which case the drink is said to be "on the rocks."

Ice cubes are produced domestically by filling an ice cube tray with water and placing it in a freezer. Many freezers also come equipped with an icemaker, which produces ice cubes automatically and stores them in a bin from which they can be dispensed directly into a glass. Ice cubes out of a tray are generally longer and thinner, requiring less force to remove them from the tray and thereby reducing the likelihood of the cube becoming stuck in the dispenser.

Ice cubes are also produced commercially and sold in bulk; these ice cubes, despite their name, are often cylindrical, and may have holes through the center. An interesting characteristic of commercially made ice cubes is that they are completely clear, lacking the clouding found in the center of domestically made ice cubes.

Ice Recipes and Ideas

Cool Jazz Ice Cube Tray

Cool Jazz Ice Cube Tray 

Fred Cool Jazz Ice Cube Tray

Amazon Price: $7.39 (as of 01/08/2010)Buy Now

It's time to kick back and chill... here's a cool way to do it.

Set includes:
Plastic tray (makes three guitars)
3 reusable plastic guitar neck stir sticks.

Rose Ice Cubes

Silicone Ice Cube Trays 

Penguin, Heart, Star, Shell & Seal Styles

Recyclable flexible rubber tray retains shape and is unbreakable. Easy individual pop-out. Do not use in dishwasher or oven, do not expose to direct heat.

Lekue Silicone Ice Cube Tray, Penguin

Amazon Price: $14.97 (as of 01/08/2010) Buy Now

Lekue Silicone Ice Cube Tray, Heart

Amazon Price: $4.99 (as of 01/08/2010) Buy Now

Lekue Silicone Ice Cube Tray, Star

Amazon Price: $4.99 (as of 01/08/2010) Buy Now

Lekue Silicone Ice Cube Tray, Shell

Amazon Price: $4.99 (as of 01/08/2010) Buy Now

Lekue Ice Cube Tray, Seals

Amazon Price: (as of 01/08/2010) Buy Now

Cool Jewels Ice Cubes

Cool Jewels Ice Cubes 

Ice Cubes are a Girl's Best Friend

Fred Cool Jewels

Amazon Price: $6.00 (as of 01/08/2010)Buy Now

Add a splash of flash and sparkle to your drinks with some icy gems. This flexi-plastic ice tray makes six gemstone-shaped ice cubes. Add some food coloring to create faux precious stones to keep your drinks nice and cold.

Gohgo Chills Out at Tennoji Zoo in Osaka, Japan

Swizzle Sticks & Ice Kebabs 

Fred Ice Princess Star-Shaped Ice Cube Tray with Straws

Amazon Price: $8.00 (as of 01/08/2010) Buy Now

Fred Ice Kebobs, Blue

Amazon Price: $5.95 (as of 01/08/2010) Buy Now

Not Your Grandfather's Ice Cube Tray

Frozen Smiles False Teeth Ice Cube Mold 

Frozen Smiles Denture Ice Cube Tray

Amazon Price: $9.98 (as of 01/08/2010)Buy Now

Liven up your next party with false teeth ice cubes! Made of food-safe synthetic rubber, each Frozen Smiles ice cube tray will create 4 denture-shaped ice cubes.

Silicone Ice Cube Trays 

Also Great for Chocolate, Jello, and Butter!

Amazon Customers Demonstrate the Ice Luge

Party Ice Luge 

Definitely a Conversation Starter!

Lush Life Party Ice Luge

Amazon Price: $22.99 (as of 01/08/2010)Buy Now

Shots poured at the top of luge chill as they travel down chutes to awaiting partiers! Durable clear plastic mold with lime-green base. Mold fills with water, and requires 24-hour freeze time before use. Measures 17 by 14-1/2 inches.

More Cool Ice Cube Ideas 

Michigan State Spartans Silicone Ice Cube Tray/Candy Mold

Amazon Price: $16.00 (as of 01/08/2010) Buy Now

Valentine's Love Lip Shape Silicone Ice Cube Tray

Amazon Price: $8.96 (as of 01/08/2010) Buy Now

Alphabet and Numbers Silicone Mold Set

Amazon Price: $19.95 (as of 01/08/2010) Buy Now

Jello Orange Mini Silicone Mold

Amazon Price: $3.99 (as of 01/08/2010) Buy Now

Cool Shooters Shot Glass Mold

Shot Glass Mold 

Fred Cool Shooters Shot Glass Mold

Amazon Price: $7.99 (as of 01/08/2010)Buy Now

Take shots in style and keep extra cool with these fun and chilly ice cube shot glasses! This flexible silicone shot glass mold creates 4 deep ice cube glasses that can be filled with your favorite drink. Simply fill with water or juice, set in the freezer for a bit and voila! - a handy reusable shot glass that will instantly chill your shooter for a refreshing punch! Shot Glasses are approximately 2" wide by 2" tall x 2.45" deep each.

Travel Advisory:

One of the customs you will need to get used to in the UK and Europe is that drinks are usually served without ice. If you ask for ice, you will either be met with a blank stare or provided one or two of the smallest ice cubes that you have ever seen. We are sure that some of the cubes we have been offered in Europe were frozen during the last Ice Age (and taste like it).

There's No Shortage of Ice at Sweden's Ice Hotel

Light Up the Party with Ice Cubes 

Cubes Blink, Flash, or Stay Lit

LUSH LIFE Lite Up Party Ice Cubes - Blink, Flash or Stay Lit

Amazon Price: (as of 01/08/2010)Buy Now

Each cube is 1.25" square and shaped like a normal ice cube. There are four cubes in each pack: one each in orange, lime, fuchsia, and red. Store cubes in your freezer. Take them out when you're ready and press the button on the bottom to activate light. Great for martini or cocktail glasses... or place them in the punch bowl for another great look. They can also be used purely as lights to decorate the bar or table centerpiece.

Refreshing Hawaiian Shaved Ice

Hamilton Beach Snowman Ice Shaver 

Sno-Cones!

Hamilton Beach 68010 Snowman Ice Shaver

Amazon Price: $32.86 (as of 01/08/2010)Buy Now

Ice Shaver makes sno-cones and frozen beverages
2 molds included for freezing water or juices
Also uses regular ice cubes
Sharp blade safely out of harm's way when operating
Recipes included

Sweeten Your Ice with Healthy Agasweet 

Don't pollute your body with high-fructose, refined-sugar syrups. Try Chef Keem's healthy alternative, available in 7 delicious flavors: Lemon, Lavender, Peppermint, Cinnamon, Tangerine-Ginger, Almond, and Vanilla.

Ice Cubes for Your Bottled Water 

Flexible Ice Tube Trays- Set of 3

Amazon Price: $6.99 (as of 01/08/2010)Buy Now

Water bottles should never be frozen. Instead, use these slim ice cubes to keep water cool. Simply freeze water and twist to remove ice. May also be used in a tumbler, glass or can. Tray is dishwasher safe.

There's Nothing Like Refreshing Ice

Ice Recipes & More 

Love To Know Almond Cream Ice, Creme De Menthe Ice, Currant Ice, Fruit Snow, Ginger Ice, Gooseberry Ice, Grape Ice, Lemon Ice, Milk of Almond Ice, Orange Ice, Raspberry Ice, Strawberry Ice, Water Ices and Frappés, and more.

How Stuff Works How to make clear ice cubes.

Recipe Zaar How to make fresh floral ice cubes.

Martha Stewart How to make worm ice with gummy worms. Perfect for kids parties or Halloween beverages!

Silicone Ice Trays on eBay 

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Portable Countertop Ice Maker 

Instant Ice Wherever You Are!

NewAir AI-200w Portable Countertop Ice Maker With 35 Pound Daily Ice Making Capacity

Amazon Price: $179.00 (as of 01/08/2010)Buy Now

Don't be fooled by the super low price. This compact counter-top ice maker was recently redesigned and works on any normal household outlet. Best of all, it can produce ice in as little as 7 minutes!

Avg. Customer Rating: Amazon Rating

W is for Welcome 

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Ice Recipes and Ideas

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Culinary Favorites from A to Z on Squidoo 

Inspired by Sue Grafton's Kinsey Millhone Series

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About the Author 

Lensmaster KimGiancaterino has been a member since October 30 2006, has rated 8,497 lenses, favorited 4,170, and has created 295 lenses from scratch. Kim Giancaterino donates their royalties to Asante Africa Foundation. This member's top-ranked page is "2010: Will You Be Saying Two Thousand Ten or Twenty Ten?". See all my lenses

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