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.
There's Nothing Like Refreshing Ice
All About Ice Cubes
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. flagpoles 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.
There are also dedicated ice-maker machines used to produce ice cubes for laboratories and academic use.
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. This is due to the machine forming the cubes in thin layers, instead of all the water that the ice cube consists of being frozen at once.
Category: Image - :Iced tea with ic...
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 12/01/2008)
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.
Rose Ice Cubes
Silicone Ice Cube Trays
Penguin, Heart, Star, Shell & Seal Styles
Lekue Silicone Ice Cube Tray, Penguin
Amazon Price: $2.99 (as of 12/01/2008)
Lekue Silicone Ice Cube Tray, Heart
Amazon Price: $2.99 (as of 12/01/2008)
Lekue Silicone Ice Cube Tray, Star
Amazon Price: $2.99 (as of 12/01/2008)
Lekue Silicone Ice Cube Tray, Shell
Amazon Price: $2.99 (as of 12/01/2008)
Lekue Ice Cube Tray, Seals
Amazon Price: $2.95 (as of 12/01/2008)
Cool Jazz Ice Cube Tray
Cool Jazz Ice Cube Tray
Fred Cool Jazz Ice Cube Tray
Amazon Price: $7.50 (as of 12/01/2008)
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.
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 12/01/2008)
Fred Ice Kebobs, Blue
Amazon Price: $7.50 (as of 12/01/2008)
4 SWIZZLE stick DRINK Chiller mold ICE TRAY party Decor
Amazon Price: (as of 12/01/2008)
Not Your Grandfather's Ice Cube Tray
Frozen Smiles False Teeth Ice Cube Mold
Frozen Smiles Denture Ice Cube Tray
Amazon Price: $7.00 (as of 12/01/2008)
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
Tropical, Ocean, Dolphin, Flower, Snowman & Reindeer Styles
SiliconeZone Tropical Ice Cube/Chocolate Mold, Orange
Amazon Price: $7.00 (as of 12/01/2008)
SiliconeZone Ocean Ice Cube/Chocolate Mold, Blue
Amazon Price: (as of 12/01/2008)
Dolphin Ice Cube Mold
Amazon Price: $4.94 (as of 12/01/2008)
SiliconeZone Flower Butter Mold, Orange
Amazon Price: (as of 12/01/2008)
Snowman/Rudolph Ice Cube Tray
Amazon Price: $9.99 (as of 12/01/2008)
Amazon Customers Demonstrate the Ice Luge
Party Ice Luge
Definitely a Conversation Starter!
Lush Life Party Ice Luge
Amazon Price: $22.50 (as of 12/01/2008)
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
SiliconeZone Poker Butter Mold, Red
Amazon Price: $8.00 (as of 12/01/2008)
Cool Shooters Shot Glass Mold
Shot Glass Mold
Fred Cool Shooters Shot Glass Mold
Amazon Price: $7.00 (as of 12/01/2008)
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 12/01/2008)
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 Snowman Ice Shaver
Amazon Price: $31.05 (as of 12/01/2008)
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.-
Organic Flavored Agave Nectar and Diabetic Sweetener - Low Glycemic Agasweet
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Recipes and information about Agasweet, the original healthfully flavored agave nectar, currently causing a nation-wide buzz of excitement due to its wonderful taste and incredible versatility. Please note! When I state that agave sweeteners are "su...
Ice Cubes for Your Bottled Water
ICE CUBE TRAYS
Amazon Price: $6.98 (as of 12/01/2008)
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.
Ice Recipes & 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!
Do You Have a Favorite Ice Cube Recipe?
Add Your Lens or Website Link Here
#1
#2
Peach Ice Cubes - Food Network
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#3
Watermelon Ice Cubes - Food Network
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#4
Portable Countertop Ice Maker
Instant Ice Wherever You Are!
The Wine Enthusiast Portable Ice Maker- Gray
Amazon Price: $179.95 (as of 12/01/2008)
Fill the half-gallon reservoir with water and choose small, medium, or large cube size. Makes 12 cubes every 10 minutes, or up to 24 pounds of ice in 24 hours.
W is for Welcome
Did you get some new ideas for using ice?
JaguarJulie wrote...
I love all the wonderful ice sculptures that I've seen -- those rose ice cubes are surely quite interesting.
Posted November 24, 2008
QuantumTraveler wrote...
When I saw your list of lens I just had to look at this one out of curiosity. I especially think that the party ice luge is a unique and interesting idea. Thanks.
Posted October 10, 2008
Margo_Arrowsmith wrote...
1. Great lens! I especially loved the polar bear!
2. BTW Margaret, every year at the Iowa State Fair, someone sculpts a statue in butter (often a life size cow!)
Posted August 23, 2008
PainLizard wrote...
Hi,
I love your lens. Given you 5 stars.
Check out my 1st lens "Weight Loss and Back Pain".
Thank you.
Posted July 06, 2008
Awesome lens with wonderful information on Ice, I like your informative information.
Hope you have a chance to see my lens at private investigator directory.
Posted June 19, 2008
sara08852 wrote...
Cool lens! Among other things, I especially love the guitar ice and trays.
Posted May 25, 2008
Margaret_Schaut wrote...
Love this ice page- I should do one on butter! I could add an European Travel Advisory for that too- If you want butter with your meal, it takes half an hour for them to dig through their dungeons, come up with a tiny little piece that is frozen more solid than your ice!
Posted May 20, 2008
chefkeem wrote...
I just came home from selling my Agasweet flavored agave nectar at the farmer's market - for 6 hours in the 97 degrees F Texas heat! Looking at your fabulous lens was an instantly refreshing experience. I feel like trying all of your suggestions at once.
Using Agasweet as a sweetener for ices is a very tasty idea. Refined sugar syrups are the worst kind of high-fructose corn syrup - extremely bad for you!
Thank you for this cool lens, Kim! 5*s, Fav, LR
Posted May 20, 2008
Evelyn_Saenz wrote...
I followed your Tweet on over. What a cool site!
I love all the shapes and uses for ice cubes. Who would have thought of shot glass ice cubes? Agasweet sounds like a very healthy way to make snowcones.
I just lensrolled to The Three Bears where I suggest using ice cubes with water in the Sensory Table to represent ice bergs for polar bears.
Posted May 20, 2008
Courtesies
Culinary Favorites from A to Z on Squidoo
Inspired by Sue Grafton's Kinsey Millhone Series
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Sue Grafton, A is for Alibi...
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A bitter divorce and custody battle led Sue Grafton to fantasize about ways to eliminate her former husband. Thankfully, she found a way to constructively express her feelings through writing. A is for Alibi was released in 1982, introducing a chrono...
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Culinary Favorites From A to Z Headquarters
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Culinary Favorites from A to Z I'm working on my own series of culinary favorites from A to Z, and thought it would be fun to create a group of food-related lenses to keep my lenses company. This group is open to anything related to cooking. In addi...
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