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Pastry Chef at Rex 1516, Shamus Moriarity, gives us his spin on the Banana Split.

What makes for a perfect banana split? For me, it’s the classic combination of malt shoppe staples and neapolitan ice cream– creating an instant bit of nostalgia with this childhood classic.

What you will need:
Chocolate Ice Cream
Strawberry Ice Cream
Vanilla Ice Cream
Strawberries
Brown Sugar
Confectioner’s Sugar
Candied Walnuts
Condensed Milk
Dark Chocolate
Whipped Cream
Cherries
Bananas

Hot Fudge Recipe:

Melt 12 ounces of dark chocolate via your preferred method (a microwave is totally fine), stir this into one can of condensed milk and bring to your desired temperature.  It will be ooey and gooey while warm, but if left out it can double as a decadent base for any homemade fudge (I suggest laced with any leftover cherries one may have from this!)

SUPER EASY Candied Walnuts:

Put some walnuts in a pot and cover with water.  Bring to a boil, then drain.  Gently and evenly coat the walnuts in confectioner’s sugar, then fry in a pot of hot oil (350F works ideal if you have a deep fryer).  Foolproof each time, no more needing to watch over a pot of boiling sugar!

Strawberry Sauce:

Hull and cut a few strawberries and cook down with some dark brown sugar to bring out the sweetness in them.  Spoon warm over whichever version of this sundae you decide to make!

Got extra bananas lying around? Substitute the vanilla ice cream for homemade banana ice cream!

1 lb frozen, peeled bananas
2/3c heavy cream
1/4c light corn syrup
1T flavoring of your choice– I prefer a vanilla bean for the kids, a shot of bourbon for the adults

Blend these simple ingredients together and run through any standard ice cream maker.  It makes for a luscious and creamy natural banana ice cream the whole family can enjoy.

In a bowl, dish out one scoop each of the three ice creams and then border them with slices of banana, cut into quarters length-wise.  Pour hot fudge and strawberry sauce over them, then top with some whipped cream, walnuts, and cherries.  Let your friends, family, children, or whoever is around dig in and devour!

It’s August and the last thing you are probably thinking about is Christmas (or Hanukkah!) gifts and holiday plans. However, “long lead publications” like magazines start to plan and fill their calendars months in advance. Keep in mind that editors get tons of pitches, so in this case the early bird has a much better chance of “getting the worm.”

Check out our top three tips to ensure your clients-and their products- end up on the must have list this upcoming holiday season:

1. Start Now- Editors start to plan issues up to six months in advance, especially for holiday. Plan pitches accordingly!
2. Give Gifts- Send editors your clients’ products to test and try out themselves. It won’t be a hard sell if they love them.
3. Do Your Homework- Pitch the right products to the right editors at the right publications. High-end luxury goods won’t fly for a budget-friendly magazine, no matter how awesome they may be.