Roba Dolce Gelatos and Sorbettos

I had the great fortune of receiving a wonderful package of Roba Dolce Gelatos and Sorbettos.  When the package arrived I was sick in bed.  My daughter, Tati, who was also sick, had stayed home from school that day and found the package on our front porch.  Because I was in bed, I didn't open it right away -- but not to worry -- the gelatos and ice creams were safely in a bed of dried ice.  I received 5 (30-ounce) containers and 3 single-serve (6-ounce) containers -- what a generous sample pack!

  Roba Dolce means "sweet stuff" in Italian and I would have to agree.  Roba Dolce began making their "sweet stuff" at two gelatorias in Providence and Newport, Rhode Island.  The response from their customers in Rhode Island and tourists from all over the United States was so encouraging that they decided to package it and make it available for all to enjoy

The Scoop on the Gelato and Sorbetto

Pictured:  Top:  Mango Sorbetto, Coconut Gelato; Center:  Dark Chocolate Chunk Gelato; Bottom:  Lemon Sorbetto, Pistachio Gelato

Gelatos -- Coconut, Pistachio, Dark Chocolate Chunk

Coconut -- We went crazy over the Pistachio and Coconut Gelatos  The coconut was creamy and smooth and tasted like an exquisite coconut macaroon in frozen gelato-form.  At the outset, it was the one flavor that I thought I would have liked the least -- BUT it was one I liked, and my husband liked, the best.  Well, it is hard to say that I liked it the best, because I also adored the Pistachio Gelato.    It would be the perfect ending to any Asian or Indian meal -- or really ANY meal.

Pistachio -- I have always had a penchant for pistachio ice cream and this gelato didn't disappoint.  The gelato was stuffed  with pistachios enrobed in a rich pistachio gelato base.   I have never had a better pistachio gelato or ice cream! My pictures just don't show the generous amount of pistachios in this gelato; if you are a pistachio lover like me, you won't be disappointed.  Should I say that I almost sang an Italian aria after eating the pistachio?

Dark Chocolate Chunk --  If you are a dark chocolate fan, you are in for a real treat with the Chocolate Chunk Gelato.  It has a creamy, rich, intense dark chocolate base with large chunks of chocolate.  This is not a gelato for the faint of heart; it's for those that adore dense, dark chocolate.

Sorbettos

My kids were huge fans of all of the sorbettos. The sorbettos were perfect for those of us who were under the weather.   These are waist-friendly sorbettos.  The generous single servings had only around 120 calories and no fat!

Mango --My 14-year old daughter Tati loved the mango sorbetto; it was like eating a fresh mango in frozen form.   It has a rich, intense flavor; you will feel like you have been transported to some place tropical while eating the mango sorbetto.

Lemon --The lemon sorbetto is a smooth, but tart and intensely flavored sorbetto.  My 16 year-old son kept on getting into the freezer to take bites of this sorbetto; it was calling his name and he couldn't help it!  It is so pretty and white and pure tasting.

Blood Orange  -- We all loved the Blood Orange Sorbetto; we received a single serving of this, shared among five, to my chagrin, I wasn't able to sample very much of it.  In contrast to the mango and lemon sorbettos, it is very gently flavored.

Click HERE for a $1.00 off coupon for Roba Dolce Gelatos and Sorbettos.  Click HERE for retail locations because everyone needs a little Roba Dolce.

Although I was not compensated financially for this review, my taste buds were more than adequately compensated from this generous  free sample pack of gelatos and sorbettos.    Thank you to Roba Dolce and Karen, hostess of the blog "This Old House 2," who sponsored the contest for the new gelato flavors.  The new flavors, submitted  by Karen's readers, and chosen by Roba Dolce are:  Strawberry Cheesecake Gelato, Key Lime Pie Gelato, and a Coffee Toffee Mocha Crunch Gelato.  My submission was a Hazelnut Chocolate Gelato.  Hagen-Daz used to make this flavor and it was soooo amazing.  I think Roba Dolce has a Hazelnut Chocolate in the works.

With Six You Get Egg Rolls

Happy Chinese New Year!

We usually have five at the dinner table, but we were watching a friend's delightful little girl the night we had stir fry.   We had Taie for two days; we miss you Taie!  With the addition of another at our table that made six.  So with six we "got egg rolls" with our Stir Fry!"  I know that "With Six You Get Egg Rolls" is a Doris Day movie, but I can't remember any of the details of it, can you?

Please check back for my review of  Roba Dolce sorbettos and gelatos.  Their coconut gelato is to die for!

These egg rolls were featured HERE in my Light and Airy Chinese New Year's Table post.

I remember many years ago when I made my first egg roll, I thought they were complicated -- which they are NOT at all complicated.  As a young girl, I did not like most Chinese food; when my family would eat at a Chinese restaurant, I would order egg rolls as the entree; I still love them.  This is just a simple, easy recipe for egg rolls.

Egg roll wrappers

1 pound ground chicken or pork -- I used * Gold'n Plump ground chicken.  I love it; it is fresh tasting, low-fat and so convenient!

Cook chicken or pork with in small skillet until browned.  Cool and set aside.

2 cups coleslaw -- the cabbage mix in the bag

3-4 tablespoons low-sodium soy sauce

2 teaspoons sesame oil

3 green onions, chopped in small pieces 

2-3 tablespoons fresh cilantro, chopped
1 teaspoon fresh ginger, chopped in small pieces

1/2 teaspoon black ground pepper

Vegetable oil for pan frying.

Combin the cabbage, soy sauce, sesame oil, green onions, cilantro, and black ground pepper in a medium bowl.  When mixed, add ground chicken or pork.

Take one egg roll wrapper and put 2 tablespoons of ground chicken/pork in the center.  Wrap according to package directions.  In large skillet, at medium-high heat, add 2-3 tablespoons vegetable oil.  Place 4-5 egg rolls in the skillet (with the point down) and cook for 2-3 minutes, turning to brown all surfaces of egg roll.  Place on paper towel-lined plate.  Serve immediately.  These made 21 egg rolls which worked out nicely since there were 21 egg roll wrappers.  Note:  Diced water chestnuts would also be great.  * Awhile back the Gold'n Plump sent me a sample pack of their chicken.

Egg Roll Making Tutorial

Put chicken/pork mixture in center of wrapper.

Roll the bottom half of the wrapper over the mixture; tuck wrapper under the mixture.

Fold left-side of wrapper.  You can put a little water on this to seal it.

Fold right-side of wrapper; in the same manner and try to have points meet -- add a little water to seal.  I don't have a picture of this. Roll up wrapper.

Continue to roll and seal the top point with a bit of water; when you cook the egg roll, place the point down in the skillet.

I hope you make some egg rolls soon!

Happy Chinese New Year!

Posted with the following:  I'm Lov'n It, Foodie Friday, Made By You Monday, Take-A-Look Tuesday, Show and Tell, Weekend Wrapup

Light and Airy Chinese New Year's Tablescape

Hi everyone!  I have always loved pretty dishes.  How about you?   When I was in college, my roommates bought me a four-piece placesetting of these (the blue foral Asian dishes) and I bought myself another.  These dishes could tell many stories of happy Chinese meals eaten throughout the years.  I used them HERE when I just began blogging last year.

There's a blowing wind and really cold temperatures outside so a warming Chinese food sounds good tonight.  We are having homemade egg rolls and stir fry.  My husband is a huge fan of stir-fry and, in his ideal world, he would like to eat it five nights a week; my kids are not such huge fans.   Here is the individual placesetting.

It's such a pretty light and airy, pattern.  The rice bowls are also decorated inside the bowl.

A lovely tea set came along in the pattern.  We are more hot chocolate drinkers, but I just love the tea cups.

Here's an angled view of the plates.  The chopstick rests are so cute and convenient.  Don't worry, I have included flatware also!

When I use bubble glasses, I always include a picture of them.  I like the look of the bubble glasses and the silver candlesticks.

A shot of the full table.

A side shot of the table.  I like using the little sauce dishes -- so tiny and petite.

Ooops, I forgot to put the napkins on!

The egg rolls are hot and ready to eat.

Yum!  Let the feasting begin!  Four on a plate must mean it's my teenage son's plate!

Thanks for stopping by and I wish you a Happy and Prosperous New Year!

Table Information

Placemats, Silver Chargers, and Napkins -- Wal-Mart

Square Plates and Bubble Glasses -- Tai Pan Trading

Asian Dishware -- LaBelle's -- many moons ago

Napkin Rings -- Style Sisters

Pink and Blue Glasses -- Cost Plus or Pier 1 -- many moons ago

Silverware:  Damask Rose -- Wedding Present from my parents

Silver Candlesticks -- Target