Princesses Who Ride Ponies While Eating Sorbet
Princess worthy ride - carrousel in GG Park
When I was a little girl, I wanted to be a doctor-astronaut-princess, oh and in my spare time I thought I could be a kickball playing-ballerina-chef. Of course the only mode of transportation worthy of my elevated status was a stallion, specifically one of those handsome guys found prancing on a carousel. Really, what is not to like? I am seated on a perfectly groomed steed without adult supervision, or at least sitting solo on the saddle so as to more fully realize that fantasy of my long hair wind blown with my princess crown firmly in place as I gallop across the country side – for what reason, I do not recall. I am not sure I ever had a reason – I never got that far; it was enough that I was galloping on my horse. But I digress. That was then and this is definitely now, and while I do not ride the carousel any more, the sight of one is still makes me smile.
Carrousel at Golden Gate Park
At their peak there were more than 3,000 of these wooden beauties around the country. Sadly their numbers have dwindled to 140, but amazingly out of that number six are in the Bay Area. These numbers apply are only the wooden carousels, not the metal ones constructed during the 1940s and 1950s, or the more recent incarnation in fiberglass. The wooden beauties, were built from the 1890s to the late 1920s. One way to tell the age of the carousel is to look at the details, the more ornate the carousel, the chances are the older it is.
One of the reasons there are so few carousels around today is that during the 1970s and 1980s there was a collecting craze to own an individual carousel figure so many of those beautiful works of art were dismantled and sold off to individually to collectors. The price per piece surged to an astonishing six figures at the peak of the craze. Private collectors have reacted to the decimation of the wooden carousel population by acquiring entire carousels to take them off the market.
Caroussel at Golden Gate Park
Note: The spelling is either carousel or carrousel.
downtown SF
ride in downtown
Growing up, the only time I could get my carousel ride was when the fairs came to town in the summer – I eagerly awaited their arrival and pestered my parents daily for news on the dates that the fairs were coming to town. One activity that could take my mind off that wait was the cold fruity goodness of sorbet. Today a sure indication that summer is here is when I break out my ice cream maker to take advantage of the bounty bursting from the farmer’s markets. Sorbets are the taste of summer. I find them incredibly refreshing and thirst quenching, but I had to wonder if my preference was healthier for me than ice cream? Alas, from what I learned that might be wishful thinking. To achieve that creamy texture of sorbet we know and love and not the consistency of an ice cube, the make up of the recipe must include ingredients that offset the water content. For ice cream, that goal is achieved with the fats and protein of the milk and eggs. For sorbets and sherbets, that ingredient is ….sugar. Sorbets typically have twice the amount of sugar found in ice cream to achieve that desired texture. Of course, naturally sweet fruits require less sugar than their tarter brethren.
Sorbets and sherbets – are they the same? Close but not quit – in the United States, according to Harold McGee, “a sherbet is a term applied to fruit ices with milk solids included (typically 3-5% by volume) to fill out the flavor and soften the texture.”
spiced orange honey sorbet
Spiced Orange Honey Sorbet
Ingredients
3 c water
½ c honey
½ c sugar
1 fresh bay leaf
2 cloves
2 star anise
2 c freshly squeezed orange juice (~4 to 5 oranges)
3T freshly squeezed lemon juice
2 T orange zest
3 T orange flavored liqueur (I’ve used blood orange limoncello, and Grand Marnier – I liked the mellower liqueur better – fresher flavor)
Directions
Combine the first 6 ingredients, bring to boil and reduce until ~ 2 cups simple syrup remains. (Making this simple syrup does double duty as the kitchen smells incredible.) Strain and allow to cool. Combine simple syrup with orange juice, lemon juice, zest and liqueur and chill for a few hours. Follow ice cream maker’s directions, pack into a contain and freeze until firm ~2 hours. Enjoy.
Prince Charming consuming sorbet while watching TdF
What a cute title, and loved taking my kids to a carousel ride!
Prince charming had better appreciate your talents here…I make sure mine acknowledges mine as well…or he doesn’t eat!
What great flavors! The spices really take it to another level. We also love a good sherbet. Yum.
Hello OysterCulture, good luck on your ice-cream entry, it looks yummy!
As far as I remember I enjoyed on a carrousel just for once when I was a child as we didn’t have any in the region we used to live. And when we moved to a city where we could find carrousels, I had already grown up! So these pictures made me both smile and a bit melancholic.
Your sorbet looks so refreshing. I can eat a few cups at a time to get rid of feeling this hot weather. In Turkish, we call it ‘şerbet’, similar to sherbet, isn’t it? It has two meanings in our language. First meaning is cold drinks made from various fruits, water and sugar. This one is also called ‘şurup’ (syrup in English) when fruits are a little cooked to make the drink more consistent. Second, it means the sweet liquid including sugar, water and little lemon juice. This one is used in many Turkish desserts like baklava, kadayif, sobiyet, etc.
I love carousels. It’s a shame that there’s not many of them left. I used love go on them so much when I was little.
That looks like a really delicious sorbet! You made it just at the right time. The weather’s perfect for it.
Chef E – thanks! PC does appreciate my efforts that picture was proof he “stole” a second serving =)
Duo – thanks
Kenny – Thanks
Zerrin – I think they are very similar but in the US sherbets have a bit of milk in them, so your versions are closer to our sorbets. Your fruity syrups are incredible, I have a favorite sour cherry syrup that I love to add to lemonade – ah so refreshing. My idea of heaven.
Jenn – I was inspired by the weather it is perfect, although as I type this, living in SF, the fog is rolling in =)
Your sorbet looks delicious! Thanks so much for participating in the Ice Cream Social; it will be great to see everyone’s entries.
As for carousels, I remember that I always wanted to be on the one that went up and down, and would be so horribly disappointed when I ended up on a stationary horse (which seemed to be the case, more often than not!)
wow, what a unique sorbet!
And hahaha, I ALWAYS ride carousels, because that’s about the only ride I can ever ride without freaking out and throwing my guts up.
Lovely pictures! Also from the carrousel!!
That sorbet looks so yummie!!
So why don’t you ride carousels anymore? (I still do!)
I would go straight for that giraffe one, fighting off any kids if I had to (and I would win because I’m bigger)
I knew the difference between sorbet and sherbet from my extensive scooper training at Baskin Robbins. And don’t you hate it when people say “sherbert”? Anyways, your orange sorbet recipe sounds divine with all those spices and herbs, good luck in the contest!
My last spin on a carousel was with my little nieces at the Denver Zoo. So fun! Your sorbet sounds fantastic with the bay leaf and star anise. I need to switch to lighter treats like this for awhile!
TN – thanks and I agree the vertically mobile rides always held the greatest appeal.
Sophia – thanks, here’s to calm stomachs at the fair!
Sophie – it is yummy – my hubby said “best one yet” course he says that every time =)
Phyllis – you’re right darn it this weekend I’m heading over to that carousel and climbing on. thanks for the vote.
Lisa – I think kids are the perfect excuse, err accessory, err reason to take a carousel ride. I cannot wait until my niece visits.
I clearly have a lot to learn about carousels. I loved them as a kid, racing up to find the most unique animal. Always such fun. The sorbet sounds amazing. Blood orange limoncello? I bet that is fantastic!
That sorbet looks refreshing and delicious!
I think I know who is a big romantic softie at heart…. ME! You really got me with this one. GREG
Wow, those pics bring back memories. I remember being a little girl and riding the carousel with my Dad and oldest brother. I always looked forward to it. One carousel had a ring-toss game, too. As the carousel spun, you could try your hand at throwing a plastic ring at some target to win a prize. My brother always tried his luck. Not me. I was too busy holding on to dear life to my wooden horse.
gosh, how i would love to ride a carousel again. they are magical, aren’t they?
What is it about the carousel? It is a tad boring even for a kid. But young and old we all adore it. Fantasy I suppose….GREG
Lori – I have a fondness for limoncello style liqueurs of anytime and have fun making them with different citrus – blood orange is a favorite.
Erica – it really is yummy
Sippity – ahhh! =)
Carolyn – I am not coordinated to do a ring toss horse ride, besides I think that would distract from the fantasy of my being a princess and riding on my steed -)
KMS – Totally agree
Sippity – with you on the middle ground by then I was on to other adventures but they sure have the power to enthrall me now.
The old carousels really are things of beauty – a pity there’s so few left. As for the sorbet, it just makes me want to go and get an ice cream maker, otherwise I am indeed likely to end up with a giant spiced orange honey ice cube!
Lovely memories typical of a child in a park and they – I want ice creams /sorbets – always
Enjoy your summer there eating tons of these delights..here is raining, cold may be..a dark chocolate for me!
Stopping by to say that I’ve an award for you at my blog but you already know it
Eat this fabulous – flavorful sorbet and you can run without guilt…
Cheers,
Gera
Spud – agreed, they are beautiful. Trust me this sorbet is awesome, made it again tonight to feed to the guys who came over to watch the Giro.
Gera – I may join you in the dark chocolate it is cold and drizzly today, I made sorbet but chocolate might have been better.
Thank you so much for the award, I am honored. =)
Cheers,
LouAnn
Yum, I love sorbets and go for them mostly because I can’t handle pure ice cream. =(
Your spiced sorbet is right up my alley. I’m such a big fan of star anise. I also love that you combined the sweet and savory here with the bay leaf. Great recipe!
This would be so delicious on a hot summer day. Love the color of the sorbet. You wanted to be some cool things when you were little – my mom tells me I always wanted to be a mailman or baker. I actually became one of those things….
Lisa, I have to say that this spicy orange combo has rapidly risen to the top of my favorite sorbet recipes. It is just plain tasty
Gastro – Congrats on knowing what you wanted to be from such a young age. If they had a sampler platter of careers, I’d have wanted to try them all. The sorbet is indeed very refreshing and I was delighted with the color of it as well, really surprised at the intensity.
I have followed and enjoyed you8r blog for sometime now. (And you grew up in MN, my adopted home) but I must speak about Ireland. I loved Dublin. I spent my last day with Yeats at the National Library. But when I go to another country, the smaller towns grab me. The history and culture of the country seem so prominent in the smaller towns – where Dublin could be NYC or Rome on a given day. Go to the small towns and savor.
Hi Claudia,
Its a pleasure to meet you virtually. I’m glad to hear you are enjoying your adopted home, I have so many great memories of growing up there, would not change it for anything. As to Ireland, thank you for the great advise. My mom and I are traveling there and she is selecting the places to check out, and there are many small towns on the list. I’m attracted to the small towns as well as you can usually skirt the touristy stuff, and as you say head to the culture. I’m very excited about this upcoming trip and look forward to knowing more about this country. I will definitely go to the small towns and look forward to savoring all that they offer.