Faux Fried Ice Cream Plus #NaturesSLeep Ice Cream Recipe Contest #Sponsored 7/31

***Disclosure: As a Nature's Sleep Ambassador, I receive product samples to facilitate reviews. All opinions are 100% honest and have not been influenced in any way.***

So 2 of the greatest pleasures in life would have to be eating ice cream and sleeping in. Not necessarily in that order, of course. As the mom of 2 preschool-aged kids, I find I don't get nearly as much sleep as I should, so those extra minutes of sleep are as precious to me as gold. Thankfully, I fall asleep faster than ever thanks to my Nature's Sleep mattress and pillow. Even if the quantity of sleep isn't ideal, the quality of the sleep I am lucky enough to get is amazing. 

Another thing that's amazing is my Faux Fried Ice Cream with fresh fruit and caramel sauce. Yes, I said fried ice cream! You know...That delectable treat you only thought you could find at your favorite Mexican restaurant? Well, you can make a very passable imitation in the comfort of your own home. You don't even need to break out the fryer because there's no frying involved! 

It's so simple to make, and only takes a few minutes. First, you'll need a few key ingredients:
Corn Flakes
Karo Syrup
Cinnamon
Butter
Vanilla Ice Cream
Caramel Sauce
Whipped Cream 
Fruit (Strawberries, blueberries, cherries, etc.) 

For your convenience, I have added exact amounts and instructions at the bottom of this post as well. 

Anyway, like I said, this stuff is so easy to prepare. Just crush up your corn flakes, add cinnamon, combine them with melted butter and Karo syrup and toast on the oven for just a few minutes. Once it starts to brown and smell all toasty, it's done. Turn off the heat and let it cool for about 10 minutes. 

Once your coating has cooled, it's time to get your ice cream ready. I like using Vanilla Bean ice cream, but any kind will work. Scoop out about enough ice cream to make a baseball-sized ball. You're going to want to roll these balls quickly, as it will make your hands very, very cold. Don't worry, it's totally worth it! 

Once you have your balls made, you might want to throw them into the freezer for a bit to allow them to firm back up. This isn't necessary, but makes it easier in the long-run. 

Next, roll your ice cream balls into your coating. Make sure to coat it very, very well! Place it into your dish and then drizzle with caramel sauce. Be generous here, since the sauce gives it so much flavor! 

Once your ice cream is sauced, garnish it with whipped cream, sliced strawberries, blueberries, cherries, or anything else your heart desires. I think bananas would be fantastic in this dish, so I will have to try that next time! 

This dish is absolutely beautiful and fit for company, but it can also be thrown together in no time at all for a midnight snack. If you crave ice cream at midnight, of course. I'm not going to judge, wink wink. 

My teenager, Kyle, had never had Fried Ice Cream before, so he was very eager to dive right in. He immediately started ooh-ing and ahh-ing about how wonderful my non-fried version was. There's the creaminess of the ice cream, the nice, toasty crunch from the topping, and then the gooey caramel sauce adds another tantalizing layer of flavor. And the fruit? Well, of course it tastes good, but I add it to attempt to convince myself that I am giving my kids a somewhat healthy snack. 

After Kyle's belly was full of ice cream deliciousness, he decided it was time to lay down and take a quick nap. This is what we like to call a food coma, and that only happens when one's appetite is truly satisfied. He even stole my Nature's Sleep Vitex Gel Pillow. Caught red-handed!

If you'd like to try my Faux Fried Ice Cream for yourself, here's my recipe. It's deceptively simple, undeniably delicious, and sure to impress even the pickiest of eaters. 

Enjoy! If you have any ice cream recipes you'd like to share, I'd love to hear about them! We're always looking for cool treats to enjoy during the summer. Whether it's out in the sunshine or snuggled up in bed, there's always room for ice cream, don't you agree? 

Special July Savings and Nature's Sleep Twitter Chats :

Now through July 31st, you can enjoy a whopping 40% off ALL Nature's Sleep Pillows!! These are so amazingly comfortable...You will literally wonder how you ever fell asleep without them! 

Just use the code: PILLOW40 at checkout! 

If you'd like to learn more about memory foam or gel mattresses and how they're not all created equal, there are some great Nature's Sleep twitter chats you can attend. Oh, I should also mention that there are some amazing prizes awarded, too! 

These twitter chats happen the FIRST and THIRD Tuesday of every month at 1:00PM EST. The next chats are on the following dates:

July 1st-Ice Cream Pinterest Contest
July 15 - Ice Cream Pinterest Contest Part Two

To participate, be sure to follow the following twitter accounts:  @makobimedia @naturessleep and @makobiscribe

Then follow along using the #NaturesSleep hashtag. 

***Twitter Chat Tip*** If you find it difficult to keep up with the action, try using a service like Twubs that will make tracking the hashtag easier. You can even slow the conversation and follow at a more human pace.
You can learn more about the awesomeness that is Nature's Sleep on their website.

You can also connect with them on Facebook, on twitter and on Pinterest to stay on top of their latest products and promotions. 

Enter the Nature's Sleep Ice Cream Recipe Contest :

Nature's Sleep is having a really fun contest throughout the month of July! By participating, you can win a Vitex Gel Pillow. (These are amazing! I sleep with one every night!) There will be a new winner every week, so be sure to enter!

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