That's a Sandra Lee special right there.

agreed with Lowter. As soon as I saw this I said " great now Martha is advising people to dump ice cream straight from the box on a plate and call it dessert." Then I read and yep, that's what it's saying. There's a difference between an easy dessert and just dumping out a carton of ice cream.

No, there's NO difference between an easy dessert and just dumping out a carton of ice cream, because that's exactly what it is: easy.

It may not be "tasteful" or quite what you were expecting, but it is extremely easy to do.

Well, the linked article does say that the inventor "focuses on presentation."

Scoop me out a nice, humble bowl of ice cream, and and I will not inquire into its provenance. It's when there's all this effort to put a fancy dress on what's blatantly packaged food that something seems faintly "off," like squiggling fancy creme swirls to garnish a frozen dinner.

Berry cobbler is quick and easy.

This is just lazy.

Although it's a little "lazy", how many times have we found ourselves looking for something quick when an unexpected gathering happens? Sandra Lee bothers me, yes. But, everyone is different, and we need to respect that! The Kitchn does a great job of giving us tips, recipes, etc. all over the spectrum, and thats how it should be. Honestly, I'm quite tired of the negativity and the arrogance that so often surrounds food. Come on, just enjoy! And realize that everyone lives life their own way.

Eilonwy said it really well. There's nothing wrong, if you're that pressed for time/ can't pull off anything fancier, to whip out a carton of ice cream and serve up nice dishes of ice cream to your guests. That's cool. It's trying to pass it off for more than it is that causes raised eyebrows.

Things like this are why I have yet to feel the love for Kevin Sharkey. He puts potato chips on silver platters and acts as though that alone will class them up, thereby a) creating envy that he is wealthy enough to greet his guests with sterling silver and b) showing a deplorable lack of effort, for which he is no doubt more than handsomely rewarded by Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia.

I'd soften some ice cream, put it in a store-bought Oreo cookie crust, and drizzle with good chocolate before I'd just dump a block on a plate.

It's Kevin Sharkey- the ice cream alone probably cost as much as I make in an hour. Frankly, how is this any different than lusting after ice cream bombes and "terrines?" Because he didn't press it into another shape? I don't understand the outrage around here sometimes. I really don't.

This reminds me of the vienetta ice cream logs. I used to get more excited for those than the actual birthday cake! This would look really pretty next to a great birthday cake.

Well said, Jamilynn, well said!

I'm not that much of a fan, but I do find slab ice cream tastier somehow. If the post reminds you of trying that, then I'm up for it.
And the last time TheKitchn talked about ice cream slices , I remember nostalgia and not as much snark.

When it's 103F as it was yesterday where I live, lazy is a GOOD thing. I was too lazy to go to the grocery store & pick up a carton of Neapolitan and a can of Hershey's syrup but if not we might have had this at my house for dessert! I think it's old fashioned, reminds me of lunch at my grandma's house in the 1960s

I have had my turn of being a food / music / culture snob.....then life got in the way and I had to learn to cut corners and adjust. This is a wonderfully easy way to get a cool desert that is just a step away from usual. If I had to chose between presenting this and having some happy time with family / friends I know what I would choose.

I think this is a actually a cute and easy way of dressing up ice cream. However one issue: anyone ever tried cutting through melted and refrozen chocolate? It would have to be a melt/drizzle/cut operation for it to work well. Otherwise I could see hardened chocolate and melted ice cream all over the place.

I don't think this idea is so bad, but then I'm allergic to gluten and too busy to fiddle around with bizarre cake recipes trying to come up with something that will work for a party. I don't think I've had a birthday cake in years due to my allergies, so I would give this a try. It looks pretty, it's festive, and I don't really care that it wouldn't be taxing enough to count as effort. However, I would have to search to find good-tasting Neapolitan ice cream.

Martha's done stuff like this before... there's a great 'recipe' in Healthy Quick Cook for cutting watermelon into perfect cubes and then drizzling Campri or something over them. That's it.

Presentation is half the battle.

This isn't TOO different from an ice cream bombe. There are a lot of lazy summer desserts in history that are due for a comeback... coupes? refrigerator cakes? Shilouette roll?

I love this! Nothing wrong with a little lipstick on a pig. haha

If I was a guest at someone's house, and they brought this out for a dessert, I wouldn't turn my nose up at it or think less of them because

a) they went to a bit of effort for me, and
b) I would get to eat ice cream.

And since when is someone giving you free ice cream a BAD thing?