By Frank E. Vaerewijck, “The Firehouse Foodie”
“Would you look at that!” “What’s up, Captain?” As the captain throws the newspaper down on the table, front page up, there in all his glory is Firefighter/EMT Carter standing next to Engine 2 looking at the fire in the background all heroic and supermanlike. The PA crackles and the announcement is made, “Attention in the station, attention in the station, FF/EMT Carter has the privilege of supplying desert for tonight’s meal in the form of cake and ice cream. FF/EMT Carter, while working overtime yesterday at Station 2, had the honor of gracing the front page of the Daily Times in full color. Congratulations, Carter. We the thank you for your service and please expect to sign autographs. That is all. Thank you for your attention.”
According to our history and as defined as the rule, “Ice cream is owed only if a member of a company is portrayed in the media, be it television, print, online, or otherwise in activities not associated with the assignment they are recorded at. (Social media not affiliated with a media outlet, that doesn’t get ice cream but instead a pat on the head for the person trying, because that reeks of desperation.) Being filmed fighting fire, cutting a car, rendering aid, or performing regular assigned tasks on the scene of an emergency response does not entitle the members of the company to ice cream from the member involved.”
All in all, when the media shows up, disappear! Not everyone likes cake, but most everyone likes cookies and ice cream, and what two things go together in such a great combination to make a sweet treat like ICE CREAM SANDWICHES? “That’s Bringing the Firehouse Home!”
Easy Ice Cream Sandwiches
Yields 6
Ingredients:
12 large (three- to four-inch) hard cookies (your favorite kind)
1 quart container of your favorite ice cream
Directions:
1. Lay a cookie flat-side up on a cookie sheet lined with wax paper.
2. Scoop approximately 4½ oz. of ice cream onto the cookie.
3. Press another cookie on top, flat-side down.
4. Using a butter knife, shave the sides of any rough edges.
5. Place excess ice cream in a bowl; after all edges are shaved, eat the excess. You deserve it!
6. Place cookie sheet in freezer to harden ice cream after working into sandwiches.
Enjoy!
Frank E. Vaerewijck has had a passion for the fire service that has spanned 20 years. He has been a volunteer and career firefighter and is currently a firefighter/EMT with the Manassas (VA) Volunteer Fire Company. He has passed on his passion for the fire service through instruction and mentorship. That same passion he has for the fire service is shared with his love of food. In 2006, Vaerewyck won an Iron Chef-style competition sponsored by a radio station in Richmond, Virginia. That is where he also furthered his education by attending a Culinary Arts Program. As the Firehouse Foodie, he has been compiling recipes to be included in a cookbook that will give others the opportunity to see their hometown heroes not just as firefighters, but as the firehouse chefs they truly are.
