Salted Caramel Popcorn Sundae

What is it about a dinner party that makes you think you need a fancy dessert? In reality, I'm usually so full after a big meal that I just want a little bite of sweet. Even better if that little bite is frozen and in cream form. Boom... ice cream sundae.

Even better? Ice cream sundae with unexpected depth of flavor and texture. This time I paired good vanilla ice cream with my Salted Caramel Sauce and Rosemary Olive Oil Popcorn. This combo is salty/sweet in all the right ways and the popcorn's herbaceous crunch adds an element of surprise.

There are so many incredible ice creams on the market these days -- even in regular grocery stores -- that with some well-thought toppings, you have a bangarang entertaining-ready dessert. When it comes to store-bought ice cream, I love the vanilla bean from Trader Joe's or Graeter's. Its a Cincinnati classic which happened to employ one of my dearest friends in high school and they've got great Midwest distribution these days. I figure, if they managed to wrangle that wild child they must be geniuses. Frozen treat geniuses.