Monday, July 16, 2012

Vanilla Ice Cream


July is National Ice Cream Month!  Did you know?  Most of us don't need a reason to eat/ celebrate ice cream.  It's the best.  

For my birthday this past year I got a delightful, easy to use ice cream maker from my in-laws.  They scored big as this is one of my favorite appliances now!  

I have to be honest- I have only made vanilla ice cream, but it's sooooo good I can't get myself to try anything else!  

Here's my basic, easy, no cook, fast, super yummy vanilla ice cream recipe:

2 cups whipping cream
2 cups half and half
2 cups whole milk
1 1/2 cups sugar
1 small package instant vanilla pudding mix
2 teaspoons vanilla

In your ice cream maker, dissolve the pudding mix with the two cups of milk.  Quickly add the remaining ingredients and stir very well.  Churn according to your ice cream maker's directions.  Mine takes about 35 minutes.  

If you need to make more- I usually do- add more cream, half and half or milk.   Just remember it's 3/4 cup of sugar for every 3 cups of liquid.  If you need to double this recipe, you could add 6 cups of whole milk to the base recipe and it will turn out fine.  

Obviously, the more cream you use, the thicker the final product.  

I don't need toppings on this, but I usually have some sugared berries for family and friends to top their bowls off.  


Happy July! 

Monday, July 9, 2012

New! Cinnamon chocolate ice cream

Private selection which is locally carried at Fry's groceries has a new flavor! Cinnamon chocolate is fabulous. And on these pathetically hot summer months I like to buy the little pint sized so I can just grab a spoonful or two on demand.

It's also making me remember a time I was in California with some friends for the Fourth and we made cinnamon chocolate chip homemade ice cream. I was weary of this peculiar sounding flavor. And honestly quite disappointed that we weren't making vanilla or strawberry (my previous favorites).

All worries and disappointments quickly faded when I tasted my first spoonful. It was and still is my favorite kind of homemade ice cream! I need to dig out that recipe now that I have my own ice cream maker!

So yes, cinnamon chocolate may seem a little strange but it's actually very very good.