“I’m sure they’ll be ice cream in heaven, and it’ll taste 100% times better, but while I’m still here on earth, I won’t deny thyself!”
Ice cream has always been one of my favorite deserts. I guess I would go as far as calling it a pastime because there are so many memories connected to this incredibly creamy, frozen delight. I definitely inherited this trait from my dad. I actually remember acquiring a taste for it. We were living in Weston, Connecticut at the time. There was a little ice cream stand along the side of the road in Wilton, CT called Heibeck’s. It was only open during the summer back then, which made it even more desirable. It’s still there today. It is here that I acquired a taste for ice cream.
A little Ice Cream History
Ice cream has long been called the Great American Dessert. Although no specific date of origin or inventor has been credited with the discovery of ice cream, it’s origin reaches back to 200 BC. The discovery of iced drinks, and fruit flavored snow during the Roman Empire, was just the beginning. The traditional ice cream recipe evolved during the 16th century in Europe, and included a blend of milk, cream, butter and eggs.
Ice cream came to America in the 1700’s, and was considered an exotic dessert enjoyed by the elite. It didn’t become popular to the masses until the discovery of the insulated ice house in the late 1800’s. Ice cream production increased because of technological innovations, including steam power, mechanical refrigeration, the homogenizer, electric power and motors, packing machines, new freezing processes and equipment, and vehicles for delivery. (International Dairy Foods Assoc.)
Today total frozen dairy annual production in the United States is more than 1.6 billion gallons, and I’m a true supporter!
Making Ice Cream
So I continue to be a supporter of the ice cream industry, but today, because my husband purchased me an ice cream maker for Christmas, I make my own. I held off buying an ice cream maker for the obvious reasons. . . I already have enough junk in my trunk, but maybe I would be encouraged to make some healthy ice cream, gelato, and sorbet, right? Well, that hasn’t happened yet, but it’s not over until the “fat” lady sings (I’m not singing yet).
I use a Breville Ice Cream Maker. This fully automatic ice cream maker blends frozen desserts, from sorbet to ice cream to gelato, in your choice of consistency, from soft-serve style to hard pack, in less than an hour. It takes about 45 minutes for me to make ice cream from start to finish! The machine also keeps the ice cream cool if you’re not ready to eat it yet, and your guests are still polishing off your homemade BBQ dinner.
Since I got the ice cream maker, I have tried a few recipes using different ingredients. I have settled on a fairly simple recipe for the base of the ice cream. Although many ice cream recipes call for egg yolk, I didn’t like using eggs. Eggs bind the ice cream, and make it a chewy consistency. You also have to cook the base, and let it cool (too much time). Many recipes call for milk. Milk has too much water in it, making the ice cream icy as it sits in the freezer. So here is my recipe; not rocket science, but it makes a creamy, wonderfully consistent base. This recipe base can be used for any ice cream maker.
Ice Cream Base Recipe
1 can Sweetened Condensed Milk 14oz
2 cups Half and Half (or whipping cream)
1/4 tsp. salt
1 tsp vanilla extract (or real vanilla bean)
Directions: Electric Mix extract with sweetened condensed milk. Add in Half and Half. Mix well with hand mixer. Add into Ice cream machine. Chill in air tight container for a few hours. Makes 1 Quart.
Using this base, I’m able to make flavored ice creams by adding the flavor of a specific ice cream to the sweetened condensed milk. Following are several other ice cream recipes showing how this is done.
Chocolate Ice Cream
1 can Sweetened Condensed Milk 14oz
2 cups Half and Half (or whipping cream)
1/4 tsp. salt
1 tsp. vanilla extract
1/2 Cup Hershey’s Coco Powder Special Dark
Directions: Electric Mix Coco well with condensed milk. Add in extract, and Half and Half. Mix well. Add into Ice cream machine. Chill in air tight container for a few hours. Makes 1 Quart.
Coffee Ice Cream
1 can Sweetened Condensed Milk 14oz
2 cups Half and Half (or whipping cream)
1/4 tsp. salt
1 tsp coffee extract
6 Tbsp. Instant Coffee (I use decaf)
Directions: Electric Mix Instant Coffee well with condensed milk. Add in extract, and Half and Half. Mix well. Add into Ice cream machine. Chill in air tight container for a few hours. Makes 1 Quart.
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Chocolate Ice Cream
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Coffee Ice Cream
So there you have it. I’ll end with a few tips. Happy makin’. More ice cream recipe ideas on my Pinterest.
- Store ice cream in an air tight safe container. Ice cream lasts 1-2 weeks
- Lay plastic wrap over newly made ice cream before sealing
- Store in the back of the freezer to avoid melting when door opens and closes
- Avoid using ingredients with alot of water, ice cream will get icy
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