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Not Just For Kids: Ice Cream with Style

Not Just For Kids: Ice Cream with Style

Iced coffee and margaritas reign as the adult summer coolers of choice, but for kids, ice cream is as good as it gets.

Channel Your Inner Child

These days most of us wouldn’t deign to go down to the gas station for a popsicle. And our ice cream tastes have evolved past strawberry, chocolate, and vanilla.

But just because you are craving something a little more refined doesn’t mean ice cream can’t hit the spot. Or at least its lower cal cousins, sorbet and gelato, can do the trick.

But if you can’t find a flavor that gets you that strikes your fancy, why not make your own?

Your Own Ice Cream Store

One unbearably hot memorial day weekend, I found myself at my friend Julian’s boho chic Providence, Rhode Island apartment.

On the wall was a vintage style blackboard with odd flavor combinations written on it. It was his stock of homemade ice cream!

Like having his own boutique ice cream store, with in-stock flavors changing by the hour, this was the place to be on a hot day. When you visit Julian, you sit at the big kitchen island, place you order and he pulls out your flavor du jour.

Do Try This at Home

There is no good reason that we can’t all have our own personal gourmet ice cream collection in the freezer.

Wait, you don’t have an ice cream maker? That’s not an excuse anymore. The Cuisinart ICE-20R Automatic Ice Cream Maker is available for just $50 for the quart and a half version.

Better still: the super slick new ICE-30BC two quart version is on sale for $67.88 with free shipping.

What are you waiting for?

Last year, I got a gelato maker for my birthday and found that it is one of the most useful mid-size kitchen appliances. Maybe even more useful than a dishwasher.

Let me know if you have any questions!

Mango Mint Gelato Recipe

Prep time: 35 mins (5 min active)
Serves: 4-6

Ingredients

  • 2 packages frozen mango pieces (16 oz.) or 4 large ripe mangos
  • handful mint leaves
  • a few sage leaves (pineapple sage is delicious if you can find it)
  • simple syrup

Method

  1. Run the frozen mango under hot water for two minutes. Or chop the mango into chunks (good guide here).
  2. Chop 1/4 cup of mint leaves and a few pineapple sage leaves.
  3. Puree mango and add to gelato maker with 1/2 cup simple syrup and chopped herbs.
  4. Set gelato maker to run for 30 minutes.

Enjoy!


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  1. Melissa

    13 July

    Found you on SITS. What a fabulous blog! I always say I’m not an expert cook but I’m a willing cook. One time at the grocery store I saw King Crab on sale. Since my husband loves it I decided to get some, having no idea how to cook it. When I found out I needed a double-broiler, which I didn’t have, I improvised. I took the largest pot I had and filled it with water. Then I took the top rack out of the oven and put it on top of the pot. Viola! A double-broiler! 🙂 I can see that your blog is going to really come in handy for me! Can’t wait to look around more.