friday favourites: my ice cream maker

For my birthday this year I finally received my long awaited ice cream maker.

I did lots of research and lots of debating on which ice cream maker would be best.
In the end the Kitchen Aid ice cream attachment won-


 simply because unless I bought one with its own compressor I would still have to put the bowl into the freezer and I would have another appliance taking up space in my cupboard.
Because I already owned a Kitchen Aid, I just needed to buy the bowl- I keep it in the freezer at all times- so it doesn't take up any extra space.

 
I am really happy with it.
If you are after an ice cream maker and you don't have a Kitchen Aid I have heard that Cuisinart are the best.

I must tell you before we go any further ice cream is one of my most favourite things in the world to eat!

I just love it and can't get enough ice cream - ever, even in winter I still love ice cream!!!

Now being sugar free and at times dairy free means I can make an ice cream that I can enjoy guilt free.

Since I got my ice cream maker I have made ice cream at least once a week for our Sundaes on Sunday. Some weeks I have made more- like when we have been having guests or for a birthday or something.

It is just so yummy.

I use dextrose instead of sugar and no-one can even tell the difference!

Not one visitor has been able to tell that there is no sugar in the ice cream!

A family favourite and one that is requested most is chocolate peppermint ice cream.

It is very yummy- who can resist that fresh peppermint flavour with choc chips mixed through!

The basic ice cream recipe I have been using is from

David Gillespie's The Sweet Poison Quit Plan

I usually make this and then add the flavourings to suit.
If you eat sugar just replace the dextrose in the recipe with sugar.

Old Fashioned Vanilla Ice Cream
1 C dextrose
pinch salt
1 3/4 C whole milk
2 large eggs beaten in a large bowl
1 1/2C thickened cream
vanilla pod (I don't add this if I am flavouring it)

1. Mix dextrose, salt and milk and a vanilla pod in a saucepan and heat until steaming- do not boil
2. Whisk the hot mixture into the beaten eggs in the bowl, then return mixture to the saucepan.
3. Heat the mixture for 3 minutes at a low-medium heat, stirring with a wooden spoon, until the mixture thickens. Don't let it boil as this will curdle the mixture.
 this whole process takes about 5 minutes- too easy!
4. Pour mixture back into the bowl (I use a Pyrex glass jug) and refrigerate until cold(1-2hrs)
5. When it is cold add the cream and strain out the vanilla pod.
6. Churn in your ice cream maker according to your manufacturer's instructions.
Place in a container and freeze for a couple of hours until firm.


To make strawberry: cook some frozen strawberries (I think I used about a cup) or other berry of choice over low heat until soft and mushy, process until smooth and then strain out seeds, add to the custard before churning- if you want it a pinker colour add a few drops of cochineal.

To make chocolate: Add 100g (you could add up to 200g if you like it really rich) 70-85% dark chocolate at the beginning when you are heating the milk stir until melted.

To make chocolate chip: finely chop 100g of 70-85% dark chocolate add towards the end of the churning time.

To make passionfruit: add some passionfruit pulp (about 2) to the cold custard

To make old fashioned coconut- like I used to buy at the corner store on a Sunday afternoon when I was a kid, add 1/2 cup coconut, 1-2 teaspoons coconut extract and a couple drops of cochineal for that slight pink colour.


To make peppermint choc chip: add some peppermint essence (to taste) and if you want it green a few drops of green food colouring, churn, add about 100g finely chopped chocolate (I use my food processor to chop it) towards the end of churning.

 Once you have a base recipe it is really only up to your imagination what flavours you want to create.

 B1 loves Cherry Ripes so I thought I would have a go at a cherry ripe ice cream.

I am still deciding how to go about it- do I make a chocolate ice cream and then add some cherries and coconut or do I make a cherry ice cream and then add coconut and dark choc chips or do I make a coconut ice cream and swirl cherries and chocolate through it or maybe I could make it with just coconut and cherries and then top if with chocolate ganache or a crackle top.

Hmmmm- what do you think, how would you go about it?

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