Family Fun You Can Eat

Let’s Get Back to The Good Stuff: Homemade Ice Cream

Since families are spending more quality time together, a suggestion for a fun group activity that is also delicious is making ice cream.  Below are a few recipes that include the assistance of an ice cream maker; which can be easily purchased online for a reasonable price. The pleasure of seeing children discover ice cream can be made at home, helping to prepare it and enjoying it with family members is priceless.

Strawberry Ice Cream

12 ounces fresh strawberries, hulled

¾ cup white sugar

2 cups of heavy whipping cream

1 cup of milk

1 teaspoon of Vanilla extract

1 tiny pinch of salt

2 drops of red food coloring (optional)

1. Place strawberries and sugar in a blender and pulse until pureed; steep for 10 minutes.

2. Pour cream, milk, vanilla extract, and salt into strawberry mixture; blend until smooth and slightly thickened, 10 to 15 seconds. Whisk red food color into cream mixture.

3. Pour strawberry mixture into the container of an ice cream maker and freeze according to the manufacturer's instructions. Transfer ice cream to a sealable container, cover the ice cream with plastic wrap, seal the container, and freeze, 2 hours to overnight.

   Prep time 10 minutes, ready in 2 hours, 55 minutes

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 Vanilla Ice Cream

2 quarts half-and-half cream

1/2 pint heavy cream

1 1/2 cups white sugar

4 teaspoons vanilla extract

1 pinch salt

Add all ingredients from list

1. Combine half-and-half, cream, sugar, vanilla and salt in freezer container of ice cream maker. Freeze according to manufacturer's instructions.

Prep 10 min, ready in 55 min

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Mint Chocolate Chip Ice Cream

2 cups 2% milk

2 cups heavy cream

1 cup sugar

½ teaspoon salt

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

1 teaspoon peppermint extract

3 drops green food coloring (optional)

1 cup miniature semisweet chocolate chips

Add all ingredients from list

1. In a large bowl, stir together the milk, cream, sugar, salt, vanilla extract and peppermint extract until the sugar has dissolved. Color to your liking with the green food coloring.

2. Pour the mixture into an ice cream maker, and freeze according to the manufacturer's instructions. After about 10 minutes into the freezing, add the chocolate chips. After the ice cream has thickened, about 30 minutes later, spoon into a container, and freeze for 2 hours.

Prep 15 min, ready 2 hours, 45 min

These and other recipes can be found at https://www.allrecipes.com