Strawberry Goodness (ice cream & sorbet)

In our family, parties and get-together's aren't the same without the sweets. And our entire family's favorite sweet is ice cream (even Grandad's). Naturally, when I started talking bridal shower details with my cousin Kourtney for the shower I was hosting her...homemade ice cream was on the menu.

I started out with the idea of making popsicles, but couldn't find any molds. I still loved the idea of simple, self-serve style ice cream though. So when I stumbled upon these 8-ounce plastic freezer jars, I knew I had found exactly what I needed. These jars are cheap, 5 for $3.99, and you can get them at Wal Mart. Easy peasy lemon squeezy.

The dark one is sorbet, the light one ice cream.

I made two different recipes: fresh strawberry ice cream, and strawberry limeade sorbet.

The only catch to make both of these recipes is you will, of course, be needing an ice cream maker. I have a Cuisinart, and it is awesome.

For the strawberry limeade sorbet:

I followed this recipe, and it is so simple.

All you need is:
3 cups sliced strawberries
5 tablespoons lime juice
1 tablespoon lemon juice
3/4 cups sugar

Instructions: Blend all ingredients in blender until thoroughly blended. Add mixture into ice cream maker. When mixture is finished churning (is a thicker, sorbet-like consistency) transfer to containers and freeze. Before eating, let sit 5 or 10 minutes to thaw.

A punch bowl filled with ice held the cold treats.

For the fresh strawberry ice cream:

I based my ice cream off of the recipe in the tiny little recipe book that comes with the ice cream maker. Their recipe is a little too complicated, and when you simplify it...it turns out exactly the same. This is my version.

What you'll need:
3 cups sliced strawberries
4 tablespoons lemon juice
1 1/2 cups sugar
1 1/2 cups whole milk
2 3/4 cups heavy cream
1 1/2 teaspoons pure vanilla

Instructions: Blend strawberries, lemon juice, sugar, whole milk, and vanilla in a blender*. Pour mixture into large mixing bowl and mix in heavy cream. Pour finished mixture into ice cream machine. When mixture is finished churning (thicker, ice cream consistency) transfer to containers and freeze. Before eating, let sit 5 or 10 minutes to thaw.

When the mixture is more firm, you can add more chunks of fruit if you prefer. I don't like frozen chunks of fruit...hurts my teeth to chew, but it's whatever you prefer! You can also substitute the strawberries for raspberries or peaches (or something else) -- whatever you like, really! I've also used 2% milk with this recipe, and it turns out great, just not quite as creamy.

*You can't fit all of the ingredients into a standards blender. That's the only reason the heavy cream isn't added in with the rest.

Enjoying the ice cream at the shower!

Always,