Tuesday, July 12, 2011

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,

8 comments:

Sherms said...

Oh super cool! That would be so freshing on a hot summers day...not that we have many of them here! I'll have to get an ice cream maker when I move...and a bread maker too xx

Jess said...

This would be great even for family parties or even any kind of get together. I will diffidently have try and make these soon. Thank you for sharing.

Hannah said...

Shermeen, I definitely think an ice cream maker is worth the investment! I pick making ice cream over making baked goods...as far as dessert goes. And, I think ice cream (usually) is easier to make! Plus, it's refreshing and YUMMY!

Jess, these would be great for a million different things! Do you have an ice cream maker?

Amy said...

Just found your blog and I really like it! I have been completely addicted to strawberry ice cream lately.... Usually I go for chocolate but strawberry ice cream is SO much more delicious!

Hannah said...

Thank you! It's even better when it's homemade!

Check back in a few days! I made chocolate cupcakes with homemade strawberry frosting...the best of both worlds!

Sherms said...

I'll have to demand an ice cream maker from the husband as part of my recolcation package!
Hannah, I found all the details about making buttons on this blog. Most certainly helpful because I got lost in all the codes:

http://forblogs.blogspot.com/2011/01/how-to-make-blog-button-with-boxed-code.html

Ps, maybe it was simplier times but I can't imagine any parent not finding Mr Rogers creepy and letting their kids watch him.

Jess Cole said...

That looks super yummy!

Hannah said...

@Jess -- it most definitely was/is! My husband is just now finishing up the last of the sorbet and kept saying "you outdid yourself."

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