Cool Down with Sweet Treats

Homemade Vanilla Ice Cream & Fresh Fruit Popsicles

Words by Kayla & Justin Butts Photos By Rachel Benavides

Have you ever stood in the ice cream section struggling to decide which flavor will be your next? What if you could design your own ingenious ice cream flavor?

Ice cream, as we know it, was invented in Italy hundreds of years ago. The Italians built huge underground ice cellars lined with stone. During winter, they filled these cellars with ice and snow hauled on wagons down from the mountains. They were able to make their ice cream from this ice, while it lasted, during the hot Italian summers.

Fortunately, we don’t have to go through such trouble to enjoy homemade ice cream and fresh fruit popsicles anymore. With the right ingredients and tools, it only takes about 20 minutes to make homemade ice cream.

After making this vanilla ice cream, let creativity guide you to add strawberries, bananas, blueberries, mango, or any seasonal fruit. Throw in some nuts, dark chocolate, dried coconut, crystallized ginger, or even chopped cookies. The possibilities are endless.

Homemade popsicles will transform savory fruit into a frozen delight. Experiment with different juices, fresh fruit, and herbs for flavors to satisfy the most discriminating palate. Grab popsicle molds that can be found at any grocery store, and use freshly squeezed lemonade or limeade (or concentrate if preferred) for the popsicle’s base.

Pour the juice or fruit puree into the molds, and this is where the fun begins. Drop a thin slice of cucumber and a sprig of mint into a mold of lemonade for a wild, refreshing flavor combination. Or, drop in a slice of lemon and a sprig of rosemary or thyme. These give the popsicles that extraordinary touch making them refreshing and beautiful!

Remember, next time you’re aching for a sweet treat, you can make your own homemade ice cream or popsicles faster and for a fraction of the cost than buying them from the store. Not to mention, these treats are healthier with less than half the sugar of store brands. Let your creativity and taste buds or your guest’s pallets guide the combinations of flavors.

Homemade Vanilla Ice Cream

Serves: 6
Prep time: 5 minutes
Inactive prep time: about 30 minutes

Ingredients:
2 pasteurized eggs
3/4 c. sugar
2 c. heavy cream
1 c. half and half
2 t. vanilla or 2 vanilla beans

Directions:
With a handheld or standing mixer, beat eggs for two minutes, or until fluffy. Slowly add in sugar, a little at a time, while mixing on medium speed. Pour in remaining ingredients and mix until fully incorporated. Add ice cream batter to your ice cream maker and churn according to the manufacturer’s instructions.

Cook’s note: This recipe includes raw eggs. Adding sugar slows the growth of salmonella but does not eliminate the risk. Children, elderly, and persons who are immunosuppressed should not consume raw eggs. You may cook the ice cream mixture over low heat until it reaches about 160F to kill any salmonella bacteria.

Lemonade Popsicles

Serves: 8
Prep time: 5 minutes
Inactive prep time: 4 hours

Ingredients:
3 c. freshly squeezed lemonade or limeade
1 lemon, thinly sliced
4 sprigs rosemary (about 3″ long)
1/2 cucumber, thinly sliced
4 sprigs mint (about 3″ long)
Special equipment: Two popsicle molds (set of four)

Directions:
Fill each individual popsicle mold half full with lemonade or limeade. Add one sprig of rosemary, mint, or other fresh herbs to the center of each mold. Place a slice of lemon, lime, cucumber, or other fresh fruit on either side of each herb. There should be two slices of fresh fruit for each mold. Top off each mold with remaining lemonade/limeade. Freeze for about 4 hours, or until completely set. Place molds under warm running water for about 10 seconds to help release popsicles.

Fresh Fruit Pops

Serves: 8
Prep time: about 5 minutes
Inactive prep time: 4 hours

Tropical Pop Ingredients:
2 c. fresh pineapple, peeled
1 can of coconut milk
1/3 c. shredded coconut

Strawberry Banana Pop Ingredients:
4 bananas, peeled
2 c. strawberries, washed with tops removed
Plus 3 strawberries, sliced lengthwise

Directions:
Blend fresh fruit (and coconut milk if using) in a blender on high until completely smooth. Stir in shredded coconut for tropical pops or add sliced strawberry slices to strawberry banana pops. Freeze for at least 4 hours. Place molds under warm running water for about 10 seconds to help release popsicles.

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