Pumpkin Ice Cream

I'm back! Yellow Chick and I took a 2 month rest from the blog. We needed a break. But I'm back to making ice cream again, just in time for the holidays.

Pumpkin Ice Cream~

1 15-ounce can pumpkin

1 cup heavy cream
1 cup half & half
1 cup granulated sugar
1 tablespoon pumpkin pie spice
4 teaspoons vanilla
1/8 teaspoon salt

1. Combine all ingredients in a medium bowl. Using an immersion blender or a mixer blend until smooth and all the ingredients are well mixed.
2. Refridgerate until well chilled.
3. Turn on your ice cream maker and pour in the pumpkin mixture.
4. Church until it's a stiff soft-serve consistency.
5. Pour into a freezer safe container and freeze until firm.

My Conclusion~

Wow, this is really good. It tastes just like pumpkin pie without the crust.  You could add  pie crust to it and whipped cream or even graham crackers to make a pumpkin pie ice cream.  The texture is really light, almost too light which is my only complaint. Next time I'd make it with all cream and not use half and half to give it a creamer, heavier texture. The taste is perfect though.

Reviews~

Mr. Brown Chick - Tastes just like pumpkin pie

Tween Chicks - Likes it (amazing!)

Little Chick - Loves it

Toddler Chick - Loves it

Caramelized Pineapple Ice Cream

This was eaten before I could take a picture!

1/2 cup light brown sugar
1 can pineapple tidbits, juice drained and reserved
1/3 cup agave nectar
1 cup heavy cream
1 cup half & half
1/8 teaspoon salt

1. In a saucepan, combine 1/4 cup brown sugar and drained pineapple tidbits. Cook over medium heat, stirring occasionally until all the brown sugar is absorbed and the pineapple is a dark golden brown color. Chill.
2. Combine the other 1/4 cup brown sugar, reserved pineapple juice, agave nectar, cream, half & half and salt. Heat over medium heat stirring constantly until sugar is dissolved. Chill.
3. Turn on your ice cream maker and pour the cream mixture into the maker. Churn until it's a firm soft-serve.
4. When it's done churning pour the caramelized pineapple into the machine and let it mix.
5. Put into a container and freeze until firm.

My Conclusion~

Yum! This was really good. I loved the pineapple flavor in the ice cream from the juice and the pieces of pineapple. The only thing that I would do differently would be to use 2 cups of cream instead of the cream and half & half. I think it would be even better if it were a little more dense.

Reviews~

Mr. Brown Chick - Really good!

Tween Chick - Didn't like it.

Little Chick - Likes it.

Baby Chick - Like it.

Black Cherry Sorbet

I've been wanting to make sorbet for a while, but was afraid it would be too icy without something to help inhibit ice crystals from forming. Corn syrup won't crystallize and that is why it's used in almost all commercial ice creams, sherbets, sorbets, etc. It keeps the product soft after freezing and gives it a smooth texture. However, I do not want to use corn syrup, so I was searching for another product. Yellow Chick suggested that I try blue agave nectar in place of corn syrup. I found out through research that blue agave nectar will not crystallize, plus it's all natural and has a low glycemic index, so I decided to give it a try.

Black Cherry Sorbet ~

2 1/2 cups black cherries (fresh or frozen), pitted

2 cups 100% black cherry juice (I found this at Fresh & Easy)

1/2 cup blue agave nectar

1/8 cup lemon juice

1. In a food processor or blender, blend together all the ingredients.
2. Chill in the refrigerator until very cold.
3. Turn on your ice cream maker and pour the mixture in.
4. Churn until it's soft but holds it's shape.
5. Freeze until firm.

My Conclusion ~

It has a sweet taste, almost too sweet. It would be better if it were more tart. I'd also like a more intense cherry flavor, but I'm not sure how to accomplish that. Next time I'll add a lot more lemon juice, as black cherries tend to be very sweet. That would probably help with the overall taste. I over processed it as well, resulting in a fluffy texture (you can see that in the picture) which I don't really care for. I churned it for 30 minutes when I should have stopped at 20 minutes. The good news is that the agave nectar seems to have done the trick. It's soft enough to scoop right out of the container. It was okay, but nothing great.

Reviews ~

Only Little Chick & Toddler Chick would taste it and they both liked it.

(canned) Peach Sorbet

Unfortunately, Mr. Yellow Chick borrowed my camera and hasn't returned it... he's asleep so I can't ask him where it is. I'll take a picture tomorrow. :)

~Ingredients~

2 - 15 ounce cans peaches in pear juice
1/4 cup sugar
Juice from 1/2 of a lemon
Pinch of Salt

~Directions~

1. Puree peaches in a blender - don't overdo it, you don't want to whip a lot of air into it, and having some "peach bits" in the sorbet is just fine.
2. Add other ingredients and pulse to combine.
3. Process in ice cream machine until a soft-serve consistency is reached.
4. Transfer to a container and freeze until firm.

~Conclusion~

I probably should have chilled the mixture - I completely forgot until it was already processing and I realized if it had been chilled it probably would have set up to a firmer soft serve.

~Reviews~

Yellow Chick: Simple, easy, tasty, and refreshing. :) This would be very nice on a hot summer day.
Mr. Yellow Chick: He's asleep, so I'll have to ask him tomorrow...

Orange & Vanilla Ice Cream

~Ingredients ~

1 Cup Orange Juice Concentrate

1 Cup Heavy Cream

1 Cup Half and Half

2 Teaspoons Vanilla Extract

1/2 Cup Sugar

Pinch of Salt

~ Directions~

1. Combine all ingredients until well combined.

2. Process in Ice Cream maker until it reaches a soft-serve consistency.

3. Transfer to a freezer container and freeze until firm.

~ Conclusion ~

It was too strong tasting... almost bitter. I should have used 2 cups of cream. And I think it could have used a bit more sugar as well.

~ Reviews ~

Mr. Yellow Chick: Doesn't like it - but he's sure someone else would. (Ha!)

Mrs. Yellow Chick: It's just too strong - it needs to be sweeter, and less powerful.

Black Opal Basil & Vanilla

Black Opal Basil & Vanilla Ice Cream~

2 cups heavy whipping cream

2 cups half & half

1/2 cup granulated sugar

1 1/2 cups fresh black opal basil leaves (not packed)

1 1/2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract

1 pinch salt

1. In a medium bowl, combine all ingredients and blend with an immersion blender until the sugar is dissolved and the basil is in little flecks. You can also use a food processor or blender.

2. Turn your ice cream maker on and pour the mixture into the machine.

3. Process until the ice cream is a firm soft-serve.

4. Pour into a container and freeze until firm.

My Conclusion~

I have to admit that I was a little worried about making basil ice cream. It just sounds so strange. I have a black opal basil growing in my garden so I decided to use that instead of the green sweet basil. I really like the result! The basil isn't too strong and the vanilla really balances it out. Smooth and creamy. The more I taste it the more that I like it.

Reviews~

Mr. Brown Chick: "I don't know. It's got an earthy, grassy taste. It's not bad."

Tween Chick: "It's creamy. It tastes like water."

Little Chick: "I like it. It's creamy and I taste the vanilla, and just a little bit of the basil."

Toddler Chick: It's ice cream, she loves it!

Fresh Bananas

Fresh Banana Ice Cream~

3 very ripe bananas

1 tablespoon lemon juice
1 cup heavy cream

1 cup half & half

1/2 cup sugar

1 teaspoon banana flavoring

1. In a medium bowl, use an immersion blender to puree the bananas.

2. Add lemon juice and blend well.
3. Add in the cream and half & half and blend well.

4. Add sugar and banana flavoring and blend until sugar is dissolved.

5. Put into the refrigerator until well chilled.

6. Turn your ice cream maker on and pour the mixture into it.

7. Churn until the mixture is a firm soft-serve.

8. Put into a container and freezer several hours until firm.

My Conclusion~

Smooth and creamy. I think it needs more banana flavor and some vanilla to balance it out. I would probably add another teaspoon of the banana flavoring as well as a teaspoon of vanilla. Maybe a pinch of salt to bring out the flavors as well.

Reviews~

Mr. Brown Chick: "Tastes like frozen bananas."

Tween: "I don't want to try it, I don't like bananas that much."

Little Chick: "I totally love it!"

Baby Chick: Tasted it and wanted more. Enough said!

Peanut Butter & Chocolate

Peanut Butter Chocolate Ice Cream

2 cups heavy cream
1 cup half & half
1 cup creamy peanut butter
3/4 cup granulated sugar
1 tsp. pure vanilla extract
2/3 cup mini chocolate chips (cold)



1. In a medium bowl combine all ingredients except the chocolate chips and blend with an immersion blender until smooth. (If you don't have an immersion blender you can use a regular blender or a food processor)
2. Chill in the refrigerator until very cold.
3. Process in an ice cream maker until the mixture is a firm soft-serve consistency.
4. Mix in the chocolate chips.
5. Transfer mixture to a container and freeze until firm.

My Conclusion~

This is really, really good ice cream. The peanut butter flavor is spectacular and the chocolate just adds to it. The texture is creamy. I didn't want to stop eating it! I wouldn't change a thing.

Reviews~

Mr. Brown Chick - Absolutely loved it!

Tween Chick - Awesome!

Little Chick - Yummy!

Baby Chick - Too young to eat peanut butter.

Vanilla Custard Ice Cream

My plan was to make chocolate chip cookie dough ice cream - and I will, someday. But after I made my cookie dough I realized my flour was stale and I just couldn't put stale tasting cookie dough into my delicious vanilla ice cream! This base is new for me though, because it's the first time I've made ice cream with eggs. And I know we've had Classic Vanilla ice cream on the blog before - but it was using a different recipe and completely different recipe type... so that's how I'm justifying posting vanilla ice cream.

~Ingredients~

2 cups heavy cream
2 cups 2% milk
1 tsp vanilla
5 egg yolks
pinch of salt
1/4 cup packed brown sugar
1/2 cup white sugar

~Directions~

1. Measure cream, milk, and vanilla into a medium sized sauce pan.
2. Whisk egg yolks, brown sugar, and white sugar together in a small bowl.
3. Whisk sugar and egg mixture into the cream mixture.
4. Heat over medium heat, stirring constantly until just before it begins to boil.
5. Transfer to another container (which won't crack when hit by the nearly boiling liquid)
6. Chill ice cream mixture approximately 3 hours.
7. Process ice cream in your ice cream maker until it reaches a soft-serve consistency.
8. Transfer to a freezer safe container and freeze until firm.

~Conclusion~

Very tasty - this is going to be a great base for making more interesting flavors. I only had imitation vanilla on hand **gasp**, I know it would be better if made with REAL vanilla, or with a vanilla bean.

~Reviews~

Yellow Chick: Yummy! I ate mine with chocolate syrup (which sadly, I did not make from scratch)
Mr. Yellow Chick: Likes it - he prefers vanilla so he can add whatever topping he's in the mood for.

Blueberries!

This ice cream picture looks nasty. I made this ice cream twice, and both times my freezer quit working, the ice cream melted and then re-froze. I don't think that my freezer likes blueberry ice cream! It was a beautiful, creamy purple color before it melted. I hope that this doesn't make you gag! I just couldn't post without a picture.

Fresh Blueberry Ice Cream~

2 cups heavy cream
1 cup half & half
2 cups fresh or frozen blueberries (thawed)
3/4 cup granulated sugar

1. In a food processor, puree the blueberries.
2. Pour blueberries into a fine mesh sieve over a medium bowl. Push the blueberry puree into the bowl to strain the seeds out.
3. In the bowl, add the cream, half & half and sugar with the blueberry puree.
4. Stir until sugar is dissolved.
5. Pour into your ice cream maker.
6. Churn for 30 minutes or until it's a firm soft-serve consistency.
7. Put into a container and freeze until firm.

My Conclusion ~

Creamy, refreshing flavor. Easy to scoop. Has a really great fresh blueberry taste.

Reviews ~

Mr. Brown Chick: Loves it, it's very creamy.

Tween Chick: Doesn't like blueberries, won't try it.

Young Chick: Loves it's! Yummmmmm...

Baby Chick: Gobbles it up.