Homemade Ice Cream

Every body loves ice cream and is a popular dessert or snack with adults and kids alike. The range of ice creams available in the market is wide and deliciously distracting. But the appeal of homemade ice cream has still not lost its old-world appeal. What better way to whip up a surprise treat for the kids than to get a good old homemade ice cream recipe and conjure up a delight!

Ice cream makers

Generally there are two basic styles of ice-cream maker - manual and electric. These makers range from simple to ultramodern and fancy and can cost you anywhere from $25 to $1,000. Ice cream makers can also be used to make ice milk, frozen yogurt and frozen drinks. These ice cream makers come with a canister in the center along with a dasher that holds the freezing agent - ice and salt.

The inner canister is filled with an ice cream mixture and the dasher stirs when rotated. This action prevents the ice crystals from forming while it freezes. Do not ignore manufacturer's instructions for cleaning and maintenance. This will keep your homemade ice maker in good shape. Use wooden or plastic spoons and utensils when pouring and removing ice cream mixture from the ice cream maker.

Manual Style Ice Cream Maker: These are old-fashioned ice cream makers that come in wooden buckets with a metal inner container to hold the ice cream mixture. Manual style ice cream makers not only require ice and salt but can be taxing on your arms. These makers usually take 30 to 40 minutes to make 4 to 6 quarts of ice cream.

Yet another form of manual ice cream maker is the pre-chilled chamber freezer that ranges in size from 1 pint to 1½ quarts. The crank and dasher assembly with a lid holds the ice cream mixture. As the ice cream is placed in the center cavity or dasher, the crank is turned once every 2 to 3 minutes for about half an hour, depending upon the amount of ice cream being made.

Electric Ice Cream Maker: As the name suggests, these ice cream makers are equipped with electric motors that rotate either the ice cream canister or the dasher. Among the variety of electric ice cream makers, the most common is the self-contained countertop unit that uses ice cubes and table salt to make the ice cream. Another model is the small freezer unit that can make around 1 quart of ice cream. This unit doesn't require salt or ice cubes but instead is placed in the freezer compartment of the refrigerator with the electric cord exiting between the freezer's seal and the closed door.

Homemade Ice Cream Recipe

Peach Ice Cream

3 cups of chopped fresh peaches
¼ tablespoon salt
1 tablespoon Vanilla
2 tablespoons of peach brandy (Optional)
1½ cups of white sugar
2½ cups heavy cream

Combine the peaches, juice, rind, brandy and sugar in a bowl. Cover and let stand for 1 hour at room temperature. Add the cream and vanilla. Pour the peach and cream mixture into the can of a churn freezer. Pack crushed ice and the coarse salt around the can in the proportion of 3 parts ice to 1 part salt. Turn on the freezer as fast as possible for five minutes. Slowly remove the can from the churn, wipe of the salty water and let stand thirty minutes before serving.

Homemade Vanilla Ice Cream recipe

4 egg yolks
½ pint (250ml) milk
½ pint double/heavy cream
100 g white sugar
2 tablespoons vanilla extract

Pour the milk into a saucepan and bring it to the boiling point. Separately, mix together the egg yolk and sugar until it thickens. Pour this mixture into the hot milk whilst continuously stirring. Then pour the mixture back into the pan and heat gently, stirring until the custard thickens. Remove the saucepan once you can see a film form over the back of your spoon. Allow it to cool for some time, then stir in the cream and vanilla extract. Now, transfer the whole mixture into an ice cream maker and freeze accordingly.

Home made ice cream tips

• You can add a unique twist to your homemade ice cream recipe with your choice of nuts. Slivered almonds, grated chocolate chips, macadamia nuts and cashews and raisins can add an exotic flavor to your homemade ice cream.
  
  
• A tight fitting plastic container is best to store your homemade ice cream safely for a long time. If left uncovered, it can pick up other flavors.
  
  
• Store home made ice cream in the main part of freezer where the temperature remains mostly constant.
  
  
• Liquid flavors must be added to the homemade ice cream before freezing. But nuts and fruits must be added after freezing but before hardening.
  
  
• Make the home made ice cream the day before you intend to serve it so that you can be assured of a smoother and creamier treat.
  
  
• Use crushed ice for freezing home made ice cream
  
  
• You can prevent homemade ice cream from developing grains and ice crystals by aging it for about 24 hours. This will result in full-bodied texture.
  
  
• Experiment with flavors such as lavender and honey, peanut butter and banana, chocolate biscotti chunks and peaches. Serve exciting combinations with your homemade ice cream - chunks of cake, cookie and brownie.
  
  
• Using finely crushed ice in your ice maker will ensure smoother ice cream
  
  
• Use hot fudge instead of regular chocolate sauce for a richer flavor
  
  
• Toast nuts and coconut slivers or cookies before adding to the home made ice cream to extract the full flavor.
  
  
• While high fat dairy products such as whipping cream make for a smooth ice cream, you can substitute with evaporated skim milk or 1% milk for a low-fat ice cream.