recipe: breaking out the ice cream machine

They say if you don't wear something for a whole year, you should throw it out (or, really, donate it) because you'll probably never wear it again. This is probably even more true in the kitchen where there are tons of fancy toys but far fewer necessary items. I am bad about following this rule.

Instead, after being secondhand gifted an ice cream maker at the begining of this year, I proceeded to leave it in the box all summer. Which in Richmond pretty much started in March. I then moved across the country, lugging the ice cream maker still in its box. At which point I swore I would use it.

[Color is a little off in this image]

Luckily, strawberries at 3 pints for $8 at the farmers market finally prompted me to make good on that promise. Uncharacteristically timid with my first solo-ice cream making experience*, I decided to use the recipe provided for me by Cuisinart. Recipe after the jump.

*Solo because in about second grade I assisted in cranking a hand-crank machine and in tenth grade we made ice cream in plastic bags in chemistry class. Neither experience instilled confidence in myself.

[Appropriate pink color]

update from the road: big gay ice cream truck

[Big Gay Ice Cream Truck]

[The owner has a fascinating second life as a classically trained bassoonist and has been creating unique flavor combinations for classic soft serve ice cream since 2009.]

[I got the Bea Arthur. Dulce de leche? Yes, please!]

National Ice Cream Day

According to Poppytalk, it's National Ice Cream Day. I have yet to indulge in ice cream (yet!) today but I did snap a few pics yesterday in Fredericksburg at Carl's Ice Cream. At Carl's the custard-y ice 'creme' is sold in chocolate, vanilla and strawberry. I had the chocolate and it was rich, not too heavy and had a distinct chocolate syrup flavor. Delicious! The prices fit the retro building and the serving sizes, while also from a pre-super-size-me time, are fair for the price. Plus the cashiers wear old-fashioned ice cream parlor hats and the service is crazy fast. Next time you pass through Fredericksburg, check out this local institution.