Every summer, my family heads down to a little Island off the coast of North Carolina called Topsail Island.  It’s quaint and relaxing – a nice diversion from the touristy traffic that clogs much of the beaches my friends visit. 

Ice cream has been a part of trip tradition every year.  On a country road, a small peach stand sits by the road selling peaches from the farm.  The elderly couple also sells Peach Ice Cream – and I believe it to be the single best ice cream I’ve ever eaten.  I’m able to enjoy it twice a year: on the way there and on the way home.

We also make our own ice cream every year – it’s not that difficult.  But, if you don’t have the right ice cream maker it can be a real pain in the patoot!

Pour the freshest ingredients you desire into the “freezer” of your ice cream maker, mix, and you’re ready to go.  One type of electric ice cream makers will produce more textured ice cream because you have to continually add ice and rock salt while the “freezer” spins the ice cream mixture.  The freezer is surrounded by ice inside of a larger “bucket” – rock salt mixed in with the ice helps transfer the cold temperature to the ice cream. 

There are more sophisticated ice cream makers these days that will also stir the ice cream to ensure equal consistency throughout.  You’re usually able to deliver a larger amount of ice cream with these newer devices, however, our family likes some the good old-fashioned texture.  Both will work well but get one that fits your needs.

One of the most fun parts of making ice cream is experimenting with different fresh ingredients and recipes.  Start with a simple recipe like the one the “Serious Vanilla Ice Cream Recipe” from the Food Network.  Mix in some of your own ingredients such as strawberries, blueberries, crushed cookies, cake or peaches!  From there you can experiment even further.  It really is delicious and fun to say the least.

A couple of the most popular (and affordable) ice cream makers seem to be the Cuisinart ICE 20 and the White Mountain 4-Quart Ice Cream Maker.

A few tips when you make your ice cream:

• Let the ice cream chill in the freezer after made – it will give a more full flavor
• Ingredients like whole milk, cream, eggs and sour cream will make rich, creamy ice cream while fruit juice, skim milk, and low-fat yogurt-based ice creams will be thinner and contain more crystals.
• Adding unflavored gelatin will result in a smoother, creamier ice cream.
• Artificial vanilla loses its flavor when frozen so use the pure vanilla extract.
• One quart (4 cups) will serve about 6 people.  Unless you’re like my family, in which case, use one quart per person (jk)!