How to Make Homemade Ice Cream (Without an Ice Cream Maker!)

COLFAX, WISCONSIN - June is Dairy Month and what better way to celebrate than with homemade ice cream?

When I was growing up on our small family dairy farm in west central Wisconsin 40 years ago, my dad would make homemade ice cream using cream and milk from our very own cows and a hand-cranked ice cream freezer.

But you don't need an ice cream freezer to make your own homemade ice cream. You can make ice cream with your refrigerator. Here's how:

Dad's Favorite Recipe (From the book: Give Me a Home Where the Dairy Cows Roam - True Stories from a Wisconsin Farm. Coming Soon - Fall 2004)

• 2 eggs

• 3/4 cup sugar

• 2 tablespoons cornstarch

• 1 cup milk

• 1 pint heavy whipping cream

• pinch of salt

• 2 teaspoons vanilla

Using an electric mixer, beat the eggs for several minutes until thick and lemon colored. Add 1 cup of milk and blend into the eggs. Mix sugar and cornstarch in a large saucepan. Add egg/milk mixture to the sugar and cornstarch. Cook until thick (about 5 minutes) stirring constantly. Allow the custard mixture to cool to room temperature.

When the custard is cool, put into a freezer-safe bowl. Blend in cream and salt. Freeze for 2 hours or until slushy. Add 2 teaspoons vanilla. Whip for 5 to 10 minutes with an electric mixer. Return to freezer and finish freezing (several hours or overnight).

Variations:

After you have whipped the ice cream, fold in 1 to 2 cups of fresh or frozen fruit, nuts and/or chocolate before returning the ice cream to the freezer to finish freezing.

Here are some ideas for additions to your ice cream:

• Strawberries

• Blackberries

• Raspberries

• Peaches

• Cherries (or Maraschino Cherries)

• Chocolate chips

• Butterscotch chips

• Crushed Heath bars

• Crushed peppermint candy

• Chopped walnuts

• Chopped pistachio nuts

• Diced bananas

• Coconut

• Chocolate chip cookie dough (drop into the ice cream by small spoonfuls and carefully fold in)

• Caramel or chocolate or fudge syrup (drop into the ice cream by small spoonfuls and carefully fold in)

©2004 LeAnn R. Ralph

About The Author

LeAnn R. Ralph is the author of the books: "Preserve Your Family History (A Step-by-Step Guide for Writing Oral Histories)" (e-book; 66 pages $7.95; http://www.booklocker.com/books/1545.html) and "Christmas in Dairyland (True Stories from a Wisconsin Farm)" (trade paperback; $13.95; August 2003). Her next book, "Give Me a Home Where the Dairy Cows Roam" will be available Fall 2004. To order "Christmas in Dairyland," call LeAnn at (715) 962-3368 or visit - http://ruralroute2.com.

bigpines@ruralroute2.com

Related News

Rex dishes out cooking tips - The Sun Rex dishes out cooking tips The Sun, UK -Aug 23, 2008 By CHRISTINE JENNINGS REX gave the housemates food for thought last night as he shared some cooking tips. The hot-headed chef from London gave advice on ... Fire Prevention tips when heading back to - Blue Mountains Courier-Herald Fire Prevention tips when heading back to Blue Mountains Courier-Herald, Canada -Aug 27, 2008 Cooking is the number-one cause of home fires in Ontario. There are some basic fire safety rules everyone must follow to prevent cooking fires: When the ... Ditch the caviar dreams and entertain on a budget - The Canadian Press The Canadian Press Ditch the caviar dreams and entertain on a budget The Canadian Press -17 hours ago The editors of Cooking Light magazine point out that high-quality ingredients, used sparingly, can make a big impact. A small amount of truffle oil, ... Master curry chef gives cooking tips to public - Harrow Observer Master curry chef gives cooking tips to public Harrow Observer, UK -14 hours ago A cook specialising in Indian cooking gave a free demonstration of the cuisine of the sub-continent on Saturday. Pat Chapman took over the centre of St ... Labor Day Weekend - A Time For Barbeques, Sale Shopping, and The ... - Examiner.com Examiner.com Labor Day Weekend - A Time For Barbeques, Sale Shopping, and The ... Examiner.com -Aug 27, 2008 For lots of great cooking tips any time of the year, check out the Cooking Examiner! "An estimated 34.4 million Americans will set out to travel 50 or more ... Festival offers flavour of modern Taiwan - Vancouver Sun Vancouver Sun Festival offers flavour of modern Taiwan Vancouver Sun,  Canada -Aug 27, 2008 ... be on hand to reveal some of the hidden tricks of night-market cooking. Chen will also offer a few tips on how to make some of these treats yourself. ... Funny Or Die sites expand into cooking, video games - Encore Funny Or Die sites expand into cooking, video games Encore, Canada -4 hours ago So cooking tips from Tom Colicchio of Bravo’s ‘‘Top Chef’’ – a partner with the site – as well as other celebrity chefs, can stand next to the family recipe ... Power to the Pantry - Columbia Daily Tribune Columbia Daily Tribune Power to the Pantry Columbia Daily Tribune, MO -Aug 27, 2008 Here’sa list of pantry essentials, cooking tips and better-than-weeknight recipes for a few dishes. All of these dishes are served at the University Club ... Campfire cooking menu - Taste.com.au Taste.com.au Campfire cooking menu Taste.com.au, Australia -Aug 24, 2008 For campfire cooking instructions, look for the camping tips in the notes section of each recipe. Cooking times may vary according to the intensity of the ... Check out these emergency food tips - The Times-Picayune - NOLA.com Check out these emergency food tips The Times-Picayune - NOLA.com, LA -Aug 27, 2008 *An emergency cooking kit (for home or on the road) should include a cast-iron skillet for cooking over a camp stove or on a grill; a pot for boiling water; ...