I love ice cream! What other food has such a perfect balance of flavor, texture, and temperature. How many other foods actually change state—from a solid to a liquid—as you eat it. Take milk, cream, and sugar, mix them up, and what do you have? Well, not much. But freeze it, add some air, and suddenly it’s transformed into something special. Ice cream actually has air as a key ingredient! Even when it has no flavors added at all, “sweet cream” ice cream is still delicious. But then add flavors… add LOTS of flavors! Chocolate! Candy! Nuts! Fruit! Take the flavors from a favorite dessert, like pies or cakes or cookies, or something more complex like tiramisu or crème brulée, and make an ice cream out of it! Cookie dough! Deep, dark chocolate! Rich vanilla! Subtle cinnamon with oatmeal cookies and chocolate chunks! Apple pie with real crust! Coffee! Mint! The possibilities are endless.
I can’t think of a better day to start this blog than on National Ice Cream Day, in the middle of National Ice Cream Month. If you live in a country that doesn’t have a day dedicated to ice cream, well, you should do something about that. But in the mean time, grab a bowl of ice cream and a spoon, and celebrate anyway.
I learn more about how to make ice cream every time I try a new batch. This will be a place to share tips and ideas about what works and what doesn’t. How can you prevent peaches from freezing into ice chunks? What’s a foolproof method for melting chocolate without it seizing? Can cayenne pepper be used in ice cream? Some of it I’ve figured out already, and some of it I’ll figure out as we go along. And hopefully, other people will comment about what they’ve learned as well.
Happy Ice Cream Day! Let’s make some ice cream!
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Re: Can cayenne pepper be used in ice cream? Of course it can!
I’ve had chili ice cream… laksa ice cream… sesame ice cream… and more… I highly recommend experimenting!
Mishy
ps. Australia definitely needs an National Ice-Cream Day!!!
Hey, Russell, This is great! I’ll take 2 scoops!
I would like to know more about making ice cream WITHOUT machines as well, while you’re at it :)
Hey Russell, if you can find a good recipe for Durian Ice Cream I will forever be in awe :-)
I just heard that ice cream can be made with rice milk (for us non-dairy folks). Got any ideas/recipes for that?
Nice blog.
I love ice cream too. If I had to eat myself to death, ice cream would be it.
My standing rule – If you’re getting an ice cream and you’re wondering if I want one – I DO!
There should be a TV show on it. Ice TV? ;-)
I really liked that ice cream I had last year, I think it was Chocolate-jalapeno or peach-jalapeno. And I like just about anything with chocolate.
Amen to Ice Cream! Especially when you live in a warm climate country, nothing beats an ice cream to cool down. I’ll bet ice cream is even bigger in Texas…
Very nice Blog Russell!
I love Chili in ice crem but to try something different, you should try Wasabi ice cream.
You’re so full of fabulous ideas, this being one of your most brilliant ones! Wonderful – and you let a fellow ice-cream maniac in on your blog-spot, thanks! I’ll never be converted to the chocolate peanut butter in Sydney though… ;o) Enjoy your National Ice Cream Day – we don’t have one but we’ll celebrate anyway!
Check out http://www.judes.co.uk/. It is the best icecream I have ever eaten! I doubt they are going global just yet, but if you are ever in the UK, try it out.
Warm weather country, whatever!!!
Swedes eat more ice cream, drink more coffee, and eat more bulk candy (lösgodis) per capita than any other nationality, and we’re proud of it!
Nothing like a little bit of licorice ice cream to warm you up for the new year.
One recipe I would really like: New Zealand’s Hokey Pokey ice cream! SSSSOOOOOOOOOOOOO GOOD!
Horrah for National Ice Cream Month ~ that rocks!
I just adore Ice Cream too! I declare we should all celebrate Ice Cream at least once a week!
Have you tried honey, cinnamon, lindt dark chocolate flakes and toasted almonds in a French Vanilla Ice Cream? Truly delightful! I might try that again now!
Cheers for the Ice Cream Blogga Russell!
xx
Since moving abroad, I have really missed Blue Bell Ice Cream — and I know I’m not the only one. My brother packed some in dry ice to take with him on the plane to his current home in DC and all the flight crew guessed exactly what was in the box (apparently people do it “all” the time). As a commercial brand, Blue Bell rocks.
OK, Russell, this is a great blog! I have to say your ice cream is the best I have ever tasted, and this comes from someone who eats ice cream almost every night after dinner! I believe you made cinnamon oatmeal cookie ice cream for us, is that right? Anyway, it was AWESOME!!
We’ve discussed philosphies of life and how it should be lived, namely “have your dessert first”. That way if you die half-way through a meal, at least you’ll have already had the good stuff.
I guess there’s no question about your dessert of choice. Now, what about that beer blog?
I’m such a boring ice-cream person. My favourite is a nice cream cone that you get in Ireland, or very similar, the McDonalds Sundays. I know I probably have not lived yet. I guess I have to make it to Texas to experience the real stuff it sounds like!!
I had no idea of this passion of yours. Delish. My favorite is peppermint ice cream with hot fudge. An elegant combo I discovered when I was 8 and got a sundae as a consolation prize for having a tooth pulled.
Further down on my list is cherry ice cream sodas. Ever had one? A lost art if you ask me. I used to work at Braum’s in high school so I tried them.
Ever been to Milwaukee Joe’s? http://www.milwaukeejoes.com/
now…about mandarin chocolate sherbet? eh? :-)
Great idea to begin your own ice cream blog! Our time at Ice Cream 101 was such fun. I am so thankful we did that trip and workshop.
yay ice cream!!!!!!! I can’t wait to read more :)
Great blogg. The best ice cream flavour is dark chocolate with chilipepper. You must try to make that!
It was a natural progression with as much ice-cream as you’ve been forcing on us. ;) You may just have stumbled into your calling.
Welcome to blogging about ice cream! We are for sure adding you to our blogroll and will have to work out doing a little write up about you!
Such a great blog of ice cream, love it!