Wednesday, July 29, 2009

Bad Timing, Good Ice Cream

Ever since "going foodie" and starting this blog up two years ago, I have coveted a host of gadgets and appliances - a standing mixer, a mandoline, a food processor and even a digital scale. But nothing has topped my list longer than the ubiquitous ice cream maker. I finally got the chance (via my super-generous mom!) to indulge this "last thing" on my list when she told me to put an order in with Sears! Though she did make a few references as to whether or not an "upgrade" for my stand mixer would be appropriate, I'm totally satisfied with this as a cap-off to my kitcheny indulgences for now - I do have my eye on a single induction burner plate to use with the new pots and pans I bought at Christmas, but I won't get to use it here!

However, I picked the coldest, rainiest, dreariest summer in Ontario ever to indulge my ice-cream making whims! But no matter - with the help of my two fellow partners in ice cream loving crime (Joel and Bonita) I've been dreaming up a host of flavour combinations to try out!

The first thing I made was a sorbet combination I had been dying to try out for some time - sweet black cherries laced with tangy lime juice and zest, with a touch of honey in the background. I used the same sugar-free (and all-natural) sweetener that I used in my birthday cake - Just Like Sugar - to see if it would work in a frozen application, and it did, quite nicely! However I failed to take into account rule #1 of making anything with fruit: taste the fruit for sweetness before adding any! Even with the lime, the combination of the sweetener syrup, honey and cherries was just too cloying for my palate, but I pared it down in a later version that I made and it was perfect - definitely more of the balanced cherry / lime flavour profile I was going for! It was basically the following recipe that I made the next day, minus the chocolate but with the addition of 2 tbsp more lime juice as well as the zest of 2 limes. If I had managed to get my hands on some little key limes, though, I definitely would have tried those babies out!

Cherry Chip Sorbet
Serves 6
2 tbsp honey
1/3 cup Just Like Sugar (or regular sugar)
1 1/2 cups water
25.5 oz (about 5 cups) pitted cherries
3 tbsp lime juice
1 egg white
1/2 cup dark miniature chocolate chips
  1. Combine honey, JLS and water in a small saucepan over medium heat, stirring until the honey melts and the mixture is dissolved. Cool.
  2. Purée cherries and lime juice, then add the cooled syrup, mixing well.
  3. Pour into an ice cream maker and freeze following manufacturer’s instructions.
  4. Once sorbet has thickened slightly, whisk egg white lightly and pour into ice cream maker, followed by the chocolate chips.
  5. Transfer sorbet to a container and freeze until firm, about 6 hours.
Amount Per Serving
Calories: 152.7
Total Fat: 4.7 g
Cholesterol: 0.0 mg
Sodium: 14.6 mg
Total Carbs: 39.6 g
Dietary Fiber: 12.9 g
Protein: 2.5 g

The too-sweet sorbet didn't go to waste, though... never fear! I found an almost instant fix in the back of my fridge with an almost-expired carton of yogurt my mom had bought, had once and subsequently forgotten about. I simply emptied out the rest of the contents (12.5oz in all) to the thawed out sorbet base, whisked it in well, and re-churned it into a creamy but still guilt-free treat for my mom to enjoy. I added chocolate chips to hers, because like any good woman she needs her chocolate pick me up!


Cherry Chip Sherbet
Serves 6
To the above recipe, add 1 1/2 cups (12.5 oz by weight) fat-free vanilla yogurt (I used Source by Yoplait) in with the remaining base mixture and beat in well. Continue with the remaining instructions.

Amount Per Serving
Calories: 189.4
Total Fat: 4.7 g
Cholesterol: 0.3 mg
Sodium: 44.6 mg
Total Carbs: 46.2 g
Dietary Fiber: 12.9 g
Protein: 4.5 g

Since I know there are a gazillion others out there that are actually having a summer and could use something to cool off, I'd be honoured if the kind bloggers ScottySnacks, SavortheThyme and Tangled Noodle would take this post into consideration during their Ice Cream Social event!

3 comments :

  1. Great job! I recently got an ice cream maker this year and been having a lot of fun with it. The machine and I have our ups and downs, but it's just a fun kitchen toy to have around especially during the hot summer days.

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  2. Your going to have so much fun with it. We haven't had a very warm summer either but we are still loving the ice cream

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  3. Glad you got your ice cream maker. You will love it! I have the one with the built in freezer, got it for our wedding. It is a dream! Hope you had a good day!

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Thanks for the feedback!