sun, bananas, ginger, cream

This morning, the sun got up before 7 am. This means we are edging towards spring, and that officially means long afternoons in the summer sun are right on its heels. On cue, the ice cream maker came down from the shelf and began to work its Hello Sunshine! magic.

As a general rule I do not care for kitchen tools that I must store in my limited space only to use their one  specific function at certain times of the year. Our ice cream maker is the fabulous exception. My dear friend Dana's mom gave it to Stephen and me in a stroke of obvious genius, and in the summer time, there is an all too common hum coming from our kitchen. We started tinkering with goat's milk and almond milk recipes for the non-cow-dairy eating folks, and the results are once again just genius. A batch of lemon basil, cardamom blueberry, or peppermint chocolate chunk just might be the perfect addition to a sunny day. Well, that and sand between my toes.
Not every house needs an ice cream maker, but every person should at least know someone with an ice cream maker. Someone that will actually use it and invite you over, would be best. When you start casually asking potential friends whether they have an ice cream maker, have a few recipes up your sleeve just in case you get lucky. This is an exciting yet simple standby, that is sure to get you invited over again and again.

Banana Ginger Ice Cream makes about 1 quart

2 cups 2% milk
1 cup heavy cream
3/4 cup white sugar
3 bananas
2 tablespoons fresh ginger juice
1 vanilla bean (optional)

1. Mash one banana in a medium mixing bowl and whisk sugar, 1 cup milk, and banana together until smooth
2. Whisk in 1 more cup of milk, cream, ginger juice
3. If using vanilla bean, crack open and scrape seeds into milk mixture
4. Pour into ice cream maker and freeze according to directions (mine takes 25 minutes). Chop the last 2 bananas into small pieces. Add bananas to ice cream maker for final 5 minutes
5. Transfer to airtight container and freeze for at least 2 hours before scooping
6. Enjoy

If you do not own an ice cream maker, here is your script:
Knock, knock. "Hello. My name is ______. I live right over there. So nice to meet you. Would you like to come over for coffee sometime? I love ice cream. Hey, do you have an ice cream maker?"
If you find yourself with a resounding NO, I highly recommend purchasing the Cuisinart one. You may buy it through Soup Spoon's Amazon Shop. Click here for the ice cream maker. The link to Soup Spoon's Shop is up over there to the left, below the archives links.

Comments

[Emily]

"Hello. My name is Emily. I live right over there. So nice to meet you. Would you like to come over for coffee sometime? I love ice cream. Hey, do you have an ice cream maker?"

So there. :) Love you, dear friend.

[L*Joy]

Emily
why yes I do have an ice cream maker! Funny you should ask. I was going to come knock on your door and ask if you would like to have some.

so, would you?
L*Joy

[Emily]

But of course, dear friend, but of course!!

*

[sarah]

hello my name is sarah, my door is right over here too and i happen to like ice cream as well. i have coffee and tea, please do stop by sometime!:)

[L*Joy]

Sarah
i think a scoop might be in order tonight, when you come to my door.
it is a possibility.
L*Joy

p.s.
there are also now molasses cookies on my counter that would be gorgeous underneath a scoop of banana ginger ice cream. ya know, if you wanted some.

[Emily]

I can attest to the gorgeousness of said molasses cookies beneath said scoop of banana ginger ice cream. Delicious. Thanks for sharing!

[Vanesa]

LJOY!!!!
O MY WORD I am so glad I found this site.
You are seriously amazing.
I want an ice cream maker!
Im bookmarking this site... I can TOTALLY see you becoming the next like real simple or just the next Julia child or something.
This is awesome!

[L*Joy]

Vanesa!
where have you been all of my life!???!!!
we miss you!
please do tell how you stumbled across this little blog.
L*Joy
p.s. myrtle misses you too