A new spin on homemade vanilla ice cream

Do you have one of those fancy Cuisinart ice cream makers? I do! That was an awesome investment! If you’ve ever spent time looking at the label on your favorite store bought ice cream, you know there are surprising ingredients lurking in the mix.  In an age when the effects of high fructose corn syrup are emmerging, it’s time to take the reins on what goes on top of the sugar cone at your house.  An ice cream maker that doesn’t require salt, is just what the Dr. ordered! (teehee)

Here’s the Green Tea Ice Cream Recipe that I teased my twitter and facebook followers with yesterday.  Last night, I noticed that the pioneerwoman has just launched a new recipe repository website called tastykitchen.com.  We can ALL share recipes! This will be the first one of mine to go on the site. If you love to collaborate on recipes, come on over!

Green Tea Ice Cream

Dr. Flower’s cheat method #1: half and half.  Why spend time researching the cream to milk ratio when you could grab a liter of  half and half and run?! This especially works for kids that want to make ice cream….NOW!

Dr. Flower’s cheat method #2: powdered sugar.  It dissolves faster and there’s a bit of corn starch which seems to do well in the ice cream consistency department.

Dr. Flower’s cheat method #3: add more vanilla! You want good taste…what’s another teaspoon of the good stuff? It’s just sitting on your cabinet shelf in there…pour out another!

2 1/2 Cups Half and Half, chilled

2/3 Cup  Powdered Sugar

2 tsp Vanilla (most recipes only call for 1tsp, see cheat method #3)

1 tsp Matcha green tea powder (yes it needs to be fine powder form…) I get mine at the Dekalb Farmer’s Market, LOVE that place! 😀

In a medium bowl, combine with a wisk, all ingredients except Matcha green tea powder until completely incorporated and dissolved.  Depending on your expectation of ice cream color, smoothness, and time constraints, dump Matcha green tea powder and continue wisking ~or~ reserve some of the ice cream mixture as you would with flour for a gravy and incorporate the Matcha green tea powder.  If you don’t like small green lumps in your ice cream, strain out the lumps as you add to the main ice cream mixture.  Place ice cream mixture in the refrigerator while ice cream machine in prepared.  Turn on the machine, pour in your green ice cream mixture and follow the ice cream machine directions to ice cream perfection. Yum!

The measurements above will fill one cuisinart bowl…you’ll notice I have 2 bowls on my machine so I double this recipe. Double Yum! As this title suggests, leave out the Matcha green tea powder and you have a lovely vanilla ice cream.

Happy Washing!

~Regina