Summer Fun: We Scream for Homemade

I think we might remember this as the summer of homemade ice cream.  We started with Strawberry Soda Ice Cream for 4th of July weekend.  As we were polishing it off, I realized that the base would work well with any fruit, just substitute the correct fruit-flavored soda or use cream soda.  So, yesterday we made Peaches and Cream Ice Cream.   MMMMMmmmmm!!!  Just as good.  And so easy (if you have an ice cream maker, that is.  Haven't tried it in a roly ball yet.)

A few tips:

• you can use an equal amount of fresh fruit;
• if using frozen, be sure to let it defrost fully, so it's juicy and tender--this helps spread the flavor;
• cut or mash fruit into tiny pieces both to spread around the flavor and to avoid hard frozen chunks (unless you like those);
• though the original recipe doesn't say to, I put the mixture back in the freezer for awhile to make it nice and cold--that way, it freezes faster and my ice cream maker doesn't work as hard.

And some ideas, beyond strawberry and peach:

• Pina colada:  small chunks of pineapple with coconut milk substituted for the half and half (or whipping cream--I'll have to try both!)
• Chocolate-cherry:  cherry soda, bits of cherries (frozen or fresh), and chocolate chips
• Mango-pineapple:  bits of mango (frozen or fresh), mango nectar to substitute for soda, coconut milk for the half and half (or whipping cream)
• Orange creamsicle:  orange soda and bits of mandarin oranges
• Melba:  cream soda, bits of peaches and raspberries, perhaps some Torani raspberry syrup
• Coke or Root Beer Float:  use Coke or Root beer for soda and just forget the fruit!
• really, the possibilities are endless, all with the same base recipe . . . .

So you can bet we'll be trying a batch regularly!

Mommy Hungry's Homemade Fruit-Soda Ice Cream

Adapted from the Strawberry Soda Ice Cream recipe by Laura Duckworth in Food Network Magazine.

1 (14 oz.) can sweetened condensed milk
1 1/2 cups half-and-half
3/4 cup fruit-flavored soda or cream soda
1/2 cup whipping cream
1 cup frozen or fresh fruit, defrosted and mashed (I use a very generous 1 cup)


Whisk the condensed milk, half-and-half, flavored soda, cream and fruit in a medium bowl.  Place in freezer for 30-60 minutes until mixture is chilled. Churn in ice cream maker, according to manufacturer's instructions.  Eat right away or freeze in airtight container until firm, at least 2 hours.