Category Archives: Ice Cream

Mixed Berry Yogurt Pops

Delicious, Dessert, Fruit, Ice Cream, Kids, Products, Snack

Since January, I have been on a morning juice kick. I love it, to be honest with you, and my morning commute seems a bit incomplete if I go without one. I’m jamming mixed berries, grapefruit, ginger, and spinach and kale into the juicer, and suck it down on the way to work. Let’s just say I feel really good, and have improved energy. With that said, I thought that I would utilize whole berries and make something with my daughter, who by the way not only loves berries but wants to be creative in the kitchen. This is when I thought of making mixed berry yogurt pops. Did I mention she also loves fruit flavored yogurt?

I ordered some Tovolo Groovy Ice Pop Molds not too long ago with anticipation that my kids would love concocting some sort mixture to go in the molds. My daughter was the first to take a go at them (actually I asked if she wanted to help me), and we were both excited for the outcome.

Mixed Berry Yogurt Pops

Got berries, or mixed fruit and yogurt for that matter? Make these. Trust me. You will love them.

Let’s get started.

Ingredients:

  • 1 1/2 cups plain yogurt (non Greek)
  • 1/4 cup granulated sugar
  • 1/2 cup of milk
  • 2 lemons juiced
  • 1 lemon, zest only
  • 1/2 cup fresh raspberries
  • 1/2 cup fresh strawberries, sliced
  • 1/2 cup of blackberries
  • ice pop molds

This is way too easy, so enjoy.

Start by adding the sugar, yogurt, milk, lemon zest, and lemon juice to a mixing bowl. Mix to dissolve the sugar.

Add in the berries.

Using a ladle, pour into the molds.

How to make mixed berry yogurt pops

Add the cover to the molds, and carefully place on a flat surface in the freezer. Freeze for 6 hours.

When ready to eat one (or two), remove  a pop from the base, and run the exterior under warm water for about 30 seconds, or until the mixed berry yogurt pop comes out of the mold.

The result is a perfect treat. It’s sweet, it’s sour, and you get great hunks of berry. My daughter only got about half way through hers before she put it back in the freezer, while my wife and I enjoyed one later that night. They were really refreshing, and pretty much good for you to boot. Hope you enjoy!

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Mixed Berry Yogurt Pops
Author: 
Recipe type: Dessert
Prep time: 
Cook time: 
Total time: 
Serves: 6
 
Ingredients
  • 1½ cups plain yogurt (non Greek)
  • ¼ cup granulated sugar
  • ½ cup of milk
  • 2 lemons juiced
  • 1 lemon, zest only
  • ½ cup fresh raspberries
  • ½ cup of black berries
  • ice pop molds
Instructions
  1. This is way too easy, so enjoy.
  2. Start by adding the sugar, yogurt, milk, lemon zest, and lemon juice to a mixing bowl. Mix to dissolve the sugar.
  3. Add in the berries.
  4. Using a ladle, pour into the molds.
  5. Add the cover to the molds, and carefully place on a flat surface in the freezer. Freeze for 6 hours.
  6. When ready to eat one (or two), remove a pop from the base, and run the exterior under warm water for about 30 seconds, or until the mixed berry yogurt pop comes out of the mold.
  7. The result is a perfect treat. It’s sweet, it’s sour, and you get great hunks of berry. My daughter only got about half way through hers before she put it back in the freezer, while my wife and I enjoyed one later that night. They were really refreshing, and pretty much good for you to boot. Hope you enjoy!

 

Shamrock Shakes

Dessert, Drinks, Game Day, Ice Cream, Kids

It was not too long ago where I was driving past a McDonald’s and noticed the sign that Shamrock shakes were there. That just brought back memories of getting that shake around this time of year, in late February and March. The creamy, minty flavor is just hard to beat. Every Sunday when my kids go to Sunday school, they beg, yes beg, for McDonald’s. I typically decline their request, but do give in from time to time, and as I declined their request this week, I was going to offer them something that would I knew would remind them of McDonald’s and make them extremely happy. This is where the shamrock shake came into action.

Shamrock Shake Recipe

Let’s get started.

Ingredients:

  • 2 cups of 1% milk
  • 6 cups of vanilla ice cream
  • 1  tsp peppermint extract, use more if you want more peppermint flavor
  • 1 1/2 tsp green food coloring
  • Whipped cream, to your liking

Doesn’t get any easier than that, right?

Add the milk to a blender, then add in your ice cream, peppermint extract, and green food coloring. Blend until smooth.

How to make a shamrock shake

Pour into your serving glass and top with whipped cream. Serve with a straw, and suck away.

My kids loved these shamrock shakes, and they were pretty much identical to those of McDonald’s. So skip the drive through next time and make your own. Your kids will thank you for it. Hope you enjoy.

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Shamrock Shakes
Author: 
Recipe type: Dessert
Prep time: 
Cook time: 
Total time: 
Serves: 5
 
Ingredients
  • 2 cups of 1% milk
  • 6 cups of vanilla ice cream
  • 1 tsp peppermint extract, use more if you want more peppermint flavor
  • 1½ tsp green food coloring
  • Whipped cream, to your liking
Instructions
  1. Add the milk to a blender, then add in your ice cream, peppermint extract, and green food coloring. Blend until smooth.
  2. Pour into your serving glass and top with whipped cream. Serve with a straw, and suck away.

 

Apple Crisp

Baking, Dessert, Fruit, Game Day, Ice Cream, Kids, Wisconsin

Last week we decided to go on our annual apple picking adventure. We typically go later in mid-to-late October, but this year we thought we would get a jump start and be able to chose from a wider selection of apples. It was a gorgeous afternoon so we invited grandma and grandpa out for the afternoon as well. This year we decided to return to The Elegant Farmer for apples. I love The Elegant Farmer. They are known for their apple pie, but what I like is that after you pick apples, you can head into their store and have lunch, or purchase little, neat items from the grocery store. So after we spent a good couple of hours there, we came back to a big bushel full of apples. At first I thought we would be making pies, but then I decided to step it back a little bit, and go for something as comforting as pie, and create a recipe that was much easier and less time consuming, hence the apple crisp.

Apple Crisp

Let’s get started.

Ingredients for the Crumble:

  • 3/4 cup all-purpose flour
  • 3/4 cup of oats
  • 1/2 cup of light brown sugar
  • 1/2 cup of walnuts, roughly chopped
  • 1/4 cup of granulated sugar
  • 1 tsp cinnamon
  • 1/2 tsp nutmeg
  • pinch of salt
  • 8 tbsp unsalted butter, lightly melted

Ingredients for the Apple Crisp:

  • 10 apples, variety (I used Granny Smith, McIntosh) stemmed and cored
  • 1/2 tsp cinnamon
  • pinch of salt
  • 1/4 cup of granulated sugar
  • 1 cup apple cider, reduced to 1/2 cup
  • 3 tbsp unsalted butter
  • 1/2 whole lemon, juiced

Start by mixing your crumble ingredients in a mixing bowl, then set it to the side.

Add the cider to a sauce pan, and cook over medium-high heat until it reduces to about a 1/2 cup.

Apple Picking

Slice your apples into about 1/2 inch thick slices. Add them to another large mixing bowl. Once your apples are in the bowl, add the sugar, cinnamon, and pinch of salt. Add the lemon juice and reduced cider, mix, and set aside.

Next, get a large oven proof skillet onto the stove on medium heat.

Preheat your oven to 425 degrees.

Once the skillet is heated, add the butter, and cook for a few minutes until it begins to brown. Toss in the apple mixture, scraping the bowl, and cook the apples, stirring frequently on medium heat for about 10 minutes.

Once the apples just begin to soften, layer on the crumble mixture and pat it down with your spatula. Add the entire skillet into the oven, and cook for an additional 15 minutes, or until the crumble is nice and golden.

Apple Crisp Recipe

Remove from the oven and set aside to cool down.

Scoop the apple crisp into your serving bowl, and serve with ice cream if you prefer. The result is the sticky, awesome mixture that is perfectly balanced with that sweet and tart that you would expect in apples. My daughter who inspired (and helped make) me to make this recipe feel in love with it, well, and so did I, and so did my wife. Don’t even get me started on the crumble topping. I now know why I always loved apple oatmeal. Yes, it’s that good. I hope you enjoy!

Print
Apple Crisp
Author: 
Recipe type: Dessert
Prep time: 
Cook time: 
Total time: 
Serves: 8
 
Ingredients
  • Ingredients for the Crumble:
  • ¾ cup all-purpose flour
  • ¾ cup of oats
  • ½ cup of light brown sugar
  • ½ cup of walnuts, roughly chopped
  • ¼ cup of granulated sugar
  • 1 tsp cinnamon
  • ½ tsp nutmeg
  • pinch of salt
  • 8 tbsp unsalted butter, lightly melted
  • Ingredients for the Apple Crisp:
  • 10 apples, variety (I used Granny Smith, McIntosh) stemmed and cored
  • ½ tsp cinnamon
  • pinch of salt
  • ¼ cup of granulated sugar
  • 1 cup apple cider, reduced to ½ cup
  • 3 tbsp unsalted butter
  • ½ whole lemon, juiced
Instructions
  1. Start by mixing your crumble ingredients in a mixing bowl, then set it to the side.
  2. Add the cider to a sauce pan, and cook over medium-high heat until it reduces to about a ½ cup.
  3. Start by mixing your crumble ingredients in a mixing bowl, then set it to the side.
  4. Add the cider to a sauce pan, and cook over medium-high heat until it reduces to about a ½ cup.
  5. Slice your apples into about ½ inch thick slices. Add them to another large mixing bowl. Once your apples are in the bowl, add the sugar, cinnamon, and pinch of salt. Add the lemon juice and reduced cider, mix, and set aside.
  6. Next, get a large oven proof skillet onto the stove on medium heat.
  7. Preheat your oven to 425 degrees.
  8. Once the skillet is heated, add the butter, and cook for a few minutes until it begins to brown. Toss in the apple mixture, scraping the bowl, and cook the apples, stirring frequently on medium heat for about 10 minutes.
  9. Once the apples just begin to soften, layer on the crumble mixture and pat it down with your spatula. Add the entire skillet into the oven, and cook for an additional 15 minutes, or until the crumble is nice and golden.
  10. Remove from the oven and set aside to cool down.
  11. Scoop the apple crisp into your serving bowl, and serve with ice cream if you prefer. The result is the sticky, awesome mixture that is perfectly balanced with that sweet and tart that you would expect in apples.

 

Chocolate Chip and Peanut Butter Ice Cream

Delicious, Dessert, Ice Cream, Kids

It’s ice cream making season in my house, well, at least for me that is. I noticed the ice cream freezer bowl the other day and instantly began thinking of new recipes that I thought my kids would love. I’ve made about a dozen different ice cream creations over the past couple of years, and it has always been a pleasure watching my kids partake in their evening desert ritual. God forbid if there is not some sort of desert near the end of the night. In all honesty it might ruin one of my kids days if there is not a desert, or some sort of sweet treat. No lie. It kills me.

Chocolate Chip and Peanut Butter Ice Cream

So as I began thinking about this new recipe, I thought how much I love the peanut butter that is found in some ice creams. I decided that I would go that route and mix in some peanut butter, oh yeah, and lots of chocolate chips.

Let’s get started.

Ingredients:

  • 1 cup of whole milk, cold
  • 3/4 cup of sugar
  • 2 cups of heavy cream, cold
  • 1 tsp vanilla extract
  • 3/4 cup of peanut butter
  • 1/2 cup of chocolate chips
  • ice cream maker

Begin by freezing your ice cream bowl, as it is very important that it is completely frozen. Otherwise follow your directions that belong to your ice cream maker. If you do not have an ice cream maker, get one, seriously, get one.

Once the ice cream bowl is frozen, begin adding the milk and sugar to a mixing bowl, and do just that, mix with a whisk until all of the sugar dissolves. Add in the vanilla extract, and the heavy cream. Assemble your ice cream maker, and turn it on, adding in your mixture.

Let the mixer spin for at least 30 minutes.  You will begin to see the ice cream coming together.

chocolate-peanut-butter-ice-cream-ingredients

Next, add the peanut butter and chocolate chips to a bowl. Place in the microwave for about 30 seconds, just to lightly soften and melt the chips. Use a spoon and begin drizzling the mixture into the ice cream, using about half of the mixture.

Remove the ice cream spinner, and take the bowl out.

Fold in the remaining chocolate and peanut butter. Take a bite, then back away quickly as you will be tempted to eat the whole bowl!

Next, spoon the mixture into a seal tight container and place in the freezer until you are ready to serve. I bought some pint size ice cream containers in the past, just to add a bit more excitement when the kids open the freezer looking for a treat.

The flavor is great. You get the classic vanilla flavor, and hardened chunks of chocolate and peanut butter, just perfect for chewing on, or sucking on, much like sucking on a spoon of peanut butter, and what kid does not like that!