Tastes of Summer

Today we made our eighth batch (I think) of ice cream of the summer. It was fresh peach, which is my favorite except for fresh strawberry. You can use the same recipe to make either one. This recipe is from the brochure that came with my Cuisinart ice cream maker, except that I adjusted the ratio of whole milk to cream because I like it a little less creamy.

Fresh Peach or Strawberry Ice Cream
3 cups sliced fresh strawberries or sliced fresh peaches
4 Tbsp. freshly squeezed lemon juice
1-1/2 cups sugar, divided
1-3/4 cups milk (anything but fat free)
2-1/4 cups heavy cream
1-1/2 tsp. vanilla extract
In a small bowl, combine the fruit with the lemon juice and 1/2 cup of the sugar. Stir gently and allow the fruit to macerate in the juices for 2 hours. Strain the fruit, reserving the juices. Mash or puree all the fruit, or if you like small chunks in your ice cream, mash or puree 2/3 of the fruit and finely chop the rest.
In a medium mixing bowl, use a hand mixer on low speed to combine the milk and remaining sugar until the sugar is dissolved, about 2 minutes. Stir in the heavy cream, reserved juices, mashed fruit, and vanilla. Put into your ice cream maker and freeze according to instructions. Five minutes before mixing is complete, add the reserved sliced fruit, if desired, and let mix in completely. Transfer ice cream to another container and let harden further in freezer for at least 2 hours.
Makes about 14 half-cup servings, or almost 2 quarts.



I also made a sunflower cake in honor of the first sunflower that bloomed (not counting the volunteer). It was a simple pound cake baked in my sunflower pan.


Have you ever noticed that sunflowers are like people, standing in the garden? Sometimes I catch sight of one out of the corner of my eye and think for a moment it's a person, face turned toward the sun.