How to Make Homemade Ice Cream (Without an Ice Cream Maker!)

COLFAX, WISCONSIN � June is Dairy Month and what better way to celebrate than with homemade ice cream?

When the custard is cool, put into a freezer-safe bowl. Blend in cream and salt. Freeze for 2 hours or until slushy. Add 2 teaspoons vanilla. Whip for 5 to 10 minutes with an electric mixer. Return to freezer and finish freezing (several hours or overnight).Dad's Favorite Recipe (From the book: Give Me a Home Where the Dairy Cows Roam � True Stories from a Wisconsin Farm. Coming Soon � Fall 2004)

• 2 eggs
• 3/4 cup sugar
• 2 tablespoons cornstarch
• 1 cup milk
• 1 pint heavy whipping cream
• pinch of salt
• 2 teaspoons vanilla
  

©2004 LeAnn R. RalphAfter you have whipped the ice cream, fold in 1 to 2 cups of fresh or frozen fruit, nuts and/or chocolate before returning the ice cream to the freezer to finish freezing.But you don't need an ice cream freezer to make your own homemade ice cream. You can make ice cream with your refrigerator. Here's how:Here are some ideas for additions to your ice cream:

• Strawberries
• Blackberries
• Raspberries
• Peaches
• Cherries (or Maraschino Cherries)
• Chocolate chips
• Butterscotch chips
• Crushed Heath bars
• Crushed peppermint candy
• Chopped walnuts
• Chopped pistachio nuts
• Diced bananas
• Coconut
• Chocolate chip cookie dough (drop into the ice cream by small spoonfuls and carefully fold in)
• Caramel or chocolate or fudge syrup (drop into the ice cream by small spoonfuls and carefully fold in)
  

When I was growing up on our small family dairy farm in west central Wisconsin 40 years ago, my dad would make homemade ice cream using cream and milk from our very own cows and a hand-cranked ice cream freezer.Variations:

©2004 LeAnn R. Ralph