Love the planet and eat healthy with these natural ice cream recipes.
It’s summer! What goes better with summer than ice cream?
There is no need to give up your love of the planet—and your love of eating healthy—in order to enjoy this summertime treat. Look for socially responsible brands such as Ben & Jerry’s or Stonyfield (both brands use high-quality ingredients and are focused on sustainability) or make your own.
Making your own ice cream is not only a healthier and more eco-friendly option, but it brings family and friends together. What’s better than that during the summer?
Head to your local farmers market and pick up fresh fruits and other ingredients, look for organic dairy options (visit LocalHarvest.com for a list of possible local farms) and get yourself an ice cream maker (we love this stainless steel version from Cusinart). That’s all you really need in order to enjoy one of these 3 easy-to-make options*:
Simple Strawberry Ice Cream
Ingredients
1 pound strawberries
2 cups heavy cream
1 cup whole milk
2/3 cup sugar
Directions: Wash and trim the strawberries, then cut into 1/4-inch slices. Place half of the sliced strawberries in a food processor or blender and puree. Set aside both sliced and pureed strawberries. Combine cream, milk, and sugar in a medium saucepan over medium heat and cook, stirring, until the sugar is completely dissolved. Remove from heat and pour mixture into a large bowl. Add the strawberry puree and mix well. Cover with plastic wrap and chill in the refrigerator until completely cool. While the cream mixture is chilling, dice the remaining sliced strawberries into smaller pieces to mix into the ice cream. Pour the cooled cream mixture into an ice cream maker and process according to the manufacturer’s instructions. Towards the end of the process, stir in the diced strawberries. Transfer the ice cream to an airtight container and freeze for at least 2 more hours before serving. Don’t like strawberries? Try peaches or blueberries instead!
Eco-It-Up: Instead of traditional bowls, why not reuse mason jars or other containers you are no longer using? Not only is this a great upcycling option, but it adds a little bit more fun to the ice cream experience.
Cookies and Cream Ice Cream
Ingredients
2 cups heavy cream
1 cup whole milk
2/3 cup sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
20 chocolate sandwich cookies (we like Newman-O’s, part of Newman’s Own Organics’ cookie line)
Directions: Combine cream, milk, sugar and vanilla in a saucepan and heat until the sugar is completely dissolved. Pour into a bowl and cover with plastic wrap. Chill in the refrigerator until completely cool. Place the chocolate sandwich cookies into a gallon size plastic bag. Using a rolling pin or a rubber mallet, break up the cookies being sure to leave some larger pieces. Store the cookies in the freezer. Pour the cooled cream into an ice cream maker and mix according to the manufacturer’s instructions. When the ice cream is nearly finished freezing, pour the frozen cookie pieces into the machine, and mix thoroughly. (You will still have to stir it up a bit after the machine is done.) Store in an air tight container and freeze for an additional 2 hours. Simply want just vanilla ice cream? Just omit the cookies!
Eco-It-Up: Look for compostable, sustainable, disposable bowls and utensils. Click here for some of the options we love.
Ice-Cream-Maker-Free Chocolate Ice Cream
Ingredients
1 3.5-ounce chocolate bar (click here for some great easy-to-find organic options)
1 can sweetened condensed milk
2 cups heavy cream
Directions: Break the chocolate bar into chunks and place in a microwave-safe bowl. Microwave the chocolate, stopping and stirring every 30 seconds, until melted and smooth. Stir condensed milk into the chocolate. Set aside. Place the heavy cream in a large bowl and use an electric hand mixer to whip it until stiff peaks form. Fold the whipped cream into the chocolate mixture until completely incorporated. Scrape mixture into an airtight container and cover. Freeze for at least 2 hours before serving. Feel free to add chocolate chips or cookie crumbles to spice up your chocolate ice cream if you want!
Eco-It-Up: What’s ice cream without some toppings? Opt for natural and organic toppings such as fruit, nuts, and even crystalized ginger. You can also get great chocolate toppings from brands such as Barefoot and Chocolate (almond coconut chocolate spread, yes please!) and make your own all-natural sprinkles using this recipe from Eating Vibrantly.
Find yourself with a big ice cream stain on your upholstery? Use this tip from Stain Removal 101: Wipe away any excess ice cream and sponge the spot with a mixture of 1 tablespoon dishwashing liquid and two cups of cold water. Blot until the liquid is absorbed. Repeat as needed.
*All of the recipes listed here were found at www.realsimple.com
image courtesy of Flickr CC/Joy