The simplicity of summer has not yet completely faded, which is lovely for those of us who cling for dear life to things like sandy toes and warm evening campfires.
As life rolls mercilessly into October once more, I find that this year I am still able to enjoy my patio, take dog walks in my shorts and a t-shirt, wear my flip-flops, barbecue in the evenings with friends (though you have to have an early dinner…it’s dark by 7)…AND learn to make ice cream when reaching the letter “I” in my own personal alphabet baking adventure. While ice cream hardly classifies as a “bake,” it absolutely tastes like the summer solstice all over again…and that simple fact alone trumps all other parameters of the challenge.
Initially, I spent a fair amount of time filtering through Irish recipes, and was dangerously close to baking a loaf of Irish Soda Bread. Then came an idea for Italian Kisses with hazelnuts and dark chocolate. But time and time again, “Ice Cream” cut in line above them both at the top of Google search lists for “food starting with ‘I’.”
I should interject a summertime fact here…
As we camped our way through and around the Pacific Northwest this past summer, I briefly considered joining a twelve-step program to curb my Amazon buying habits. By the end of our six week adventure, I’d all but kicked it. It was one of many healthy outcomes of our journey, to be sure.
*sigh* I am the first one to admit that old habits die hard, and the Cuisinart ice cream maker I found on Friday evening was here by 6am Saturday morning. (Click here for the link – it’s a fantastic contraption!! A far cry from the old rock salt and ice method of the 70’s and 80’s.)
In my defense, it is only fair to point out that while my husband jests about my Amazon habit…he was not the least bit sad to share a delicious bowl of Strawberry Ice Cream on this hot summer-ish fall day and is currently working out a list of “next” ice creams to try.
So even though I will move happily on to “J” in my baking alphabet, a new challenge has arisen in the Scullery…homemade ice cream in every flavor imaginable.
The possibilities are endless!
Hillary Danaher 