Healthy, Affordable Ice Cream

Contributed by Jocelyn Anne

Not that i am keeping this blog on a summer theme (completely) or anything, but I have been attempting to add summer related recipes when I have them. Jocelyn emailed me this article with recipes this afternoon, and I wanted to share it with you immediately. Enjoy!

Image by Stu_ Spivack

I was recently asked to look into using ice cream makers for various uses other than just “ice cream.” I cannot lie and say that I’m not a fan of the taste of ice cream, but I can tell you that I’ve eaten it probably less that 5 times in the last 4 years. Delicious? Yes. But good for me and the family? Hardly. And ridiculously expensive? Very much so. So, I was actually excited about this assignment to find ways to use a very handy machine to create some cool creamy concoctions that were more than just sugar and candy in a bowl. Plus, if it’s easier and cheaper, then definitely sign me up!

If you, like me, enjoy something sweet and chilled, then these ideas are just for you too! They are also great ways to “treat” your kids to something extra special every now and then without bringing them up to rely heavily on sugar or crave that fat-sugar ratio so carefully executed in ice cream. Skipping cream for high protein milk and yogurt adds an extra added health benefit. Plus, you could even whip up a batch of vanilla frozen yogurt for a child’s birthday party and be a hit with kids and moms alike. If you don’t have your own ice cream maker, you’ve got a brand new excuse to hit up the last summer garage sales (perfect timing for tracking one down!)

Here are some of my favorite recipes:

Peanut Butter Frozen Yogurt (No sugar and a HUGE hit with kids!)

(Adapted from Gourmand)

Ingredients:

Milk, 1 cup

Greek yogurt, 2 cups

Peanut butter (smooth), 1 ¼ cup

Honey, 1/3 cups

Directions:

Warm honey and peanut butter to liquid state, cool slightly. Combine with all remaining ingredients in ice cream maker and follow directions.

Vanilla Frozen Yogurt

(Adapted from Skinny Taste)

Ingredients:

Plain yogurt (full fat), 1 ½ cups

Greek yogurt, 2 ½ cups

Vanilla, 3 teaspoons

Sugar, ½ cup

Honey, 3 tablespoons

Directions:

Add sugar and vanilla to blender, blend until smooth

Combine both yogurts, sugar and honey in bowl and whisk gently

Pour into ice cream maker and follow directions

Orange Dreamsicle Ice Cream!

(Adapted from Living Healthy Mom)

Ingredients:

Plain unsweetened nonfat yogurt, 32 ounces

Unsweetened condensed milk, 12 ounces

Tangerines/Oranges, 6

Vanilla, 3 tablespoons

Agave, ¾ cup (or sweetener of your choice, based on budget)

Tangerine/Orange peel, 2 tablespoons

Directions:

Blend all ingredients until smooth and creamy, pour into ice cream maker and follow directions.

All of these are incredibly simple, they all give your children an extra boost of calcium and protein, and none of them are scientifically geared to combine fat and sugar in such a way as to trigger your kids’ craving for it night and day! Enjoy and treat your kids (and yourself!)

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Freelancer Jocelyn Anne loves to help families enjoy food in new and healthy ways. If she can cut the cost, sugar and fat without sacrificing flavor, you can bet she’ll find a way! At the moment she’s all about finding affordable ice cream makers for the family and putting ice cream buying days behind.