Quick Raspberry Ice Cream

I'm sort of in love with the pretty pretty shade of pink this ice cream is. Like...the pictures don't even do it justice. It's LOVELY. And it's all just from raspberries-no artificial coloring or anything like that. Speaking of ingredients, this recipe only uses SIX ingredients and it's completely no cook, no churn, and egg free! It's insanely quick and easy and you'll never believe HOW GOOD it is.

The ice cream is super creamy and silky and deliciously refreshing. I made the ice cream for Michael (because it's raspberry, so of course it's for him). It always makes me giggle when we order at restaurants and-with dessert for example-Michael usually orders something pink (strawberry or raspberry) and I usually get something super rich and decadent, and they always try to bring us out each other's food. Apparently I eat like a man and my hubby likes pretty pretty girly food :P

The point of the story is...Michael love love loves this ice cream. In all it's pink glory.

Look....all you have to do is blend together a few ingredients, then whip some cream, fold it all together, freeze it, AND THAT'S IT. Now you have this dreamy ice cream for yourself. It's pretty much the perfect thing to enjoy on a hot summery day. 

No-Churn Fluffernutter Ice Cream-Guest Post with The Spiffy Cookie

I know I know, you thought I was done with the guest posts! But...life got a little overwhelming so my wonderful friend Erin (AKA The Spiffy Cookie) stepped up and volunteered to share a little something with you guys. I've guest posted on her site before so I'm so happy to introduce this super fun, former Buckeye (she still loves chocolate and peanut butter, though!), wonderful blogger/cook/baker to you again! And look! Erin brought ice cream! With pb! and marshmallow! HOORAY!

Hello again Cooking Actress readers! Erin here from The Spiffy Cookie giving Kayle a break from blogging while she plans for her upcoming wedding. Kayle is such a wonderful person and I couldn't be happier for her. She and Michael are the cutest! I was lucky enough to meet her in NYC last year but now that she has moved back to Ohio I really need to pay her another visit, especially since she lives in the same town as some of my other friends.

Today I am sharing a recipe for my new obsession, no-churn ice cream. This recipe is so easy and delicious it almost makes ice cream makers obsolete. All you need for the base is 1 pint of heavy cream and 1 can of sweetened condensed milk. The churning aspect of ice cream is substituted by whipping the heavy cream with an electric hand mixer. Fold in the sweetened condensed milk and any other flavor additions and it's ready for the freezer. But of course you already knew all of that since Kayle has shared an extensive list of easy no-churn ice cream flavors.

Normally the hardest part of making no-churn ice cream is deciding on a flavor. I did ponder whether or not a browned butter ice cream could be possible since Kayle is the browned butter queen but thankfully Kayle is as much of a peanut butter lover as I am which made the decision much easier. After discovering the magical results of adding marshmallow creme to no-churn ice cream I went with fluffernutter ice cream, complete with marshmallow bits and a magic peanut butter shell.

Caramelized Pecan Banana "Ice Cream" with Chocolate Hazelnut Swirl

 

It's June. Which means it is wonderfully warm out. This means it is my favorite season. My favorite month. My favorite time of year (why do ya think I chose this time period to get married?)! It also means that soon we're gonna have some hot days. And, at the very least, we have some pretty warm ones! While some people may look at this as a downside, I'm all about it. There's a whole category for food that I don't really crave until the temperature goes up: including frozen bananas, popsicles, lots of fruit, and-of course-ICE CREAM!

But ya know, I can't go around eating oodles and oodles of ice cream (cue Michael probably yelling at the screen "But you'll eat oodles of cookies!" SHUSH!)-so, you wanna know a really cool trick?

BANANAS.

No, not as in this S*** is bananas (although it is), but as in-bananas. As ice cream.

WHAAAAA?

Technically, I sort of blogged about using bananas (and strawberries) as ice cream before. But I did not give it nearly enough attention.

So allow me to sum up and then expand upon:

Summary: you process some frozen bananas in a food processor or blender and it obtains an ice cream-like consistency.

Expansion: You can also add other stuff to take it to the NEXT LEVEL. Such as peanut butter. Or chocolate. Or bacon (WHAT? TELL ME YOU DIDN'T THINK ABOUT IT!). Or maybe caramelized pecans and a chocolate hazelnut swirl.

...no? Just me?

Not anymore! Now it's all of us!

Caramelized pecans....ohhh where have you BEEN all my life? And we already know about my love for choc-hazelnutty goodness. So adding them to this banana ice cream is just genius. It's creamy and crunchy and sweet and perfect. And a little less fatty than grabbing a pint of Haagen Dazs :P

Salted Caramel Ice Cream (No Ice Cream Maker!)-Stef's Virtual Baby Shower

EEEEE!! OMG...you guys...Stef, from Sarcastic Cooking, is gonna have a BABY BOY!!

yayyy!!!

I'm baby obsessed (seriously ask anyone, I ADORE babies. If I see your photos of your baby on facebook or instagram...that just like...makes my day. I fully intend to have a bunch of little ones myself someday and I just love em!) and Stef obsessed, for that matter, so when Stephie (my girl from Eat Your Heart Out) asked if I wanted to join in on a virtual baby shower for Stef, I immediately said YES!

Food bloggers (or maybe just bloggers in general) are weird creatures. I know that.

Nobody outside understands. I tell them I'm a part of a virtual baby shower and they're like "...so...they don't actually get to eat the food you're making for them?" and I'm like "well...no...but it's in spirit...just..ya know...ugh you don't get it." It's a thing though, ok? Just trust it is our way of saying WE LOVE YOU to our bloggy buds!

This is Stef and her husband Mike's first child, and I am just so psyched for them. I honestly can't even imagine how overwhelming and exciting this time must be for them! Stef seems totally cool as a cucumber though, and I know she's gonna make an amazing mom. When trying to brainstorm ideas for what to make for this post, I asked Stephie for any ideas, if Stef was craving anything in particular, etc. etc. and she mostly just said she's been a pickle fiend. Which of course made me think of the old pregnant woman stereotype of pickles and ice cream. And I figured well...if she's gonna eat her pickles, she might as well enjoy some spectacular ice cream as well, right? So I asked Stephie if she thought Stef would like the idea of salted caramel ice cream to which she responded, and I quote, "That's gonna get a resounding YES YUM ALL THE CARAMEL ICE CREAM THINGS response from her, haha!" So...there ya have it.

And, BONUS, since I'm sure Stef is busy preparing to be a mom, and will be even busier BEING a mom, this ice cream recipe is the no ice cream maker method. Which is the super easy, super quick way of making ice cream that I am addicted to! 

And we all remember that amazing salted caramel sauce recipe I shared on Monday? Yeah this ice cream tastes exactly like that...but in ice cream form (although feel free to use any caramel sauce you like). So prepare for incredibly rich, delicious, salted-caramel-flavor-packed ice cream! 

(and um...sorry for the not so inspiring photos. This particular ice cream recipe turned out rather soft so it didn't make for the most attractive pictures. Still looks delicious though, right? Right.)

So Stefanie, CONGRATULATIONS on your pregnancy, and your soon to be new little baby boy! I hope that all of us telling you you're amazing makes you smile, and that you want to eat your computer screen. Because of all the deliciousness we've made for you. <3!!!

Coconut Ice Cream-EASY, 4 ingredients (Edward & Sons Organic Coconut Products Review)

I had a vision in my head of these photos. I knew I wanted a light blue bowl to pair with the creamy white coconut ice cream.

Only problem?

I had no blue bowls.

Luckily for me, I had a babysitting gig where we (yes...2 babysitters...for 2 kids...which trust me, is the only reason I still babysit those children) took the kids to one of those crafty places where you can do things like paint ceramic or whatever. So me and the other babysitter decided to take part as well. So I found a bowl I liked, and painted it in pretty pretty blues. And thusly my vision was able to be realized.

I am a lucky lady and, after meeting them at the SFFS, Edward & Sons sent me some of their amazing organic coconut products. Then I had to decide what to play with first. I knew exactly what to do with their unsweetened shredded coconut (I love using shredded coconut in cookies but I hate how sweetened most shredded coconut-desserts have enough sweet as it is- is and full of goodness knows what. So this stuff is a Godsend!) But I wanted to use more products. And then I saw the coconut cream. And I remember reading you can make whipped cream with it. And my brain jumped to my favorite easy no ice cream maker recipe. And I thought "let's give this a try!" Aaaand (after a moment of panic when I couldn't seem to whip the coconut cream thick enough but crossed my fingers and hoped for the best) it worked! Plus I threw in some of the shredded coconut and topped with toasted coconut flakes, to really punch up the flavor.

Soooo gooood!

I love how summery this ice cream tastes. Like you're laying on a beach in the Bahamas. Just the perfect coconut flavor to evoke all the feelings of beachiness and tropical, summery fun. Also super refreshing on a hot day...which let's face it...it's August. And the toasted coconut adds some really nice crunchy texture. You should seriously give it a try. Or make something else with Edward & Sons organic coconut. You could even win some!! Scroll past the recipe for the giveaway :D

Ice Cream Round Up (Easy, No Ice Cream Maker, 2+ Ingredient Method!)

Hi guys! I'm in Ohio right now, being busy as all get out, but I had to give you a post anyway!

Sometimes certain posts that are older, don't get quite the attention they deserve (largely my fault due to the subpar photography/promoting skills at that time). That is the case for my post about making easy, no ice cream maker, 2+ ingredient ice cream. You guys...I make this ALL THE TIME. Michael virtually always has ice cream waiting for him in the freezer because this is so gosh darn easy, why not? Plus-it's fun! We can sit down and talk and be like "Hmm...what flavor combo should we try next?" So anyway, today I'm re-sharing the method (especially since I just shared that FABULOUS recipe using it on Friday), and telling you about some of the different flavors I've made with it (and tell you how you can make them too! Although bear with me, all the amounts are approximates because I tend to just add things until they taste how I want) Seriously, this one is a game changer.

Easy-NO ICE CREAM MAKER-2+ Ingredient Ice Cream

Ingredients:

• 14 oz. can sweetened condensed milk
• 2 cups heavy whipping cream
• Whatever add-ins you desire 

Preparation:

• Whisk condensed milk with whatever add-ins you may have.
• Whip heavy cream until stiff peaks form.
• Fold whipped cream in to the condensed milk.
• Transfer to an airtight container and store in freezer (at least 6 hours)

Chocolate Peanut Butter Swirl Ice Cream (EASY method!)

You know what's hilarious?

I didn't even like chocolate ice cream growing up.

I know you're all like "Kayle, it's like we don't even know you."

I totally have an explanation though!

You see, chocolate ice cream was never chocolatey enough. I'd never had any that fit the bill. Now, as an adult, I've had a few kinds of chocolate ice cream that were enough to please my taste buds, but my absolute favorite is Ben & Jerry's chocolate peanut butter swirl. Because...you know...peanut butter is always a welcome addition to chocolate.

Anyway, usually when I make homemade ice cream (sans ice cream maker, since I currently don't have one) I make whatever Michael wants-because he's the major ice cream lover and it's not usually my fave dessert.

But it's summer, people, and even I want some nice, cold, ice cream.

But...it's me...so obviously I'm not gonna eat the fruity "refreshing" stuff I make for Michael.

I wanted something like that wonderful chocolate peanut buttery goodness from Ben & Jerry's.

Is this ice cream exactly the same?

No.

Is it pretty close and super duper delicious?

YES.

Dark chocolate ice cream with chunks of rich, delicious, salty peanut butter....mmmm. This was an ice cream both Michael and I could love, and seriously, it is so simple to make. It's like crazy. So really what I'm saying is you have 0 excuse as to why you shouldn't just make this as soon as possible. Come on, it's hot out there, make some ice cream!

Easy-NO ICE CREAM MAKER-2 Ingredient Ice Cream-Take 2: Holiday Recipe Exchange: Week 11 (Vanilla/Vanilla Beans)

Ice cream is okay.

I mean, it's good. I like it. It's just...

I could have chocolate instead.

Don't get me wrong, sometimes that mood hits me and I really want some ice cream like right that second. But in general, there are desserts I'd prefer (like this or this.)

The boy, however, he loves him some ice cream.

It's a part of that whole "refreshing" obsession he seems to have.

Anyway, I'm becoming a big fan of having as much of stuff I make be as homemade as possible. 

Then I saw something about ways to make ice cream with only 2 ingredients (plus mix-ins). Then I saw it again. I was intrigued. Not only because of the short ingredient list, but also-it requires no ice cream maker of any sort. Which is good, because I don't have one (still holding out on getting that KitchenAid Stand Mixer someday, then the ice cream attachment :P)

I had a recipe for a mixed berry milkshake I had been planning to make for Michael (like the nice girlfriend I am). And I decided that was the perfect time to attempt this ice cream.

I only needed vanilla ice cream for the milkshake (as opposed to the various different flavors I'd read about)-so I decided adding some vanilla extract to the base would create what I was looking for.

It worked!

It's awesome. Doesn't taste different than any other ice cream. 

And it.is.so.EASY!

I'm super excited to attempt the different, fun kinds!

(oh, and the boy approved)

(Holiday Recipe Exchange posts: Week 1 Parts 1 and 2, Week 3, Week Six, Week Seven, Week Nine , and Week 10 Parts 1 and 2,Week 11 Parts 1 and 2, and Week 12 Part 1)

2 Ingredient Vanilla Ice Cream

Adapted from Brown Eyed Baker's 2 Ingredient Ice Cream and Kevin and Amanda's Easy Homemade Ice Cream