When my Mother’s Day present finally arrived (which was an unsplattered, perfectly uncreased copy of The Perfect Scoop by David Lebovitz), I sat down with my kids and talked to them about ice cream.
They already knew about ice cream, of course. There had been some “experimentation” in recent years. They’d heard their friends talk about it. They know that the ice cream man shows up at the park at exactly quarter-of- dinnertime and they’re the only ones who aren’t getting any.
But what they didn’t know is that Mommy has an ice cream maker. And that if all went well, they’d be getting homemade Creamsicles that very night. They just stared at me blankly, so I dumbed it down. Orange popsicles, kids. They’re popsicles. (Cue yays and clapping.)
I pulled out the book and we went through it page by page. I told my preschooler about all the different kinds of ice creams there were and the toppings (oh, the toppings) that the ice cream man doesn’t know how to make. I showed my toddler all the pictures, which he then proceeded to lick. Okay, that was me. But, I emphasized that this was a secret book. And only good boys who eat their dinner get to learn the secrets of secret ice cream.
Then came the question I was dreading. About balls. Malted milk balls, and the ice cream that can be made with them. I slammed the book shut and said that was for Mommy. No one else but Mommy. No more questions.
Orange Popsicle Ice Cream
This is even better than the Creamsicles I remember because it tastes like actual oranges. The preschooler declared it to be “the best popsicle ever.”
2/3 cup sugar
Grated zest of 3 oranges
1¼ cups freshly squeezed orange juice (from 3-5 oranges)
1 cup sour cream
½ cup half-and-half
2 tsp. Grand Marnier
In a blender, pulverize the sugar and orange zest until the zest is very fine. Add the orange juice, sour cream, half-and-half, and Grand Marnier, and blend until the sugar is completely dissolved. Chill the mixture thoroughly in the refrigerator, then freeze it in your ice cream maker according to the manufacturer’s instructions. (If desired, pour into ice cream bar molds, insert popsicle sticks, and freeze.)
Source: From The Perfect Scoop by David Lebovitz. Used with permission.
