Granny's Homemade Fruit Ice Cream

Did you know that July is national ice cream month?  President Reagan make the declaration in 1984.  That seems a good enough reason to me to make ice cream!  

My mom would make ice cream at pretty much every barbeque or get together during the summer as I was growing up.  Delicious fruit ice cream - all different flavors depending on which fruit was in season.  This is her wonderful, versatile ice cream recipe. 

To me it is a comfort food because it brings back so many good memories.  All 7 of us kids would keep listening for the motor to slow down.  When it would stop, my dad would always turn the container to see if he could get it going again for a few more minutes to make it as thick as possible.  We would gather around anxiously waiting for him to finally unplug the motor and dish it out to us impatient kids.  The paddle was the big treat because it would have chunks of fruit stuck to it.  He always got first crack at that and then would scrape off big spoonfuls and feed us like little birds huddling around him with our mouths open. 

I just had to show you a picture of the hand crank ice cream freezer my husband's family used when he was little.  I love it.  Someday if the electricity is out and we need some ice cream, we just may use it.

There are such beautiful berries available right now that I decided to make Jumbleberry Ice Cream.  I used raspberries, blueberries, strawberries and blackberries with raspberry Jell-o.

Pour the sugar, Jell-o and canned milk in a large pan.  Stir over medium heat until the sugar is dissolved, but don't boil.  It doesn't have to be that hot.  

Cool the mixture.  You can put it in the fridge or put it in the sink in an ice bath to hurry it up.

In the meantime, crush enough fruit so you have 3 cups.  I use a potato masher and mash it quite fine.  You can leave bigger chunks if you want.  Pour the fruit in the cooled mixture and also add the whipping cream.

Now it's time to pour the mixture into your ice cream container.  Put the paddle in and then add milk until the container is 2/3 full.  Don't add all the milk if it will make the container more than 2/3 full - remember the mixture will expand as it freezes and needs the room.  Don't worry about mixing the milk in, the paddle will do it for you as you start the motor.

Put the lid and motor on the container & turn it on before you add the crushed ice and salt.  You can use rock salt, water softener salt or even the salt you use on the driveway to melt snow in the winter.   Use about 8 cups of ice to 1 cup of salt.  Follow directions for your ice cream freezer to freeze - it generally takes 20-30 minutes.  Sometimes I plug it in outside because it is kind of noisy, but make sure you can hear it when the motor slows down.  Just like my dad, I turn the container by rotating the lid when it stops.  Sometimes the position of some ice will stop it.  If it keeps stopping after 10-15 seconds a few times, it is time to pull the plug.  It will be the consistency of a soft ice cream.

Isn't Jumbleberry a beautiful color?  And it is so creamy and delicious!  Serve immediately and if there is any left, go ahead and freeze it.

Granny’s Homemade Ice Cream

                            2 c sugar                                            3 c whipping cream

                            1 - 3 oz pkg Jell-o                                3 c crushed fruit

                            1 - 12 oz can evaporated milk               1 to 2 c milk

In large pan, mix sugar, Jell-o & evaporated milk together.  Stir over medium heat just until sugar is dissolved.  Do not boil.  Cool.  Can put in ice bath or frig to hurry cooling.  Add crushed fruit & whipping cream.  Mix well.  Pour into 4 quart ice cream freezer.  Add milk until container is 2/3 full.  Follow directions for ice cream freezer to freeze.  Makes about 4 quarts.

Here are some of my favorite combinations:  strawberry Jell-o with strawberries or strawberries and bananas, raspberry Jell-o with raspberries or a mixture of berries (jumbleberry), and orange or lemon jello with peaches (can't wait for peaches in the fall!)  Use your imagination!  I'd love to hear your favorite combinations.  Enjoy!