Monday, June 22, 2009

Ice Cream in a Bag

I'm pretty sure I've done this a couple of years ago, but it bears repeating.

Looking for a way to entertain the kids for a while? A fun picnic dessert, perhaps? Ice cream in a bag will leave people wondering if you've gone off the deep end, and the kids will like it. You can even sneak a little bit of science education in there, while they aren't looking.

This idea came to me from Calvert School, although I've revised the recipe a bit from what they offered.

The first time I did this with my little boys, they were depressed because many of the big kids had just left for college. So when they got up that day, they found a big cardboard box labelled "Box Of Fun" on the kitchen table. Slicing it open, they found the necessary items and instructions for "Ice Cream in a Bag"! Entertaining, right? Well, OK, maybe not yet.

Here's what you need:

1 cup whole milk
1/4 cup heavy cream
1 tsp vanilla extract
1/4 cup sugar

1 quart sized Ziploc bag (with double zipper)
1 gallon sized ziploc bag

4 cups ice (minimum)
1/4 cup salt
cups and spoons

In the smaller Ziploc bag, carefully pour in the sugar, vanilla, cream and milk. Squeeze out as much of the air as possible, and zip it closed. Put half the ice in the bigger bag, alon
g with the salt; put in the milk filled bag and add the rest of the ice. Shake it around. A lot. It will take 15 to 20 minutes. You may want to add more ice and salt as it melts. Wrap the bag in a towel for easy grasping, and/or pass it from person to person for shaking. When the ice cream has solidified (it will still be quite soft), scoop it into the cups. Serves 2 to 3.

The science behind this: Salt reduces the freezing point of water, so even though the ice melts, it's colder than 32F, and it will freeze the milk mixture. (See? Simple and painless, the kids will remember this. It's also why salt melts ice on driveways and streets, and here in the northeast we are cursed with body rot. I mean on our cars; on our persons, salt is not to blame
.)

Variations to this recipe include adding 1/4 cup of diced frozen fruit, such as blueberr
ies, strawberries or peaches, or 1/4 cup of chocolate chips, which can also be frozen, or replacing the vanilla with 1/2 tsp of peppermint extract, a couple of drops of green food coloring, and the chocolate chips. Add sprinkles and/or chocolate or strawberry sauce to the top for even more fun.

Have fun, and remember, let the kids have some!

15 comments:

Katherine Roberts Aucoin said...

Ice cream in a bag is a terrific idea! You are so great with the kids and a genius to boot!

I agree, I like the floral fabric for the dress too.

Christo Gonzales said...

this is so much fun - I do the same thing with a coffee can inside a bigger can - they get all tapped shut and then it gets rolled around the floor awhile like a little kick ball...

Paula said...

Sounds like good fun and good eats!

tavolini said...

Oh, this is so smart!! I think I'll try this with the big kids (aka my friends) this weekend ;)

What a good idea!

SissySees said...

The Knight wants homemade ice cream and cannot find the ice cream maker we were given as a wedding gift. I refuse to shell out for another until he checks all the places the one we should own might be.

This is a great compromise!

The Blonde Duck said...

I think even I could figure this out!

~~louise~~ said...

A unique dessert for a refreshing day outside. I'm so glad you're bringing the kids and their ice cream in a bag to the picnic Marjie.

Cakelaw said...

This is really clever as well as fun - who'da thought you could make icecream in a ziploc bag? Love it.

pam said...

What fun!

noble pig said...

What a great idea! My boys could use a box of fun right now!

buffalodick said...

I've only made ice cream once, but it was pretty good! This is a neat idea..Mr. Wizard would have been proud of you!

foodcreate said...

Grand Idea!
I love ice cream and kids look like they had fun:)

Thanks for sharing:)your ice cream idea.

Welcome~~~
http://foodcreate.com

Patricia said...

Great idea!
My son is already asking when we can do this.

maybelles mom said...

WHat a great idea. MIne is only 2 so I wonder if her little hands can do this yet. I really want to try it. Maybe outside.

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