Ice cream makers? Shall I get one? Please come and tell me if you use yours

[moodlumthehoodlum]

And if you do, what sort did you get?

I don't really want to buy one of the expensive ones that you don't have to freeze the bowl in advance.

Or is it something that will just sit there making me feel guily and inadequate when I don't use it?

I have a freeze the bowl beforehand kind of icecream maker. I don't use it a lot at the moment but I have done in the recent past (ie before DS!). Would probably use it now if DS wasn't dairy intolerent and me pregnant.

Hullo, DH here. Deffo get an icecream machine. Ours is the sort that you put the bowl in the freezer for 24hrs then churn the ice cream mix for 12-15mins to get soft-scoop consistency. Either serve straight away or put in the freezer for later.

According to DW, my chocolate icecream was rather nice....

great thanks. Can you just store the bowl in the freezer until you use it?

DH again.
we do

I have a £20 ish Kenwood one, my sis gave it to me for christmas as she loves hers so much, to my shame I haven't yet used it but I intend to this week will go and put bowl in freezer right now!

MIL has a store the bowl in the freezer type. We borrow it to use every now and then and it does make lovely ice cream.

Not something I'd use a great deal, but its nice to have for every now and then!

Thanks all, and choc ice cream recipe please JJ's DH.

I think I will get one.

We got a teeny weeny one from QVC It's fab and we used it a fair amount last summer. Was cheap as chips and you put the cream, chocolate, whatever in and it's battery operated and will mix it on and off while in the fridge - takes between 4 - 8 hours to set.

YES> it is the moulinex. it was about £30.

the bowl lives in the freezer. it absolutely totally and utterly rocks. best thing ever.

Great. All of this is what I wanted to hear. I figured that I would rather have the dcs eating home made ice cream if I could be arsed to make it. Someone once mentioned that I should try and buy two of the bowls, but I think this might be overkill?

I've dusted ours off and plan on making some ice-cream with dd this weekend. All we need are some foolproof recipes. I've started a new thread in this section but am too dense to do a link!

we have a Phillips that we use fairly often.

It is very nice, it is very moreish....

JJ's DH again... Here's my basic recipe that seems to work with pretty much everyone. PLEASE be aware that this is not suitable for pregnant mothers.

Make up a basic Creme Anglais:
beat 3 egg yolks with 2-3oz caster sugar and a teaspoon of vanilla essence until light and fluffy. Boil up half a pint of whole milk and add quickly into the egg mix (take care) whilst whisking briskly.
Heat in a bain marie stirring constantly until the mix coats the back of a wooden spoon - you should be able to draw a line across the back using your finger. DO NOT OVERCOOK.

Cool and store for later but... not if you're making the chocolate in which case....

Take a 4oz bar of 85% cocoa chocolate and grate some of it for later. Add the rest to the still warm creme anglais and stir until it melts. Now cool until cold.

Whisk up half a pint of double cream until soft peaks then fold in the creme anglais/chocolate mix along with the grated chocolate. Churn in the icecream machine for about 15mins and freeze.

Remove from the freezer 15mins before serving and eat within one week for best flavour.

ps. you can cheat on the creme anglais by simply cooking the mix in a pan but you will need to be vigilant and plunge the pan into cold water as soon as the mix is ready.

pps. add a double measure of Baileys before churning for a good treat.

we have a put it in the freezer one. i used it a lot when I first got it, but trouble was it made barely enough for us (we're 6) so you had to be organised enough to make 2 lots which wssn't easy as the bowl had to re freeze. Would be fine for a family of 4 though. (or less greedy people)

JJ's DH, I think your recipe looks delicious thank you. Without being sexist about this, I am in awe that you can muster up a successful creme anglais.

We are a pretty greedy family of four, so I'm hoping that one bowl will be enough. I think it will have to be or we will get really fat.

I have a freeze-the-bowl first one and use it fairly often in the summer. I would love one of the just-switch-on models but don't have the counter space and can't justify the cost.

LOL at "really good sex in a bowl". I didn't realise you could buy something at John Lewis that would help with such things

My mind is made up.

Can I get the ben & jerry's recipe book over here?

I just bought it on Amazon UK after reading Califrau's review...

am just there now buying the machine and the book!

I'm clearly going to get much more than I bargained for when I buy this. To be honest the ice cream maker was just going to decorate the kitchen but now, its so much more....

Another vote for an ice cream maker!

Ours is a magimix le glacier, lives in the freezer, I bought a spare bowl but have to say it hasn't seen a lot of use, think if we were entertaining on a grand scale then perhaps, but a single bowl is enough for the 3 of us!

I am off to buy that Ben & Jerry's book NOW...

lovecat - does the magimix do the business as I think i might get it?