I have finally joined the World Cup fever. Actually I really enjoy soccer. I played the sport pretty much my entire childhood, and soccer is probably my favorite sport to watch. It is fast moving, the rules make sense, and have you seen soccer player legs? Best looking legs around. I spent my day off today enjoying some beer and lunch with friends while watching soccer, and my friend came over and I taught her how to make ice cream. All in all, a great day.
Teaching someone to make ice cream is one of my favorite things to do. Most people who have never made ice cream seem to be intimidated by the idea, but once walked through the steps most people realize it’s pretty easy. Ice cream just takes a little planning. Liz and I made a batch of the Steen’s Molasses Oatmeal Cookie Ice Cream from the Scoop Adventures cookbook. I absolutely LOVE this flavor and it is my husband’s hands-down favorite. Good choice, Liz! It was so much fun to make ice cream with a friend (its usually just be in the kitchen).
Another recipe favorite from the cookbook is the Avocado Lime Ice Cream. I demoed my original recipe for this ice cream on NBC 4 DC a couple of weeks ago. What a fun experience! A television demo requires a lot of preparation for a short on-air time but it was worth it. In the end, I was left with an extra batch of ice cream. When I came home, it sat in the fridge for a couple of days before I figure out what to do with it. I love the flavor, don’t get me wrong, but I already made a batch for the show. And then it hit me! Popsicles! It is super easy to turn any ice cream recipe into popsicles. Make the base the same as you would for ice cream, but instead of churning it pour the base into popsicles molds. I changed up the recipe a bit by adding a banana for a little extra flavor and sweetness. I love them! What a happy accident.
Here’s to be beer, soccer, friends and popsicles! Enjoy!
Avocado Lime Banana Popsicles
Adapted from recipe in Scoop Adventures: The Best Ice Cream of the 50 States
Makes 12 – 3 ounce popsicles
Lime syrup:
¼ cup (59ml) lime juice
¼ cup (50g) sugar
Popsicle Base:
3 medium ripe avocados
½ cup (100g) granulated sugar
½ cup (118ml) plain yogurt
1 1/2 medium bananas, divided
½ cup (118ml) milk
1 cup (237ml) heavy cream
Pinch of salt
To prepare lime syrup, combine lime juice and sugar in a small saucepan and place over medium heat. Heat until sugar is dissolved, 2 to 3 minutes. Pour into a small bowl, cover and refrigerate until completely cool.
Before preparing popsicles, make sure that all ingredients are well chilled. Slice avocados in half, remove pits, and scoop out the flesh into a blender or food processor. Add sugar, yogurt, 1/2 banana, milk, cream, and salt. Blend until smooth. Add lime syrup and pulse to combine (mixture will be thick). Slice remaining banana and add one slice to the bottom of each popsicles mold. Immediately pour base into popsicles molds. Add popsicle sticks, transfer to freezer and freeze until firm, at least 4 hours.
*Note: Immediate freezing is necessary to prevent browning. If you don’t want to make the popsicles immediately, place the base directly into the freezer. When ready to use, thaw in the refrigerator and then follow directions for finishing popsicles.
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