Other than the fact that I lurrrve ice-cream, my hunt for real ice-cream out and about, has left me quite disappointed. We've tried numerous artisan ice-cream joints, and so far only one place serves consistently good stuff across most flavours. It's a long train ride away from our home and quite a fair bit to walk, so when we're there we gorge ourselves on several large servings!
Needless to say, Little Missy is also quite obsessed with the cold and comforting dessert. I’m very careful that we avoid overly processed food, hence I've been more aware of what goes in store bought ice-creams. I'm quite appalled to find what I’d call questionable ingredients, even in premium store-bought ice-cream. Many would contain coconut, palm or even peanut oil. Some simply state vegetable fat. And one in particular, had the ingredient “fat” listed as it’s 3rd ingredient! Ok, fat... of what origin? And it is a popular premium brand with several outlets in Singapore, as well as wide distribution in supermarkets all over. Other ingredients in question are stabilizers and emulsifiers (some don’t even list what they are, just the codes), and other fillers (to bulk up the quantity of the final product) such as milk powder, lecithin or soy. Most store bought ice-cream (yes, even the premium ones) contain at least 10 ingredients, many of which are quite dubious.
The thought of eating all that fat (of unknown origin at times or hydrogenated?), plus chemicals and other additives with unpronounceable names, and colouring, all whirled up to a mush and then frozen and transported all the way here really does not sound appetizing! If you’re trying to get your kids to eat healthy food, one small serving of the sweet frozen stuff can negate all your efforts.
Real ice-cream is made from ingredients you can recognize, stuff that was also used centuries ago (before questionable food additives were invented). It is unadulterated and made from wholesome ingredients which have been consumed even before the time of Christ. Traditional ice-cream or gelato is basically made from cream, milk, eggs and sugar. Simple and pure.
I’d have to add here though, that I have found one brand of ice-cream (widely available too) which contains only very few ingredients and no unappetising ones in them. I could eat a tub a day! However, my homemade range has one major advantage over this other yummy one -- it is very fresh as it has not travelled halfway around the world to get to my tummy. The homemade variety also does not have to endure large temperature changes, from factory to truck to distributor to truck, to airplane (or ship?), to truck to distributor to supermarket, to my backpack to my freezer. ;) ;)
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As I have received some requests, I am now selling ice-cream and cakes to friends and family. I can make any flavour, please read my blog for some ideas ;)
Tubs $12 / $16 (liqueurs & wines)
$2 off for every 2 tubs of the same flavour
600ml (this is about 27% more than pint-sized tubs like Haagan Dazs and Ben & Jerry's)
You get this cute bucket with a handle (get rebates when you recycle!)
This will be suitable for 20-25 people
Other sizes available by request
Interesting fact: 1 hearty scoop of ice-cream is about 100ml
I use Cream, Milk, Sugar and Eggs for all ice-creams and Yogurt for some flavours. Sorbets are dairy-free. Please alert me if you are allergic to any of these ingredients.
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Ice-cream flavours successfully churned to date (October 22, 2011)
1. Durian (D13 +D24 Blend)
2. Salted Egg Yolk
3. Yuzu
4. Dark Cherry Chocolate
5. Dark Chocolate
6. Banana Walnut Caramel
7. Wasabi
8. Mango
9. Peach Yogurt
10. Strawberry
11. Passionfruit
12. Mango & Passionfruit
13. Lemongrass
14. Gula Melaka
15. Shiraz
16. Cherry & Vanilla
17. Chocolate-orange
18. Sheridan's Coffee Liqueur
19. Vanilla Bean & Raspberry
20. Lavender
21. Lemon Basil (I grow my own)
22. Cardamon
23. Ginger
24. Red Tea
25. Cream Cheese Lime
Sorbets:
1. Cherry & Lemon
2. Pear, Lime & DOM
3. Lychee Martini Rosso
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