The best simple vanilla ice cream

Anyone on a diet, look away now.

I made vanilla bean ice cream on the weekend. It's probably the best ice cream I've made so far and it's also the most simple - no eggs, no custard, just items from the fridge and pantry. Trouble is, I've been so busy, we haven't eaten it yet. Oh, we test tasted along the way but a sit down dessert will have to wait until tonight. BUT! I'm in a hurry again this morning so I can't waffle on. When we eat our ice cream tonight, I'll take a photo of the finished product.

VANILLA ICE CREAM

• 2 cups milk - this can be any milk you have in the house, skin, no fat, soy, powdered, full cream
• 1 cup cream
• one vanilla bean or two teaspoons vanilla extract. Please don't use vanilla essence in this, it is fake vanilla and will not do it justice.
• 1 can condensed milk - I made my own, it's simple. The recipe is below.

1. Add the milk and cream to a saucepan and heat.
2. Scrape out the vanilla bean and add the seeds or add your extract.
3. Bring to the boil and allow to simmer for a few minutes.
4. Remove the vanilla bean.
5. Add the condensed milk and stir.
6. Remove from heat and allow to cool.
7. When the mixture is cool, place it in a container and put it in the freezer.

Scrape the vanilla bean with a sharp knife.

If you have an ice cream machine ...
Wait until the mix is forming ice crystals, then add it to the machine and start processing.

If you don't have an ice cream machine (or if you have one and thought the bowl was in the freezer but it wasn't) ;- ) ...
After the mix has formed ice crystals, remove it from the freezer every 45 minutes and give it a good stir until it's almost frozen.
When it reaches that state, put it in a freezer container with a lid for storage.

The ice cream will be smoother if you have an ice cream machine but it's mighty fine made with muscle power. BTW, my ice cream maker bowl will remain in the freezer over summer. I'll be doing some gelato and sorbets soon. Stick around.

HOMEMADE CONDENSED MILK
I did a post on this a couple of years ago but here it is again:

• 1 cup powdered milk
• 1/3 cup water
• 2/3 cup white sugar
• 3 tablespoons soft butter

Put all the ingredients in a small processor and whizz until the sugar is dissolved. This is much cheaper than a tin of condensed milk and it tastes the same.

Just to quickly answer some questions from yesterday.

Karen Sue, the lids on those preserves were sealed in a water bath. You'll need a better spot for your tomato seedlings. Growing leggy ones will only bring you grief.

Jody, I sometimes use Epsom salts when I sow seeds. It will help with germination. And we spray seaweed tea on leaves and pour it into the soil. It's a great plant tonic and will build up the health of your plants.

Ann, I can tell you and Peter live in a colder climate. Up here, most people would be horrified to have a window sill that gets sun.

Dora, we usually pull out our tomato plants when they have reached a certain height and stop producing flowers. Waiting for a second crop doesn't pay off here. We'd rather have fresh plants ready to follow on with.

Jessica, I have just started a new plant. I'll write a post on ginger beer when it's ready in week or so.

And now I'm off to send off my next Burke's Backyard article and to sort out some liquid soap I made yesterday. I had to go out before I finished. Have a lovely day, work hard and take care of yourself.

ADDITION: I posted at the co-op today. That post is here.