It’s been a while since our first ice cream theme post, so we figured it was time for part deux. After all, July is National Ice Cream month, so I can justify a second ice cream post. Believe me, even if it weren’t July, I’d find a reason. I’m the person who intentionally allows fruit to ever-so-slightly over-ripen just so I can say, “Oh, will you look at that. This poor mango might be too soft to cut up and enjoy. Let me just make some mango ice cream so it won’t go to waste.”

I’m sneaky like that.

Ice cream is the perfect summer treat, and with the current heatwave hitting many areas of the country, I almost can’t decide whether to binge on it or bathe in it. Seriously, man. It’s hot outside. Let’s just all stay in and make ice cream.

(See how I snuck that in again? I’m telling you. Ping me if you need me to craft custom excuses to make copious amounts of ice cream in your home.)

Today, we’ll do a rundown of two main types of ice cream. First we’ll show you some egg-free ice cream recipes. Some purists will insist this is technically what ice cream should be, hence the name ice cream. Ice cream made without eggs is usually easier and quicker, and is sometimes referred to as Philadelphia, New York, or American-style ice cream. Though this style of ice cream doesn’t require any cooking, Alton Brown says that bringing the milk or cream up to about 170ºF then letting it cool before churning greatly improves the texture of the finished product.

(Note: I goofed and mistakenly included the Orange Julius ice cream here. It belongs to the custard-based lineup. Oops!)

You can get incredibly creative with these, too. And by golly, you have. You kill me with all your incredible concoctions, creating all these frozen versions of our favorite desserts. Banana bread ice cream? Strawberry cheesecake ice cream? Pecan pie ice cream? My goodness. Will one of you adopt me please?

Now we’ll lay some custard-based ice creams on you. Custard-based ice cream is basically the same, but with a higher concentration of egg yolks. It is sometimes referred to as frozen custard or French ice cream. Since eggs are a natural emulsifier, these tend to be richer and smoother than egg-free versions. The egg yolks also give them a pale yellow tinge, which is apparent when you compare a scoop of the ubiquitous bright white vanilla ice cream and a scoop of French vanilla ice cream.

Here are some custard-based ice creams paired nicely with fruit. Maybe it’s just that fruit really goes well with ice cream, or maybe, particularly with the richer custard-based versions, the fruit provides a nice balance of flavor. Whatever the reason, what I’m sure of is that I just want more of it.

If you’re lactose-intolerant, have dairy allergies or simply want to avoid dairy, fret not. Though not technically ice cream, here are a few of ice cream’s cousins you can enjoy without feeling like you’re missing out. Some use coconut milk instead, and some are just straight-up sorbets. Sorbets, according to the FDA, are water ices and contain no milk or eggs. But if you need to stay away from eggs completely, be sure to read the label or recipe carefully. Some sorbets can contain egg whites.

And there you go! That was a tour of my freezer rundown of just a few of the ice cream recipes here in Tasty Kitchen, and we hope you find a few new favorites. I didn’t even show you any gelatos and sherbets yet. Oh well. Guess we’ll have to do that in a separate post.

So make some ice cream this week, and unleash your inner Ben & Jerry! Then come back here and share your creations. I’ll be anxiously waiting here. In the shade. Fanning the heat away with one hand while the other hand holds an ice cream cone.

 
The season for rhubarb is upon us, and I can tell not so much by the appearance of these crimson stalks in my grocery as by the number of new recipes coming in featuring this vegetable. Or fruit (according to the US courts).

The rhubarb has an interesting history. It was originally cultivated in the general area of Western China, Tibet, Mongolia, and Sibera. The name “rhubarb” was coined by the Romans, from the Latin “rhababarum” or “root of the barbarians.” It was prized for its medicinal properties, which caused its value to skyrocket. At one point in the mid-17th century, its value soared to twice that of opium in England. In fact, some historical documents attest that some prisoners earned their freedom from jail simply by passing on tips about the medicinal uses of rhubarb to persons in authority.

All of a sudden, rhubarb doesn’t sound like a lowly vegetable (fruit) anymore.

But I know you didn’t come here for a rhubarb history lesson. You want recipes. And I don’t blame you. Not only does it have that gorgeous red color, but when prepared properly, that wonderful play of tart and sweet just brings such an interesting dimension of flavor to the dish.

We’ve got quite a few rhubarb recipes here, so let’s start with a few simple drinks: a luscious smoothie and a cocktail for the grownups. (Margaritas are always a good place to start.)

(Look, Ma! No links! But don’t fret. Just hover your mouse over each recipe image to see the name of the recipe, and click to go to the recipe page.)

 
 
 
Rhubarb also lends itself well to canning. Again, it’s that whole tart-and-sweet thing going on. Here are a few recipes for rhubarb jam and butter, as well as one for a jellied treat called pâte de fruit.

 
 
 
Of course, we all know the most popular way to use rhubarb. We’ve got loads of rhubarb crisps, crumbles, bars, pies … I don’t know about you, but I kinda want to take a spoon to all of these and take a bite of everything.

 
 
 
But you know we can’t leave well enough alone, right? Because we’ve got more than just the popular rhubarb versions. If you’re looking for something just a little bit different, how about muffins? Or cheesecake bars? Or try your hand at making an upside down cake (it’s calling my name).

 
 
 
Let’s get even crazier. Our Tasty Kitchen members never fail to amaze me with their creativity, and I can always count on finding something unique and different in here. From a simple roasted vanilla rhubarb to a novel rhubarb risotto, rhubarb is spreading its wings and widening out beyond the dessert table.

 
 
 
And to close out this rhubarb roundup, let’s look at a few parfaits and fools. No, not me—I’m referring to the English fool, which is a dessert of cooked and pureed fruit folded into whipped cream.

 
 
 
Thus endeth the tour of some of our favorite rhubarb recipes here in Tasty Kitchen. (I didn’t even get to show you the Rhubarb Semifreddo from puckandkudzu, or a scrumptious Rhubarb Buckle from goodfruit.)

Do you have any favorite rhubarb recipes? Any wild concoctions? You know, having a few rhubarb recipes under your belt isn’t just good for the belly. It’s also a great survival tool. While most other vegetables in temperate regions are annuals and need to be replaced each year, only a handful of vegetables are perennials and can survive and produce on their own through many growing seasons. Rhubarb is one of them. (Bonus points if you can name the others.)

Now go forth and conquer the rhubarb! And take pride in knowing that you’re taming the “root of the barbarians.”

  Summer is fast approaching, and you know what that means—barbecues, cookouts, picnics, and potlucks. When it comes to outdoor, casual get-togethers, the grill usually gets all the love. Okay, maybe the grill and the cooler. Burgers and hotdogs and all the fixings will be planned carefully, ribs will be marinated overnight, and someone who […]