Homemade Vanilla Raspberry Ice Cream and Raspberry Lime Sorbet

Raspberries went on sale last week, and when that happens I leap like a tiger with claws exposed, fangs bared. I snatched up three flats, and we nibbled on them like bottomless buckets of popcorn at the movies. Then comes that moment in the short life of berries, when you've got to freeze or bake or lose them all. What I really wanted to make was some luscious vanilla ice cream, studded with bits of raspberry, but this little girl had other plans: raspberry sorbet. (Please focus on sincere child and ignore messy kitchen.)As a child, my mother generously let me create whatever I wanted in the kitchen. With such memories, I'm forced to repress my urges of "No, dear, I've got a better idea," and "I was saving those for something else," and "Wont' that be quite messy?" and "Wouldn't you rather do a page of pre-calculus?"Compromise trumps sacrifice in the kitchen as well as anywhere, so we made both. And they are brilliant together. Brilliant. Think of a raspberry dreamsicle, with a hint of lime, jewels of fresh raspberry in silky vanilla. Maybe I should listen to my little girl more often. Maybe we could make a great team in the kitchen. Maybe it's time to buy a second ice cream maker.

I'm scooping up our frozen ambrosia for the Sugar High Friday Event, focusing on berry desserts.

Raspberry Sorbet

Estimated Cost: $5.00

Notes: Make these with fresh berries only when you can find them on sale. Otherwise, stick with frozen.

1 cup water

1/2 cup sugar

3 cups raspberries, fresh or frozen, thawed

1 teaspoon lime zest

1 tablespoon lime juice

In a small saucepan, bring water and sugar to a simmer over medium heat. When sugar is completely dissolved, remove from heat and cool. Meanwhile, blend berries in the bowl of a food processor or blender until smooth. Press through a strainer to remove seeds. Combine syrup, berries, lime zest and juice in the bowl of an ice cream maker. Process according to manufacturer's direction.

Vanilla Raspberry Ice Cream

Estimated Cost: $4.00

Notes: You can play around with this simple vanilla ice cream and add in whatever you please.

1 (14 ounce) can sweetened condensed milk

1 cup heavy cream

3 cups milk (low fat is fine)

2 teaspoons vanilla

1 cup slightly crushed raspberries, fresh or frozen

In the bowl of the ice cream maker, combine condensed milk, cream, milk, and vanilla. Process according to manufacturer's directions. Stir in raspberries when ice cream is almost set.

Coming Tomorrow:

Grilled Whole Wheat and Honey Pizza with Tomatoes and Basil

Plus Super Fast Pizza Sauce