Tuesday, March 15, 2011
Vanilla Soft Serve
I love waking up to rain. I know that seems weird, but I love working out when it's dark to the sound of rain. It's so peaceful. I enjoyed some interval training and muscle toning this morning and it felt so good. I am finally recovering from the B12/iron issues I was having. I love feeling good!

Now, how about some frozen treats...

I'm pretty sure the frozen yogurt industry lost out big time when I discovered I couldn't eat it any more. I ate some every night...and by some, I mean quite a bit. I kind of fell out of love with it since, at the time, there weren't many products that tasted anything like what I wanted. Not only that, but who can afford some of that stuff? Um, not me. 


Well, lately, I've been craving some frozen treats. It got really cold last week and while I still wanted it, I am cold natured to begin with...there was no way I was going to freeze myself for a treat. Luckily, the weather changed in my favor! Vanilla soft serve here I come!


I had to make pizzelles too! Warning, these things are addictive. Every time I walked by them, I grabbed one. 


They aren't super sweet, think graham cracker sweet and maybe not quit that much. Just a hint of sweet with a cracker crunch. 


Sandwiched with some soft serve...yum!


Now, I know most people probably don't have an ice cream maker, so I want to play with this and see if you need one or not. This is the first time I've used xanthan gum in ice cream and I LOVE the texture. You have to be careful with xanthan gum since it can make ice cream chewy...that is not what I am looking for. I used So Delicious Coconut Milk, so there is a hint of coconut. If you are looking for dairy free milks to use that don't have that flavor, use what you like, but make sure it has a little bit of fat in it. I used almond milk in another batch and it was a little less creamy, but softened up when it sat out for a little bit. This is a starting point for me to play with...

Vanilla Soft Serve
(makes about 5 cups)

3/4 cup sugar (I want to play with stevia, but for now I used sugar)
2 TBSP vanilla (we make our own with vodka and vanilla beans)
1/2 tsp xanthan gum 
1/8 tsp salt

Put 2 cups milk, sugar, vanilla and salt in a blender. Blend well. Gradually add xanthan gum to the blender while its on. Put the remaining 2 cups of milk in a bowl and pour the contents of the blender in with that milk while whisking. Freeze according you your machine's directions. 

Since I woke up this morning in a good mood...I am going to work on accounting stuff and taxes! I know I can hardly contain myself. I hope you all have a great day!

Labels: ,

posted by Sarena Shasteen - The Non-Dairy Queen @ 9:37 AM  
35 Comments:
  • At March 15, 2011 at 9:47 AM, Anonymous Heather (Where's the Beach) said…

    I can see how working out in the dark and rain could be peaceful, but it'd require me peeling myself from the bed first! So glad you're feeling better.

    That soft serve sounds great. I'll be curious how it works with the stevia.

     
  • At March 15, 2011 at 9:50 AM, Anonymous Evan Thomas said…

    I love the idea of a soft serve sandwich with pizzelles. My inner hungry Italian is beaming.

     
  • At March 15, 2011 at 10:00 AM, Anonymous Anna @ Newlywed, Newly Veg said…

    Oooh, I love waking up to rain! But I hate going about my day in the rain, ha.

    Your comment on my post was great. I know how hard it can be to introduce new foods after staying away from them for so long, especially when they're tied up with an ethical dilemma. I hope that you're able to beat this B12 deficiency without compromising your personal ethics and what feels right to you. Of course, that being said, nothing is worth compromising your health for!!

     
  • At March 15, 2011 at 10:03 AM, Anonymous Tina @ Faith Fitness Fun said…

    So happy you are feeling more energetic again! And finding a way to get your icecream on. That looks delicious!

     
  • At March 15, 2011 at 10:37 AM, Anonymous Anonymous said…

    Ahhh I love making my own soft serve. Especially because I'm not a big fan of dairy! I've never tried making soft serve with coconut milk though!

     
  • At March 15, 2011 at 10:46 AM, Blogger Peggy said…

    This sounds like a great treat! Love the pizzelle sandwiches!

     
  • At March 15, 2011 at 11:13 AM, Anonymous MelissaNibbles said…

    I like working out in the dark. I thought I was the only weirdo! This recipe sounds delicious. Can't wait to try it out. Oh and I really appreciate you trying to use the blender with it.

     
  • At March 15, 2011 at 11:50 AM, Anonymous Laura @ Sprint 2 the Table said…

    You even made the pizzelles! I'm so impressed.

    I can't wait to make this. Soft-serve is absolutely my favorite springtime treat.

     
  • At March 15, 2011 at 12:01 PM, Blogger Heather said…

    I don't know what I would do without ice cream!!! Glad you could figure out an alternative!

     
  • At March 15, 2011 at 12:13 PM, Blogger Emily said…

    Mmm...your ice cream sandwiches are definitely gourmet. They look so good! Thank you for the recipe. :)

    Hope you continue to have an awesome day!!

     
  • At March 15, 2011 at 12:14 PM, Anonymous Amy B @ Second City Randomness said…

    I think I'm the exact opposite- I love falling asleep to rain. It's wonderful... Waking up to it makes me frown because I know I have to actually go out IN it... lol

     
  • At March 15, 2011 at 12:30 PM, Blogger The Carnivorous Vegan said…

    That sounds amazing! Now to get an ice cream maker!

     
  • At March 15, 2011 at 12:47 PM, Blogger gfe--gluten free easily said…

    Pizelle ice cream sandwiches?!! Yes, please. I love ice cream made using coconut milk. :-)

    Shirley

     
  • At March 15, 2011 at 1:35 PM, Anonymous Kristina @ spabettie said…

    SO glad you are feeling better!!

    this looks simply delicious... I love the pizzelle sandwich. I have not used that gum, I may have to try this... it sounds refreshing!

     
  • At March 15, 2011 at 2:21 PM, Anonymous Holly @ couchpotatoathlete said…

    Ok - I need to get some coconut milk ASAP to make this -- it looks/sounds delicious! And I love that you made little ice cream sandwiches - how adorable!

     
  • At March 15, 2011 at 2:49 PM, Blogger Megan said…

    I love to sleep when it rains. As in, sleep, wake up, hear the rain, roll over and sleep some more. So peaceful.

    Thanks for sharing your soft serve recipe. I've owned an ice cream maker for several years now, but never even taken it out of the box. Guess it's time!

     
  • At March 15, 2011 at 3:00 PM, Blogger Sonia said…

    Your soft serve looks amazing!! Sometime I make banana soft serve and put it between graham crackers in the freezer to make sandwiches. But your pizelles look so sophisticated :)

     
  • At March 15, 2011 at 3:22 PM, Blogger MegSmith @ Cooking.In.College said…

    Those look absolutely heavenly...I don't have an ice cream maker so if you figure out how to do without PLEASE let me know!!! It'd be so worth whatever work it took :-)

     
  • At March 15, 2011 at 3:28 PM, Blogger Lisa said…

    I've made something totally similar! I used to buy the sodelicious ice cream, but always thought it would be way better to make it and save money (and decrease the sugar!)

     
  • At March 15, 2011 at 4:09 PM, Anonymous Lauren @ Spiced Plate said…

    ah. pizzelles remind me of my grandmothers, they'd make them with anise and it'd fill up their houses with the most delightful smell. I wonder if they're available gluten free? hmm...

     
  • At March 15, 2011 at 6:01 PM, Anonymous Anonymous said…

    That looks absolutely delicious, Sarena! I can't wait to try this at home. I really miss soft-serve. Is there no end to all the delicious things you can make with So Delicious coconut milk? This vanilla girl is verry happy!

     
  • At March 15, 2011 at 6:06 PM, Anonymous Alisa Fleming said…

    You are amazing my lovely! I am so going to try this recipe once I have room for my ice cream maker in that little freezer!

     
  • At March 15, 2011 at 8:26 PM, Blogger LifeasKristina said…

    I like the rain too:) As long as i'm not on vacation!
    That dessert looks goooooooooooood

     
  • At March 15, 2011 at 9:08 PM, Anonymous jess@HealthyExposures said…

    Even though I hate rain during the day - sometimes it really is so peaceful!
    The soft serve looks amazing, and I'm so excited you're going to play with making it w/o a machine, too. I'll be unstoppable then ;) The pizzelles remind me of when I was young - I remember they were a fun thing to make around christmas with my mom!
    Hope you got everything you wanted to accomplish done!

     
  • At March 15, 2011 at 9:46 PM, Blogger Unknown said…

    ahh I know, I did the same! I love the so delicous coconut milk. Vanilla soft serve beats the real froyo anyday....well in my opinion.
    LC

     
  • At March 15, 2011 at 10:36 PM, Anonymous Pure2raw twins said…

    glad you are starting to feel better!!

    I like the dark too, not just for working out, haha that sounds bad, but really do enjoy it. I am weird :)

    ice cream looks great! love coconut!

     
  • At March 15, 2011 at 10:40 PM, Anonymous Averie said…

    "You have to be careful with xanthan gum since it can make ice cream chewy...that is not what I am looking for. "--


    when i used to use XG...I used to make my food chewy..ALL the time. Blech! I never got it down pat how to do it properly and since have realized it bothers my tummy so no XG for me anymore...lol.

     
  • At March 15, 2011 at 10:58 PM, Blogger Fallon said…

    I love pizzeles!! Where did you get your maker?

    Can't wait to try out this recipe once we move to GA. I took my ice cream bowl out of the freezer so we could start packing things up.

     
  • At March 16, 2011 at 12:43 AM, Anonymous Kate (What Kate is Cooking) said…

    Apparently my grandmother just threw out her pizzelle maker- ugh!! For now I have to settle for store bought :)

     
  • At March 16, 2011 at 10:44 AM, Anonymous Toni said…

    I got sooo excited when I saw the Pizzeles! These are a staple in my house! My grandma taught me how to make these when I was a little girl!

     
  • At March 16, 2011 at 12:07 PM, Anonymous Natalia - a side of simple said…

    Just the thought of vanilla soft serve has me SO ready for warmer weather!

     
  • At March 16, 2011 at 2:50 PM, Anonymous Rach said…

    Ooh what a good idea! And it looks SO yummy! :)

     
  • At March 16, 2011 at 7:38 PM, Blogger Lexi said…

    This is so exciting. I've been looking everywhere for a non-dairy blog that has such great recipes (that I can make).

     
  • At March 16, 2011 at 11:56 PM, Anonymous Christin@purplebirdblog said…

    A friend of mine bought me one of those ball shaped ice cream makers that you toss around... I really need to pick that up from her so I can give this a try!!! I hope you're having a lovely week, sweetface! xo

     
  • At March 19, 2011 at 2:10 PM, Anonymous Heather @ kissmybroccoli said…

    It's too hard for me to peel myself out of bed for a workout when it's raining outside...I much prefer sunshine and birds chirping! But I do love to fall asleep to rain...a good rainstorm always helps me sleep soundly!

    Your ice cream sandwiches looks so fancy! Love the sound of those cookies!

    I can't wait to try out this recipe for soft serve! I've yet to break out my new ice cream maker but this will be perfect for my first ice "cream" creation!

     
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Sarena Shasteen - The Non-Dairy Queen
Home: Atlanta, GA, United States
About Me: Lactose Challenged
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