Mix it up with Mani

Cool down with homemade Ice Cream
I just can’t bring myself to bake in the heat of summer.  Instead, my ice cream machine begins calling to me.  I got one recently with 2 freezer containers so I can make two batches in succession.
The brown sugar ice cream was inspired by Laloo’s, an artisan ice cream company located in Petaluma, California.  Brown sugar imparts a deep, rich taste that accentuates the caramel.  Use light or dark brown sugar, as you like.
Remember orange sherbet?  Or lime sherbet?  My family had sherbets in the summer when I was a child but I don't see them so often any more.  (Perhaps the more popular form these days is sorbet, which is entirely made from fruit with no milk or cream at all).  This combination of cream with fresh orange juice and zingy orange peel is so refreshing on a hot day.
If you do not have an ice cream maker, fret not.  I have included the Raspberry Yogurt Parfait for you - and for those times when even an ice cream machine is too much effort.  You can prepare the components of this recipe the day before, or just a few hours before serving.  And feel free to use any berries or combination of berries, ripe and ready where you live.

Brown Sugar Ice Cream with Cinnamon Caramel
I always buy herbs and spices in small quantities at a natural foods store or co-op to guarantee freshness.  (It's also a great way to avoid purchasing an entire bottle of something that will be stale before you use it up).  Fresh cinnamon will be redolent with oils, therefore you may use less than you might think.  Vietnamese cinnamon is quite pungent while canela, the cinnamon popular in Mexican cooking (though grown in Sri Lanka), tends to be smooth and mild. 

Orange Sherbet
Use fresh squeezed juice for the best flavor, store bought or made at home.  For the dairy, cream will taste much richer and yield a creamier texture.  For a lower fat content, milk works fine yet results in a slightly grainier texture.

Raspberry Yogurt Parfait
For the creamiest texture, use plain, whole milk yogurt, preferably one made with tapioca or gelatin.  Apple juice will work fine as a substitute for the pineapple juice.