Ice Cream is a staple summer treat, and is one of the yummiest ones out there any time of the year. However, for those of us who live a ways from town, getting it home can be a bit of a hassle. That's why I thought I'd fix that problem and I went ahead and got my own ice cream churner! And, although it was a challenge to make my first batch with it, it was also super fun and rewarding in the end. So as you can tell, I'm no ice-cream-making expert, so there are certain things that I would like to improve on later, but for my first try, I thought that I did decent job and decided to share it with you guys!

One of everyone's favorite flavor of ice cream is mint, more specifically mint chocolate chip, although my recipe doesn't actually have any chocolate. Another favorite of many other people is essential oils. The great community and company of Young Living based down in Utah has actually taken those two favorites and combined them! What a great idea, right? Anyways, during a recent visit to Utah, I had the chance to eat a cup of their mint ice cream, and was very pleased with what I saw, or, what I tasted. I decided that I would try to replicate this yummy treat, and found another recipe online. When I found out that there was no added sugar, corn syrup, or any other diabolical way of making sure that your diet wouldn't permit you from eating this ice cream, I was thrilled! So, let's get started!

Step 1: Gather Your Things

The ingredients for this recipe were surprisingly simple and plain. All you will need is

One dozen eggs
6 cups of half and half
4 cups of whipping cream
1 1/2 cups of Blue AgaveNATURAL sweetener
1/4 tablespoon of sea salt
4 tablespoons of any kind of vanilla (imitation is cheapest)
10 drops of Pure Essential Peppermint Oil

The tools are fairly simple as well. You will need

A set of measuring cups
A set of measuring spoons
A large mixing bowl
A whisk or hand mixer
An ice cream churner/maker

I'd also recommend doing this with a friend, so I went with my only option, my mother. You could also have your cat watch you as you work, or your dog to lick up whatever you spill. You'll also want something to do as you wait, because you will have to wait a very, VERY long time for the ice cream to churn, set, and freeze.

Step 2: Mix It

In your large bowl, you'll want to beat a dozen eggs until they're creamy and smooth. You will then want to add your Blue Agave, sea salt, whatever kind of vanilla you have, and the whipping cream, still mixing as you go. Once it has all been mixed thoroughly, pour the mixture into your ice cream churn or maker. Remember to keep plenty of ice handy. We ended up using frozen peas and broccoli! After you've started to churn the mixture for a while, add your 10 drops of peppermint oil and the half and half carefully into your mixture. Depending on what kind of ice cream maker you have, you could also do this before you start churning it.

Step 3: Mix It Up

Not to be confused with the last step, make your ice cream your own! Add your chocolate chips, nuts, or whatever you like into the mixture before you start to churn it! And the greatest thing about it is that dark chocolate is actually not bad for you at all, so feel welcome to add as much as you like. Just don't add to much, or it might take away from the mint.

Step 4: The Waiting

As mentioned before, making your ice cream will take quite a bit of time. You will want to churn your ice cream for about 1 hour. To you ice-cream-making-enthusiasts, please churn your ice cream for as long as you see fit. However, 1 hour is a good base time. After the churning, pop your ice cream into a freezer. Check it continually until you feel you like the consistency. If all goes well, it should freeze in about 4 to 6 hours. However, I know that my batch did not, so don't worry! Just keep it in that freezer until it hardens to your liking!

Step 5: Enjoy!

You can now do what you always dreamed of! Eat your own ice cream, made from scratch. This recipe made a delicious ice cream that I liked quite a lot. Sit down on your porch and enjoy a bowl or bring it in a cooler to a barbecue or picnic at the park. Put a couple of toppings on it if you so desire! I hope you enjoy your ice cream and that it adds to your summer fun! Thanks!

If you want to use the article that I found on this ice cream, here it is!

Painter, J. (2016, July 23). Peppermint Ice Cream. Retrieved from https://getoiling.com/JoycePainter/blog/468/peppermint-ice-cream