I'm in the market for an ice cream maker....do you have any suggestions on make and size? Thanks, Birgit

I have owned a Dovier 1 qt manual crank type for about 20 years and love it. Last year I bought a Cuisinart Ice Cream Maker, mainly for the 2 qt capacity, the electric drive is nice but not mandatory. Both use the same freezer technology of the bucket which you freeze overnight first (just keep it in the freezer and be ready to make a treat anytime). Both make great ice cream, sorbets and frozen yogurt. Two tips: first, cook your ice cream base the night before and keep in the refridgerator; second, ripen the frshly made ice cream in the freezer (transfer to another container) for an hour or two, it will be firmer and the flavors will meld. I find using French Vanilla as the start for any ice cream flavor makes the most incredible ice creams. Enjoy!

I just got my ice cream maker and made banana pudding ice cream! I love it! So summery. http://abbieanderica.blogspot.com/2012/05/banana-pudding-ice-cream.html

I want to share my short cut for making ice-cream... It really makes things easy and... mmm... equaly delicious!

Just follow directions of your recipy, freeze until rock solid in a baking sheet (easier to get it out and cut up into pieces this way)... cut up into manegeable chunks and rapidy process in food processor. Freeze again immediatly and forget about other more complicated techniques ***works wonders*** ;)

Can any of these mixtures be poured straight into popsicle molds? I don't have an ice cream maker.

Love the Cuisinart-- especially if you can find one with an extra bucket!

@DavidCreel, I've heard that way works great!

Thanks for the recipes; as someone who doesn't have an ice cream maker and doesn't plan on buying one, I'm excited to have recipes that don't require it.

I also got that Cuisinart (with the extra bucket)... for under $40 through some online one day sale, last year. I wasn't looking for it, but it was too affordable to NOT get it when I'm an ice cream addict). Now I keep both buckets in my freezer, and a couple cans coconut milk in my fridge, too, so I can even make vegans ice cream for dessert (in the 10 minutes it takes for the mix to thicken. So far, I've yet to try a "cooked" ice cream recipe... but now I plan to.

I have a donvier, too! I love it, but last time I tried to use it, it didn't work, and I ended up letting it freeze over night, and then letting it melt a bit and whisking it, and then letting it freeze again. Worked fine! I made brown butter/brown sugar ice cream with chocolate chips and flakes.

Not long ago I made chikoo ice cream, with a strange-looking fruit I bought from an Indian grocery store. I tastes like caramelized pears! Lovely!

Yummy! I want to try them all! Look delicious!
I would pour some Maple Syrup over some of these great recipes (can't have my ice cream without that tasty and sweet flavor)!. I know it is not an ingredient easy to find but I get mine online with Rouge Maple (it's organic).
I think I just find an idea for my dessert tonight! Thanks!

My favorite thing to do in the summer when we have the best fresh fruit is to create sherbets and freeze them for fall and winter when I'm craving fruit. This peach and nectarine sherbet was one of my favorites.

Here's a recipe for a rich, silky chocolate espresso sorbet with Chinese FIve Spice. I like it because it's rich and non-dairy so you really taste the chocolate and spice! Adpated for a David Lebovitz recipe. Love his ice cream book! http://afoodcentriclife.com/chocolate-sorbet-with-espresso-and-chinese-five-spice/

I have the ice cream bowl attachment for my kitchen aid stand mixer and it is fab!

Love my ice cream...for those who don't have an ice cream maker and feel left out or even for those who do have one, here are a couple of very simple flavorings that will make your dinner guests thinking you are a dessert genius.
1) Drizzle organic maple syrup on top of vanilla ice cream. Use a good organic maple syrup, I like Rouge Organic Maple Syrup (I buy it online at www.rougemaple.com). If you're wondering why organic maple syrup...its cleaner tasting, lighter and healthier.
2) Drizzle cream of balsamic vinegar over vanilla ice cream...may sound weird but trust me on this. Again, you should use a good one...I don't have one to recommend as I've used different ones but try to get one from Modena, Italy.
3) Pour a shot of espresso over a scoop of vanilla ice cream (serve in a cup or small bowl). This is the classic "affogato" (which means drowned in Italian)

Thank you for all the suggestions! I really love ice cream!!!!!! The Italian one is the best! If you want to try I found this recipe (www.nonnaida.com/en/popcorn-ice-cream) in an Italian website: pop corn ice cream! Amazing!