An Outdoor Thanksgiving

Posted on November 16, 2011

With Thanksgiving only one week away, how are you celebrating this year? If you’re not excited about the upcoming feasting day, perhaps you need to inject your celebration with something a little bit different. Try a new family tradition and have an outdoor Thanksgiving!

Celebrating with friends and family outdoors offers many conveniences, such as minimal cleanup, fresh air and more adventurous food preparation.

46 million turkeys will be cooked this holiday season, but instead of cooking your bird all day long in the oven, try your turkey fried, smoked or even grilled.

A grilled Thanksgiving turkey? That sounds crazy enough to be… amazing. Prepare to offer your taste buds something tender and juicy, instead of the usual dry and smothered in gravy.

A grill will cook your turkey and give it flavor and character. For the best results, here are a few tips to keep in mind:

When cooking outdoors it’s important to remember how the weather can affect your food preparation. Wind robs heat from outdoor cooking appliances, so watch things closely.

Cooking something large like a 12 pound turkey, takes a few hours, so prepare for an indirect fire that will hold a steady temperature in the 300 to3 350 degrees F range. Gas grills are easier to control than charcoal.

Prepare your turkey well with seasoning, including lots of moisture like chicken broth. Be sure to use a pan to catch all the drippings – you can eventually add this to the gravy. Have a meat thermometer ready to test for when your Turkey is done.

You’ll probably need to routinely flip and rotate your meat, and make sure the outside isn’t cooking faster than the inside (if it is, your temperature is too high).

While the turkey is grilling, play some outdoor games like ultimate Frisbee. It’ll keep everyone’s energy level up, and help you stay warm in the cold air.

Place patio heaters strategically around the deck and offer cocktails to your guest. Prepare appetizers that can be roasted over an open fire pit. Plug your iPod into some speakers and add a festive soundtrack to the night.

An outdoor Thanksgiving can lend a beautiful rustic feel to your meal and give your guests something special to remember. At the very least, it’ll remind you to be thankful for indoor heating.

So do something different this year, and celebrate like the pilgrims did – take the party outdoors!

What’s your favorite Thanksgiving tradition?

Homemade Cleaning Products for a Safe Kitchen

Posted on October 6, 2011

Colder weather means you’ll be spending a lot more time indoors, and what better way is there to prepare for winter hibernation than stocking up on cleaning supplies?

Okay, cleaning isn’t exactly my idea of a fun afternoon either, but making your own home cleaning products with common household ingredients is pretty simple and easy. It beats walking down the aisle at the supermarket trying to pick out a different cleaner for each surface, floor and sink in the house!

By making your own natural products, you’ll know exactly what you’re putting where you eat, bathe and sleep. Homemade cleaning ingredients clean a home faster, better and cheaper– plus they’re much more environmentally friendly than commercial alternatives.

Don’t lock yourself indoors this season with a bunch of smelly, probably dangerous, chemicals. Try our easy recipes for safe home cleaning products for your kitchen!

Homemade Spray Cleaner Recipe: Mix in a spray bottle 1 cup white vinegar and 1 cup water.

In the kitchen, clean countertops, lightly soiled range surfaces and backsplash areas.
In the bathroom, use the vinegar spray to clean countertops, floors and exterior surfaces of the toilets.

You can also add one cup of undiluted white vinegar to the laundry rinse cycle instead of commercial fabric softener. It will both soften clothes and cut detergent residue.

Vinegar is a mild acid that works as a disinfectant and is great for removing stains on many types of surfaces. Vinegar is odorless once it dries.

Homemade Paste Recipe: Add water to baking soda until it reaches a paste consistency (see how easy that is?).

Sprinkling baking soda onto a damp sponge helps tackle grimy kitchen areas, and removes food deposits from the kitchen sink.

For tougher grime, use your paste. Just apply and allow the mix to stand for about 20 minutes; then rub off dirt, soap scum, and hard deposits.

Baking Soda is a great natural abrasive with mild alkaline properties. It is also a natural deodorizer and stain remover. It’s a cheap, non-toxic, all-purpose cleanser.

Furniture Polish: Mix and shake 1 cup olive oil and 1/2 cup lemon juice together.

Lemon juice dissolves dirt and smudges, while olive oil shines and protects the wood. Shake the mixture and apply a small amount to a cleaning cloth. Spread evenly over furniture surface, then turn the cloth over to a dry side and polish to a shine.

Lemon juice brings fresh-smelling antibacterial and grease-cutting power to your all-natural cleaning arsenal. For example, you can mix 1 tsp of lemon juice with 1 tsp of baking soda and 2 cups of hot water to make a homemade air freshener.

Window and Glass Spray Recipe: Mix in a spray bottle 1 cup rubbing (isopropyl) alcohol with 1 cup water and 1 tablespoon white vinegar.

Rubbing alcohol provides the base for an evaporating cleaner. Use it to clean windows, mirrors, chrome fixtures and ceramic tiles.

Ways to clean Stainless Steel: From refrigerators and dishwashers to smaller appliances like ice makers and microwaves, stainless steel is prevalent in most home kitchens.

A moist microfiber cloth usually does the trick with removing pesky fingerprints off stainless steel. Water is usually enough, but you can also dampen one with undiluted white vinegar. For stainless steel sinks, dampen a cloth with some club soda, then wipe dry.

A quick polish with baby oil on an old towel or rag (in small doses so you don’t end up with greasy appliances) is easy to do right before guests come over!

What’s your go-to home cleaning product?

Energy Star’s "Most Efficient" Label

Posted on September 13, 2011

A couple weeks ago we told you that Energy Star appliances were definitely worth whatever extra cost they added to an appliance. But nowadays so many appliances seem Energy Star efficient that it takes more effort to find one that isn’t, among all the ones that are.

In October 2010, the EPA stated, “We believe the Energy Star program has sought to maximize the number of qualified products available at the expense of identifying products and practices that maximize energy efficiency.”

So then, how do you separate what is actually most efficient from all the products that claim to be energy-efficient?

In an effort to stay relevant, Energy Star recently began a Most Efficient program, which will operate on a pilot basis through 2011. The program names a limited number of top-performers for various appliance categories, including washers, heaters, cooling systems, televisions and refrigerators/freezers.For the fall, the EPA has updated existing standards and will consider adding new categories. Generally, only the top 5% of energy-efficient products will win the honor of Most Efficient.

Most Efficient products, according to the EPA, “must demonstrate efficiency performance that is truly exceptional, inspirational or leading-edge — consistent with the interests of environmentally motivated consumers and early adopters.”

Energy Star hopes this new program will encourage innovation among manufacturers, in addition to helping consumers.

Previously manufacturers could certify their own products as Energy Star appliances, but now all Energy Star Most Efficient products are tested in EPA-recognized testing laboratories.

Energy Star’s 3.0 specifications became effective September 1st.

If buying all new appliances, however, isn’t in your budget, here are some tips from Consumer Reports on what to focus on the most:

1. Even though appliances are more efficient, we’re using more electronics, which offsets those gains. Be sure to set your computers to hibernate when you’re not using them, and replace your current cable set-top box with an Energy Star 3.0 efficient one. Also try getting a whole-house DVR, instead of one for each TV. Old plasma TVs can cost over $200 a year to use, so consider upgrading to a newer model LCD.

2. Many manufactures plan to introduce smart appliance lines in 2012. These appliances will cost more, but the smart technology won’t be effective, and save you money, unless your home has a smart meter, which is still rare at this time.

3. A space heater used to lower winter heating bills will only be effective if you turn down the heat in the rest of the house.

4. A cooling or heating system that may be highly efficient in one region may not be in another. Instead of upgrading the primary heating or cooling equipment in your home, seal and insulate your duct distribution system, which will save you far more money.

How are you making your home more energy efficient?

Are Energy-Efficient Appliances Worth It?

Posted on August 31, 2011

If you’ve gone shopping for large appliances in the past few years, chances are you’re very familiar with the little blue Energy Star label. The U.S. Department of Energy can deem anything from air conditioners to televisions as “Energy Star” efficient, but what does that mean for us consumers?

Energy Star appliances are more expensive than their non-labeled counterparts, but supposedly the initial cost will be offset by lower utility bills in the future. Many people are turned off by the high price tag of Energy Star units, so does trying to be energy-efficient really help your wallet?

Multiple reports have shown that buying Energy Star appliances does actual save homeowners money over time– as long as you’re using them right.

“Just because you are buying the newest and most efficient energy efficient models doesn’t necessarily mean it’s going to be the most effective,” Joe Ridout from Consumer Action told ABC News.

Consumer Reports found that many people use the wrong settings, don’t use required high-efficiency soap, or simply don’t follow the directions.

The good news is the problem is an easy fix. If you’re using an Energy Star appliance, the savings should be pretty big.

The EPA estimates that the average price premium for an Energy Star-labeled fridge is about $30, and based on how much energy it saves compared to a non-labeled fridge, you can make that money back in 3 years. There are Energy Star calculators online that make estimating how much money you can save super easy.

When looking for your new appliance, remember to buy just as big as you need it to be and no bigger, use the Energy Guide label to compare different models in each category, and check for rebates and incentives.

Even if you save just ten percent of your energy bill throughout the year, over thirty or more years the savings can add up to thousands of dollars.

Also consider the other advantage that new and efficient appliances can spruce up a kitchen or laundry room, and they increase the resale value of a house twofold. Plus there’s the main reason you’re buying an energy-efficient model: leaving a smaller carbon footprint on the environment!

Keep in mind that while our appliances use less energy, overall we’re still using more and more energy each year. The number of things we plug in is expected to grow by 21 percent by 2030, and overall electricity consumption is projected to increase by 40%.

What this means is that every little bit counts, but continuing to look for other ways to cut energy is necessary in the long run.

But to answer the initial question simply: yes, Energy Star appliances are worth it! Their efficiency will quickly offset any initial costs, and save you a lot more over time. So what are you waiting for?

Do you have Energy Star appliances in your home?

A Quick Summer Meal

Posted on August 23, 2011

Lazy summer days definitely don’t motivate me to cook. It’s so hot inside, and it’s so much nicer outside that I really don’t want to be in the kitchen all day long trying to prepare just one meal.

There’s only so many times you can eat out in a week, however, so I’ve complied some ideas for a quick summer meal in hopes of preventing kitchen fatigue. These recipes from The Food Network are quick, versatile and easy, so you’ll feel like you’re barely spending any time in the kitchen at all!

Appetizer: Slow-Cooker Spinach Dip

Slow cookers may just be one of the best kitchen inventions ever. Just throw the ingredients in, and a couple hours later you have a delicious soup or casserole with the tenderest meat ever. I usually use my slow cooker during colder months, since hearty stews seem like more of a wintery treat, but after I realized you can make great dips in a slow cooker, mine will probably start staying on the counter all year long.

Directions:

Mix 1 cup grated smoked mozzarella, 1/2 cup grated parmesan, 8 ounces cream cheese, 1 minced garlic clove, 1 box thawed frozen spinach (drained), 1 jar artichoke hearts (including the juice), one cup of sour cream, a few dashes of Worcestershire sauce and salt and pepper in a slow cooker. Cover and cook on high, 2 hours.

You may need to keep stirring the dip so it doesn’t dry out along the outer edges that touch the cooker.

This is a basic recipe that’s great as it is, but it also allows you to add whatever else you may want. Try some crushed red pepper flakes for an extra kick! This dip goes great with some thick pita chips.

Main Course: BLT Pasta Salad

Pasta is a staple at my house, however meals like spaghetti can feel super heavy during the summer. I like to change it up with a light pasta salad that takes minimal effort and offers infinite variations.

Ingredients:

12 ounces corkscrew-shaped pasta
1/2 cup milk
12 ounces lean bacon
3 medium ripe tomatoes, cut into chunks
1 tablespoon chopped fresh thyme
1 clove garlic, minced
Kosher salt and freshly ground pepper
1/2 cup mayonnaise
1/4 cup sour cream
4 tablespoons chopped chives or scallion greens
5 heads Bibb lettuce, quartered, or 5 cups chopped romaine hearts

(Customize your recipe with fat-free ingredients or substitutions for meat and spices!)

Directions:

Cook the pasta in a large pot of salted boiling water. Drain and toss with milk in a large bowl and set aside.

Cook the bacon in a large skillet over medium-high until crisp. Drain on paper towel. Discard all but 3 tablespoons of drippings. Add the tomatoes, thyme and garlic into the pan and toss until warmed through, seasoning with salt and pepper. Crumble the bacon into bite-size pieces (set aside 1/4 cup for garnish). Toss bacon and tomato mixture with pasta.

Mix in the mayonnaise, sour cream and 3 tablespoons of chives with the pasta. Season with salt and pepper. Toss in lettuce. Garnish with reserved bacon and chives. Serve at room temperature.

Dessert: Peach Ice Cream

Another handy kitchen appliance is an ice cream maker. Though not as versatile as a slow cooker, my ice cream maker gets almost as much use, since ice cream seems to top off summer meals so well. Here’s a recipe for peach ice cream that uses a lot of my favorite summer fruit!

Ingredients:

3 large egg yolks
3/4 cup packed light brown sugar
1 1/2 cups heavy cream
1 1/2 cups whole milk
2 tablespoons freshly squeezed lemon juice
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
3 large ripe peaches, peeled, halved, pitted, and cut into bite-size chunks

Directions:

In a large bowl, whisk together the egg yolks and sugar.

In a large saucepan, bring the cream and milk to a simmer over low heat. Whisking constantly, slowly pour the hot milk mixture into the egg mixture until combined. Return the mixture to the saucepan. Cook over low heat for 3 to 5 minutes, or until custard has thickened enough to coat the back of the spoon, stirring constantly.

Immediately strain the custard into a bowl. Set the bowl in a larger bowl filled with ice water to cool, stirring occasionally.

Stir the lemon juice and vanilla into the cooled custard. Freeze in an ice cream maker according to the manufacturer’s instructions, adding the peach chunks halfway through the churning process. Enjoy!

What’s your favorite summer meal?

Easy Portable Living: Appliances for RV, Boat, & Apartment/Condo Living

Posted on August 10, 2011

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According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the average American moves 11.7 times in a lifetime, which is much higher than I expected… until I realized I’ve moved three times in the past four years already. Blame it on that awkward transitional period of a 20-something in between college, grad school, career choices and relationships.

I’m currently in the process of furnishing a new apartment, but my lease is only for a year, so who knows where I’ll be this time next summer?

I’m often living out of boxes and even though I’m not ready to settle down yet, it doesn’t mean I want to forgo the modern comforts of life! I still like to have on hand the necessary appliances for daily cooking and occasional entertaining, so thankfully I’ve discovered portable and compact kitchen appliances. I can conveniently fit my appliances on a small kitchen countertop or in the back of my Civic.

For all of us with a nomadic lifestyle, whether you’re living in an RV, boat, or tiny apartment, here are some compact sized appliances you’ll find you just can’t live without.

Portable Dishwashers

Apartment, condo, or RV living does not mean you have to put up with hand washing dishes, or worse, using disposable plates and utensils (so wasteful!). Invest in a portable dishwasher instead.

They fit under or on top of most countertops and hook up to most kitchen faucets. Though compact, portable dishwashers can actually hold up to 6 full place settings and have multiple available wash cycles.

Compact Ice Makers

Whether you’re entertaining guest on your yacht or hosting a backyard family BBQ, a portable ice maker is a must-have for any party. They fit onto any kitchen or bar counter, and come in a variety of styles and colors to match any decor. Never have to make a last minute trip to the grocery store for a heavy bag of ice again!

When I’m not using my ice maker to impress friends with deliciously cold drink mixes, I use it at home to have a ready supply of ice for a big pitcher of iced tea or lemonade on a hot day. Since portable ice makers works in a matter of minutes, I no longer have to wait for water to freeze in inconvenient plastic trays. Plus, I can use the extra freezer space to store more ice cream and frozen dinners.

Electric Grills

Want that grilled taste without the hassle of a full-size grill? Try an electric grill, which comes in both outdoor and indoor models. Some are small enough to use in any kitchen surface, and others come with a stand while maintaining a compact design.

There are a variety of electric grills that are a nice upgrade from the George Foreman kinds, and they’re ideal for anyone looking to make a fast, healthy and delicious meal anywhere.

Mini Fridge

I had a compact refrigerator in my dorm room freshman year of college, but really, when are mini fridges not useful? They’re great for keeping drinks cold in whatever space you’re in, and really come in handy when your roommates take up all the space in the fridge with their leftovers and beer.

Also consider getting a wine cooler, if you’re a worldly traveler that always has a few bottles on hand (or someone who just pretends they are, like me). Many models are portable and fit on a countertop, and can fit at least 8 different bottles of wine. Hey, nomads can be classy too.

New adventures start every day in our lives, and there’s nothing more exciting than hitting the open road in a new RV, or renting your first apartment. With the right appliances, you’ll have all the advantages of a carefree lifestyle plus the comforts of home wherever you end up!

What’s your favorite portable appliance?

Tips for a Naturally Cooler Home

Posted on August 3, 2011

Summer heat can often feel unbearable, but thankfully air conditioners and electric fans can help you out. Not only is it important to keep the cold air inside your home, however, it’s also important to avoid creating more heat for your air conditioner to cool.

As the temperature rises, so does your electricity bill. Minimizing sources of heat and removing heat build-up inside your house will help cool things down.

Here are some tips on how to keep your home cooler, to save you energy and keep you comfortable!

Insulate Your Home

The best way to keep your home cool is to keep the heat out. Close the drapes on windows facing the sun: east-facing windows in the morning and west-facing windows in the afternoon.

Weather-stripping and caulking around windows, doors and electrical outlets on outer walls will also stop cool air from escaping, and prevent hot air from getting in. Double check your wall insulation, consider installing storm doors, and keep the flue of your fireplace closed.

Ventilate Your Home

Get rid of unwanted heat through ventilation if the temperature of the outside air is 77 F or lower. Keep windows closed during the day, and open at night. Consider a window fan, which should be located on the downwind side of the house. Leave interior doors open to maintain a good, open air flow.

An alternative or supplement to air conditioning is to use ceiling fans. They can circulate cool air much more efficiently than air conditioning. Keep the thermostat set at 78 degrees F or higher if you’re using ceiling fans. A whole house fan– a large ventilating fan installed in your attic that expels hot air out of your house– can help circulate air throughout the entire home.

Minimize Appliance Heat

The most common sources of internal heat are appliances, electronic devices and lighting. Don’t place lamps, televisions or other appliances near the thermostat because it will make your thermostat read warmer than it really is, and your air conditioner will have to run longer. Replace incandescent bulbs with compact fluorescents, since they use a fifth of the energy and heat.

Avoid cooking during the hottest part of the day, and when you do cook, use your range fan to vent out the hot air. Cover pots and pans, which will prevent heat loss, boil and cook your food faster, and allow you to turn off your stove sooner. Make sure your refrigerator coils are clean, since the better your fridge exhausts heat, the less it will need to run.

Run large, heat-producing appliances at night, such as your dishwasher, washer and dryer.

Quick Tips:

Don’t air condition unused rooms and stay in the areas that are naturally a bit cooler, such as the basement (hot air rises!)
Cool yourself off with a wet towel or ice pack
Running cold water over your wrists for 10 seconds on each hand will reduce your temperature for roughly an hour
The body radiates heat from the hands, feet, face and ears, so cooling any of these will efficiently cool the body
Put smooth white fabrics over anything in your house that’s fuzzy (corduroy, knits, wool). Keep light-colored, cool surfaces against your skins.

Most people keep their a/c temperature setting lower than it needs to be, so turn yours up by a couple degrees. With all the helpful heat minimizing tricks you now know, your air conditioner won’t have to work as hard!

What are your best tips for keeping a cool house?

Ice Cream Makers Create An All Natural Treat

Posted on July 15, 2011

Last fall Ben & Jerry’s Homemade, one of America’s favorite ice cream brand, was told to phase out its use of the term “All Natural” on almost 50 of their products.

cherry garcia

Thirty-six flavors, including my personal favorite, Cherry Garcia, contained alkali and nutrition-boosting flavanols. I’m not sure what those are, but they definitely do not sound “natural.”

It’s all safe to eat, but now I keep thinking, “What else do they put in my ice cream?”

We’ve come to accept extremely processed foods in our diet as something normal, but isn’t the point of buying something “all natural” a way we try to improve what we put in our bodies?

To help make my ice cream indulgence go down a bit easier, I decided to try making my own ice cream. With home made ice cream, I’d be able to make my own Cherry Garcia—with extra cherries, of course—and I’d know exactly what I was eating.

Thank goodness making ice cream no longer requires tedious hand-cranking; now all you have to do is throw the ingredients into the machine and turn it on.

For extra convenience, I used the NewAir AIC-220 Commercial Quality 1.5 Quart Ice Cream Maker, which has a built in freezer, so there’s virtually no prep time. After my first taste, I realized that I’ve really been missing out on homemade ice cream all these years.

It’s delicious, creamy, and just as easy to make as it is to go to the store. I put in the ingredients, set the timer, and 60 minutes later the ice cream was mixed and frozen, and ready for me to eat!

The best part was that I could control what I put in my ice cream. I used Splenda instead of sugar, and organic instead of processed ingredients. You should try experimenting with yours too.

What’s your favorite ice cream?
Have you ever had homemade ice cream?

Portable Ice Makers Chill Your Favorite Summer Drinks

Posted on July 7, 2011

It’s the time of the year for family picnics, outdoor BBQs and garden dinner parties, and the best way to transform a good meal into something amazing is to pair it with a deliciously cold drink.

Portable ice makers are a convenient way to keep drinks cold all day and night. You’ll never have to buy bags of ice or carry large coolers again!

AI-100R NewAir Compact Portable Ice Maker

You can easily bring portable ice makers out to the picnic table or leave them on a kitchen counter so guests can scoop out their own ice. Portable ice makers make ice quietly and in as little as 6 minutes.

Forget about powdered drink mixes and store-bought sodas. Create something delicious that compliments your meal—your guests will greatly appreciate it, and it’s not that hard to do!

Here are some tried and true recipes for our favorite summer drinks. Squeeze, sprinkle, stir, and add some ice from your portable ice maker!

Smooth Sweet Tea

Ingredients:

2 cups boiling water

6 tea bags

3/4 cup white sugar

4-6 cups cool water

1 pinch baking soda (*this is the super secret ingredient that will take the bitterness right out of your tea!)

Directions:

Sprinkle a pinch of baking soda into a 64-ounce, heat-proof, glass pitcher. Pour in boiling water and add tea bags. Cover and steep for 15 minutes.
Remove tea bags, stir in sugar until dissolved, pour in cool water and refrigerate until cold.
Serve in a glass filled with ice. Add a slice of lemon for some garnish.

Best Lemonade Ever

Ingredients:

1-1 3/4 cups white sugar

8 cups water

1 1/2 cups lemon juice (about 6 lemons)

Directions:

In a small saucepan, combine sugar and 1 cup water. Bring to a boil and stir to dissolve sugar. Cool mixture to room temperature then cover and refrigerate until chilled.
Remove seeds from lemon juice, but leave pulp. In pitcher, stir together chilled syrup, lemon juice, and remaining 7 cups of water.
Fill a glass full of ice, pour in lemonade and serve!

The Real Mojito

(Makes one serving, adjust for pitcher)

Ingredients:

10 fresh mint leaves

1/2 lime, cut into 4 wedges

2 tablespoons white sugar (to taste)

1 cup ice cubes

1 1/2 fluid ounces white rum

1/2 cup club soda

Directions:

Place mint leaves and 1 lime wedge into a sturdy glass. Use a muddler to crush the mint and lime to release the mint oils and lime juice.
Add 2 more lime wedges and the sugar, and muddle again to release the lime juice. Do not drain the mixture.
Fill the glass almost to the top with ice.
Pour rum over the ice, and fill the glass with carbonated water.
Stir, taste and add more sugar if desired. Garnish with the remaining lime wedge.

What’s your favorite summer drink recipe?
What do you use your portable ice maker for?

An Ice Cream Maker for Grown-Ups

Posted on June 29, 2011

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As the summer heat wave begins to hit, I find myself reminiscing about summer camp as a kid, and one of my favorite activities we would do every year: homemade ice cream in a bag. It’s a simple, foolproof way to entertain kids for a few minutes with not much more than a plastic bag, milk, sugar, ice and salt. Five minutes and a bit of shaking later, you have yourself a sugary sweet ice cream treat.

Over the years my taste palate has become a bit more refined, but on hot summer days I still crave the simplicity of a cold vanilla ice cream. Since my summer camp years I have upgraded from a plastic bag to an actual ice cream maker, but the process hasn’t become any more difficult.

NewAir AIC-210 Commercial Quality 1 Quart Ice Cream Maker

For a quick quart of fresh-churned ice cream, I like to use the NewAir AIC-210 Commercial Quality 1 Quart Ice Cream Maker.

The NewAir ice cream maker has a built-in compressor-freezer and is fully automatic. You just put in your ingredients and in less than 60 minutes the ice cream maker will mix and freeze the ice cream for you.

It’s similar to a professional ice cream maker, but compact and easy to use. The self-timer also automatically shuts off the machine when the ice cream reaches the right consistency.

Best of all it makes more than just ice cream– it also makes frozen yogurt, sorbet and gelato, for whatever you’re in the mood for! In a bowl or in a cone, enjoy some ice cream at home and stay out of the hot sun.

Have you made homemade ice cream before?
What’s your favorite flavor?