When you’re looking to put your ice cream maker to good use, consider experimenting with the rainbow of flavors possible with homemade gelato – the Italian version of ice cream. After sampling a host of tantalizing gelato flavors at the local Italian bakery, it got me thinking – what do I have to do to make this dessert at home? From mango to pistachio to coffee-flavored gelato, you can recreate the intense flavors of gelato for your next summertime sweet treat.

What’s So Special About Gelato?

Gelato is to Italy what ice cream is to North America, but with three distinct differences. For starters, gelato contains significantly less butterfat than ice cream. Since there is a lower butterfat content, gelato doesn’t freeze as solid as ice cream. Because of this – gelato melts in your mouth faster, delivering an instantaneous blast of flavor.

Manufacturers often add air to their product to double their quantity. However, the quality of the ice cream suffers. With gelato, no air is added, which creates a much higher density than ice cream that produces a richer and creamier sweet treat in taste. Gelato is actually served at a slightly warmer temperature than ice cream with about a 10- to 15-degree difference. In its less frozen, the taste of gelato is further amplified as it melts in your mouth.

When you buy gelato at a shop or grocery store, look for selections that use real fruit, nuts, chocolates, milk and cream, instead of flavored syrups.

Homemade Gelato Recipe

You can also make your own gelato at home with:

• 2 cups milk
• 1 cup heavy cream
• 4 egg yolks
• 1/2 cup sugar

Directions

1. In a medium saucepan, mix 2 cups of milk and 1 cup of cream. Warm the mixture until foam starts to form around the edges. Remove the saucepan from the heat.

2. Beat 4 egg yolks and sugar in a large bowl until they become frothy.

3. Gradually pour the warm milk into the egg yolks. Whisk constantly, and then return the mixture to the saucepan. Cook over medium heat, stirring with a wooden spoon until the mixture gels slightly and coats the back of the spoon. Remove the mixture immediately if you see lumps of egg begin to appear.

4. Into a bowl, pour the mixture through a sieve or fine strainer. Cover, and chill for several hours or leave in the refrigerator overnight.

5. Pour the mixture into an ice cream maker, and freeze according to the maker’s instructions. Transfer the gelato mix to a sealed container. Freeze until it becomes firm. If the gelato is too firm, place in the refrigerator until it reaches the desired consistency.

Ingredients
Crust
1 cup crushed vanilla wafers (28 wafers)
1/2 cup finely chopped blanched almonds or macadamia nuts
1/4 cup butter or margarine, melted

Filling
1 can (14 oz) sweetened condensed milk (not evaporated)
3 tablespoons lemon juice
3 tablespoons orange-flavored liqueur or orange juice
1 package (10 oz) frozen raspberries with syrup, thawed
1 cup whipping cream, whipped
2 drops red food color
Sweetened whipped cream, if desired
Chocolate hearts, if desired

Instructions
1. Heat oven to 375°F. In small bowl, mix crust ingredients. Press firmly in bottom of ungreased 8-inch springform pan. Bake 8 to 10 minutes. Cool completely, about 30 minutes.

2. In large bowl, beat sweetened condensed milk, lemon juice and liqueur with electric mixer on medium speed until smooth. Add raspberries; beat on low speed until well blended. Fold in whipped cream and red food color. Pour over crust. Freeze at least 2 hours or until firm.

3. Just before serving, let stand at room temperature about 15 minutes. Garnish with sweetened whipped cream and chocolate hearts. Store dessert in freezer.

Recipe and photo courtesy of Pillsbury.com.

Today I’d like to introduce you to Blackwell’s Organic! They make delicious gelatos and sorbettos that are “Better for your body, your soul and the planet ®”.

About the Company:
Founded in 2005 by Marcia & Tom Blackwell.  Tom is lactose intolerant and had been making these recipes at home for several years. Neither was happy with the non-dairy desserts on the market. They both wanted to create a product and a company that was a reflection of their personal values and their lifestyle. They live in a 100% solar powered home, organic garden and drive a prius.

About the products:
Their delicious gelatos and sorbettos are certified organic, kosher and FairTrade. 

The “Blackwell’s Organic” Difference:

• Delicious flavors: A deep dark bittersweet chocolate gelato that is to die for.  A strawberry sorbet that tastes like strawberries fresh from the field.  They are all so incredibly delicious, you won’t even know they are better for you!

• USDA Certified Organic and Star-K Kosher Certified: Their products are 100% Organic and Kosher– dairy-free, preservative free, gluten free and vegan. Nothing artificial! They are the perfect indulgence for the educated and health conscious consumer who is craving a delicious dessert that meets their health and dietary needs.

  Traditional Italian Dairy gelato is made with cow’s milk and contains less butterfat than traditional American ice cream. Gelato is usually at 2-4% butterfat and American style ice creams 10% to 18%. Blackwell’s Organic is made with soy milk which is cholesterol free and has much less fat than even traditional gelato. Only 2- 6 grams of fat per ½ cup serving.

• Certified Fair Trade: Blackwell’s Organic is the only frozen dessert company that has FairTrade certified ingredients in every flavor. A Fair Trade Certified label on a product ensures consumers that a fair price was paid for the product, fair wages were paid to the workers producing the item, monies were invested in the communities in which the product was produced for vital projects such as schools and health clinics, and that the goods were produced in a sustainable manner; protecting both the workers and the environment.

Where to purchase: at Whole Foods in NY, NJ, PA, CT, KY, MD, OH, VA and Washington DC or via mail order at www.gelatobymail.com

To learn more about Blackwell’s Organic, please visit their Web site: www.BlackwellsOrganic.com.

GIVEAWAY

Blackwell’s Organic has generously donated 4 pints of gelato/sorbetto to be shipped to a winner anywhere in the continental USA via their gelatobymail.com website.

This giveaway is open to US residents only.

How to enter (required): Visit  Blackwellsorganic.com  and then come back and leave a comment telling us your favorite flavor!

For additional entries (leave a new comment for each additional entry):
- one additional entry if you are or become our fan on FACEBOOK;
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- one additional entry if you follow us on Twitter;
- one additional entry if you send a tweet about this giveaway (once a day only); make sure to include @1happyblogger.
- one additional entry if you fave us in Technorati;
- one additional entry if you blog about this Giveaway with a link back to 100CafeStreet.com and Blackwellsorganic.com
- one additional entry if you follow 100CafeStreet.com via email.

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The giveaway ends on Monday, March 15, 2010 at the end of day, Pacific Standard Time. Blackwell’s Organic will ship the prize.

*Please make sure you leave a comment for each additional entry so you get credited.
*Also, please make sure you typed in the correct email address.
*The winner will be announced via e-mail and has 2 days to get back to us or other name will be chosen.
*Incomplete entries will be disqualified & deleted.

In the past, ice cream was once an expensive and rare treat because it took quite a long time to prepare the dessert before the invention of modern refrigeration was born. Today, ice cream isn’t the only frozen indulgence that satisfies a sweet tooth. We can now choose from a variety of frozen sweet treats that offer an array of ingredients, flavors, and textures, including:

Ice Cream

Dairy products, such as milk and cream, play a significant role in making ice cream, which comes in fat-free, slow churned, sugar free, and low-fat versions. The variety of fruits, nuts, flavors, and other ingredients livening up our ice creams are endless. From rosewater-flavored selections served at Mashti Malone’s Ice Cream (Los Angeles, California) to inspired blends, like Turkey Hill’s Limited Edition Baked Apple Dumpling, creative minds cease to surprise our taste buds. Ice cream is also used in a variety of delicious desserts – ice cream pies, parfaits, cakes, and other desserts, like the infamous Baked Alaska.

Frozen Yogurt

Introduced as a healthier alternative to ice cream, frozen yogurt (also known as ‘froyo’) is made from or contains yogurt and/or other dairy products, which contributes to a lower calorie count. Frozen yogurt possesses a softer consistency and is considered tartier than ice cream. A basic frozen yogurt recipe generally includes milk solids, milk fat, yogurt culture, sweetener, gelatin, corn syrup, coloring, and flavoring. Vanilla, chocolate, strawberry, peach, and other fruity flavors dominate the frozen yogurt market.

Frozen Custard

Similar to ice cream, frozen custard carries a high percentage of butterfat and egg yolk, which creates a thick, creamy texture. This frozen treat offers a much smoother, softer consistency than ice cream. The best place to enjoy frozen custard is at a modern stand or facility, where the treat is prepared fresh. It’s usually hard to track down frozen custards in a grocery store. Standard flavors include chocolate and vanilla with the occasional unique blend – often touted as a ‘flavor of the day.’

Gelato

The Italian version of ice cream is called gelato – a frozen dessert typically consisting of milk, cream, sugar, and natural flavorings – most often fruit and nut purees. This traditional sweet treat usually delivers a bolder flavor and contains about 3% less fat than ice cream. Often served in a small glass dish or paper container, popular gelato flavors include chocolate, pistachio, coffee, egg custard, strawberry, raspberry, and lemon.

Sorbet

A range of sorbets is found in restaurants and grocery stores – a frozen treat consisting of sweetened water flavored with frozen fruit juice or puree. Wine, liqueurs, and chocolate can also play a role in the creation of sorbet. While ice cream uses dairy products with an abundant amount of air whipped in, sorbet differs in its composition – allowing a dense and fuller flavor to emerge in this non-fat or low-fat dessert. Popular flavors of sorbet include key lime, mango, and coconut.

Sherbet

Sherbet offers a refreshing frozen blend of sweetened fruit juice and water. Sometimes, sherbet contains egg whites, gelatin, and milk, but usually only a small amount. The sweet treat possesses a lighter consistency than ice cream and is known for its vibrantly fruity flavors. Raspberry, orange, lime, and lemon represent standard sherbet flavors. Tropical blends, such as pineapple, mango, and coconut are also available. Pair orange sherbet with vanilla ice cream to create a dazzlingly traditional combination.

Italian Ice

Not to be confused with an Icee or flavored shaved ice, Italian ice actually undergoes the same process as ice cream – mixing ingredients and pouring them into a batch freezer. This frozen dessert is comprised of concentrated syrup flavoring or natural fruit purees. Cherry, lemon, orange, and blue raspberry are popular flavors of Italian ice, which is typically served in small cups or tube-like containers.

Image Credits: Richard Dudley (top),  Michal Zacharzewski, SXC (middle)