Make fresh, homemade ice cream instead of serving store-bought. Homemade ice cream can be made without an ice cream maker. When preparing the ice cream, use any type of milk you want. Store-bought low-fat ice creams can sometimes taste bland, but using skim milk in these recipes can make a good tasting fat-free treat.
Hand Mixer
Use a hand mixer to make ice cream at home. To make the ice cream mix, simmer 1 cup of milk over the stove. Pour 1 cup of sugar and 1/4 teaspoon of salt to the milk and stir. Mix in 1 cup of half-and-half, 1/2 tablespoon of vanilla and 2 cups of cold whipping cream. Add in any cookie pieces, chocolate chips or other flavorings. Pour the mixture in a large bowl to cool. Put it in the refrigerator for at least 4 hours. Once chilled, put in a freezer-safe bowl and cover tightly. Freeze the ice cream for about 2 hours, then mix it with the hand mixer. If you're freezer is set on high, check it every hour. Put it back in the freezer. Repeat this process until the ice cream is thick. After it is thick enough, freeze it to make it hard.
Ice cream in a bag
Ice cream in a bag takes about 10 to 15 minutes. Pour 1 tablespoon of sugar, 1/2 cup of milk and 1/4 teaspoon of vanilla in a sandwich bag. Seal the bag tightly. Fill halfway a large freezer bag with rock salt and ice. Put the small bag in the big bag and seal the big bag. Shake it for about 6 minutes. Check to see if the ice cream is thick. If not, shake longer. Do not eat the rock salt. You also can use two different-sized containers instead of bags.
Custard-style
This method turns the mixture into custard-like ice cream. Use a hand mixer to beat 2 eggs and 1 cup of milk together. Stir 2 tablespoons of cornstarch and 3/4 cup of sugar in a pan over the stove. Pour the milk and eggs in the pan. Once the mix is thick, add 1 pint of heavy whipping cream. Stir it and put it in the freezer until the mixture turns to slush, usually 2 hours. Take it out and add 2 teaspoons of vanilla. Use an electric mixer to beat it for 10 minutes. Freeze it for 4 or more hours.
