ice cream maker question

[lane]

this past weekend, i bought a cuisinart ice cream maker- and am sooooo excited-- i've had the freezer bowl in the freezer since saturday night, and the water in it STILL isn't frozen...can this be right? does/can it take this long to freeze? the freezer is as cold as it can go- and other liquids are frozen. i tried it last night even though i knew it wasn't completely frozen, and it didn't freeze the mixture at all-- any suggestions from you experienced ice cream makers??
thanks!
lane

[Veganforlife]

Is it a brand new one? If yes, I'm wondering if something isn't wrong with it?

[tvillemom]

I would call the company, it sounds like something isn't right. Being brand new, they will probably help you replace it...they are a good company.
Wendi

[lane]

Thanks Wendi and Lucy- after 3 days of having the bowl in the freezer, it did freeze the ice cream mixture somewhat-- a shake like consistency. Is this normal? I just assumed it would be thicker like what I've had in raw food restaurants. I froze it to firm it up and now it's rock solid- completely unscoopable. I used one young coconut (meat and water) and macadamia nut milk- perhaps I need more fat in the mixture??
lane

[aubrey]

Have you tried putting the frozen part closer to the back of the freezer? I have noticed that we have to put ours closer to the back of the freezer, otherwise, it takes longer for the water to freeze up. After the first use, I generally let it sit for 2-3 days before I try making something again.

My favorite recipe for ice cream (an my latest discovery just in time for spring/summer):

3 1/2 cups of light almond milk (generally a cup and a half of almonds will make this much)

2 Tbs. alcohol-free vanilla

1 cup of frozen strawberries thawed in a baggie in the fridge + juice, pureed

1/8 cup agave nectar

1 tsp. sea salt

blend all this together and you will have some seriously delectable strawberry icecream!

[Veganforlife]

This was posted by petals - do a "cherry garcia" search. I'm gonna try it. The uncle harry's? I think I can substitute that:

Thank you all. I Like to fool around with ice creams with my ice cream maker, and of course I used to "enjoy" the real cherry garcia years ago~ obviously!

Jocelyn~ Uncle harry's is just a organic natural ( prob not raw but a small amount is ok imo) concentrated tart cherry juice. You could also substitute any other natural brand of it found in your area of course.

I found it greatly adds to the cherry flavor. If you don't use it you could just juice some cherries instead~ then soak some dried cherries and blend the cherry juice and soaked cherries together.


Raw cherry garcia ice cream ( makes one quart)

One 16 ounce package of organic dark cherries ( reserve 3/4 cup and chop chop)
1 cup soaked and drained cashews
2 cups raw almond milk
2 TB raw coconut butter ( heaping)
1/2 cup uncle Harry's tart cherry juice ~ or other brand or similar amount of freshly juiced cherries mixed with soaked dried cherries blended togther ~ for a concentrated flavor( Uncle Harry's may or may not be raw but i don't care for this small amount)
raw agave to taste

3/4 cup cup chopped up frozen cherries ( to blend in later)
3/4 raw cacao chunkies ( to mix in later)


Blend all, but the choped cherries and cacao chunkies, in a high speed blender and transfer to ice cream maker for 30 minutes. When last few minutes in maker slowly stir in chopped cherries and cacao chunkies. Then serve ( will still be a bit soft serve) or put in container and freeze till harder ~ it freezes beautifully.

raw cacao (chocolate) chunkies

1/2 cup melted cacao butter
1/2 cup raw cacao powder
raw agave to taste
few grains salt

whisk all together and freeze. Take and grate small chunks.

Almond milk ( raw)

1 cup soaked raw almonds
3 cups pure water
squirt of raw agave or couple soaked dates or stevia or yaccon syrup

Blend in a high speed blender ( regular one will not do for this)

strain the milk thru a nutmilk bag into a bowl. Save the pulp and freeze it for another recipe. Transfer back to blender give it another wiz then put in a covered glass pitcher. Stores for 3 days max.__________________