buttermilk peach preserve ice cream

Over the weekend I decided to overhaul some of my product shots and create some fancy "scenes" out in the garden. All was going well, the light was just right, the breeze stayed oh, so calm, and my little girlies were frolicking in the lawn playing so nicely together. And then my camera battery died. Dead. As. A. Doornail.

Rather than spoil the lovely summer Saturday with fuming and swearing my head off, I decided to mosey over to the kitchen and make ice cream... peach preserve buttermilk ice cream to be exact. Buttermilk is one of those oft forgotten kitchen staples of yesteryear. In the past year buttermilk has been a personal revelation for me - I use it at any opportunity in baking, and smoothies are a whole new, gut-friendlier experience. When it came to making ice cream, it just seemed like I couldn't believe I hadn't tried it yet. So I did. And the results were delicious.

RECIPE
1 cup heavy cream
2 cups buttermilk
1 cup sugar (I use brown, but white of light brown will do)
1 tsp almond extract
2/3 cup peach preserves
1/2 teaspoon xanthan gum*

Place all ingredients into the chilled tub of your ice cream maker. Let churn until it resembles soft serve ice cream in consistency. Pack into container and freeze for several hours/overnight, until flavors ripen and ice cream hardens.

*Xanthan gum is an all star when is comes to making ice cream. It gives my ice cream a creamy, scoopable consistency that I cannot achieve otherwise. Find xanthan gum here (affiliate link).

photo credit, 1

I've been up to something

Hello, Dear Readers! It's been a while, and perhaps my last post left a lot to the imagination (what, about the whole brain surgery thing). Right before that whole experience, I started a little side project based on the natural skincare products I've been making for my family and friends for years. "Precious Skin Elixirs" is now gaining some momentum - news I am so happy to share. After completing our first show at Shake The Tree in Boston's North End, a new website is in development and you may see me at a farmer's market or two these next few months.

More than just another skincare line, my goal with Precious Skin Elixirs is to really spread the word on how effective and wonderful natural, botanical, preservative-free skincare really is! I've had enough with synthetic, toxic ingredients and preservatives that are in products at the convenience of the manufacturer - they do nothing but aggravate and harm the skin and are present only to extend shelf-life and save on their bottom line. That's why I've created products such as a gentle exfoliating face scrub, a truly luxurious nourishing face cream, a natural herbal bug spray, and even a toxin free mineral sunscreen made with skin loving ingredients.

If you're passionate about caring for your skin naturally and have an appreciation for small batch, handmade goods, I'd love for you to check out the line and shoot me some feedback!

With love and intention,
Marissa