Anne of Green Gables: Strawberry Lemon Thyme Ice Cream

Pin It

"Oh, Marilla," she exclaimed breathlessly, "there's going to be a Sunday-school picnic next week--in Mr. Harmon Andrews' field, right near the lake of Shining Waters.  And Mrs. Superintendent Bell and Mrs. Rachel Lynde are going to make ice cream--think of it, Marilla--ICE CREAM!"

~ Lucy Maud Montgomery, Anne of Green Gables

My husband says I'm un-American---never mind that I'm the one who buys the fireworks, files the taxes, and calls in the votes to American Idol around here.  My only offense is that I'm not a fan of ice cream.  Ice cream is cold, hard to serve, and doesn't like to cuddle.  I like a dessert that hugs me back, and ice cream isn't it.  But now that it is Anne of Green Gables month here on Be Book Bound, I find myself having to reconsider the virtues of the frozen food.  After all, Anne loved nothing more than ice cream.  In honor of that red-headed protagonist, today I willed myself into the chilly world of ice cream making. 

After searching out the tastiest recipe I could find for strawberry ice cream, I decided to put my own spin on it by adding some lemon thyme from my herb garden.  Thirty minutes and a few pounds of ice and rock salt later, I pulled the paddle out of my first batch of homemade Strawberry Lemon Thyme Ice Cream.  I warily placed a spoonful in my mouth and paused before swallowing.  As I stared thoughtfully at my empty spoon, I turned to my family and said, "I've never liked ice cream before because it never tasted like that before." From the cheers and hallelujahs in my kitchen, you would have thought that I was a sinner who had seen the light.  I guess it's true what they say at church: it's never too late to change.

So here it is: the game-changing recipe.

Strawberry Lemon Thyme Ice Cream

2 cups cream

2 cups sour cream

2 cups sugar

2 pounds fresh strawberries, washed and hulled

2 tablespoons lemon thyme buds

1 teaspoon lemon juice

Pulse strawberries in a food processor until they reach the desired consistency.  

Place in a bowl.  Pour sugar on top of strawberries and stir.  

Let strawberries sit for a few minutes until the sugar is dissolved.  

Add the rest of the ingredients to the bowl, mix, and pour into your ice cream maker.  

Let the machine do its magic and enjoy!

May all of your desserts this month be refreshing and truly American!