A few years ago I decided I needed to get an automatic ice cream maker. I hesitated a great deal before actually getting one (for free, thank you Air Miles), but I finally did, and my first attempt at homemade ice cream took place last night.

My conclusion is that everyone should get an ice cream maker! I made a simple vanilla ice cream recipe last night, and on top of being really easy, it was also extremely entertaining! (Okay, okay, I will admit that I am very easily entertained, but still.)

Seriously: when I got home from work I mixed some half-and-half, some sugar, some heavy cream and some vanilla extract in a bowl and stored it in the fridge for an hour and half, that is until after we were done having dinner. Then all I needed to do was start the ice cream maker and pour the cold mix in it, and have a 15-minute blast while I watched it turn into ice cream. (Seriously, it was so much FUN!!!)

When Raiontzukai and I took our first bite of the resulting ice cream, we nearly fainted in amazement. I was THE BEST ICE CREAM EVER! I mean, this has to be the ice cream they serve in paradise. It was awesome!

I'm excited at the very thought of trying another recipe... did I mention I can also make frozen yogurt and sorbet with that thing?