S'more Ice Cream, Two Ways

Moving to the South from Utah was an interesting experience.  Aside from the obvious cultural differences, the environmental differences sometimes baffle me.  I remember being pleasantly pleased getting out of the pool the first time I went swimming and not being shocked by the cold.  The dry air in Utah means that the moisture on your skin evaporates quickly causing your body to loose heat no matter how hot a day it is.  In the humid South you don't experience this unpleasant sensation.  

Then there are the bad things.  Such as...for example...tornados.  

One thing that surprised me, without being all that surprising, was how hot the nights are out here.  Again, due to the humidity the nights out here stay warmer than I experienced during summers growing up.  I became acutely aware of this recently when the husband and I took the kid on his first camping trip. 

The kid slept in just a diaper, due to the heat.  It felt so crazy to me, who was accustomed to bringing 12 blankets per person camping, unless it was July or August when you'd only need 6. 

S'more face!

Aside from that, we had a fabulous time.  The kid had his first taste of s'mores (which he went crazy over) and loved being outside all day.

I wish we had discovered how well he would do camping earlier in the season.  It is way too hot now to attempt it again until fall.  In the meantime I will have to satisfy my craving for camping by making lots and lots of this ice cream.    

Don't be afraid of the liquid smoke.  It gives it that fire roasted flavor and it is AMAZING.  I'm officially addicted to this ice cream and may never try another ice cream again.  It's also super easy.  Using pudding as a stabilizer means no cooking eggs over the stove.  

Usually this is where I try to convince you why this is healthy.  Not this time.  Enjoy this (in moderation of course).  

S'more Ice Cream (Ver. 1)

makes 1 quart

Ingredients

2 cups half and half

1 cup milk

1 small package vanilla pudding

2 full sheets graham cracker, lightly crushed

1/3 cup milk chocolate chips, chopped well in a food processor (or use mini chocolate chips)

3/4 cup mini marshmallows 

1/8 tsp. liquid smoke

Directions:

1. Combine the half and half, milk, and pudding in a large bowl.  Beat with a wire whisk until smooth.

2. Turn on ice cream maker and pour in the mixture.

3. When the ice cream starts to freeze add the graham crackers, chocolate chips, marshmallows, and liquid smoke.

4. Continue running ice cream maker until ice cream is of a "soft-serve" consistency.

5. Transfer to a separate container and freeze until firm (at least 2-4 hours).  Allow to thaw slightly before serving to make scooping easier.

S'more Ice Cream (Ver. 2)

makes 1 quart

Ingredients

2 cups half and half

1 cup milk, plus 1 tbs., divided

1 small package vanilla pudding

2 full sheets graham cracker, lightly crushed

3/4 cup mini marshmallows 

1/8 tsp. liquid smoke

1/3 cup hot fudge sauce (not hot)

Directions:

1. Combine the half and half, milk, and pudding in a large bowl.  Beat with a wire whisk until smooth.

2. Turn on ice cream maker and pour in the mixture.

3. When the ice cream starts to freeze add the graham crackers, marshmallows, and liquid smoke.

4. Continue running ice cream maker until ice cream is of a "soft-serve" consistency.

5. Meanwhile, mix the hot fudge sauce with the milk to this it out.

6. Turn machine off, add about 1 tablespoon of the fudge.  Turn machine on for no more than 3 seconds.  Repeat 2 more times.  

7. Transfer about a cup of the mixture to a container.  Spread 1 tablespoon of fudge over ice cream.  Repeat these layers, finishing with a layer of ice cream.  Freeze until firm (at least 2-4 hours).  Allow to thaw slightly before serving to make scooping easier.

What the husband thinks: He loves this ice cream almost as much as I do.  He prefers the version with the chocolate chips while I prefer the version with the fudge.  They are both amazing.  

What the kid ate: Honestly, we haven't shared much with him.  We normally reserve treats like these for those precious hours after the kid goes to sleep.  But, I think he'd be a fan.