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Watermelon Lemonade Sorbet & Giveaway
June 29, 2011
Last week, the book that I had been waiting to read for years - Jeni's Splendid Ice Creams at Home by Jeni Britton Bauer - finally arrived on my door step. Yes, years.
When I first encountered Jeni's Splendid Ice Creams in Columbus, OH several years ago, I knew it was something special. The care and detail that was put into every scoop and every flavor was beyond comparison. I probably ate a scoop of Jeni's almost every week, maybe more. Before I moved away from Ohio, I had the opportunity to attend an ice cream seminar with Jeni Britton Bauer. During the seminar, Jeni enthusiastically discussed her love for ice cream, the importance of fresh, flavorful ingredients, and the excitement of experimenting with ice cream flavors. Jeni demonstrated how to make a homemade ice cream base she had developed for an article in Food and Wine magazine. A departure from other homemade ice cream recipes, this version excluded eggs and included other ingredients, such as cream cheese and cornstarch, to ensure a soft and scoopable texture. I walked away from the seminar inspired to create my own flavors.
As soon as I returned home from the seminar I made a batch of homemade vanilla ice cream using Jeni's ice cream base recipe. I tasted it and I was in heaven - I had found my muse. I already preferred the non-custard version of ice cream, and I was now armed with a fool proof ice cream base recipe with which I could easily experiment with different flavor profiles. It was then that I began my journey toward finding the perfect scoop.
I knew after the first time I made Jeni's ice cream base that a book was in her future. And thus, in a way, I waited years for the book to arrive on my doorstep. When the book finally arrived in the mail last week, I hastily tore open the package and began flipping through the glossy pages. The book is organized by seasons, which speaks to Jeni's passion about using fresh, in-season ingredients. I found recipes for many of my favorite Jeni's flavors such as Gravel Road and Wildberry Lavender. The photography in the book is spot on, highlighting the enticing simplicity of a scoop ice cream. In addition to discussing tips about making ice cream, Jeni shares stories about the farmers and artisans who supply the ingredients for her ice cream, giving a personal touch to this already inviting book.
Which recipe did I decide to make first? I flipped through the summer section and landed on a recipe for Watermelon Lemonade Sorbet. I decided to make the recipe partly out of necessity (I had a large container of watermelon in my fridge) and because the scoop sounded perfect for the summer and upcoming 4th of July weekend. I tried a scoop of this sorbet at a Jeni's store just before moving to New Orleans and I remember that it was sweet and refreshing.
As the sorbet churned in the machine, I continued to flip through the pages of Jeni's book. So many favorites, so many recipes, and so much information. How could an ice cream lover like me live without this book? You can't! So I'm giving it away!
Want to know how you can WIN?! See below. (If you can't wait, click here to order your own copy).
Want to know more about the book? Check out the video below.
Giveaway Details
I will provide one ice cream lover with a copy of their very own Jeni's Splendid Ice Creams at Home book. This giveaway is open to USA residents and will be open until Tuesday July 5th at 12 midnight CST.
All entries will be numbered and the winner will be chosen on July 6th at Random.org. The winner will be announced on the blog and will be notified via email, so please make sure your email address is correct. You will have 48 hours to respond to me or a new winner will be chosen.
Main Entry:
Leave a comment below and tell me about your favorite Jeni's ice cream flavor and/or why you want this book. If you have never tried Jeni's ice cream before, then just tell me about your favorite ice cream flavor or experience. Or you can just say Hi!
Extra Entries:
To earn additional entries, complete one or more of the following steps listed below.
- Tweet about this giveaway, for example, “I just entered to win Jeni's Splendid Ice Creams at Home from @scoopmuse. Stop by to enter the giveaway http://bit.ly/lzPVOB Pls RT"
- Follow @scoopmuse on Twitter and send me a tweet to let me know you are a new follower
- Like Scoop Adventures on Facebook and leave a comment on the wall
- Subscribe to Scoop Adventures via RSS or email (leave a comment here to tell me you subscribed)
- Stumble this post
- Blog about a recipe you found on this site (and direct me to the post via twitter or comment).
That’s a total of SEVEN chances to win! Good luck and enjoy the recipe below!
Watermelon Lemonade Sorbet
Slightly adapted from recipe in Jeni's Splendid Ice Cream at Home
4 cups cubed watermelon (about one small watermelon)
1/2 cup fresh lemon juice
1/2 cup sugar
1/4 cup light corn syrup
1/4 teaspoon lemon zest
Place watermelon in a blender and puree until smooth. Measure 2 1/2 cups of puree and pour into a medium bowl. Save remaining puree for another use.
Combine sugar, corn syrup, lemon juice and lemon zest is a small saucepan and place over medium heat. Bring mixture to a boil and cook until the sugar dissolves (about 2 minutes). Remove from heat. Pour sugar syrup into bowl with watermelon puree and stir to combine.
Pour sorbet base into a gallon ziploc bag and seal tightly. Place the bag in an ice water bath and let stand until base is chilled, approximately 30 minutes. Once chilled, pour into an ice cream maker and freeze according to the manufacturer’s instructions. Place parchment over sorbet (to prevent ice crystals) and freeze until firm, at least 4 hours.
Reader Comments (56)
I just started making ice cream, and I need all the help I can get! Thanks for the great giveaway!
I've never had Jeni's but have always wanted to go ever since a friend from Ohio told me about it! This book sounds awesome!
You have no idea how excited I was to see your post! I had Jeni's ice cream for the first time when I went to OH to visit my sister a couple of weeks ago (I'll write about it in my blog once I'm caught up). She lives 2 hours from Columbus but we went the day I flew in and I insisted that we go back again when they drove me back to the airport a few days later. The staff was extremely generous and I think between the two visits I tried at least two thirds of the flavors. I was completely smitten. But favorite flavor? Just one? I loved the Rhubarb & Lime Cardamom, the Bourbon Butter Pecan, and the Buckeye State. I'm so excited to learn that she has a cookbook!
I am actually the sister the previous poster mentioned! I live in Athens, OH and whenever I go to Columbus, Jeni's is top of my list of places to go, whatever else I may be in Columbus to do. My sister's visit was the perfect excuse to indulge in more Jeni's ice cream and introduce my favorite foodie to the best ice cream I've ever had. Thanks for your great post! If I win the giveaway, I will drool over the photographs and then send the book on to my sister! (My favorite Jeni's flavor? the Salted Caramel - and all the seasonal options!)
I grew up in Ohio and went to college in Columbus, which is where I learned to love Jeni's. There is honestly no flavor I've tried that I haven't liked, but I think my favorite is the Apricot Yogurt or Sweet Corn. Both flavors are bright and summery and make me feel like I'm in Ohio. I would love this book because I live in Brooklyn, so it's harder to snag all the seasonal flavors without them being shipped. Also, I've gone through all her recipes from when she was featured in Gourmet Magazine a few years back and would love to fill my freezer with Ohio (and the best damn ice cream in the land!).
I've never heard of Jen's before since I'm a California gal, but hubby is from Columbus, OH and we visit occassionally. I'll have to hunt down this ice cream shop. As for favorite flavor: probably the lemon sorbet I tried in Italy eons ago when I was a teenager. It was pure white and full of light, refreshing citrus taste. And thanks for the enthusiasm about this book. I'll definitely be checking it out.
My favorite Jeni's flavor is brambleberry crisp! Just had it for the first time this past weekend. And I would love to win this cookbook because I want to try making ice cream.
I just got an ice cream maker and love to try new things. I would love a copy of her book! Fingers crossed :)
I really want to start making homemade ice cream. It has always seemed so fun, but a little intimidating, so I would love to have a book that could really show me how to do it! And as far as favorite flavors, ANYTHING with chocolate :)
I've never tried Jeni's ice cream. The book sounds like it's filled with delicious recipes. Although my favorite is probably good ol' vanilla with some chocolate sauce, I've decided to try making a patch of chocolate mint later this summer (when my chocolate mint plant is bigger).
I love ice cream, and I just recently got my very own ice cream maker so I am always looking for new recipes to make with it!
My husband is an ice cream nut, so I bought him a Cuisinart ice cream maker for his birthday. I routinely make a fresh strawberry sorbet that he loves, but I want to expand my repertoire to make him happy.
I've never tried Jeni's ice cream, but it sounds like a great book. My favorite ice cream is mint chocolate chip. Actually, chocolate CHUNK (the bigger the chips, the better).
I volunteer at the Pearl River Blues Berry farm in Mississippi and found your website on our facebook page. I absolutely love your website! I have spent many hours browsing through it. I too am an ice cream fanatic as it is my favorite food and has been since birth! Thanks so much for your great recipies : )
I've never tired Jen's ice cream but it sounds wonderful! My favorite ice cream flavor is chocolate, of course! :-)
I have never tried Jen's recipe but I made your strawberry sorbet and it was incredible!
Vanilla has always been my favorite flavor! I blame it on my dad for feeding me Bryer's vanilla bean before I even had teeth :) I have made a small variety of ice cream but I have yet to make vanilla. I think I have just been intimidated to mess up my favorite flavor, but I think it is time to get brave! Thank you for the wonderful recipes!
Too many to choose from. Love chocolate-marshmallow and chocolate-peanut butter combos. Never had Jen's flavors, nor made my own ice cream. I'm awaiting the arrival of my ice cream maker attachment for my Kitchenaid mixer. I can't wait!
It's too hard to pick a favorite flavor of ice cream. I found an ice cream maker I want to buy. Now all I need is recipes.
melodyj(at)gmail(dot)com
These days my favorite is mint choc chip ice cream. I also like strawberry cheesecake flavored icecream. Wait. It's ice cream- I like any or every flavor!