July 11th
2007
Overall, our kitchen is well equipped, this is not to say that we collect gadget over gadget over gadget - in fact we've been quite conservative with new acquisitions. Shelf space is a limited gift here, so I usually think twice before adding a shiny new toy that in the end may only scrape a living by collecting dusk.
One thing, however, has been missing all this time: a proper ice cream maker with a built-in compressor system. The thought of it was continuously galloping through my kitchen dreams. For the longest time, we've been pondering back and forth, if we really needed one and if our ice cream consumption would justify such an investment. We've been debating a lot... in fact over a whole year now, until I finally told Oliver I would get an ice cream machine TODAY. Stuck at work, all I got as a reply was a "Can we make our first batch include walnuts...", which was the kind of response and affirmation I was hoping to get. 24 hours later a shiny new Gaggia Gelateria was making herself comfortable on our kitchen worktop, forcing the KitchenAid to the cheap seats in the back (for the time being).
The hardest part was waiting the required 12 hours before hitting the churn-button, because moving (tilting) it upsets the coolant in its freezing system. On the other hand it gave me ample time to grow my ice-creams-I-must-try-list rapidly. After our first weekend together I can safely say, that our new house mate isn't only a very quiet gal - an ice cream machine with the name Gelateria has to be a she - but does prepare the most delicious desserts, too! She's a keeper. To put her full potential to the test and thus to good use, we decided to dedicate this week to ice creams and sorbets only - ie. we will present our top 3 favorite frosty creations over the course of the next few days - stay tuned!
here's what not to try ... chicken fried steak ice cream! oh, yes, somebody actually concocted it and admitted that one pint of it was one pint too many. if my memory serves me correctly, you can find the story of this bizarre recipe's birth at http://www.dallasfood.org ... i'm headed to the freezer for a bite of lemon italian ice to get the thought of this out of my head.
Ohhhh...jealousy is being felt on this side of the planet!
Your decision making process including the space issues and related discussions sounds very familiar to me. We also don't want the cream to melt within seconds, which is an issue of many "low cost" ice cream makers.
Yeah! Guess the high price is justified and I've found the toy that I've been looking for. Can't wait to see your first results. Thanks!
I have been lusting an ice cream machine forever! Maybe I can convince my hubby to get me one for my birthday. Did you check out other ice cream machines before you bought the Gaggia?
I cannot wait, Nicky! We've had same debates over 'do we really need yet another kitchen equipment', but finally, out brand new Kitchen Aid ice cream machine should reach us on July 15th (delivered from Deutschland, of all places:) So I'm very much looking forward to all your gelato, ice cream and sorbet recipes!!
Mean woman. I have no more words for you. And when I think about your small freezer-compartment, I have a notion that you have not only made, you actually must have eaten 3 different ice creams this week. Or even more, because, to choose the top 3, you must eat, what, 6 kinds?
Just tell me where you bought the Gaggia, online or in Munich? I have been eyeing David's rec. for over a year now, too, but they don't send this item to Europe. I am sooo longing to eat salted caramel ice cream.... Can you make some and send it to Stuttgart?
I recently made sorbet and granita without a machine and I am hoping I have similar success with ice cream. I would love a machine but it's just not practical for us right now and especially with all the great, cheap gelato in Italy!!
Oh, I'm just so jelaous. Whenever I've brought up the matter of buying an ice cream maker, everybody at home seem to have ignored me. Don't I look like I really need one?:)
I'm looking forward to hearing about your favourites. My favourite so far (made without an ice cream maker) has been melon-peppermint sorbet - yum!
We’ve been having the same discussions, to get one or not, that is the question. And what brand. Any experiences with Nemox or Unold machines?
My gadget lust is still primarily for a rice cooker, though if somebody could invent a space saving ice-cream maker/rice cooker combi machine that would be grand (in my dreams!). Looking forward to seeing what the top rated flavours are!
I want to dip my finger right into the freezing bowl! An ice cream maker would probably not be good for my waistline, but I want one too!!!!!!
If you get tired of churning up ice cream, that machine can be used to chill up a pretty mean batch of margaritas too!
Oh my GOODness. We have one of those little electric ice cream makers, but nothing as nice as this type. Someday I hope to be able to afford one. I can't wait to hear about your results!
Lange Zeit habe ich mit der Gaggia geliebäugelt, in erster Linie wohl wegen des Designs und weil ich gute Kritiken mit den Espressomaschinen aus dem gleichen Hause verbinde. Aber letzte Woche sollte es so weit sein ... und dann das: Mein ortsansässiger und in solchen Dingen recht zuverlässiger Händler (http://www.a-priori.de), der diese Maschine selbst seit Jahren nutzt und auch selbst als Gaggia-Händler vertreibt, rät mir ab! Dringend! Und empfiehlt mir dann eine Unold 8875. Kurz entschlossen bestellt für 159 € bei Amazon und bisher hoch zufrieden. Bin auf eure Erfahrungen gespannt, vielleicht muss ich mich ja noch ärgern...
I love ice cream, in Paris, i eat always Bertillon's ice cream ....
~me wishing I had one too~
our neighborhood garage sale is coming up next month - maybe I can hawk all of my useless kitchen gadgets that I bought off of infomercials...save up for one of these. Husband won't be thrilled, "WHAT?! sell your thousands of dollars of kitchen crap to get one brand new kitchen crap?!"
i've been eyeing such a machine for a while...*so jealous* ;)
Well done! We have heard, that you were waiting for this. Now we are waiting for you. And if you have any freezer-shelf-problems…
Oh ye gods. Even I can't justify buying a product that pricey--but since I'm stateside I kinda doubt I'll get the chance either way. Enjoy your ice cream, you evil people. I'll be over here, preparing it in a in a series of plastic bags. ;_;
With the Summer in Toronto so steamy and hot, reading about your ice-cream maker is making my mouth water. I can't wait to hear about it all. Can you do sorbets and gelato's in it as well? Is that a silly question?
Johanna, I so hear you! We had a cheap Philips, but due to our limited freezer space, almost never used it. The Gaggia has only been here for a week and we've had ice cream every other day... I'm sure we can't keep this level of dedication, on the other hand, I get to keep my waistline ;) Can't wait to have you over for some experimenting though!
bitegeist, Eeeew! I think I have to make another batch of ice cream to get those images out of my head now ;)
Hi Kochblogger, Although the results of our Gaggia are miles better than with our old Philips, taking pictures of ice cream is still a pretty fiddly task! I just found out that you can keep the freezer going after the machine finishes churning (allows a little extra time for taking pictures), but now I have to be careful to not let it become hard like a rock...
Pille, I keep my fingers crossed that they deliver on time - we've had our issues with the German post service in the past... And please let me know about your results and if you like your KitchenAid ice cream machine.
Hande, With the current temperatures, I doubt the ice cream would make it beyond Munich's perimeter. But you're welcome any time to indulge in some ice cream tasting in our kitchen!
Evelin, Melon-peppermint sorbet sounds perfect for the weather we have right now! Some weeks ago I tasted a mango-peppermint-smoothie and was quite intrigued, so I might just give your sorbet a try.
David, We knew it, there would be another mean tip from your side ;)
Tobias, Ich hatte ja schon fast aufgegeben, wir konnten uns nicht so recht für eine Marke entscheiden. Über Unold und Nemox zu Gaggia und wieder zurück, kaum hatten wir uns für ein Modell entschieden, hörten wir wieder was Negatives darüber. Den Ausschlag gab dann ein Bekannter, der sowohl Nemox als auch Gaggia schon besessen hat (nacheinander). Bisher jedenfalls sind wir mit unserer Wahl sehr zufrieden. Und, habt Ihr schon eine Lieblingskreation erkoren?
Sebastian, Let me know your favorite flavor and you will get yourself a little afternoon-ice-cream-break at our place...how does that sound?
Jim, Wow, that is impressive and quite inventive, thank you for sharing the link!
Robyn, Yes you can, and no, that's not a silly question to ask ;)
Is there only one Gaggia ice cream maker model? Where did you buy it? I bought a machine 12 years ago. Without the inbuilt compressor which resulted in a very rare use. Having tasted "real" home made ice cream, a new ice cream maker is on my wish list ...
Since nobody has, I must recommend the Ben and Jerry's Book, IMHO one of the most entertaining cookbooks ever written.
Lots of good ideas, tips, and recipies, as well as a lot of common sense stuff that nobody thinks of until they've already ruined a whole batch.
The mention of the Ben & Jerry's book reminded me to recommend my own favorite ice cream cookbook: The Ultimate Ice Cream Book. The sheer variety stunned me, and the quality finished me off.
[...] dem Nicky und Oliver die Eistage ausgerufen habe, weil sie sich eine neue Eismaschine gekauft haben, habe auch ich eine solche Lust [...]
For about a week I was homemade ice cream obsessed. (I've had a long-time fantasy of opening up my own ice cream parlor, named Scoop.) But I got so impatient and frustrated with the grainy consistency and the premature melting, that I ended up going to the nearest "31 Flavors"--I guess Scoops won't be happening anytime soon. But these pictures and recipes have me dusting off my old ice cream maker.
I would love tips on how to make green tea ice cream!
[...] be told, it was Nicky who prompted me to purchase an electric ice cream churn with this post about a churn she had purchased. So inspired was I, that I went right out and got one too, [...]
ah, well done you! i couldn't quite bring myself to take that step and opted for a cheap kenwood. and sure enough, i have only made icecream three times in as many months, so i am in a dilemma now: is is because the machine is not good enough or would it just have been foolish to buy a good piece of equipment? not sure. but i am now certain i will try out yours when we meet in a few weeks' time and maybe my kenwood will end up in the kitchen gadget graveyard ;-)