Custard Equals Creamy French Vanilla Ice Cream

Have you ever noticed that men don’t always seem to listen? Or if they do, they don’t always seem to retain what you’ve said. Case in point French Vanilla Ice Cream.

Hubby and I stood together in front of the ice cream freezer of the grocery store. He was trying to decide which variety of Tillamook vanilla ice cream to buy. “We don’t want French Vanilla Ice Cream, right?”

My answser “That depends. Vanilla Bean has more vanilla flavor from the specks of bean in the ice cream. Old Fashion is just that, old fashion. French Vanilla has a custard base, and is more creamy.”

He went for the Vanilla Bean since we were making Root Beer Floats. Good choice. A few weeks later, in the same aisle of the grocery store there he was peering into the freezer section. He asked the same question, and got the same response. He chose French Vanilla for our Sundaes.

It wasn’t until the third time around that he stopped asking the difference between Vanilla ice creams. In all fairness, it’s not like knowing the difference is going to be life altering information. These days he doesn’t ask, he knows. This same man who seems not to listen will retain something I’ve said in passing. When he does, I’m genuinely surprised. And my heart skips a beat – awe, he does listen!

Today is National Vanilla Custard Day. French Vanilla Ice Cream just seemed the logical choice.

Easy French Vanilla Ice Cream
1 cup Milk
1/2 cup Sugar
1/2 cup Half-and-Half
1 teaspoon Vanilla Extract
1 (3.4 oz) box Instant French Vanilla Pudding Mix
2 cups Heavy Cream

Chill the ice cream cylinder and paddle according to the manufacture’s instructions.

In a medium-size bowl mix the milk and sugar together. Once the sugar has completely dissolved into the milk, stir in the half-and-half followed by the instant pudding mix. Whisk the mixture until the pudding mix and dissolved; leaving no lumps or clumps behind.

Stir in the vanilla extract and heavy cream. Pour the cream mixture into the cylinder of your ice cream maker. Freeze according to the manufacture’s instructions.

Once the ice cream maker is finished churning the mixture, you can enjoy a soft serve delight. Or transfer to a freezer safe container and let the ice cream harden to make your favorite Ice Cream Sundaes.

Imagine this same recipe as Chocolate Custard Ice Cream or Lemon Ice Cream. Yeah, those are gonna be my next tries at simple ice cream.

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My sheep hear my voice, says the Lord;
I know them, and they follow me.
Alleluia, alleluia.