In the summer heat, I crave ice cream all the time.  I’ve recently been looking into getting an ice cream maker and discovered there are a LOT of different options out here.  Here are of the different kinds of machines out there to consider.

 
Hand Crank Ice Cream Maker:  If you want to feel like you are putting the work into making your ice cream, then you can buy a hand crank machine.  This Aroma Ice Cream Maker features a die-cast hand crank and a solid pine bucket to make it feel old fashioned.  It will make 6 quarts of Ice Cream and at only $89 is a very affordable option.

Affordable Automatic Model: If you are looking for a basic model that will do the work for you, consider the Cuisinart Classic which can make both Ice Cream and Frozen Yogurt.  It is completely automatic, all you do is flip a switch and it will do all the work for you.  You’ll get a lot less volume than with the hand crack model, this machine makes only 1 and a half quarts at a time.  But It’s also the lowest price of the ice cream makers I looked at, only $59.95.
Soft Serve Dispenser Type: A really unique type of ice cream maker that I found, also by Cuisinart, is the Soft Serve Ice Cream Maker.  This one is really cool because it makes soft serve ice cream and dispenses it like you see in ice cream shops.  Plus it has an area to stack ice cream cones, and three condiment dispensers for sprinkles, chocolate chips or whatever else you want to top your ice cream with.  I was also surprised at the price, which is only $100.  However, this machine is also the biggest of the three and would be the hardest to store when not in use.

Ice Cream Maker Attachment: While not the cheapest option, this one was intriguing to me – Kitchen Aid makes an ice cream maker attachment for their mixer.  For $79, you get a mixer attachment freeze bowl that fits any Kitchen Aid stand mixer made after 1990.  It will make two and a half quarts of ice cream and is the easiest to store.

I’m pretty torn on which of the four to get because they are all so diverse.  Which one do you think I should get?

I admit, when it comes to the holiday season, I’m a bit of a humbug. I was raised in a home filled to the brim with festive decor ; carols were played 24 hours a day and at least one member of my family was always wearing a Christmas sweater . You might say that the extensive degree to which my family celebrated the holidays has had a negative effect on my holiday spirit level. Although, there are certainly a couple of things I look forward to this time of year – one of which is baking delicious treats for my family and friends. And every great baker needs a great mixer.

KitchenAid has been setting the standard in kitchens for 90 years and is celebrating with a 90th Anniversary Limited Edition Stand Mixer . The sleek, nostalgic candy-apple red color is sure to liven up any kitchen. I’m absolutely ga-ga over the special five quart glass bowl with easy to read measurements and clean pouring spout. Of course, the tilt-head mixer is also equipped with a 325-watt motor, 10-speed slide control, and power hub for attachments. It comes complete with wire whip, flat beater, and dough hook. Legendary performance meets absolute beauty in this 90th Anniversary Limited Edition Stand Mixer . Who wouldn’t love to mix up a batch of gingerbread in this baby?

Summer is just around the corner, and we are excited about the sweet treats that are perfect for our favorite season. Share your favorite summer sweets recipe for a chance to win a KitchenAid Mixer ! Emily Schuman, Beso’s Style Director, will select the winner and bake up the winning recipe. The grand prize winner will be featured on the Beso Blog in June. If the baker in you needs the best mixer on the market, enter now and share your winning recipe with us! Entry ends May 31, 2010.

My favorite summer dessert resolves around fresh ingredients. I have so many wonderful memories that involve picking berries and incorporating them into a sweet dessert and these vanilla cupcakes with a strawberry meringue buttercream frosting certainly top my list. See my recipe below for strawberry meringue buttercream frosting. It’s best paired with fresh berries and white cake.