Vegan Strawberry Ice Cream

Late May is fresh strawberry season here in Washington, D.C. I plucked a pint of fresh strawberries from our garden this morning and combined them with a pint purchased at the farmers market for this evenings treat - Vegan Strawberry Ice Cream. Using the Cuisinart Ice Cream maker that Barking Dog Barger gave me for my birthday last November, I think I've found a satisfying, creamy recipe.
Vegan Fresh Strawberry Ice Cream

1 1/2 cups fresh ripe strawberries, stemmed and sliced

4 tablespoons lemon juice

3/4 cups sugar

3/4 cups vanilla hemp milk

1 1/2 cups soy creamer

1/2 teaspoon pure vanilla extract

In a small bowl, combine strawberries with lemon juice and 1/4 cup of sugar. Stir gently and allow the strawberries to macerate in the juices for 2 hours. Strain the berries, reserving juices. Mash or puree half the berries.

In medium mixing bowl, use a hand mixer on low speed to combine the hemp milk and remaining sugar until the sugar is dissolved, about 1 to 2 minutes. Stir in the soy creamer, reserved strawberry juice, mashed strawberries and vanilla. Turn the machine on; pour the mixture into freezer bowl, and let mix until thickened, about 20 to 25 minutes. Five minutes before mixing is completed, add the reserved sliced strawberries and let mix in completely. The ice cream will have a soft creamy texture. If a firmer consistency is desired, transfer the ice cream to an airtight container and place in freezer for about 2 hours. Remove from freezer about 15 minutes before serving.
Yummy and healthy!

Dog Culture

Barking Dog and I have been doing cat rescue for most of our life together.  This is Anastasia who was living in the alley at the corner of 18th and Columbia Road NW, WDC for a least a year before we brought her inside 7 years ago.  She is now my feline representative at most classes and retreats in the studio.  Here she is lounging in Jasper's (the dog) crate while he is elsewhere. We thought that bringing Jasper into our house would create cat panic. But instead he seems to be a calming presence.  We've had far fewer cat squabbles since his arrival.

Most Sundays we walk to the Dupont Circle Farmers Market. Jasper has made friends there who googoo over him and give him beef liver jerky treats.  
Most late afternoons we go to the very first District of Columbia fenced doggy park which is on the western side of  Walter Pierce Community Park - just across the street from our building. Jasper (our Catahoula Leopard Dog) is in the middle of all the bodies in this photo.  This particular day I counted 18 dogs and their respective humans at the doggy park.  One of the things I love about America is the diversity of people and in the photo it is reflected in our dogs.