I know I have written about ice cream before, but it has been a while and I have found some really good new recipes I want to share. Since I purchased a Cuisinart ice cream maker, I have been trying all kinds of recipes. I suggest that get one of these machines. Krups makes one, too. They make the creation of homemade ice cream a breeze, with no ice and rock salt mess.

The following recipes make about 1 quart of ice cream without any additions, just right for these machines. If you have a regular ice cream maker that uses ice and rock salt you may want to double the recipe to make it worth your time and effort.

Some additions you could try might include: a crumbled or chopped-up candy bar, any kind of nuts you like, or some chocolate syrup and instant coffee for mocha flavor, peanut brittle, cookies, or your favorite fruit (mashed). I really liked bananas with chocolate chips. Other fruit choices would be peaches, berries of any description, sweet cherries or even kiwi or cantaloupe. Add only enough sugar and/or lemon juice to the mashed fruit to make it delicious before adding to the Basic Mix. Use no more than 1 cup of additions or the ice cream freezer will be overwhelmed. Or, how about some liqueur! Add in small amounts, tasting until you like the flavor. Try Kalua, amaretto, cream de menthe, triple sec, or whatever you like, just don't add more than 1/3 cup total, as the alcohol will inhibit the freezing of the ice cream. The liquid and fruit additions should be added before the Basic Mix is put into maker. The more chunky goodies should be added at the last minute, stirred in by hand if needed.

In a 3 quart sauce pan whisk the sugar and eggs together until lemon colored and smooth. Pour in the cream and milk, stir to blend. Cook over medium heat, stirring constantly, until the mixture starts to steam. Remove from heat and set pan into a sink half full of cold water. Stir until cool, add vanilla, and refrigerate until well chilled. Start ice cream machine and pour in the cream mixture. Let machine run until ice cream is very thick. Put in any additions in the last few minutes, just enough to mix them in. Pour into a freezer container and place in freezer to 'ripen' for at least 4 hours.

Mint Chocolate Chip: Using the Basic Mix, omit vanilla and add 2 teaspoons peppermint extract and 1 cup mini semi-sweet chocolate chips.

Creamsicle: Add to Basic Mix ½ cup frozen orange juice concentrate, thawed.

Super Chocolate: Melt 4 squares of semisweet chocolate, add ¼ cup cocoa powder and mix well. Stir in the milk. Add this chocolate mixture when instructed to add the milk to the Basic Mix.

Butter Pecan: Melt ½ cup real butter in a skillet, add about 1 cup pecans and saute the pecans until they are just brown. Be careful not to overcook and burn either the butter or pecans. Remove the pecans from the butter and set aside to cool. Allow the butter to cool completely and add to the basic mix before freezing. Once the ice cream is almost done, add the pecans.