Luscious Black Raspberry Chocolate Chip Ice Cream
Did you know that July is National Ice Cream Month? I love ice cream and today is the next step in our Summer of Giveaways! Before the month ends I am sneaking in just under the deadline to offer you the chance to WIN 2 FREE pints of Graeter’s Ice Cream or Gelato! The perfect treat to help you cool off on these hot days!!
Graeter’s is an artisan family-owned and operated company in business in Cincinnati, Ohio since 1870, making old-fashioned ice cream, traditional Italian Gelato, sorbets, and Certified Low Glycemic ice cream using 50% less sugar. Their ice cream is made using the traditional French Pot process. Small batch processing gives each one personal attention and creating an irresistible creaminess that is completely unique, not to mention totally addicting!
Gaeter’s Seasonal Peach Ice Cream
Being in the heartland of the country, they have access to the freshest cream and milk from Ohio farms that practice humane and sustainable practices, including never using any artificial growth hormones. When that cream and milk are combined with 100% cane sugar and eggs, they get the perfect custard that is the base for all their flavors. They are committed to bringing you the best ice cream and use only the highest quality ingredients in everything they make. No fake syrups, sweeteners, colors or flavorings. And no hydrogenated oils so there are no trans fats in their products.
The French Pot process is similar to the old-fashioned hand crank system used in the earliest homemade ice cream machines. Long before there were electric machines, we had to put the custard into a metal drum, set it into a bucket, attaching a crank system to the top, and surround it with a combination of ice and rock salt. Yes, my family had one of these when I was young and it was so fun to make our own homemade ice cream, but a lot of work!
Which flavor would you choose?
We would take turns turning the crank which moved a paddle inside the drum, scraping the thickened, partially frozen sweetened cream from the outside of the drum and remixing it into the rest of the custard. As more of the mixture froze in contact with the icy water on the outside of the drum, it became harder and harder to turn – that’s when my brothers would take over and eventually, toward the end of the churning, my dad would do the last of the turns until it was almost too difficult for him. Then we knew we had the perfect ice cream!
Graeter’s uses a similar process today, making just two gallons at a time. This gives them the ability to create ice cream that has that same home-churned flavor and texture. The French Pot system greatly reduces the amount of air being whipped into the cream, creating the unbelievably smooth and creamy texture that is remarkable. And once it it’s done, they pack each pint by hand, nearly 20,000 pints a day!!
You can WIN 2 Pints of your choice!
If you are lucky enough to be in the Midwest and can get to one of their 40 neighborhood stores, stop in and get the full soda fountain experience! They have cones, sundaes, sodas, shakes, malts, smoothies, ice cream cakes and more. How Fun!
Now, how in the heck are you going to win that free ice cream? It’s simple – just complete the optional entries in the Rafflecopter below. Visit Graeter’s website to find stores in your neighborhoods where you can buy your own pints of your favorite Graeter’s flavors!
Good luck in the drawing and Happy National Ice Cream Month!
Refreshing Watermelon Sorbet, perfect for hot summer days
This contest is now over. Congratulations to winner Karen!
This giveaway is open to residents of the United States who are 18 years of age or older. The giveaway begins on 7/28/16 at 12:00am EST and goes through 8/08/16 at 2:59pm EST. The number of eligible entries received determines the odds of winning. The winner will be selected and e-mailed within 5 days of the end of the giveaway. The winner has 48 hours to respond to the e-mail or another winner will be chosen. Vouchers will be sent directly to the winner by Graeter’s.
Create a New Tradition Today!
Disclosure: I was given samples of Graeter’s ice cream to review before recommending to you and they donated two vouchers for the Giveaway. I was not compensated for this post or running the contest. As always all opinions are my own.
Let’s connect! If you ever need any entertaining or cooking advice, need to alter a recipe for gluten-free, or want recipe suggestions, don’t hesitate to email me. Feel free to quote me, just give credit where credit is due, link to the recipe, and send people to my website. Unauthorized use, distribution, and/or duplication of proprietary material from The Heritage Cook without prior approval is prohibited. If you have any questions or would like permission, please contact me.
The suggestions here are not intended as dietary advice or as a substitute for consulting a dietician, physician, or other medical professional. It is the reader’s sole responsibility to determine which foods are appropriate and safe for their family to consume. The author makes no claims regarding the presence of food allergens and disclaims all liability in connection with the use of this site. Please see the Disclaimers page for additional details.
Thanks for joining the Heritage Cook Family!
cyndi br
Ice cream was always a treat on the weekends for dessert.
Jane Bonacci
Ice cream is the perfect way to celebrate weekend freedom Cyndi!
JenniferAnne
Mine is going out for ice cream after Church every Sunday with my family
Jane Bonacci
We did that for years too Jennifer – I was the littlest and always got so excited, LOL.
karen allyn
As a kid I always loved Orange Sherbet. Growing up I have been a major ice cream maker in my house and my kids worship me (when it is actually in the freezer). I just bought peaches yesterday to make Peach ice cream!!
Jane Bonacci
I’ve got peach ice cream coming up too – great minds Karen! 🙂
Susan Christy
I lived in a small town when I was growing up and there was an ice cream social on the square where I had some homemade grape ice cream that I’ve never forgotten and that was 50+ years ago!
Jane Bonacci
It’s amazing how powerful some memories are … that grape ice cream sounds heavenly!
Jennifer W
My favorite ice cream memory is splitting a sundae with my husband at our favorite ice cream shop. He always lets me have the cherry.
Jane Bonacci
That is so sweet Jennifer! He is definitely a keeper 🙂
Margot Core
I can remember making Peach Ice Cream with my mother down in New Orleans with a hand cranked ice cream maker! (yes, I am an old person).
Jane Bonacci
You’re never old Margot, only “seasoned” 🙂 Fresh peach ice cream is one of my favorites and I will be sharing a recipe for it soon on the blog. Keep your eyes out for it!
Margot Core
I will!
Annamarie V
We had a great ice cream parlor in the small town I grew up in and I remember my Dad taking us there for ice cream, I always has strawberry when I was young.
Jane Bonacci
Strawberry was my favorite too! I was a purist child, LOL.
Susan P
My favorite memory was going for a Sunday drive in the summer to Chesterland, Ohio. There was a place that served maple ice cream. It was so delicious and so much fun. We would then go to a park nearby, enjoy our ice cream and play on the playground equipment. We didn’t have a lot of money, but we had a lot of love and good times together.
Jane Bonacci
There is nothing better than a family full of fun and love Susan. You were rich! We didn’t have a lot of money either and outings like the one you mention were our treats. We always took a Sunday drive and somehow, in the summer months, ice cream seemed to be a common theme, LOL.
Jennifer Essad
My favorite memory is going with our family to Sander’s in downtown Detroit in the 60’s. It was a huge diner with ice cream sundae’s and creme puffs and the usually sandwiches and soups. They also had an amazing candy counter and hot fudge and cakes and pastries. We’d often sit at the fountain and us kids would have fun spinning around on the red leather stools
Jane Bonacci
My mom’s parents owned the drugstore/soda fountain in their little town in Indiana. When I visited as a child it had the same kind of red leather stools you mention and I still have a couple of the ice cream cups they used. Such wonderful memories!
Elis Brockway
My favorite memories having ice cream cake.
Jane Bonacci
Whomever decided that cake and ice cream frozen together was a good idea is my hero!
TAMARA EARNHART
GROWING UP WE ALWAYS MADE HAND CRANKED ICE CREAM. I LOVED WHEN IT GOT TOO HARD FOR US KIDS TO CRANK MY DAD TOOK OVER. WE ALL TOOK TURNS SITTING ON TOP WHILE DAD CRANKED
Jane Bonacci
That is adorable Tamara – I can imagine you all sitting on there with the water splashing and cooling your legs as your dad did the final last cranks!
DJ
I always enjoyed having ice cream during the summer months while I was spending time with my Grandmother. We would always have a large bowl together. It was a great way to bond.
Jane Bonacci
Is there anything better than sharing a special sweet treat with our grandmas? My mom and I used to “sneak” down to the basement in my grandparents house, grab a popsicle or ice cream from the freezer and watch movies. 🙂
Anna
We used to make ice cream with a hand crank ice cream freezer, too. I’d say those are some of the best memories. We have an electric one now, but it’s just not the same.
Jane Bonacci
I completely agree Anna, somehow having to work for the ice cream made that much more delicious, LOL.
Taylor Closet
Eating ice cream with my dad as a kid.
Jane Bonacci
Having sweet memories like this always puts a smile on my face. Thanks for entering and good luck!
Jenice
The watermelon sorbet sounds so refreshing. Would love to try it.
Jane Bonacci
It is delightful, especially on these hot summer days! Good luck Jenice!! 🙂