From Linda Larsen,
Your Guide to Busy Cooks.
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Everybody loves ice cream! Did you know that in the United States, production of ice cream and other frozen desserts topped 1.5 billion gallons in 2005? More than 90% of US households eat ice cream every year. That's a lot of ice cream!

There's a difference between premium ice cream and inexpensive brands. When ice cream is made, air is incorporated to make the texture creamy. The less air, or overrun, in the ice cream, the denser and creamier it will be. Air content can be as low as 20%, or as high as 100%. Whether you choose the denser or fluffier ice cream is up to you!

For tips on using ice cream, please see Ice Cream Tips. Then dig in!

Ice Cream Recipes

• Ice Cream Cone Parfaits
  Well, if this isn't the best idea since, well, ice cream! Make up a bunch of these little parfaits and freeze them, for super easy serving. You could even make these for adults by combining liqueurs with the chocolate and caramel sauce.
• Ice Cream Pie
  This is the ultimate basic recipe for a classic summer dessert. Experiment all you want and have fun!
• Ice Cream Tartlets
  In the baking aisle of the supermarket, you'll find lots of packaged premade pie shells. That's where you'll find graham cracker tartlet shells, the basis for these fabulous desserts. In fact, you can use this recipe to set up an ice cream tartlet bar! Set out all kinds of toppings and let your guests go crazy.
• Lemonade Ice Cream Pie
  Just three ingredients make a fabulous easy pie perfect for entertaining.
• Crispy Ice Cream Dessert
  This recipe has the best combination of textures and flavors. Let your kids make it on a rainy summer day.
• Peanut Ice Cream Squares
  Chocolate flavored crisp rice cereal forms the crust in this simple and delicious cold recipe.
• Not Fried Ice Cream
  Crushed granola cereal forms the 'crust' on this simplified version of fried ice cream. Easy and delicious!
• Chocolate Peanut Butter Ice Cream Pie
  You make your own peanut butter ice cream (don't worry - it's easy) to layer with chocolate ice cream and peanuts in this decadent pie.
• Buster Bars
  This is my favorite ice cream dessert recipe of all time. The chocolate topping alone is reason enough to love this dessert.
• Fudgesicle Pie
  This pie really does taste just like a fudgesicle, but it's better. Yum.
• Chocolate Lemon Ice Cream Pie
  Chocolate and lemon is my new favorite flavor combination, inspired by a classic See's candy.
• Frozen Berry Mousse
  Now this is a recipe for entertaining! It looks like a souffle when presented, but is very easy to make.
• Sherbet Roll
  Any two flavors of sherbet will be delicious in this two-ingredient recipe that looks like it came from a fancy store.
• Champagne Sorbet
  And finally, this dessert is just for adults. Serve it after an elegant meal on the grill, on a screened porch under the stars.

Take some time to browse through the frozen foods aisle of your supermarket; the flavors and combinations of ice cream are truly staggering. You can make a different ice cream pie every day of the year, using just ice cream and graham cracker crusts!