Synopses & Reviews
Introduction In my younger years, I consumed a lot of ice cream and favored the rich flavors of Ben & Jerry’s, whose factory happened to be in the neighboring town. Over the years, I experimented with my diet and discovered the effect of foods on my overall health. While moving toward a plant-based diet, I reduced (and later eliminated) my migraine headaches, and my high blood pressure returned to normal. I also had far fewer colds and fewer instances of the flu. Their severity and duration were also much less. After I discovered the benefits of a vegan diet, I found that the vegan “ice creams” on the market were simply not satisfying; they were not rich enough for me, and I did not enjoy the aftertaste.
Since there are many people who cannot eat dairy and many more who choose not to for ethical, environmental, and health reasons, I wanted to create a wonderful ice cream alternative. For those who were already vegans, this would add a new dessert to their diets. For others, it would allow them to give up the dairy they had been wanting to do without.
I thought that there must be a way of making a rich, flavorful vegan ice cream that would easily satisfy the expectations I had developed when I ate dairy. Having used cashew milk to replace cow’s milk and cream in other recipes, I realized that was how I should make my homemade vegan ice cream. In 1999, I moved to Seattle, purchased an ice cream maker, and began experimenting with vegan ice creams. The results were as rich as I wanted them to be. A luscious, homemade vegan ice cream was finally born!
I began sharing these ice creams at local EarthSave potlucks and at other EarthSave chapters in cities like Vancouver, Canada; Portland, Oregon; and San Diego, California, as well as at WorldFest in Los Angeles. I soon had many people asking for my recipes or for the ice cream itself. Over time, I’ve traveled to many vegan, raw, and health food shows to demonstrate how delicious vegan ice cream can be and how easy it is to make. Sharing this healthful alternative to dairy ice cream has become part of my life’s work. In the years since I first started making vegan ice creams, veganism has become much more popular. Vegan products have become more available in stores and online, plus vegan options at restaurants have greatly increased.
I soon realized that I’d rather distribute my recipes widely than produce vegan ice cream commercially, because using organic cashews, the base for many of the recipes, is rather expensive, and allowing people to make vegan ice cream themselves would make it more affordable. I believe that these recipes will make a difference in people’s lives.
I certainly hope they succeed in doing so.
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This bright and fresh flavor wakes up the taste buds and instantly calls to mind childhood mornings drinking Concord grape juice along with breakfast. The creamy texture and flavor of cashews provides a subtle backdrop to the fruity burst of grape.
Concord Grape
Makes about 1 quart
2-1⁄4 pounds organic Concord grapes
1 cup raw organic cashews or cashew pieces
1⁄2 cup packed organic pitted honey dates
Run the grapes through a juicer to make 3 cups juice.
Combine the grape juice and cashews in a blender. Blend until smooth. With the motor running, gradually add the dates and blend on high until silky smooth, at least 1 minute.
Place the blender in the freezer for 40 minutes to 1 hour or in the refrigerator for at least 1 hour or up to overnight, until well chilled. Pour the mixture into an ice cream maker and freeze according to the manufacturer’s instructions. Serve immediately or transfer to airtight containers and store in the freezer until ready to serve.
Synopsis
JEFF ROGERS became a vegan in 1997 to improve his health. He found that ice cream was the one non-vegan food addiction that lasted the longest, which led to his creation of rich, gourmet vegan ice creams. He is also a cofounder of SoyStache.com, a nonprofit that promotes a plant-based diet.
Table of Contents
Acknowledgments
Introduction
Basics
Ice Cream
Raw Ice Cream
Sauces
About the Author
Measurement Conversion Charts
Index