Leap Into Spring With Delicious Mint Ice Cream!

For those of us who live in the western hemisphere, it's the time of year when we get to spend more time outdoors. It could be as simple as a local walk, or more adventurous such as visit to a tourist attraction or even going away on vacation. In all those scenarios, eating ice cream becomes an option and a pleasurable one at that!

I've just been for a walk in the Spring sunshine around a lake not far from my home. No sooner had I parked my car than I spotted the small ice cream counter at the boathouse cafe with a queue forming! The walk could wait a few more minutes I thought :)

So I waited patiently for my turn and without hesitation chose a mint choc chip ice cream cone. Just one scoop, no sauce, no chocolate flake. At the start of the ice cream eating season you have to build up to such things! It was delicious and not too much of an indulgence to put me off my walk. So I was able to feel indulgent without any guilt! I love this ice cream flavour and, indeed, have my own recipe for homemade mint choc chip ice cream.

This is a great ice cream to serve at home for family or friends. One of my favourite ways of serving it is with fresh fruit and a sprig of fresh mint from my garden, all set in a chocolate waffle basket.

It makes for an interesting and colourful dessert whilst not being too heavy such as a pudding might be. So it's ideal for completing just about any menu.

Note: I chose the sprig of fresh mint because it is a timeless and wonderfully versatile herb. I was reading about it just recently and its history in culinary dishes goes way back. It was popular in medieval times as a salad ingredient along with purslane and even flowers like the primrose. So if you fancy a salad with a difference check out this page about medieval salad dishes from the 12th century. Having a cup of fresh mint tea is another option of course. I love to pick fresh mint from my garden, drop it in a cup and just add boiled water. Letting it steep for 5 minutes produces such a refreshing drink. I love it!

So whether it's ice cream, a salad or a hot drink, fresh mint can be on the menu in your home in many different ways!