Hopes, Dreams and Ice Cream
A mother has hopes and dreams for her children.
I hope they never run out of every last square of toilet paper in the house in the middle of the night and are left hobbling over to the Kleenex box half-asleep, only to find that it’s empty too.
I dream that they find a way to express themselves without judgment, and that it never hurts to be exactly who they are.
I hope they build their dreams from the ground up, even if it is starting their own “ice cream shop.” If they can imagine it, they can have it.
I dream that they aren’t afraid to put a hefty price tag on what they are worth, even if $14 seems outlandish for pretend ice cream.
I hope they have the courage to do what’s right and not just what’s popular, like offering “vegan” ice cream that “doesn’t have any high fructose corn syrup.”
Her words, not mine.
I dream that I’ll continue to learn and grow by watching them learn and grow. Because it’s delicious.
Cookies and Cream Ice Cream
- 2 cans coconut milk (reduced or full fat)
- 1/4 -1/2 c. agave or maple syrup
- 2 t. vanilla extract or vanilla stevia drops to taste (adjust agave/maple syrup accordingly)
- 1/2 t. xanthan gum
- 1 c. crushed vegan chocolate cookies
Freeze the bowl of your ice cream maker the night before preparing ice cream.
In a large bowl, combine all ingredients except cookies.
I hope they always shake their coconuts proudly.
Pour mixture into the bowl of your ice cream maker and churn for approximately 25 minutes.
During the last five minutes, add the crushed cookies.
For a soft serve consistency, eat immediately, or for a more scoopable ice cream, transfer to a bowl and allow to freeze for several hours.
I dream that they’ll always have something to soothe them when life is hot, uncomfortable and sticky.
I hope they know their mom will always be there, with a hug, a laugh and a scoop.
And I really hope that tattoo comes off soon.
This is so precious, you are such an amazing mother, writer and chef! They are so lucky to have these memories documented, too and when they can appreciate the humor I’m sure they’ll love it even more.
So hilarious that their ice cream was HFCS free, haha!! They learn from the best. I can only imagine what my kids will be saying one day!
Your kiddies are going to have such amazing memories of cooking/baking with mom. There are definitely things that stand out in my mind that we would always make together and I definitely remember all of my amazing birthday cakes. =) I’ve made coconut ice cream before and it was delish…the cookie addition is brilliant!
This is such a lovely post! I would want all of that for my children too, if I ever had any.
AMAZING sounding ice cream too!
I hope that one day I have an ice cream maker so I too can make my own delicious coconut milk ice creams. I also hope that you continue to write great posts like this.
Lovely post, and the ice cream sounds fantastic!
Beautiful! Just like your girls.
Oh you have no idea how excited I am about this – finally and ice cream that does no include bananas. It sounds so good!
I will admit, making my own ice cream kind of scares me. I just love ice cream so much that I am afraid I will screw it up and seriously offend it’s goodness!
I love the crushed cookies though. Maybe I will just try crushing some cookies and throwing them on top my bowl of coconut ice cream tonight! 
Hope you are having a great week girl!
I like the tattoo!! I wish I’d had that when I was little. I’m pretty sure all of the tattoos I had were different kinds of flowers.
You continue to inspire me as a mother Mama Pea
When I have (a) kid(s) I’ll be following your lead.
I just recently started reading your blog and am so grateful I found it. Every post leaves me smiling and feeling good. That’s a sure sign of success when you leave people smiling and feeling good. Keep up the wonderful work.
That ice cream looks so good! I’m going to see if I can adapt it to be low glycemic (make my own cookies for it)!
Gigi’s recycle tattoo is priceless. I want one!!
Very sweet post!
I love making coconut milk ice-cream in our ice-cream maker! At least it’s a tasteful tattoo. My mother in-law has bought B some pretty interesting temporary tattoos.
Reason #13289 that I need to get an ice cream maker!
from the mouth of babes . . . I wish my mom would have served that to me when I was a kid . . . oh wait a second I have a thought that interrupted this comment – I just remembered that I have a friend with an icecream maker that happens to be coming over TONIGHT!
i want that ice cream! i can’t remember the last time i had cookies and cream anything!
that picture of gigi is absolutely gorgeous, by the way.
Love it…I truly hope to be as good of a mom to my little girl as you are to yours (I know I’m repeating myself).
adorable. making ice cream with the kids sounds so fun and sweet.
Your daughters are going to be strong, intelligent ladies!! They have a great mom!!!
Loved this post ; )
Cookies and cream ice cream was one of my MANY favorites – maybe I should have asked for an ice cream machine for my bday
On second thought, it’s probably a good thing I didn’t.
I hope that you never stop blogging because I always come to your blog in the morning with my breakfast on pause because I’m afraid if I laugh too hard while chewing, I’ll spew it out. You have such an awesome fam, and Lulu and Gigi are on the right track – no high fructose corn syrup? Those girls know what’s up!
one of my favorite memories from childhood is making ice cream with my uncle every summer… he had one of those old fashioned makers, where you use rock salt, which was SO much fun!
your beautiful girls are so lucky to have such an awesome mom
Oh why oh why do I not have an ice cream maker!!!
Your love for your daughters just screams from the page every time I read your posts. They are very lucky to have you and the example you set.
I love this post
I’m so glad I recently got a new icecream maker! I want to try making this…I love cookiesncream
Icecream!!!! I am so getting an ice cream maker. End of story!
Oh, yum!
You just reminded me to put an ice cream maker on my wedding registry…because coconut milk ice cream is EXPENSIVE in the store!
This made maybe 2 pints worth (at about $5 a pint here). The coconut milk was only 99 cents a can!
That ice cream looks wonderful! I love all the simple ingredients and use of stevia. I wonder if I can make this without an ice cream maker?
So here’s my idea on that…which I almost did because I’m didn’t want to mess with the ice cream maker: what if you mixed up the base and then froze it in ice cube trays? You could then put the ice cubes in your blender with a touch more coconut milk and then blend until smooth and creamy. Genius, right? I’m going to try it!
I think every comment I write says this but I am always amazed by you, Mama Pea! Every time I check in on your blog, you are making up awesome recipes and raising some awesome girls
And making us laugh too. Have a great day!
DUDE. This is such a great idea!!!! I love coconut milk ice cream but its SO $$$. I need to get an icecream maker stat!
ooh love coconut icec ream! I might have to bring out the circa 1970 icec ream machine, as well as the ice and salt, I stole from my parents’ basement.
I love this post.
And I also love that you make your own vegan icecream. It looks amazing! I need to buy an icecream maker.
On July 4th I was Googling vegan cookies and cream ice cream. Nothing I found seemed appealing so thank you so much for posting this!! I am overly excited to try it!
I need to make that soon! I don’t use my ice cream maker often enough
That almost looks worth $14!!
We had a Care Bear tattoo that wouldn’t go away and she refused to let me take it off. It took two tries with baby oil and apparently it hurt. SIGH.
thats it! I need an icecream maker ASAP! those cat cookies are so addicting! so are the minit oatmeal ones!!
I look forward to your posts every day! You’re so witty and your kids are adorable. And I have some coconut milk in the pantry that would be perfect for this ice cream!
Thanks, Renee!
I have much experience with such ice cream–I even have the same model ice cream maker! Ain’t it glorious?
So I recently learned that adding a spoonful of vodka to the ice cream mix keeps it from freezing too hard. I think I should try that trick, though I may or may not mistake my mouth for the ice cream maker…
the best part of that tattoo is when it comes off it will be in little pieces…so it will look exceptionally gorgeous in the next couple days
That is so great! And home made ice cream is so much better than store-bought.
It’s double-bad if my husband and I run out of toilet paper, because we use it AS Kleenex. And we use paper towels for napkins. So it always sucks to run out of either…I have used toilet paper as a napkin before.
Your girls are so cute and that ice cream looks awesome! Maybe you could freeze some of those crraaaazy good vegan brownies and add that too…
You are the yin to my yang because I’ve used napkins as toilet paper.
I wish I had an ice-cream maker. This looks amazing. I don’t have an ice-cream maker though, or room in my kitchen cupboards for one.
Which makes me sad.
This looks amazing. I want to hire you to cook for me.
PS. Your girls are adorable.
I just found your blog and I can’t wait to try the vegan cheesecake and now this amazing ice cream. So excited to read your blog!
Leanne
Ahh looks SO good for a hot summer day!
If you have time, please take a look at my bloggy! I’m brand spanking new, and I mentioned your post about the Balance Bars since they are a FAVORITE of mine too. Thank you, oh and you’re an inspiration!
Oddly enough, I have all of those EXACT items, brand and all–including the ice cream maker. It’s fate. I need Cookies and Cream in my life.
This is awesome! I just snuck a bite of a teeny, $4 container of coconut bliss ice cream and loved it, but no doubt I can do it cheaper with my ice cream maker. Great idea! =) Love that agave.
Mama Pea, you are fantastic. I admire you so much. Your recipes, your diet, your story, your writing–all of it is seriously one of the most inspirational things i read. So for that, THANK YOU! Oh, and I hope i don’t sound like a freaky superfan. I’m harmless I swear! Just wanted to let you know
.
-Emilie
P.S. As a fellow Portlander, I hope you are armed and ready with popsicles and lemonade for the day they’re forecasting tomorrow!
Emilie, I am so flattered. Thank you so much. I can’t tell you how much it means to me to have readers like you tell me that somehow my crazy life means something to them. We are actually headed to Portland tomorrow to meet up with friends for lunch. The A/C will be crankin’! Thanks again for your sweet words. -MP
You are too sweet. I love this post.
And some vegetable oil will take the tattoo off easily. But I think it’s adorable how it’s a recycle sign! Cutest tattoo ever!
XO,
Erin
You are such an amazing mother; I absolutely love reading your posts and this one is just too cute! I love the ice cream and beautiful pics of your girls. So glad you had a fabulous 4th of July!
Best,
Amie
What a beautiful, inspirational post. I truly wish all children had mothers that cared as much for their futures as you do for your girls! I have a feeling that they already know that their mom will always be there
Adorable pictures too, by the way. Thanks for making me smile today!
I love it. Gige is soooooo rockin’ the recycle tat. So much better suited to her nature than the biohazard symbol, which I see on a lot of young ladies down here (um? I don’t get it either.).
Not that we’re making any suggestions, of course, but she would look great with a tiny bluebird somewhere on her bicep. She can tough up and say she got it at preschool…. picture the tiny muscle shirt with the rolled-up sleeves…lol…!
Oh, and Lu and Gigi’s parlor should be called “Sundae Sisters”. I would be in there all summer long with the hubby splittin’ a two-spooner, hold the HFCS (color me impressed at her knowledge base! Should not be surprising at all…)