Appropriate age group:
Preschool and Younger
Elementary School
Middle School
High School & Beyond

Type of weather:
Sunny

Description:
This is the "coffee can(s)" version of making ice cream.

You'll need one can that's near 3 lb. size, and another coffee can that's small enough to fit inside that, yet large enough to hold the volume of ingredients in the recipe to follow. The cans should be clean, and the lids must fit securely!

You will need a good quantity of ice cubes, and Salt.
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In the smaller can, combine first 4 ingredients:

1 c. milk

1 c. whipping cream

1/2 c. frozen unsweetened apple juice concentrate (thawed)

1 tsp. vanilla

*1 c. fresh or frozen strawberries, chopped/mashed
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Put the lid on securely. Place the small can inside the larger can; fill the space between 'em with ice, and cover the ice with salt (suggest about 1/2 c.).
Put the large lid on. Place the can on the floor (or outer deck!!!) Roll the can back n' forth for 10-12 min.

Open up both of the cans and stir/scrape down the insides of the smaller can. Add strawberries, and place the small lid back on. Pour/strain excess water out of the larger can; add more ice, and more salt. Replace the larger lid, and continue rolling the can for at least 5-7 min. more. (Check n' scrape the can again; decide whether or not to continue to rock n' roll the can.)

You may enjoy this right away, or place it in the freezer to firm up/save for later.

Other comments or suggestions:
We made the error of trying to substitute a plastic peanut butter jar for the small coffee can. (We aren't coffee drinkers ;-) I don't think the plastic jar chills nearly the same...and there was only room for about 1/2 the crushed strawberries, so we added the rest later.

My daughter (13) helped me make this. The finished product had a milkshake-like consistency, and she was happy with that. I was unsure whether the apple juice concentrate would sweeten it sufficiently, but it did!

Gloves are helpful in rolling the can...or a pair of clean socks worn like mittens, if the gloves are packed away.

It might be way more fun if kids take turns rolling the can back n' forth between them. Some rowdy Music might make it more fun, too...and some Shade would be helpful.

The can doesn't have to roll fast n' hard. Smooth and steady will do fine.

This would be similar to the hand-cranked ice cream my grandparents enjoyed as children, as a rare summer treat. In fact, it's probably about as close as one can get to that Old-Fashioned experience today...because ice cream makers have been modernized with electric motors.

And that's not such a bad thing, either! It's still sooo fine to taste ice cream that isn't loaded with artificial flavors, texturizers...and Air. The motorized ice cream makers generally have recipe folders packed inside the box, and there are lots of ice cream recipes available via web search.

By the way, one hungry teenager can make quite a dent in the contents of this single recipe; it was listed as being "8 small servings". I'd say 3-4, if you are Quick to portion it out into small cups!!! Her brother was No Help at all in the making of it, so, the Little Red Hen said she would have it all herself, and she did ;-)

*Other fruits, mini chocolate chips or any number of other fine thangs might be substituted for the crushed strawberries, of course. I am thinkin' Peach...mmmmm....