On the Today Show this morning, Martha Stewart was making ice cream. I love to make ice cream with my kids. It is so easy; takes about ½ hour and you choose the ingredients and flavors. One of my kid’s favorites is the plain old vanilla but I make it with honey not sugar. I don’t make the custard, just put in 2 cups milk, 2 cups cream, 2 tsp vanilla, 1 cup honey and a pinch of salt and toss it in the ice cream maker for 25 minutes. If you want, add chips, berries or other mix-ins and freeze for 5 minutes more…done. Maybe not as rich and thick as Martha’s but super quick and easy and still tasty.

Recently one of my children was diagnosed allergic to milk…not lactose intolerant, but allergic to milk and all milk products. Bummer, he LOVES ice cream. So I came up with a recipe for a great strawberry ice cream that is dairy free. I know what you are thinking, how gross is that…ice cream without cream…what kind of CRAP JUNK does she put in there?

Well no junk, no cooking and no complaints! Since strawberries are still in season it is a great time to make it. You could make it with any fruit or berry, but my kids love strawberries:
• 3 pints of strawberries
• Juice form 1 lemons
• 3/4 cups raw honey
• 2 cups (about 1 can) unsweetened first press coconut milk
• 1 tsp pure vanilla extract

Put all ingredients in a blender and let it blend to a creamy consistency. At this point you can put it into an ice cream maker and have your way with it. OR…you can put it into ice pop molds, cups with sticks or any other convenient container and freeze over night or until hardened. It makes the yummiest frozen treat. I have a confession to make, my kids hate…I MEAN HATE coconut and yet not one of the four complained about this treat, they thought it was great.

Another great tip for frozen treats…you know how when you make your kids smoothies there is always a bit leftover? Not enough to save and too much to throw away? Well get yourself some frozen popsicle molds and pour a bit of the smoothie on the bottom of each. The next time you have some smoothie left, add it to the mold. Before long you will have full popsicle molds of layered delicious fruit smoothies.

Do you have a great recipe for ice cream or other frozen treat? I need some new ones.

Beth Ann Bentley is the founder and publisher of iLunchBox.com. Inspiration and information for your family's healthy lunches on the go.