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Tuesday, May 31, 2011

Lemon Lime Gelato


My family and I continually count our blessings that we live in the neighborhood we do. With the summer sunshine bringing us all out of our houses, spontaneous gatherings and wine with friends on the porch is always a treat.  Greg, my neighbor across the street, has positively spoiled us all with his new found love of gelato.  Luckily he's found the need to experiment, and we are all happy taste testers to his dazzling frozen creations.

Yesterday's cheesecake post highlighting our recent foodie event, a Progressive Dinner Party, has me thankful once again for our neighborhood.  Not only was I surrounded by close friends, but fantastic food filled our tables.  With our dinner party theme of "summer travels" I was treated to the tastes of Spain and France for appetizers, the Caribbean and local San Diego goodness for the main course, and Greg's brilliant Italian Lemon Lime Gelato for dessert.

Greg has kindly offered to share his foray into the world of Gelato with us all as a Guest Poster here on Liv Life.  Our fingers are crossed that he will return soon with a new flavor... I've heard through the grapevine that he has a bag of Blood Oranges waiting for treatment!  Without further ado, I give you Greg...   

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You know you're approaching citrus groves long before you arrive at the  hardscrabble hillsides of Italy's Amalfi Coast.  Just follow your nose!  Springtime, the fragrant lemon blossoms announce the orchard kilometers before you see their delicate white flowers.  And as the summer takes hold, plump yellow fruit hangs from every branch, clustered against an unspeakably green canopy of leaves.  You have arrived at the renowned orchards that feed the world's appetite for Limoncello.  The lemons are bright and heavy.  And, oh yes, incredibly delicious.


Italian Geletaria - Florence, Italy
A year ago I traveled through Italy and fell in love with the country, its people, and most importantly, its food!  Textures, subtleties, flavor and color... all of the wonderful and delicious nuances of Italian cuisine transformed my visit into a journey of discovery.  And one passion I couldn't shake, even when I'd been Stateside for months, was my newfound love for gelato.

Cold, light, bursting with flavor.  Not the heavy notes of ice cream.  Not the icy smoothness of sherbet.  No, gelato has a life of its own.  Barely below the freezing point and lighter than other frozen confections, gelato is the Prince of Desserts.  The perfect complement to cake, cookies, and anything else you want to class up with a frozen treat.  Or simply pile it high in an icy bowl and have at it!

And my favorite recipe is a challenge to any palette looking for a citrus bouquet with a crisp, tart finish.   My Lemon Lime Gelato combines a chorus of sweet icy delight with the honest simplicity of this citric pairing.  Expect "Bold" and enjoy the tracings of zest and fresh juices that give this gelato its character!



Lemon Lime Gelato
Makes About 4 Quarts


Printer Friendly Recipe

12 Lemons, Zested
12 - 18 Medium Limes, Zested
2 1/4 cups fresh lemon juice
2 1/4 cups fresh lime juice
6 Tbsp. of Lemon Zest
6 Tbsp. of Lime Zest
4 cups of water
6 to 8 cups of Granulated Sugar (Suit to Your Tangy Preference)
6 cups of heavy cream


Directions:
In a large saucepan, combine 5 Tbsp. of Lemon zest, 5 Tbsp. of Lime zest, the lemon and lime juice, sugar and the water.  Bring to a boil, stirring occasionally.  Allow to simmer for about 4 minutes until the sugar dissolves.  Strain and set aside to cool.


Mix the citrus syrup with the heavy cream.


Transfer into an ice-cream maker and follow manufacturer's directions.  As the mixture begins to firm up, add 1 Tablespoon of Lemon zest and 1 Tablespoon of Lime zest.  Continue churning until the ice cream maker labors.


Turn into medium Tupperware bowls with lids and freeze at least 24 hours.


Enjoy!
          -- Greg Dowell, Carlsbad, CA


50 comments:

  1. I'm a fan of home made ice-cream too - especially in summer. This gelato recipe definitely sounds like something to try. You can almost savor that zesty taste reading through the recipe. What a great neighbor to have.

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  2. Please don't make me break out into Italian just how much I love this gelato. I made cake batter ice cream per the girls request, this would have been mine. Way to work it out Greg, 6 cups of heavy cream, yes.
    Wish I was one of your neighbors.
    -GIna-

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  3. I have been in an ice cream mode recently too. I would definitely forget about calories for some of this wonderful gelato. Lemon-lime sounds like a wonderful flavor for this time of year. Greg, thanks for sharing.

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  4. Wonderful guest post! My gelato attempts taste nothing like what I sampled (well, did more than sampled :)) in Italy! Can't wait to try this...sounds fantastic~

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  5. This post brings me back to my time on the Amalfi Coast. Lemons and lemon-flavored treats were everywhere. I can't count the number of times I indulged in gelatos but then again, we're not supposed to count such things on vacation, right? :-)

    This recipe looks like a winner--can't wait to try. :-)

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  6. This looks great! I may need to make my first gelato attempt this recipe!

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  7. This is killing me! I can just taste the tartness! YUM!! Oh I want a big serving right now!! ♥- Katrina

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  8. Glorious! I can imagine my cheeks puckering at the tart yumminess. Gelato is so delicious

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  9. I need to move into your 'hood!
    This gelato must be crazy delicious!

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  10. wow, this is perfect for summer especially here in manila where it's super hot and humid these times! just that we only have variegated lemons. i wish they would taste as fine. this gelato is making me drool. thanks to greg for sharing :)

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  11. delicious done Kim this looks wonderful

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  12. i think i need to invest in an ice cream maker! this is fantastic!

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  13. Whoa - this sounds fabulous! I absolutely would love this recipe! You can be sure I will be making this very soon... Thanks for sharing, Greg & Kim... :)

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  14. I really need to pay a visit down to you guys, Kim! Maybe I can come down after school's ALL OVER. Twenty four hours from now I'll be completely done with my undergraduate schooling. AHHHH! Now, back to this paper.

    Oh, the gelato is absolutely amazing. The pics are gorgeous and remind me of my days in Italy. Thank you very much for sharing, Greg!

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  15. Oh gelato! I fell in love with it last summer in Savannah - a couple of the little shops by the river served it and we thought we'd give it a go! And boy, are we glad we did. Now I think I need to start making it myself so I can check it off the list, too!

    Great guest post - it's always nice to have neighbors that love sweet treats =)

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  16. Decadent and crisp at the same time! The perfect summer dessert!

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  17. I love gelato much more than I like ice cream. I always have. I love your flavor! It is so refreshing and summery!

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  18. Love it!!! I loove ice cream!! And the way they present it in the gelateria is incredible! Here in Spain they do the same, it's stunning, i love it.

    hugs!

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  19. Great guest post! I'm wishing I were at that gelateria in Florence right now, all those flavors! I love gelato so much more than ice cream, its so smooth!

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  20. This is creamy dreamy heaven! I'm going to try making my own gelato soon and this just may be the recipe.

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  21. What a great guest post! Sadly I have never had gelato before. I really want to try it, but the opportunity never really presents itself. Maybe I just need to make it myself! Thanks!

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  22. Citrus (double citrus) flavor! I'm keeping this recipe for the day when we buy my first ice cream maker! ;-)

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  23. This gelato sounds simply amazing. Also it sounds like you have a great neighborhood - love the idea of the progressive dinner. How fun!!

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  24. I have been craving for some good homemade ice..and this looks so creamy, and cool and with crunchy waffles!

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  25. This gelato looks so refreshing and delicious. Reading your post makes me want to go back to Italy. Congrats on making the Top 9 today.

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  26. I too got obsessed with gelato when I travelled to Italy - I am not ashamed to admit I ate it every day, and sometimes twice a day! ;) This recipe looks incredible, and would make enough gelato for your whole neighborhood! Great guest post, and congrats on top 9 today. :D

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  27. I can attest to the fact that this is the BEST gelato ever!!! When I went to the container to take "just one bite" it inevitably turned into 4 or 5... or 10... or 20... bites. So good!!

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  28. I love this recipe, so full of lemon/lime zest and juice! It also remind me of my trip to Rome a few years ago, so wonderful. Thank you!

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  29. Gelato is one of my new found favorite desserts and this recipe looks fantastic! I want to live in your neighborhood :)

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  30. This gelato recipe looks so delicious. I wonder if it would taste like a frozen mojito if I added a bit of mint? Well, maybe after I make it as you instruct first. thanks!

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  31. I love a light fruit gelato for the summer. i have never made this flavor, but I would like to give it a trty!

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  32. yum. you make a pretty mean ice cream yourself, kim!

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  33. Now that is my kind of frozen treat! I love the zing of citrus on a hot day.

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  34. Oh my does this gelato look AMAZING! :) Love it!

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  35. When I get the ice cream machine, I got to make this. Your gelato looks perfect and very tempting.

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  36. what a perfect summertime dessert, it must have been so refreshing!
    I do need to get an ice cream maker, I love gelato!

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  37. I love this recipe, it sounds so flavorful with all the lemon and lime juice and zest. I'm going to Italy and a scoop of Gelato everyday is on my to do list;-)

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  38. This gelato looks so lovely, refreshing and creamy. Spectacular write-up - I've wanted to visit Italy for some time now, and your post just accelerated that desire Also, may I have ssome chocolate-raspberry cheesecake? Your blog is simply amazing!

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  39. i love gelato!! how amazing is this!

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  40. I love gelato. Amazing! Great post. Thanks so much for sharing!

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  41. I've gotta break out my ice cream maker! Delish

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  42. Oh wow!!! I love gelato!! And this lemon lime gelato looks and sounds amazing. This is just more incentive for me to invest in an ice cream maker. Thanks for the wonderful post!

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  43. Lovely, lovely guest post. I am definitely going to break out the icecream maker for this one.

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  44. Gelato became one of my favorite things when I traveled to Rome last summer. Your lemon / lime version sends so fresh and tangy!

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  45. YUm love citrus flavors as deserts. Especially for ice cream- always so refreshing on a hot day.

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  46. We tried tis gelato yesterday after having a Mexican potluck with friends. It was a perfect ending to a wonderful meal. This is a great recipe!!!!

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  47. My husband and I had Greg (the Master of this gelato) over for a summer barbeque yesterday...and OH MY! Greg - I am still dreaming about that gelato. It was delicious!!! Thank you for sharing it with Jason and I...we love your company, your laughter and love of life, and now...your Lemon Lime Gelato!

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  48. I may be late to the party, but there was no way I was going to let this post go by. Oh my goodness, that looks amazing. I want to move to your neighborhood! Bookmarked and ready to make! Thanks for sharing your neighbor, Kim.

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