Hot summer days usually make most of us crave something very cold and refreshing. Ice cream, sherbet, sorbet, and other frozen desserts are always in demand, and are perfect to serve at family gatherings, in cones, or as an easy dessert. The ice cream machines that are on the market today are inexpensive, and make it possible for you to create your own frozen dessert in about 20 minutes; no salt, ice, or hand cranking necessary. The insert to the machine is simply put in the freezer – it contains what is necessary inside, so all you have to do is pour in the ingredients, place the dasher inside and the lid on top, and turn it on. Nothing could be easier, and homemade is always best, not to mention that you can add the ingredients that you like the best.

Fresh berries are always available in summer, and the following Orange Berry Sherbet is luscious and not-too-sweet. You can use any fresh berries you happen to have around, or you can substitute fresh peeled peaches; a combination of fruits is ideal. Sherbet is similar to ice cream, but it is generally lower in fat, since milk or buttermilk is used rather than cream or half and half. Usually sherbet comes in fruit flavors, and the addition of real fruit makes for a very refreshing finished product. You can experiment with different fruits to find what you and your family or friends like best. Orange Berry Sherbet is actually "Bikini Friendly," and only contains one gram of fat and minimal calories for what tastes like a very rich dessert.

8 Servings

2 cups buttermilk
1/2 cup frozen orange juice concentrate
1/2 cup sugar
2 tablespoons honey
1/4 teaspoon cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon freshly grated nutmeg

3 cups fresh berries, blueberries, strawberries, raspberries, blackberries, or a mix

1. Whisk together the buttermilk, orange juice concentrate, sugar, and honey; pour into an automatic ice cream machine and start.
2. Pulse the berries in the food processor and when the mixture starts to thicken, add them and let the machine run until the mixture is soft-frozen.
3. Remove from the machine and transfer to an airtight container.
4. Place in the freezer until ready to serve.

Amount Per Serving
Calories 141 Calories from Fat 7
Percent Total Calories From: Fat 5% Protein 8% Carb. 87%

Nutrient Amount per Serving
Total Fat 1 g
Saturated Fat 0 g
Cholesterol 2 mg
Sodium 66 mg
Total Carbohydrate 31 g
Dietary Fiber 0 g
Sugars 13 g
Protein 3 g

Vitamin A 2% Vitamin C 95% Calcium 0% Iron 2%