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My Father and the Oxen …and Blueberry-Maple Ice Cream

Wholesome, truly natural ingredients, sweetened only with blueberries and pure maple syrup, this easy Blueberry-Maple Ice Cream is dreamy, berry heaven. This recipe was inspired by a recent trip I made to Maine, but this post is really about much more than that …and I hope you enjoy the photos.

Blueberry-Maple Ice Cream from EricasRecipes.com

My Father and the Oxen ...and Blueberry-Maple Ice Cream from EricasRecipes.com

So. ..this post. This here, is a bit of catharsis. Because seeing your parents age is an incredibly difficult thing. I live away from both of mine, and time goes by. Because time is a bitch like that. So when I do see them, it always shocks a bit. This Labor Day, I visited my dad in Maine and having not seen him in like four years, this one shocked quite a bit.

After a distinguished career (of which, I am ridiculously proud), my father retired with my stepmom to Maine. Seven acres in the woods, near the rugged coast. With bugs and bears and lots of winter cold. But also lush woods and summer flowers, wild apples and bright early morning sunshine. Where they live is peaceful and static, and utterly different from the congested insanity of my usual.

Being a blogger, of course I want to share my trip. Looking through the pictures, I laugh now that there are actually no photos of food because this is sooo not like me. I had lobster several times even. ..but no food pics. Instead, I seemed to shoot everything else.

My Father and the Oxen ...and Blueberry-Maple Ice Cream from EricasRecipes.com

My Father and the Oxen ...and Blueberry-Maple Ice Cream from EricasRecipes.com

My Father and the Oxen ...and Blueberry-Maple Ice Cream from EricasRecipes.com

My Father and the Oxen ...and Blueberry-Maple Ice Cream from EricasRecipes.com

My Father and the Oxen ...and Blueberry-Maple Ice Cream from EricasRecipes.com

So, one day there, we ventured out to find something for the backyard to mark the location of the access panels to my dad’s septic tank …so they could be found under multiple feet of winter snow. Yes, this happened …and in remote Maine, this is exciting stuff.

A lighthouse? A wishing well? …umm, how about a replica​ 16th century​ knight! Yasss. This “Guardian of the Septic Tank” went home with us, and I will chuckle about it forever.

My Father and the Oxen ...and Blueberry-Maple Ice Cream from EricasRecipes.com

Another day, we were off to a country fair, complete with carny food and livestock. Oxen pulls. Sheep dog competition. Big eyes, fluffy ears, and feathers everywhere. Goat-milk soaps, quilts and crafts, and those sugary-but-awesome maple candies. And homemade blueberry ice cream.

I was in heaven.

My Father and the Oxen ...and Blueberry-Maple Ice Cream from EricasRecipes.com

My Father and the Oxen ...and Blueberry-Maple Ice Cream from EricasRecipes.com

My Father and the Oxen ...and Blueberry-Maple Ice Cream from EricasRecipes.com

My Father and the Oxen ...and Blueberry-Maple Ice Cream from EricasRecipes.com

My Father and the Oxen ...and Blueberry-Maple Ice Cream from EricasRecipes.com

My Father and the Oxen ...and Blueberry-Maple Ice Cream from EricasRecipes.com

But it was hot. And the sun was strong. And it was really hard on my dad.

Life is far too short a thing, isn’t it? One minute you’re in your teens, wanting to fast forward. Then you blink and you’re in your 40s. And everything is different. …but, then again, not really different because your life is still a pendulum swinging between highs and lows. …and now I will blink again and be 70 myself …I know all the choices and memories and experiences shape us into who we are. I just wish there weren’t so damn many of them. Because mine have pulled me further and further from my family for 25 years. And that, I regret. Especially when I see what I am missing.

My Father and the Oxen ...and Blueberry-Maple Ice Cream from EricasRecipes.com

I have always had a special fondness for my dad not just because he is my dad but because he is an older version of me and I am a younger version of him. …He does not know this, but when I was a teenager visiting him, I found an old diary of his. And at circa 16 years old, I read what my father wrote about me when I was only a couple years old. He saw himself in me. And it concerned him. I didn’t get it at the time. But I get it now. And I am where I am in my life because of it. And I want my father to know that it is all​ good. We can’t live in the past or overly obsess on past decisions or regrets. Because that is never going to change a damn thing. We can only embrace and be thankful for every​ day, and let God be in control. Because regardless of the good, bad, or ugly we create, God will make better come from it, rewarding the effort as long as we seek Him. And the result? Gratitude. Absolute gratitude. For my life and my family.

This apple didn’t fall too far from her tree. And that is totally okay. Because her tree is her hero.

Love you Dad

{At the Blue Hill Fair, my stepmom and I split a bowl of blueberry ice cream that was heaven. …this is not that recipe. This is a mapled-up version, made up by me with a ton of love. It is easy, with no custard to cook and sweetened only with beautiful blueberries and natural maple syrup. And it is delicious. Like OMGsh soooooo good. …And it is totally reminiscent of a beautiful summer day, a blueberry ice cream booth at the fair, and the maple candy stand next door.}

Blueberry-Maple Ice Cream from EricasRecipes.com

Blueberry-Maple Ice Cream from EricasRecipes.com

Blueberry-Maple Ice Cream from EricasRecipes.com

Blueberry-Maple Ice Cream from EricasRecipes.com

Blueberry-Maple Ice Cream

Wholesome, truly natural ingredients, sweetened only with blueberries and pure maple syrup, this easy Blueberry-Maple Ice Cream is dreamy, berry heaven.
5 from 1 vote
Print Pin Rate
Course: Dessert
Cuisine: blueberries, ice cream
Prep Time: 2 hours 15 minutes
Cook Time: 5 minutes
Total Time: 2 hours 20 minutes
Authur: Erica

Ingredients

  • 1 cup heavy cream
  • 2 cups half-and-half
  • ½ cup pure maple syrup divided
  • 2 eggs lightly beaten
  • pinch kosher salt
  • ¼ tsp fresh grated nutmeg divided
  • 8 oz fresh blueberries

Instructions

  • In a mixing bowl, whisk together the cream, half-and-half, 1/4 cup maple syrup, eggs, salt, and 1/8 tsp nutmeg. Add to the ice cream maker and process according to manufacturer's instructions. Transfer to a plastic container for freezing, and freeze until almost set.
  • While ice cream is setting, make the blueberry-maple syrup. In a medium saucepan, heat the blueberries, remaining 1/4 cup maple syrup, and 1/8 tsp nutmeg until bubbly. Simmer ~5 minutes until the berries burst, and the mixture gets syrupy with a deep rich color. Remove from the heat and cool completely. Once cool, put in the fridge to chill further.
  • After the ice cream has chilled in the freezer an hour or so and starts to set, stir in the fully cooled and chilled blueberry-maple syrup. Return to the freezer to finish freezing. Yields: a yummy box full of heaven.

Notes

Use fresh local, organic dairy and eggs if feasible. Also, if you are concerned over raw egg in ice cream, don't be. With the freezing cold, the bacteria won't grow. And by using eggs from free-range chickens if available, there is less chance that there is even potentially harmful bacteria there in the first place.
Also, the blueberry-maple syrup, by itself, is ridiculously good. Waffles, shortcake, pancakes - so much potential!

My Father and the Oxen ...and Blueberry-Maple Ice Cream from EricasRecipes.com

My Father and the Oxen ...and Blueberry-Maple Ice Cream from EricasRecipes.com

My Father and the Oxen ...and Blueberry-Maple Ice Cream from EricasRecipes.com

My Father and the Oxen ...and Blueberry-Maple Ice Cream from EricasRecipes.com

My Father and the Oxen ...and Blueberry-Maple Ice Cream from EricasRecipes.com

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