Ice cream is on my desert island foods list. I could eat ice cream every day, and there were times in my life I did. For nine months, I ate ice cream every day. For those with a similar addiction looking for some healthy, homemade alternatives, here are some “ice cream” recipes from around the web made with other, better things than cream.

clockwise:

Avocados? Yep. Make chocolate avocado ice cream at Half Baked Harvest.

Peanut butter and yogurt! At Chocolate Covered Katie.

Mmm, make strawberry banana “ice cream” at Milk and Cereal.

I’ve made this before. It’s good. Banana ice cream at the kitchn.

Wow, ice cream from cashews, dates and cacao powder, at Oh, Ladycakes.

I don’t know about you, but my summer is anything but lazy. In fact, it means having kids around ALL the time while trying to work, keep house, and sleep. There is little leisure time for me until Fall. So I appreciate, as always, shortcuts. Here are 6 ideas for making cute treats for the 4th of July using store-bought candy.

Make a licorice flag at Sweet Simple Stuff.

Make S’mores Grahamwiches at Miss Candiquik.

Make flag Rice Krispies Treats at ClassBrain.

Make marshmallow pop flags at Kitchen Fun with My 3 Sons.

Make stars and stripes Oreos at The Partiologist.

Make smoke balls from Lindt truffles at Party Pinching.

Candy-making is a tricky thing. It involves a thermometer, which suggests precision is necessary. Not “suggests,” precision IS necessary. I’m not precise. So I very much appreciate shortcut candymaking. All of these lollipops need no thermometer to make, leave no impossible-to-clean-sticky mess on pans, and they are easy even to do with the kids.

I made these striped lollies from Jolly Ranchers, yikes, four years ago! and they were a huge hit, HERE at the decorated cookie.

Here’s another idea from Jolly Ranchers, and an updated version out of LifeSavers.

This is incredible. A huge lollipop from candy canes, at Doodle Craft.

Make smart candy from Airheads at Studio DIY.

Recycle broken candy at Oh My! Handmade Goodness.

These are actually made by my daughter. I use this method a lot with her and her friends. Find them HERE, and use any color candy melts.

The same concept, with chocolate (I’ve done this a lot, too, so yummy and easy), HERE at Home Made Simple.

I’m not a master mixologist. I can mix two things, like a gin and tonic. Or a mimosa. And I may or may not have made some cosmopolitans in the past, so that added an ingredient or two. But I leave the drink crafting to the experts. Usually. I tried my hand at a couple for the 4th of July, but not to fret, fellow mixology novices. The drinks I concocted are easy. Almost too easy. Make Pop Rocks shooters HERE at Celebrations. And make lemonade blue (with or without liquor) HERE at Celebrations.