Since Rita's arrival in Manhattan's Upper West Side, I no longer have to travel to the Jersey Shore to get delicious Italian ice. My first Rita's experience was their tangerine flavored ice paired with their decadent vanilla custard. The combination tasted exactly like an orange creamsicle! My version is just as refreshing and creamy, but it's a healthier option with all of the vitamin C from the fresh citrus fruit. I recommend using mandarin oranges for this recipe because they are very sweet, juicy and they have few pits. Enjoy this colorful and luscious treat right at home!

Orange Creamsicle Refresherʉ۬
Makes 6
11/2 cups fat free half-and-half

5 sweet mandarins, fresh
1 12-ounce bottle of no pulp, low sugar orange juice
1 tablespoon honey
1 14-ounce can of low fat whipped cream

Peel the mandarin oranges. Separate and freeze the orange segments.

Pour the bottle of orange juice into a bowl and freeze until slushy.

In a blender, combine the half-and-half, honey, frozen mandarin segments, and orange slush. Blend for about 1 to 2 minutes, until thoroughly combined.
Turn your ice cream maker on and pour the mixture into the freezer bowl, and let mix until thickened, about 12 to 20 minutes, depending on the thickness preferred. If you don't have an ice cream maker, just put the blended mixture in the freezer.

Transfer to tall, chilled glasses. Layer in the orange ice and whipped cream.

Tip for softer creamsicles: Before freezing in the ice cream machine or freezer, try mixing in 1 tablespoon of plain vodka.
Tip for the honey: When measuring the honey, dip the spoon in hot water first. It makes it easier to get all the honey into the blender.

For more from Elyse Eisenberg check out CreativeDelites.com.