As the name of my blog indicates, I spend a lot of time thinking about home. Of course, my Heavenly Home is the one that is eternal, so that’s where I need to lay up my treasures, and that’s the one I’m striving for. But in the meantime, I have been given this tiny piece of the here-and-now—this home on the edge of town, this family, this neighborhood—in which to serve Him. And, though this is in the earthly realm, I want the things that happen here to be investments in the Heavenly realm.




Thursday, May 31, 2018

A Half Gallon of Ice Cream Twenty-Five Years in the Making




It was one of those "antique" stores that looked more like a depository for junk. Old rusted signs all over the outside, "stuff" spilling out of the doors and all along the walkway, and it didn't say "Come on in." To me, that is. To Ron, it beckoned. He insists that these kinds of stores are full of hidden treasures. And in this store, he found this little half-gallon ice cream freezer. 

That was about twenty-five years ago.



Last weekend Ron decided that we needed to try it out.


So we put in this and that, and we cooked and stirred and Ron churned our inaugural batch! 


Strawberry ice cream was on the menu. Yum!

I sort of used Pioneer Woman's recipe for Vanilla Bean Ice Cream. Except I am out of vanilla beans so I used vanilla extract. And I halved the recipe. And I added some mashed, lightly sugared strawberries. But it was kind of the same thing. 



Can you tell how small this freezer is? (Can you tell how pleased Ron is? He is all about homemade ice cream!) 



Smooth and creamy and refreshing on a humid Sunday afternoon. 



I opened up my package of strawberry napkins from Target's Dollar Spot and we had a little party. Just the four of us. 

A party that was twenty-five years in the making. 




STRAWBERRY ICE CREAM
makes one half-gallon*

Ingredients:
1½ cups half-and-half
1 cup sugar
4 egg yolks
1½ cups heavy whipping cream
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 cup sliced, lightly sugared strawberries, mashed


Directions:
In a heavy-bottomed sauce pan, heat half-and-half and sugar over medium heat, turning off when fully heated.

In stand mixer, beat egg yolks until pale yellow and slightly thick.

Temper egg yolks by slowly pouring some of the hot half-and-half mixture into the eggs while the mixer is running. Then pour the egg yolks into the saucepan of half-and-half mixture.
Cook on medium low heat, stirring constantly, until mixture is very thick and custardy.

Pour hot custardy mix into the can of the ice cream freezer.
Add heavy whipping cream and vanilla.
Add mashed strawberries. (These were already capped, sliced, lightly sugared and allowed to macerate in the fridge.)

Place dasher in the can; attach lid.

Surround the can with crushed ice and rock salt; crank until firm!
(Or follow the manufacturer's instructions for your electric freezer.)




(It would have been prettier with a few more strawberries on top, but we didn't wait for that! It was a hot day and we were trying to eat it before it melted!)

*Double ingredients for a one gallon ice cream freezer.


24 comments:

  1. What took you so long? I've had homemade ice cream only once but boy was it good! I know you must have enjoyed yours.

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    1. I know, right?!

      We make homemade ice cream several times each summer, but we usually use our 1 1/2 gallon freezer because we're typically feeding a crowd. But really, I'm not sure what took us so long to get around to trying the small freezer! We did enjoy it!

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  2. 🍓Delightful! Will he use it again?

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    Replies
    1. He will definitely use it again! He mentioned using the small freezer to make an "extra" flavor when we have an ice cream party. (You know, to supplement our 1 1/2 gallon that we make and the 1 gallon that my brother-in-law usually makes?! You can't have too much ice cream? 😁)

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    2. HaHa! That was my dad, we sometimes had multiple choices also. Homemade is SO much creamier!

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    3. Haha! Another big ice cream lover, huh?!

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    4. For me now, it's Breyer's Mint Chocolate Chip!

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  3. Oh yum! How perfect with the yummy local strawberries available!

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    1. Yes! You can't go wrong with fresh strawberries!

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  4. It sounds very 'pioneer', and very delightful too!

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  5. My, I have never seen such a small one! I grew up with homemade ice cream, one of my most favorite memories. Ours was also of the crank persuasion also but did get an electric one later...they were also gallon sized. There is nothing like homemade ice cream and your recipe looks delish!

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    1. It looks like a miniature when you're used to looking at a gallon-and-a-half size freezer! Both are crank-style. Part of the experience, I guess. Usually Ron has helpers . . . our son-in-law, our son, a host of grands . . . so he doesn't mind cranking. Homemade ice cream is a great incentive!

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  6. I'd say it was time to try out that old beauty! There is nothing better than homemade ice cream on a warm day! Good find, Ron. Love your pretty ice cream dishes. This reminds me to put our electric insert in the freezer. ♥

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    Replies
    1. I think it was a good time! Why wait another 25 years? :)

      The ice cream dishes are from the Pioneer Woman line at Walmart.

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  7. A hidden treasure! What a treat for a hot summer day. Yum!!

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  8. We had a small freezer that size except it didn't need ice, You refroze the container. We ended up passing it on to the kids. We hope they realize the fun and yum of making ice cream!

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    1. I hope they try it . . . maybe sooner than 25 years!

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  9. There is nothing like homemade ice cream. Your post takes me back to being a young girl in CA when our church would have ice cream socials. Peach, strawberry, vanilla, and maybe more flavors. Men standing around talking while cranking the handles. The anticipation of that first bite, and the imminent 'brain freeze' if you weren't careful.

    Thanks for jogging these pleasant memories ~ FlowerLady

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    Replies
    1. Awwww . . . thanks for sharing those sweet memories with me, Lorraine!

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  10. Well I enjoyed everything about this post. The smile on Ron's face is contagious. You really captured his delight and it makes me smile. Happy June to you.

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    Replies
    1. He was a happy boy! :)

      Happy June (already!) to you too!

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  11. HOmemade ice cream is so so so good!!! We have made a few flavors ,but i think the coffee one was the best...so far!!! I love adapting recipes (good ones) to make them fit our fam. PW food is ALWAYS delicious!!!! What a sweet joy to make and enjoy together this beautiful yummy simple pleasure. Well done <3 ~tammy

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