Snow Ice Cream

This winter has been BRUTAL.

Living in Nebraska, we are used to snow, but this COLD?

It's good for nothing.

One thing about this winter, though, almost all of the snow, has missed us.

It goes North ... It goes South...

it goes around us.

Our kids have had "cold days" but no "Snow Days" until yesterday.

We finally got some snow, to at least make the cold worth while!

The kid were home, I was in the kitchen baking all day and then we made 

SNOW ICE CREAM!

This isn't the first time we have made snow ice cream, but this was the first time using this recipe.

I had heard others talk of snow ice cream with Sweetened Condensed Milk and I thought it was time to give it a whirl.

Here is the recipe for my OTHER Snow Ice Cream.

This one is really good, too!!

I got it from Paula Dean!

Snow Ice Cream

Paula Dean

8 cups snow

1 - 14 ounce can of sweetened condensed milk

1 teaspoon vanilla

Combine in a big bowl until smooth.

Serve with your favorite toppings!

Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough Ice Cream Cake

Happy 19th Birthday to my son, Spencer. 

How did THAT happen?

It seems like time ticks away, and all of those moments I asked myself "how did that happen already?" are strung together, and before I knew it he's 19 right before my eyes.

What I wouldn't do to go back to the days when I would get up to feed him in the middle of the night, turn on "Nick at Nite," tune into all of my old favorite shows like Laverne & Shirley, Happy Days, Mary Tyler Moore and Taxi.  We'd snuggle into the rocker with the light of the TV...and many nights I couldn't bare to put him back bed. His bottle would be long gone, he would be sound asleep and I would just watch the tv, cuddled up, and rocking back and forth.

Some nights, I would no more than put him back in his crib and an hour later it'd be time for the next feeding.

He was my first, and I was lucky to be able to nap when he did, or I am not sure how I would have made it?

I was young.

Now he's grown up, and going off to college.

He planned to stay and go to school here locally, and decided that wasn't the right decision for him.

So, we are moving him to the dorms in January, he tells me one of the things he will miss most is my cooking. 

aw.

I'm going to miss him like crazy.

He chose his normal birthday dinner this year, my Shrimp and Crab Pasta.

But his normal ice cream cake is either the 

Cookies and Cream Ice Cream Cake

or 

Mint Chip Brownie Ice Cream Cake

This year, we decided to switch it up.

Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough it was!

a slice of heaven

Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough Ice Cream Cake

18 ounce tube of Nestle Toll House Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough

1 jar Hershey's Hot Fudge Ice Cream Topping

2/3 cup Chocolate Chips

1 quart Edy's Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough Ice Cream, softened

Preheat oven to 350 degrees

Line the bottom of a 9" spring form pan with parchment paper.

Press 2/3 of the cookie dough into the bottom of pan and bake about 20-23 minutes, or until cookie is cooked.

Bake the rest as mini cookies.

Heat jar of hot fudge in microwave according to jar directions.

Pour over warm cookie, reserving about 1/4 cup.

Top fudge with softened ice cream, spread evenly.

Swirl the remaining hot fudge on top of ice cream.

Top wtih chocolate chips.

Press cookies into top.

Freeze for 24 hours before serving.

Homemade "Frosty Paws" - 'Ice Cream' for your dog

My dogs LOVE ice cream

Like, our boxer... he won't mooch when you're eating a steak, but he hears the CRACK of the lid coming off of the ice cream bucket and he's drooling on your foot.

Whenever I take him to the vet, we stop at Mickey D's for a cone.

Yes, he is spoiled.

When my friend, Candi, over at The Devilish Dish, made these for her pooch a month ago, I knew I would be making them for Sully, for his birthday!

Devilish Dish Blog

Devilish Dish Facebook Page

Gabby is Sully's sister, and don't let her size fool you, she rules the roost.

She attended the "party" and loved the frosty paws as much as Sully Did.

This is the direct link to The Devilish Dish Recipe, I changed mine up a bit for what I had on hand, as she states, you can make them how she did or switch it up.

I didn't have banana, but had baby food carrots in my pantry... even though my youngest are almost 11, yea, don't ask.

Homemade Frosty Paws - Ice Cream for your dog

32 ounces of plain yogurt

1 jar of baby food carrots (or baby food meat or one mashed banana)

2-3 Tablespoons of Honey

2-3 Tablespoons of Peanut Butter

Combine the ingredients until smooth. I made mine a little sweeter, because he's a "sweets dog"-- I used 3 T of peanut butter and honey.

Pour into muffin tins, or cupcake liners.  I used the silicone ones, per Candi's suggestion, and they were AWESOME!

Freeze and let the doggies enjoy!

Makes about 12.

Banana Split Malt

We had an ice cream shop when I was a kid that was called Goodrich Dairy.

It was where my Dad like to go for banana splits and  they made the best chocolate malts.

I had a follower share a recipe for a smoothie with me earlier this summer, and I turned it into a malt.

It tastes JUST like a banana split in a glass!

Banana Split Malt

1 banana

1 cup of milk

1 cup frozen cherries

2 cups vanilla ice cream (more if you want super thick!!)

whipped cream

chocolate syrup

marchino cherry

Blend the banana, milk, ice cream and cherries in your blender.

Pour into a tall glass, top with whipped cream, drizzle with chocolate syrup and top with a cherry.

**I have made this with the ice cream and whole milk for my kids, I have also lightened it up for me and the hubby.  Use Non-Fat frozen yogurt and skim milk to lighten it up! 

Grab a straw and enjoy!!

Homemade Drumsticks

One of my favorite ways to eat ice cream as a kid, and even now...who doesn't like drumsticks?

While we have been on our ice cream making frenzy this summer, I decided while making 

homemade Buster Bars

to make some homemade drumsticks!

They are super easy, and a real "no-brainer" actually!

homemade drumsticks

Here's all you need:

Homemade Drumsticks

vanilla ice cream (or alternate flavor...go crazy!)

sugar ice cream cones

hot fudge ice cream topping (or caramel)

mixed chopped nuts (or sprinkles)

6 ounces semi-sweet chocolate chips

1 1/2 Tablespoons vegetable oil

I stood my cones in short glasses inside of a 9x13 pan.

Place a dollop of hot fudge in the bottom of each cone.

Place chips and oil in a microwave and melt in 30 second intervals until smooth.

Pack ice cream into the cone and use an ice cream scoop to make a perfect ball shaped scoop on the top, pressing down tightly.

Dip top of cone in melted chocolate and dunk into nuts.

Stand back on end in glass.

 Place in freezer for a couple of hours.

Enjoy!

The sprinkle covered one is for my hubby.  He hates nuts!!

That's the best part of the store bought ones, he lets me eat the nuts topping off of his! ;)

This is a great project to do with your kids in the kitchen.

The options are endless!!

Notes: I bought everything I needed right next to the ice cream section in the store.  I love the mixed nuts in a can they have by all of the syrups.

So many flavor options!! 

Homemade Buster Bars

When I was a kid, we rarely went out to eat, but looking back on it now, that is what made the experience so much better.

I know this post is about ice cream, but I have to tell ya a quick little story about take out when I was a kid.

On the occasions my Mom didn't make dinner, which I mentioned were few and far between, we would go an pick up a pizza from a pizza place called Big Fred's Pizza.

It was the ONLY place we had pizza.

It was actually where my Dad took my Mom on their first date... can I get an "Awwww?"

Anyway.... I remember going to pick up the pizza with my Mom, and sitting in the front seat of our (GIANT) Ford LTD holding the warm pizza box on my lap.  There is something about the way that Big Fred's pizza smells, especially in that box.

My husband knows if our family plans to get pizza and he asks where I want to go...where I will pick!!

Goes to show you, that the sense of smell is one of the greatest, and can sure trigger memories, can't it?

Ok, enough about pizza! This post is about ice cream!

Once or twice a summer my parents would load my brother and I in the car and we would get to go to DQ for ice cream.

My parents ALWAYS got Buster Bars. 

 It wasn't until I was a little older and they talked me into it, that I got one,

I haven't ordered anything else from DQ since!

Ice cream, hot fudge, peanuts all dipped in chocolate.  yum.

I decided this summer we would make them at home.

The twins and I got our ingredients, and made them one night and dipped them the next.

Here's what you need:

Homemade Buster Bars

recipe adapted from Eat at Home

8 plastic small plastic cups

8 Popsicle sticks

1/2 gallon of vanilla ice cream or frozen yogurt

Spanish peanuts

1 jar of hot fudge

12 ounces of semi-sweet chocolate chips

3 Tablespoons of vegetable oil

Line your cups up, in the bottom spoon about 1/2 T of peanuts, then drizzle with about 1/2 T of hot fudge.

the one with no peanuts is for my hubby...he says he's allergic...he really just doesn't like them!

Place a scoop of ice cream over that, and press it down firmly.

Top that again with about 1 heaping T of hot fudge, smearing it on top of the ice cream, top with 1 T peanuts.

Next more ice cream, press it down, more hot fudge and peanuts.

Place a Popsicle stick in the middle of the cup, and place the cups in the freezer.

We froze ours for 24 hours.

in they go!

After they are good and frozen, you can begin the dipping process.

Pour your chocolate chips and oil in a microwave safe bowl.  Melt in 30 second intervals stirring in between until chocolate is smooth. Let it stand for just a minute, so it isn't super hot.

I used a taller sour cream bowl to dip mine in, it needs to be pretty tall in order to be able to dunk it all of the way in and get it on the bottom by the stick.

Lightly squeeze the outside of the cup to release the ice cream.

I had to run a butter knife around the outside to loosen it up. 

(I think I got a little carried away with the fudge!)

messy messy!!

Looking at this picture now, makes me laugh.  Hayden kept using his fingers in the chocolate drippings on the counter.  You can see right where he's been!

Dunk it into the chocolate, and hold up for a second, giving it a slow twirl to distribute chocolate and let the excess run off.

Place on a cookie sheet lined with waxed paper, and place back in the freezer.  We ate ours the next night, to make sure they were good and frozen!

Notes:

I made these using the ingredients that the original recipe's ingredients.

But she only put the hot fudge and peanuts in the middle of the two layers of ice cream.

In my recollection, there were nuts and fudge on the top and bottom, too?

(Maybe that's just my dreamland that looks something like Willy Wonka's chocolate factory river?)

But that is how we did it.  So...mine got to be a little taller than what the original recipe did, therefore I ran out of dipping chocolate.  I just made more, no harm no foul.

But if you want to make them like I did, and have them full of nuts and gooey hot fudge, I would suggest making 6 instead of 8.

Make sure to PACK the ice cream down firmly!! 

I only had one stick come loose when I was dipping, and I know that's why.  I bought the wide Popsicle sticks at our Hobby Lobby, they held well!

Enjoy...but be sure you have a napkin! ;)

Grape Nut Ice Cream

Every winter we travel somewhere warm with our friends Ted and Betsy.

I love vacationing with my kids, and we do that a couple of times through the year, but this vacation is one I look forward to because it really is relaxing!!

I don't cook, we drink fruity frozen drinks with umbrellas in them, and never care what time it is!!

We have been to Jamaica a couple of times, and this past January we went there again.

For dessert one night we had this ice cream, and we couldn't for the life of us figure out what was in it, but we all loved it!!

We asked one of the servers, and they said "Grape Nuts, Mon"

Margaritaville in Montego Bay

I knew I ad to try to make it this summer!!

This past weekend, I did!!

and IT WAS!!

It won't keep me from visiting Jamaica again, but it sure was nice to get a taste of it throughout year!

Grape Nut Ice Cream

epicurious.com

6 large egg yolks

2/3 cup sugar

3 cups cream

1 cup grape nut cereal

1 1/2 teaspoon vanilla

In a metal bowl whip egg yolks and sugar until fluffy.

In a metal bowl over a pan of boiling water on the stove (or use your double boiler) warm 2 cups of cream.

Add warm cream in a slow stream to egg mixture, whisking constantly. This is the custard.

Set the custard mixture in a metal bowl over boiling water (or use double boiler)

Stir custard with a wooden spoon constantly, until thermometer reaches 170 degrees.

Remove from the heat and stir in the remaining cup of cream, place in the refrigerator to cool for about an hour.

When custard is cool, add vanilla and grape nuts and pour into your ice cream maker.

Freeze according to your maker's instructions.

You can eat while it is soft, or freeze it until its firmer.

Pineapple Dole Whip - Homemade Pineapple Ice Cream

A while back I had a little virtual birthday party on my facebook page, so many good things were shared!

I have been trying to make some of my favorites, and this was on my "short list."

Our Little Family Adventure shared this recipe for the Disney Dole Whips that week, and being the HUGE pineapple lover that I am, I knew I had to make it!!

I have never had the Disney version, but I am here to tell ya, her version is THE BOMB.  

One note she gave was to make this into an adult cocktail by scooping it into a glass, pouring a little pineapple juice and Captain Morgan over the top.  

That is NEXT on the list!!

Here's how to make it!!

Grab your ice cream makers...let's go!

Pineapple Dole Whip - Homemade Pineapple Ice Cream

via - Our Little Family Adventure

1 quart of Pineapple Juice

3 cups cream

3 cups milk

1 teaspoon of vanilla

2 1/2 cups sugar

Pour everything into your ice cream maker, give it a stir and turn it on!

Make according to the manufacturer's instructions, Mine shuts off all by itself when it's done! :)

It was amazing, and the best part....it makes a lot! Most ice cream recipes aren't enough for my whole family to get to have more than a smidgen... this makes the whole canister full!

Thanks, Nicky!! This is a new family favorite at our house!!

Peanut Butter Cup Ice Cream Cake

Tonight we celebrated my daughter's boyfriend, Austin's birthday.

Austin loves peanut butter... even more so when it's wrapped in chocolate!

His birthday cake was a no brainer!!

He loves the other ice cream cakes that I make:

Mint Brownie Ice Cream Cake

Cookies and Cream Ice Cream Cake

Ice Cream Sandwich Cake

Austin got a Peanut Butter Cup Ice Cream Cake.

The bottom is a peanut butter cookie.  The next layer is hot fudge.

Top it with Reeses Peanut Butter Cup Ice cream, 

More hot fudge and mini peanut butter cups!!

Happy Birthday, Austin!!

Peanut Butter Cup Ice Cream Cake

1 package of ready to mix peanut butter cookie mix

(I used Betty Crocker)

Or you can use your own recipe

1 jar of hot fudge ice cream topping

1 container of Reese's Peanut Butter Cup Ice cream

1 package of Reese's Peanut Butter Cup Minis

Line the bottom of a spring form pan with parchment paper,  

Mix cookie dough according to package instructions.

Press into the bottom of the pan, bake according to package directions.

Top with half of the hot fudge (warm in the microwave)

Scoop softened ice cream over the top.

Drizzle with remaining hot fudge and top with peanut butter cups.

Freeze for 24 hours.

Remove from pan and let sit for 15 minutes before cutting.

Snow Ice Cream

SNOW DAY!!

The white stuff is really coming down out there!

The kids were home from school, and I had a big pot of homemade chicken noodle soup 

simmering on the stove, and I told the kids, 

Today would be a great day to make snow ice cream!!

I barely got the word out and there was a gallon sized ice cream bucket on the patio catching flakes!

I remember the first time I ever made snow ice cream.  

I still have the recipe, written in my first grade teacher, Mrs. Hallstrom's handwriting.

My Mom would always let my brother and I make this on snow days after that.

This kind of white fluffy snow is the perfect kind for making snow ice cream!

Snow Ice Cream

1 gallon of clean white snow

1 cup sugar

1 Tablespoon Pure Vanilla

2 cups milk (I used a little more)

Combine all ingredients in a big bowl until creamy.  I did add a little more milk to mine.

Eat immediately.

The kids put chocolate syrup on theirs, you could vary the flavors by syrups or adding fruit. you could even use chocolate milk!

Enjoy a snow day with your kids,

make a memory using what Mother Nature is dishing out!

Mint Brownie Ice Cream Cake

So, every year since I can remember, I have done a variation of this cake for my son Spencer's birthday.

I have made it in a springform pan, like pictured, I have made it square, or in a 9x13, 

it never fails to be his favorite.

Last year it was a cookies and cream cake, in past years a cookie dough cake, this year

MINT BROWNIE!!

I gain weight just looking at it....

but when it comes to taste...

that's a good thing...right...?!?!

yummers.

my handsome 18 year old boy.

Mint Brownie Ice Cream Cake

1 box brownie mix

1/8 tsp peppermint extract

1/2 cup mint chocolate chips

1 - 12.8 oz jar hot fudge (divided)

1 cup crushed Oreos (divided)

1.5 quart Edy's Mint Brownie ice cream softened

Mint Oreos for top (optional)

Spray your pan with non-stick cooking spray.

Mix and bake brownies according to box instructions, adding the mint chips and extract to the mix.

Spread half of the hot fudge on top of brownies.

Top with half of the Oreo crumbs.

Spread softened ice cream over crumbs.

Top with remaining hot fudge and crumbs.

Top with mint Oreos if desired!

Freeze until solid.

I always make a day ahead!

Grab a spoon!!

Cookies and Cream Ice cream Cake

cookies and cream ice cream cake


November 2nd, 1994 I had my first child, a son, Spencer.

It seems like just yesterday. But it wasn't *sad face* it was 17 years ago already.  

I know it dates me to say "where does the time go" but for all of you youngin's out there, cherish every moment, for every day you are making new memories that you will most often wish you could go back to.

I remember having babies and trying to get something done around the house and they would have fussy days where they just needed to be held.  When you had stuff to do back then, it was hard not to think about that laundry list of things to do while you sat in a rocker holding a fussing baby.

Now, I wish some days, that I could just spend a day with a swaddled baby in my arms, 

and rock the day away.

It would be quite challenging to do that with my 6'1 "baby" these days.

Although, Spencer, is still not embarrassed to be a Mama's boy.

 Oh, yea, he has that cool teenage boy exterior, but deep down he is one of the most caring and compassionate people that I know.

He is never afraid of who may see him give the unexpected bear hug, or who might see him plop down in the chair next to me.

at a husker game

I am forever grateful for the last 17 years with him.  

Watching him grow up to be the person he has become has been one of life's biggest joys.

Even before we had kids, my husband and I talked about the importance of family dinners. 

That was one thing he and I both cherished growing up.

Sitting down at the table, sharing our days and a meal.

Life is definitely busier, and we are not all always present, but every night give or take 15 minutes, we sit down as a family for supper.

Tonight will not be any different other than it's a birthday dinner night!

I have spoke in the past of our tradition of the birthday person getting to choose what Mom makes for dinner, and they get to eat off of the "birthday plate."

Spencer chose for his birthday dinner, beef and cheese enchiladas and chips and guacamole.

His cake, "his" ice cream cake.

One more flash back to my growing up years. My grandma on my Dad's side was an awesome baker.  

She had three sons, and they all had "their cake." (which sometimes wasn't a cake at all...maybe a pie.) The tradition continued with us grand kids.  She would always bake it special for us, and called it "ours."

This particular cake became Spencer's when he was about 6 or 7. 

His birthday always fell after Halloween.  Spencer LOVES Halloween!

So, when he was little his birthday party was always a costume party.

One year, I was trying to decide what to make him for a cake, when I concocted this.  

I used to make it in a 9x13 for his parties, and now, I make it in a spring form pan.  

Those are the instructions that I will share with you today.

holy hot fudge goodness!

Spencer's Cookies and Cream Ice Cream Cake

1 package of brownie mix, 8x8 size

1 jar of hot fudge sauce

1/2 package of Oreo cookies, crumbled

1 quart of Cookies and Cream Ice Cream, softened

In a spring form pan, Bake the brownies as instructed on the package.

Cool slightly.  Warm hot fudge in microwave according to the jar. Spread a little more than 1/2 of the hot fudge over the brownies. Sprinkle crumbled cookies evenly over the top. 

Spread softened ice cream over the cookies, and "frost" with remaining hot fudge.

Quickly put it in the freezer to harden.

(I usually make this two days before his birthday)

Remove ring from spring form pan before serving.

Every year I change it up a little.  Some years I put more cookie crumbles on top of the cake.  Some years I press the edge of a cookie into the soft ice cream before I freeze it, so they are sticking up.  

Use your imagination, the options are endless.

I have also made this cake with mint chip and with chocolate chip. 

 These two look great topped with mini chips. 

(word to the wise, take it out a bit before serving, though, because getting candles in it can be a challenge!)

I hope that Spencer enjoyed his Birthday dinner!! 

We sure enjoy him!!

Happy 17th Birthday, Buddy!

.love.

Not just "NATIONAL" but "INTERNATIONAL" Ice Cream Day!

Last night while I was tucking my youngest in, she informed me that her iCarly calendar told her that today was "International Ice Cream Day."  I am pretty sure if you google it, (and trust me, I am a googlemaniac) there is a national holiday for something every day...but an international one?  and for ICE CREAM?! Something had to be done about this!

When I was pregnant with our twins, I used to get cravings, like most pregnant women do.  One day I had an overwhelming desire to make and to eat homemade ice cream. I called my mom to see if she still had our old crank ice cream maker. What did I care if it was crank or not? I was pregnant, surely they would crank it for me right?? She laughed and said she gave it to the Goodwill years before that. So, off to Wally World  I went.  I bought a brand new electric one. (figured sooner or later I wouldn't have an excuse and they would make me crank it, and why would I want that?) So, home I went and we made the ice cream.  I remember the hardest part was leaving it in the freezer long enough for it to get hardened. We usually end up with a really soft serve cream, but it tastes amazing none the less. It was awesome.

Two more children for us made four, and that ice cream maker had been used one time since then.  (our twins are almost NINE.) It just sat up on the top shelf of my pantry where I always knew it would be if I needed it. Today I needed it.  I mean, for heaven's sake!

It's INTERNATIONAL ICE CREAM DAY!

We spent the better part of the 100+ degree day at a baseball game melting, I swear the thought of making that when we got home was what pulled us through!  We mixed it up, put the top on the maker, and plugged it in. Silence. After my husband smacked it swore a little and tore it apart and put it back together about 4 times, I suggested borrowing his sisters, who we are fortunate enough to have living at the top of our hill. So, my son goes to get their maker and brings home TWO!! Good thing I was prepared, I had enough for TWO BATCHES!! Yay! So we got both of them rolling and finished dinner. 

After dinner, I prepared toppings, and we waited.  Not so patiently. We waited. "Ah...just forget it! Let's eat it soft!" we declared. So, here it is, my dish, with fresh berries, soft but OH SO GOOD!!

homemade vanilla ice cream with berries

The best part (next to eating it of course) was that i got to use my cute new miniature trifle bowls I got for my birthday! :) I should have taken the picture more from the side, to show their cute little selves off!

Vanilla Ice Cream

4 eggs

2 1/2 cups sugar

4 cups cream

2 Tablespoons vanilla

1/2 teaspoon salt

6 cups milk

Beat eggs until fluffy. Add sugar a little at a time until combined.  Add the rest of the ingredients and pour into your ice cream maker. Add ice half way, rock salt and then fill with ice. Blend until frozen. Put in freezer for a few hours to harden.

day two after it hardened, with butterfinger and chocolate syrup