Tag Archive for 'Recipes'

Fun & Easy Homemade Ice Cream!

Published on Tuesday, June 23, 2009 in Fun, Games and Recipes. 6 Comments Tags: , .

A couple weeks ago, one of the activities we did with the kids in our Moms’ Club was to make Homemade Ice Cream. The ingredients were simple. The instructions were easy, and I couldn’t believe the results!

On Saturday, we hosted a party and decided to do this there, too!

Again, the results were amazing, so I’m going to share with you!

Here is the recipe for making Fun & Easy Homemade Ice Cream:

Items You’ll Need

  • Rock Salt (we use the kind that goes in a water softener or ice cream maker)
  • Ice
  • Vanilla
  • Milk
  • Sugar
  • Gallon Ziploc® Bags* (one for each person)
  • Quart Ziploc® Bags* (one for each person)

*any brand of similar storage bag is fine!

In a Quart Bag

  • Pour in:
    1 Cup of Milk (we use whole, because that’s what we have here)
    1/2 teaspoon Vanilla
    2 Tablespoons Sugar
  • Seal up the Quart Bag.

In a Gallon Bag

  • Pour in:
    1 tray of ice cubes (or equivalent amount)
    1 Cup of Rock Salt
  • Place the sealed Quart Bag inside the Gallon Bag with the ice and salt, and seal it tightly.
  • Shake!
    Shake, shake, shake, shake!
    Shake some more!
  • Shake this for 5 to 10 minutes or until the contents of the Quart Bag are the consistency you desire.  Every time I’ve done this, I wished I had my gloves on, because the bag gets REALLY COLD. This is the PERFECT activity for a really hot day!  With older kids, I’m sure you could make up relay games or other fun stuff to do while shaking the bags.  For us, as much fun as it is to shake-shake-shake, my 3-year old loses interest pretty quickly, and I always finish the process for her.  :)
  • When the ice cream is the thickness you like, either eat it out of the Quart Bag or dump the ice cream into a bowl…

…and enjoy your Fun & Easy Homemade Ice Cream!

Easiest Fudge in the World

Published on Wednesday, December 17, 2008 in Gift Ideas and Recipes. 3 Comments Tags: , , , , .

Yesterday, Claire and I went to our MOMS’ Club Cookie Decorating and Exchange Extravaganza.  I wasn’t sure what to make, and then it hit me.  I could make the Easiest Fudge in the World!  You see, a few years ago, one of my sisters gave me a nice Christmas Gift that included the following recipe and ingredients.  It was an awesome gift idea and an even better recipe idea when you’re short on time!

I made four batches to bring to the Cookie Exchange (each of us brought four dozen cookies), and we ended up with a nice selection of cookies to give away or keep.  (Claire and I made up two nice plates for a couple of friends of ours — they were thrilled with the gift, and I didn’t have to bring home [and avoid eating] 48 cookies…it was a win-win!)

The Cookie Exchange was a great idea, and Claire had a blast during the decorating portion of the festivities.  It was nice to arrive with fudge and leave with at least six different types of cookies.  It makes it look like I slaved away in the kitchen for hours!  ;)

Needless to say, the fudge was a huge hit.

So, here is the recipe!

Easiest Fudge in the World

12 oz. bag of chocolate chips
14 oz. can sweetened condensed milk

Combine ingredients in a microwave safe bowl. Microwave 2 to 3 minutes, stirring after each minute. Spread in lined (with waxed paper) 8 x 8 pan. Cool.

For real.  That’s it!

And, here are some notes about the recipe:

For the Cookie Exchange, I did 2 batches at a time, and it only needed 2 minutes in my microwave. Be sure to stir after each minute, until all the chips are melted. I put 2 batches in one 9 x 13 pan. I just let it cool on the counter, no need to cool in the fridge. In one pan, I sprinkled M&Ms on the top of the fudge and pressed them lightly. (The other pan was plain.) You can keep it plain or add whatever toppings you want.

It’s seriously the Easiest Fudge in the World. The hardest part is not eating the whole pan yourself. :)

Enjoy!