Friday, June 3, 2011

We Live On The Sun

It's going to get over 100 degrees in Arizona this week.  I guess we can't complain, we have been lucky the last few weeks and have enjoyed temperatures in the 80's and 90's.  When Paula comes to visit this time of year some common phrases are: "you guys live on the sun" and "how do people do it"!  While Paula is here we also need to be conscious of keeping the girl hydrated as she has a tendency to get cankles (when the calf merges with a swollen ankle). We keep a bottle of cold water or a Sonic route 44 diet coke in her hand at all times. 
In celebration of 100 degrees, I thought you might enjoy one of our favorite sweet treats that helps make our hot days of summer bearable.  We love making homemade ice cream in the summer time....and well, truth be told, we really make it year round, but this is the time it is enjoyed the most.  My husband is the master at making ice cream.  He makes a divine vanilla with strawberry, banana and almonds and the kids love any kind of chocolate candy bar broken up in either chocolate or vanilla, but I think our favorite is - 


Chocolate Mint Grasshopper  

 Chocolate Mint Grasshopper Ice Cream
(For 6 quart ice cream maker)
6 eggs
1 can evaporated milk
1 can sweetened condensed milk
2 1/2 cups sugar
2/3 cup cocoa (he actually uses slightly less)
1 quart half and half
1 T vanilla
whole milk
grasshopper mint chocolate cookies 

Before mixing:
Chill ice cream maker canister.  
Freeze the package of cookies.  After frozen, put cookies in a ziplock bag and crush leaving some larger pieces.  
Mixing ice cream:
Beat eggs well.  In a separate bowl combine cocoa and sugar, then beat into egg mixture.   Add remaining ingredients except whole milk and cookies.  Pour mixture into chilled ice cream maker canister.  Add whole milk to just below fill line (because we are going to add the cookies later).  Freeze following manufacture instructions for your ice cream maker.  When ice cream is thick and almost done, add crushed cookies, pushing the cookies deep into the canister for a good mixture.  Continue freezing ice cream until firm.  

I have to tell you though, after years and years of making ice cream in an inexpensive ice cream freezer that you get at Walmart or Target.....It's this little guy that makes a huge difference.  It freezes the ice cream faster and harder.  It is a bit of an investment, but it's all about having the right tools isn't it?!


Speaking of Paula coming to town, she will be here next week.  
We are teaching classes in Glendale, AZ on June 11th at....

See you there!!


5 comments:

  1. I'll be right over for a bowl of ice cream!!

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  2. I've never made ice cream at home but yours looks delicious. I'm going to have to investigate the White Mountain Ice Cream Freezer. I've been to AZ. I used to say things like, "but it's a dry heat out there." Ya, dry enough to burn the hair off your head! I always carry a sweater out here on the east coast in case we head into air conditioning. Out in AZ, I never needed one! A/C out there is very refreshing!

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  3. When I go to AZ to visit I always enjoy the misters that are in patios or storefronts. Now I will remind my daughter that she has to have homemade ice cream waiting for me! Wish I was there now to be in your Glendale class.(Lots of neat stores in Glendale.)
    Have fun girls.

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  4. I scream, you scream, we all scream for ice cream! I'm screaming here! ;) Looks sooooooooooo delicious! :)

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  5. So you have no problem eating un cooked eggs? That is how I use to make mine but now we cook ours because of the eggs and it is not as good.

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