#081. Make homemade ice cream

Well, this one has been a long time coming. A LOOOOONG TIME. It started not long after this blog began circa the end of 2009. M told me there was a big package for me left on the doorstep. I hadn't ordered anything and wasn't expecting anything. We were dealing with a pretty sick golden retriever at the time and I didn't get a chance to open it that night. I spent the next day somewhat stumped at work and finally got to open the package when I got home.

I was amazed to see not only 4 of the most adorable ice cream dishes on the planet, but also some ice cream mixes and an ICE CREAM MAKER. Yes, seriously, for reals. Once again, stumped. Who would send me this? M knows of, but doesn't read this blog unless I force it upon him. The card wished me well on completing #081 on my list, but there was no signature. Hmmmm, packing slip. An there it was, my dear bloggy friend beebee had sent it. I don't know about you, but this would be an amazing gift to get from any friend I have in real life, but when you factor in that beebee and I have never met in person, well that just completely blows me away. Still over a year later and I am humbled by her generous spirit and supportive nature.

She used to blog publicly, but now blogs privately. I have to say that I am sorry for any of you that didn't get the chance to know her then and still be on the inside. She is in not so many words, amazing.

Thank you, beebee, for not only the incredible gift, but for your neverending support!  Love you!!

So I have an unhealthy obsession with ice cream. It might come close to an addiction during the hot summer months, but I don't claim it as such as I do tend to slow down a bit with it during the winter.

Because this post (like most on this blog) is so late in coming out, I have made homemade ice cream more times than I will ever admit to any of you. Oh, my friends, I am in heaven.

The pictures from the first time I made it didn't turn out all that great and the ones that I took recently are much more fun because they include an adorable 9 year old who helped me cook and bake everything under the sun while he was visiting through Thanksgiving. He was a bottomless pit and in a growth spurt so more time in the kitchen meant more food in his belly. We had so much fun.

Uncle M missed out on the ice cream this go around as he put his in the freezer for later.  Like I said, this one was a bottomless pit and he ate Uncle M's ice cream too.  I could never fault a kid for eating too much ice cream. I am a complete "anything goes" softy kind of aunt.

Photographic proof of the "making homemade ice cream" goal being completed:

Mixing it up was some serious business

A kid after my own heart.  You just can't let any of it go to waste!  It was good!!

He added every topping we had - sprinkles, mini chocolate chips and chocolate sprinkles, butterscotch chips, strawberry and caramel toppings, chocolate syrup, chopped nuts (which he helped chop), and whipped cream!  Have I mentioned how much I love this kid!?

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#088. build a gingerbread house

So I have to admit straight up that I likely would have put this one off until next year had Wendy not thoughtfully sent me this great kit for Christmas. Thanks, Wendy, for keeping me on track!

My main reason for wanting to build a Gingerbread House was that I had never done it before. I know I'm behind the game in so many ways with this kind of thing...My first Easter egg coloring experience was with my college roomies and I think I only carved jack-o-lanterns a couple times in my childhood (although I don't think there are any photos as proof). Hassle and messes were not part of the game I guess. At any rate, it was something I have always wanted to try.

Here are the contents of the kit
(icing mix, icing bag and tip, 4 bags candy, and gingerbread walls/roof):

Lessons Learned #1: It's worth the step to cut the edges of the gingerbread house to be straight (ie flat)...especially on the bottom.
Lesson Learned #2: The step explaining that there should be at least an hour for the walls to set before adding the roof is not an optional or suggested step. I'm certain my house did not meet CA Earthquake Safety Requirements...or any other state structural building codes.


Lessons Learned #3a: Rolling gumdrops for windows is a fuckton of work.
Lessons Learned #3b: I still think gumdrops taste like over-sugared rubber.


Lessons Learned #4: Cutting gumdrops to make evergreen branches is a very sticky and unappreciative job
(and where I finished my first glass of wine).


Lessons Learned #5: When (not "if" with my mad skillz) the icing bag breaks and Ziploc bags only push the icing tip through the hole, creativity must ensue...as in pushing icing directly through the icing tip without a bag. This is where it got messy and the dogs were suddenly extremely interested.


Lessons Learned #6: Trees should be completed before the 2nd glass of wine.


Lessons Learned #7: It is better to let go of anal retentive tendencies such as color patterns for the jelly beans before beginning the project or you will end up with a side of the roof that has no green jelly beans.


Lessons Learned #8: If the roof is not completed before the end of the 3rd glass of wine, it will look bare and unfinished (see kit photo at top of post for comparison)...but at this point "it's all good".

The dogs were much more interested in the falling icing than my ever so entertaining wine drinking commentary so I think I would like to attempt to get a group together for next year's house building activities. Yup, even though it was a lot of work, it was also a lot of fun.

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