#22. Make Homemade Ice Cream

The day after school lets out, I always have high hopes I'm going to have time to indulge in the perfect "Pinterest" summertime activities.  You know... like growing my own veggies and building flower boxes whilst using freshly picked strawberries from our backyard to make homemade ice cream. Or at least to make homemade ice cream.  That one is always on the summer list.

Many of you reading are those inspiring people who are just awesome at crafts and cooking and being domestic goddesses.  You all are completely inspiring because, while I have the best intentions, I usually end up taking on too much tutoring and teaching summer school and later crashing while watching Real Housewives with Dan instead.  

But yesterday, I did it!  I finally made homemade ice cream after three years of wanting to do it.  I'd like to take credit for finally getting in gear, but it wasn't me at all. We visited my parents for July 4th, and my mom actually said to me, "I saw that you posted 'Make homemade ice cream' on your blog, so I bought all the ingredients for it!" She's the sweetest.

She even set up her counter like a cooking show, with the measuring cups and cocoa and cream and all the fixens' ready to go, perfect for a lazy cook like me. 

I'm not rocking a new fashion statement; I just had my bikini on underneath for the pool afterwards. I'm pointing at the computer screen that Dan set up with the recorded episode of The Bachelorette that we missed. Yes, I have him (begrudgingly) into it too.

Side note: Still Team Arie. Just saying.

Anyway, we watched it while I made the ice cream.  For those with an ice cream maker, the recipe was easy and sinfully rich. Skip over the blue part if you don't want the recipe:

Ingredients

1 cup unsweetened cocoa powder

2/3 cup granulated sugar

1/2 cup firmly packed brown sugar

1-1/2 cups whole milk

3-1/4 cups heavy cream

1 tablespoon pure vanilla extract

NOTE:  You can put in up to 1 cup of mix-ins

Instructions

Place the cocoa and sugars in a medium bowl; stir to combine. Add the whole milk and use a hand mixer on low speed or whisk to combine until the cocoa and sugars are dissolved, about 1 to 2 minutes. Stir in the heavy cream and vanilla. If not freezing immediately, cover and refrigerate until ready to use.

Turn machine on; pour mixture into freezer bowl, and let mix until thickened. At the end, pour in a cup of mix-ins, if desired.  The ice cream will have a soft, creamy texture. If a firmer consistency is desired, transfer the ice cream to an airtight container and place in freezer for about 2 hours. Remove from freezer about 15 minutes before serving.

***

I just chopped up a ton of Giaradelli chocolate and threw some mini marshmallows in.  My mom owns the Cuisinart Ice Cream Maker which makes AMAZING ice cream and gelato.  None of this rock salt and gritty ice cream mess.  This stuff turned out like a five star restaurant "food with height" dessert.

Can you tell I'm psyched?

I also knocked #9 off my summer list:  Go to a baseball game

I just have to share one more picture from that.  A guy was launching free t-shirts from one of those guns, and Dan caught a balled up one!  With one hand!  You would have thought they had just launched a ball of cash at him.  There was much screaming and fist pumping.  I think he felt like the man:

Truth time: I'm glad for my summer list because it's kind of reminding me to schedule fun in, as nerdy as that sounds.  I think I've taken too much on this summer, and I've got no one to blame but myself. I said yes to teaching summer school, yes to tutoring several students, yes to taking two college classes, when I should have been saying "Another mojito, please" and chilling out.

I also somehow persuaded myself that I have tons of time to take on house projects, which is why I now have a half painted living room, a strip of peeled off wallpaper in bedroom, and three pieces of furniture still in boxes. At least I'll hopefully be able to share some house updates later in August. Or I'll just get used to the open paint cans and bolts and screws under my feet. Either way.

Anway, more summer list and house updates coming soon.  How was your 4th??