Vanilla Ice Cream (Icecream Machine)

Forgive my absence.

Life got in the way! :)

I had a wonderful visit from my family a while ago and my parents bought me an icecream maker! If you're in the mood for some great homemade ice cream, this recipe is a surefire winner!

1 pint heavy cream

1/2 gallon half and half

1 3/4 cups sugar

vanilla extract

Pour all into ice cream canister.

Use ice and icecream salt to fill the outer edges around the icecream maker. Start and let churn until it becomes hard to churn.

Now is the time to add extras! Chop up candy bars, drizzle peanut butter or chocolate sauce, add fresh fruit like strawberries or blueberries!

I took this to a friend's house for a dinner and all the guests raved about it! Sometimes with homemade ice cream you get that thick heavy cream film on the roof of your mouth. With this recipe, there is no filmy cream! It leaves your mouth refreshed and tastes creamy, not thick!

I've finally gotten used to my schedule at work---nights. It's a bummer I don't get to see many people anymore. I enjoy talking to the guests and giving them a smile.

Sam's little league game is tomorrow! First one of the season! I'm very excited for them. They've been practicing hard and long and I know that they'll do well.

It's a lovely cold and foggy day this morning. I drive the long highway to home from work around 8am. The fog races me down the pavement and sometimes cuts me off, leaving me in a cloud of white uncertainty. Soon the blur dissipates and I am able to make up lost time. The horizon fades into the sky from the mountains. It's a lovely sight. If only I had a cup of coffee and a blanket, I'd sit on the porch to enjoy the morning. Wait--- I do.... *smiles*

Have a lovely day, friend!

Quick Cheese Dip

Quick and delicious cheese dip doesn't have to be a mess or hard to make.

1 full block of velveeta, cut into chunks

2 cans of diced petite tomatoes, drained. (like rotel. I use offbrand and it is great!)

2 tbsp garlic powder

6 small slices jalapeno pepper

mix all together in a saucepan until fully melted.

Yup. Easy as that.

If you'd like, add a bit of cooked ground beef to make it a bit more tasty!

Things are busy around here! Sam and I are working opposing shifts so it makes it a bit hard to spend time together. We'll make do!

I went to an art show tonight for a local photographer. I bought a shot of a firebreather. It was really neat!

Enjoy your cheese dip! Grab some chips, a movie, and have a great night!

A heavier Thought

This post isn't about food but something a bit more weighty.



My heart is broken tonight.



An acquaintance notified me she got an abortion just 4 days ago.

I only heard her talk about how she couldn't afford another baby (she already has 2).

The only alternative to abortion that I know of is adoption- to have the baby and then give it up for adoption. I don't know much about that process. Is it costly or too difficult to go through the adoption process when you want to give up your baby?

My thought is that there MUST be some sort of program in action that is accessible to women and families of all financial backgrounds as well as religious and circumstantial.

I was thinking to myself about how 'radical' Christians protest abortion clinics and how Christians are notorious for being anti-abortion. Are those Christians then pro-preventive abortion? We must have the tools and know the right contacts when a situation like this arises.



What kind of love is it when Christians and "believers" protest abortion clinics and shun women who make the decision to abort? I believe all life should be cherished. I also believe it is our job as an obedient follower of Christ to take care of women and families in struggling situations, especially ones considering abortion.

I found a pregnancy service center here in the Springs for which I'm currently filling out a volunteer application. The way I see it, a program such as a pregnancy service center (which is also a Christian ministry. When are they not?) would obviously have many options and avenues available for expectant mothers who might be scared, nervous, or considering abortion. I would like to be a part of something like that. I would like to learn the inner workings of 'the system' and more specifically if the positive options alternate to abortion are accessible and a simple process (a process that a person can easily grasp and attain rather than being piled with paperwork and legalities).

I've never been close to anyone who has had an abortion. I'm not even close to the friend that told me of her recent news. All the same my heart clenched and mourned the baby who was lost. To save a life, would you or someone you know consider adoption? I don't know how it would have been possible for sam and I to pay for the pregnancy and adoption fees of the baby, just so the baby could live. Of course I understand this is not my burden to bear, but to what ends would you travel to save a baby?

As I said before this is a bit weighty for a food blog. I hope you don't mind. A baker needs to get her hands out of the dough somedays just like we need a daily dose of reality to stir us to action and love.

Have a grand week, dear friend.

Sometimes I wonder!

Sometimes I wonder about people...

This week at work has been a wreck. It's been frustrating. I've gotten to check in mean people, get yelled at on the phone, and get chewed out by people who, by their own mistake, didn't have a pet friendly room reserved and needed one.

Working at a hotel can be fun. You meet so many different types of people and can have the chance to be so nice to them for just five minutes and lift up their day. Working at a hotel can also mean that you are the cause of the guest's problems, no matter what it is, and you will bear the brunt of the anger and wrath of the disgruntled guest.

I wonder how people get to the point where they can treat someone so cruelly, so harshly, and without any tact or care. Is the world really becoming that cold of a place? I feel sometimes as if I lose patience with these types of people but know that I must maintain composure and be kind.

The only thing I've baked lately is a chocolate cake with a peanut butter frosting. I used my original chocolate cake recipe and made up a peanut butter frosting with heavy whipping cream, powdered sugar, butter, and some peanut butter. It turned out quite well. People at work who tasted it (who claim they dont like cake) ate two big slices!

Family is coming this weekend! Pretty tootin' excited about that!!

P.F. Chang's Orange Peel Chicken

Whew. Been busy.

Took time out this weekend to go to the Royal Gorge Bridge and to invite friends over for dinner! For dinner I made Orange Chicken---SO YUMMY! After I had prepared it I told Sam dinner was ready. I suggested we eat outside since it was such a lovely evening. Little did I know he would take that to the extreme! Within minutes, we were carrying our table and chairs, plates and silverware into the open field in our back yard. Yes. We had a picnic!

Picnic in the field.

This is the only picture I have of the orange chicken--- It was so delicious!

Sam enjoying the picnic.

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Orange Peel Chicken

Adapted from Todd Wilbur, Top Secret Restaurant Recipes

1 tbsp veggie oil

2 tbsp garlic

4 green onions

1 cup tomato sauce

1/2 cup water

1/4 cup sugar

2 tbsp chili garlic sauce

1 tbsp soy sauce

peel from 1/4 orange, julienned (into 1/8 inch strips)

a squeeze or two from said orange.

1 pkg pancit kanton noodles (sub spaghetti noodles if you must!)

1/2 cup veggie oil

4 chicken breast fillets cut into bite size pieces

1/2 cup cornstarch

Heat oil. Add garlic and onions (sliced). Add sauce and other ingredients. Stir to boiling. Once boiling turn heat to low and simmer for 7-10 minutes to thicken.

Boil a large saucepan full of water. Add pancit kanton noodles. They are done when the noodles are soft. Drain and set aside.

Coat chicken chunks in cornstarch ( I mixed them in a tupperware bowl ). Heat oil. Add chicken to oil. Stir chicken in oil to turn so it evenly cooks. Cook til all pink is gone and drain chicken on a few paper towels.

Add sauce and chicken to noodles. Stir well.

Enjoy!

Tips:

--I found the chili garlic sauce and noodles in the oriental section of my grocery.

--Don't skimp on ingredients! I added baby corn and water chestnuts as well as red peppers to the mix and those ingredients did nothing but add to the flavor.

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We had so much fun at the picnic. It was so lovely out there and such a great change from the usual "dining room table" scene. I'd recommend a picnic or even enjoying supper outside with loved ones and friends! Try something new. Go crazy!

Royal Gorge Bridge!

Our friends Jenna and Spencer and Sam and I.

Love, Love, Love

Life happens.

The Air Force Life Song Competition is officially over. Now I wait for the results. I have no clue how long it will take to get the results. I'm so excited! Winner will be notified by email.

I've never done anything like this---it was quite invigorating. It gave me a bit of confidence. It helped me realize I can do what I set my mind to, that I can achieve my goals, and that I might have a winning chance at this.

I've realized recently how many excuses I make. "I don't have time to work out," or "It will take too long to bake a cake." A friend told me "Stop making excuses for what you're not willing to do" and "If you want it, you'll make time and effort for it." Food for thought. What have you been procrastinating on? What things do you avoid doing because you are covered with excuses? Live life and live it to the full, dear friend.

Chin up.

Chaos!

Boy howdy. I haven't had time to bake anything lately. I've been working out my work schedules, trying to spend time with Sam, and actually working.

Sam goes back to nights tonight--4pm-5am. I work from 2 til midnight. When, dare I ask, will we be able to see each other or spend time together?! The poor puppies! So neglected. :)

It's nice to have another job so we can pay some bills. I just have to get used to not having all that free time to workout or spend time with family or friends.

In other news, we got the car fixed a few days ago. We got the car back and saw they didn't take care of the back end where it was crinkled out. Sam took it back this morning and they fixed it up for us! Bad thing about it was sam backed up into a yellow pole and now we have a yellow scratch on our car. Man. Can anything ever go right!?

I have 6 days left in the song competition. Who knows if I'll win. I hope! I'm kinda making myself believe I won't so that if I do, I'll be totally surprised and excited and if I don't win, it won't be a huge deal.

I hope to make some wonderful cakes soon! Stay posted!

Have a great day!

Tiny Cakes

Tiny Cheesecakes!

For Christmas last year, my mother bought me a couple of jumbo cupcake tins. I enjoy making muffins and cupcakes with them but wanted to put my extra cheesecake batter to use.

I made a 10 inch cheesecake tonight. It's a big pan for just 1 cheesecake recipe, so I used 1.5x the recipe instead of doubling it so I wouldn't have so much left over. It worked out perfectly.

I made my usual shortbread crust. I love making shortbread crusts for my cheesecake because they turn out light and simple. This shortbread recipe could work out great if you wanted to make shortbread cookies as well.

Basic Shortbread

1 pound butter (whipped 'til it yelps, or about 5 minutes)

1 cup powdered sugar

3 1/2 cups flour

a dash of cinnamon

3 tbsp vanilla

Whip the butter. Add the powdered sugar slowly to the butter. Add the rest of the ingredients and whip until incorporated. Spread over the bottom of a springform pan lined with parchment paper. If you'd like to make cookies, simply drop a spoonful onto an ungreased pan. If you'd like, put a nut or piece of chocolate on top. Bake until golden brown.

After my shortbread crust is over the springform pan, I make my cheesecake.

Tonight, since I had quite a bit shortbread and cheesecake batter left over, I grabbed those jumbo muffin tins and got to work. I put a large spoonful of shortbread into the bottom of the liners, smooshed it flat, and then added a few dollops of batter on top. I only filled the cups a tad over halfway full. I have yet to bake them-- I am baking my large cheesecake for 40 minutes, then I will add my tiny cakes, and let them both cook for an additional 20 minutes before turning the oven off and letting them cool there.

I have found that one place offers a great deal on individual cream cheese packages--- The Commissary. They offer Cooper Brand Cream Cheese for $0.99. Usually, Walmart or Safeway offers Philadelphia Cream Cheese for only $1.50 on a good day. I could of course go to Costco or Sam's Club to purchase the 3 pound blocks of cream cheese for $5.00. Only saving a buck, but hey, it's a buck.

Do I tire of making my cheesecakes? No. Sometimes I feel silly buying 8-16 packages of cream cheese at a time. " Making a large cheeseball?" you ask? Sort of. :)

I found another job--- which is wonderful financially. That avenue will be good upon which to continue testing my recipes and promoting the restaurant. I'll still bake my goodies for the restaurant. I just wish we could bring in a tad more business to give us some breathing room to really explode with new recipes and dishes.

On a side note, I made that chocolate cake again but this time with a mixer. The results were not as good as when I mixed it by hand. No, it wasn't that the cake tasted amazing the first time because I poured my heart and soul into whisking and stirring that heavy batter! Literally, the cake was less flavorful and not as fluffy as the original. I didn't switch out ingredients or anything. Interesting...eh?

Hope you are well!