The first time I had this Old-Fashioned Vanilla Ice Cream recipe, my coworker and friend, Stacey Stiner, appeared at a work potluck with this freshly-made, homemade, old-fashioned vanilla ice cream recipe. Of course, we were all completely "wowed" by how utterly scrumptious it tasted but when she claimed it to be a simple recipe to whip up, I knew I had to give it a shot.
This recipe has traveled far and wide over the years and Mrs. Stiner would be proud to know that it has even become a camping family reunion staple. My niece, A.J. recently asked me for the recipe for our upcoming family reunion so I pledged that I would post the recipe here, for easy access and so that it can inspire others to try their hand at homemade, old-fashioned ice cream.
With just a few simple ingredients and NO NEED to cook it in advance, you will have fresh homemade ice cream as quick as you can crank or as fast as your ice cream maker will churn your mixture.
Cream, sugar, eggs and vanilla!
I have a hard time waiting until the ice cream is really firmed up to the right consistency.
My ice cream machine, circa 1997!
It probably tastes better on day two after freezing in the freezer, but I just can't wait!
You can mix in all sorts of additional ingredients.
Homemade ice cream with cherries and chocolate chips added.
We've made this in the old-school, hand-crank ice cream makers that require ice and rock salt, the electric-operated ice cream makers that still require the rock salt and the ice; and we've scaled it down for preparation in our electric Cuisinart ice cream maker. It tastes incredible no matter what type of ice cream maker you use.
This ice cream is extra delicious served alongside fresh berries but can stand on its own and impresses a crowd, regardless.
Homemade Old-Fashioned Vanilla Ice Cream
Recipe via Stacey Stiner
Ingredients for a large batch using a traditional or hand-crank ice cream maker:
3 cups whipping cream
7 cups half and half cream
4 eggs
2 1/2 cups sugar
2/3 tablespoons vanilla (extra great if you can scrape a vanilla bean of the seeds and toss the seeds in the mix)
OR
Ingredients for the scaled-down version for a freezer style ice cream maker:
2 eggs
1 1/4 cup sugar
1 1/2 cups whipping cream
3 1/2 cups half and half cream
1/3 tablespoon vanilla
Instructions:
1. Mix all ingredients together with a whip until eggs are smooth.
2. Put into your ice cream maker until desired level of frozen.
Enjoy!
Leftovers are wonderful when combined with root beer in a glass to transform into Rootbeer Floats. Or you can freeze until hardened a bit and then put a scoop between two cookies for a fun ice cream sandwich.
I'm grateful for our freedom on this celebration of America's Independence Day!
May you all enjoy your patriotic celebrations, fireworks and stay safe!
Fourth of July Fruit Salad
If you need a last minute recipe for a Fourth of July party, picnic or potluck don't forget the easy Patriotic Brownie Kabobs! You could even purchase bakery brownies or angel food cake to make this even faster!
This is a great Berry Pie Fillingto assemble while fresh berries are plentiful, to freeze for winter months.
Mix 7 cups sugar with 1 3/4 modified cornstarch (Clear Jel A) in a large saucepan. Add 9 1/3 cup cold water and cook over medium high heat until mixture thickens and begins to bubble. Add 1/2 cup lemon juice and boil 1 minute, stirring constantly. Fold in 6 quarts of berries (blackberries, marionberries, boysenberries). At this point you can either put batches in freezer containers or you can fill canning jars and process immediately by process pints and quarts in boiling water bath for 25 minutes. This recipe yields 7 quarts that can not only serve as pie filling but also top cheesecake, ice cream or be covered with a crumb topping as a great berry crisp.
July Belongs To Berries Month
2. In honor of National Outdoor Month how about considering organizing some fun outdoor games such as Water Balloon Dodgeball (water balloons are used instead of balls), Glow in the Dark Capture the Flag (glowsticks are used instead of flags), Glow in the Dark Bowling (add glow sticks into ten bottles of water to make bowling pins you can use at night).
3. It's National Picnic Monthin July! What will you pack for you picnic? It wouldn't be a picnic without this Olive Lover's Muffuletta Sub Sandwich recipe!
4. National Blueberry and National Raspberry Month - Have you tried the delicious Blueberry Boy Bait yet? You can also make it with raspberries as a substitute.
5. National Ice Cream Month and July 1 is National Frozen Yogurt Day AND Creative Ice Cream Flavor Day
6. National Peach Month - My favorite peach recipe blends 2 fresh peaches combined with half of a container of frozen Pineapple Orange juice concentrate, topped with ice cubes and blended. This recipe saved me through my second pregnancy as it was one of the only things that sounded tasty during the first few months.
7. The fourth Sunday in July recognizes Parent's Day- a day recognizing, uplifting and supporting the role of parents in the rearing of children.
8. Happy 60th Birthday to Disneylandon July 17, 2015! Celebrate by recreating one of Disneyland's famous desserts - the famous Pineapple Dole Whip that can only be ordered in Disneyland or Disneyworld, and by watching a classic Walt Disney movie. What is your favorite Disney classic?
I love this idea for creating a fairly inexpensive Outdoor Movie Screenout of curtain hanging wire and screen fabric which can be found at Amazon. Supposedly the screen fabric is the correct color gray for projector contrast and black out backing, although a white tarp or sheet could work in a pinch.
9. Did you know that July 2nd is considered the halfway point of the year?
10. July 2nd is "I Forgot Day". Does that mean we do nothing that day? Do we forget how to do "everything"?
11. July 4th celebrates Independence Day in the states along with National Family,National Country Music Day and it's the Birthday of the Rodeo (first one was in 1869). In our neck of the woods there are many family-friendly rodeo options that would play country music and have fireworks at the end of the evening in celebration of our country's independence. Talk about killing all your birds with one stone!
12. July 5th is Graham Cracker Day. S'mores anyone? Have you tried adding caramel to your traditional s'mores? We tried adding Rolo's instead of the Hershey's chocolate bars and discovered how delicious that mash-up of flavors can be although it was a bit messy.
13. Visit a drive-in movie venue. This is so much fun! We loaded the kids and cousins up and headed to a drive in theater while visiting the grandparents. We brought lawn chairs, blankets, snacks and used the back of a truck for a great viewing experience. It sounds as if Drive-Ins are becoming a thing of the past. Here are where to find them in the U.S.
14. Take in an outdoor concert or outdoor theater production.
15. Visit a state or county fair.
State Fair Ferris Wheel
16. July 19th celebrates New Friends Day. So many of our friendships have formed around the activities that our kids partake in as we find ourselves sitting on bleachers, along the sidelines of fields and waiting for practices to conclude. As my kids age, I realize that I will have to look elsewhere for new friends, expanding my circles. What a great excuse to be proactive and to start forming new friendships with "New Friends Day".
17. The third Sunday in July marks Sundae Sunday! I do not ever need an excuse to indulge in ice cream sundaes, do you? The Hubs' recently reported that my childhood favorite Dairy Queen's Brownie Earthquake will no longer be an offering. I am thinking it's time to replicate that childhood favorite at home in celebration of Sundae Sunday.
Homemade Brownie Earthquake
Two brownies, two scoops of vanilla ice cream (soft serve or vanilla frozen yogurt, perhaps), hot fudge sauce, marshmallow cream, topped with whipped cream and a cherry!
18. July 21 recognizes National Junk Food Day! This year, I want to try making the "copycat" versions of some of our favorite Junk Food treats. The homemade Twix bars are at the top of my copycat list, followed by homemade Oreo Cookies and Girl Scout Thin Mint cookies. What are your favorite Junk Food indulgences?
19. July 21 - Cousins Day! No wonder the Hubs' family gathers around this date annually. On the Hubs' side there are currently 26 grandchildren and 3 great grandchildren, so there is never a shortage of kids for the cousins to hang out with. Last summer, the older teens recreated a photo of them taken in a cabin at our family reunion years prior to include the original facial expressions, hand gestures and positions on the couch. It cracks me up!
Cousin photo from kids to teens
20. National Cheesecake Dayfalls on the 30th of July. As a HUGE fan of cheesecake, growing up, I requested (and still request) for every birthday, my mom's cheesecake. This is my other all-time favorite cheesecake recipe - the decadent chocolate truffle cheesecake!
This Cherry Vanilla Smoothie with Chia tastes more like a cherry milkshake than a healthy (280 calories per serving and packed with calcium, protein and vitamin C and a great source of fiber, riboflavin, iodine, and phosphorus) way to fuel your morning.
Just a few ingredients tossed into a blender create a healthy, protein-packed way to start your day!
Chia seeds are one of the "superfoods" being coined as one of the healthiest foods on our planet! They are packed with antioxidants, protein, and fiber; high in omega-3 fatty acids (I was shocked to learn that they pack more omega-3's than salmon); and they deliver massive amounts of nutrients with very few calories. I love throwing them into smoothies for an added boost that doesn't distract from the flavor of the smoothie.
Did you know that cherries have natural anti-inflammatory benefits along with melatonin that helps regulate sleep?
Looking for an easy Fourth of July Celebration Dessert to take to a party or potluck?
Look no further than these Patriotic Brownie Dessert Kabobs!
Patriotic Brownie Kabobs
Okay.
So, I promised these were easy.
All you need is wooden skewers, fresh strawberries and or fresh watermelon, fresh blueberries, marshmallows (or angel food cake) and a batch of brownies.
I soak the wooden skewers in water for at least 20-30 minutes prior to threading anything on them as it eliminates the wood pieces peeling.
Next up, I cut the brownies into small squares (a little bigger than bite-sized pieces), and if you are using angel food cake instead of marshmallows, cut those as well.
Wash your fruit and cut your watermelon into bite-sized squares, if using.
Then alternate your fruit and brownie creating a "flag-like" patriotic treat.
I guarantee that these will be one of the most popular treats at your celebratory Fourth of July or patriotic gathering.
A girl in love with the seasons who wants to cram as much as she can into the 365 days of the year to live a life of bliss. Welcome to What Matters Most Now! I hope you will find inspiration and recipes you love.
