Celebrated my 10-year anniversary working at Bethlehem today.
My goodness.
Ten years ago, freshly graduated from college, I was elated to get the message on my answering machine asking if I'd be interested in a part-time job.
Ten years. Seven bosses (give or take). Three campuses. A husband and two boys.
And more gifts of grace than I can count, traced back through this work.
So thankful.
Tuesday, August 26, 2014
Monday, August 18, 2014
Easiest-Ever Homemade Ice Cream
I have decided that food is one of my love languages. So it was just delightful to have the South Campus staff and their families over for a "taco bar" picnic in the park yesterday. The Lord was so kind that the deluge of rain didn't break forth until Ben was backing the van-full of picnic supplies back to our garage to unload!
Homemade ice cream was on the menu for dessert, and at the request of a friend, here is the recipe! (Well, actually 4 recipes.)
No-churn ice cream. No ice cream maker required. Two basic ingredients make the base. And then just imagine the possibilities from there ...
From my heart to yours, here they are:
Strawberry Cheesecake No-Churn Ice Cream
1 c. graham cracker crumbs
2 T. butter, melted
1 can sweetened condensed milk
6 oz. cream cheese, softened
1 pint heavy whipping cream
1 c. strawberries, mashed
2 pieces cheesecake, in bite-size pieces (optional)
In a small bowl, combine graham cracker crumbs and butter until well-mixed. Let cool to room temperature.
In large bowl, beat together the sweetened condensed milk and cream cheese, until creamy and smooth. Add cream and beat on medium-high for 5 minutes, or until stiff peaks form. Fold in cheesecake pieces, if desired.
In a freezer-safe container, pour half the milk/cream mixture. Swirl half the mashed strawberries on top. Sprinkle half the graham cracker crumbs on top. Repeat layers. Freeze at least 6 hours.
Serves 10-12
Mint Chocolate Chip No-Churn Ice Cream
1 can sweetened condensed milk
1 t. mint extract
11 drops green food coloring
1 pint heavy whipping cream
1 c. semi-sweet chocolate chips
In large bowl, beat together the sweetened condensed milk, mint extract, and food coloring. Add heavy whipping cream, and mix on medium-high for 5-7 minutes, or until stiff peaks form. Fold in chocolate chips.
Pour into a freezer-safe container. Freeze at least 6 hours.
Serves 10-12
Coffee Toffee Caramel No-Churn Ice Cream
1 can sweetened condensed milk
2 T. instant coffee granules
1 pint heavy whipping cream
1/2 c. toffee pieces
3/4 c. caramel ice cream topping, just warm enough to drizzle
In a small bowl, combine sweetened condensed milk and coffee. Microwave at 30 second increments until the coffee dissolves. Refrigerate for 30 min or until cool.
In large bowl, beat together the sweetened condensed milk mixture and heavy whipping cream on medium-high for 5-7 minutes, or until stiff peaks form.
In a freezer-safe container, pour half the milk/cream mixture. Swirl half the caramel on top. Sprinkle half the toffee on top. Repeat layers. Freeze at least 6 hours.
Serves 10-12
And this one does use an ice cream maker, but it's still super easy ... and a treat for the dairy-free among us.
Chocolate Chocolate Chunk Dairy-Free Ice Cream
3 c. almond milk, divided
1/4 c. cocoa
1/4 c. sugar
4 bananas
1 c. semi-sweet chocolate chunks
In a small bowl, microwave cocoa, sugar, and 1 c. almond milk for 40 seconds. Pour into a blender. Add 2 c. almond milk and bananas.
Blend until smooth.
Pour into ice cream maker, and churn until thick and frozen (20-30 minutes for ours). Add chocolate chunks for the last 5 minutes of churning, or sprinkle on top. Serve immediately or pour into a freezer-safe container and freeze.
Serves 10-12
Note: The inspiration for these no-churn ice cream recipes came largely from here.
Homemade ice cream was on the menu for dessert, and at the request of a friend, here is the recipe! (Well, actually 4 recipes.)
No-churn ice cream. No ice cream maker required. Two basic ingredients make the base. And then just imagine the possibilities from there ...
From my heart to yours, here they are:
Strawberry Cheesecake No-Churn Ice Cream
1 c. graham cracker crumbs
2 T. butter, melted
1 can sweetened condensed milk
6 oz. cream cheese, softened
1 pint heavy whipping cream
1 c. strawberries, mashed
2 pieces cheesecake, in bite-size pieces (optional)
In a small bowl, combine graham cracker crumbs and butter until well-mixed. Let cool to room temperature.
In large bowl, beat together the sweetened condensed milk and cream cheese, until creamy and smooth. Add cream and beat on medium-high for 5 minutes, or until stiff peaks form. Fold in cheesecake pieces, if desired.
In a freezer-safe container, pour half the milk/cream mixture. Swirl half the mashed strawberries on top. Sprinkle half the graham cracker crumbs on top. Repeat layers. Freeze at least 6 hours.
Serves 10-12
Mint Chocolate Chip No-Churn Ice Cream
1 can sweetened condensed milk
1 t. mint extract
11 drops green food coloring
1 pint heavy whipping cream
1 c. semi-sweet chocolate chips
In large bowl, beat together the sweetened condensed milk, mint extract, and food coloring. Add heavy whipping cream, and mix on medium-high for 5-7 minutes, or until stiff peaks form. Fold in chocolate chips.
Pour into a freezer-safe container. Freeze at least 6 hours.
Serves 10-12
Coffee Toffee Caramel No-Churn Ice Cream
1 can sweetened condensed milk
2 T. instant coffee granules
1 pint heavy whipping cream
1/2 c. toffee pieces
3/4 c. caramel ice cream topping, just warm enough to drizzle
In a small bowl, combine sweetened condensed milk and coffee. Microwave at 30 second increments until the coffee dissolves. Refrigerate for 30 min or until cool.
In large bowl, beat together the sweetened condensed milk mixture and heavy whipping cream on medium-high for 5-7 minutes, or until stiff peaks form.
In a freezer-safe container, pour half the milk/cream mixture. Swirl half the caramel on top. Sprinkle half the toffee on top. Repeat layers. Freeze at least 6 hours.
Serves 10-12
And this one does use an ice cream maker, but it's still super easy ... and a treat for the dairy-free among us.
Chocolate Chocolate Chunk Dairy-Free Ice Cream
3 c. almond milk, divided
1/4 c. cocoa
1/4 c. sugar
4 bananas
1 c. semi-sweet chocolate chunks
In a small bowl, microwave cocoa, sugar, and 1 c. almond milk for 40 seconds. Pour into a blender. Add 2 c. almond milk and bananas.
Blend until smooth.
Pour into ice cream maker, and churn until thick and frozen (20-30 minutes for ours). Add chocolate chunks for the last 5 minutes of churning, or sprinkle on top. Serve immediately or pour into a freezer-safe container and freeze.
Serves 10-12
Note: The inspiration for these no-churn ice cream recipes came largely from here.
Wednesday, August 13, 2014
Savoring a Few Last Days
Crazy as it seems, August is rolling full tilt toward September, and we have just a week and a half before Daddy starts his fall semester.
So we are really trying to settle in and savor each of these brief days!
A few recent highlights...
These days may be flying by, but they are full of lots of mercies and reasons to be thankful!
So we are really trying to settle in and savor each of these brief days!
A few recent highlights...
Sunday after church ... one of our favorite times of the week!
Pop-Pop came for dinner!
Everybody loved it (and he even brought Victor a red balloon!).
Extremely cool
Picnic in the park
Big smiles for Daddy
I can hear Josiah's throaty laugh just looking at this picture...
A big treat ... they re-surfaced our roads. So many big trucks!
Victor and I made cookies, and then Ben and Victor delivered them to the workers.
Friendly fellows, they would wave back to Victor when they drove by.
Tasty muffin from Auntie Lori!
This big brother LOVES his little brother!
And this little brother is getting bigger every day.
For a special treat, Daddy took Victor to Bandana Square to see all the train sets. They had a blast!
I love re-living some of these sweet moments...
These days may be flying by, but they are full of lots of mercies and reasons to be thankful!
Sunday, August 10, 2014
Weekend in Iowa
We made a trip to Iowa this weekend, to celebrate Grandma Vaupel's 92nd birthday celebration (and enjoy some time with family).
A picnic lunch with Auntie Lori on her lunch break
Happy boy (especially to be out of the car seat)
We had a wonderful picnic at the Hollenbeck farm
Victor was busy mowing the lawn
Saturday night we had a lovely time playing ring-around-the-rosie.
And later Saturday ... fishing!
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