Play 'n Freeze Ice Cream maker

This past weekend we made homemade ice cream using this fun little device called the "Play 'n Freeze".  We got the smallest one that makes only a pint, but we are not big sweets eaters so we thought it would be the perfect amount to split.

How this works is you add your ingredients to a metal canister inside the ball.  We used fat free creamer, brandy, rum, and spices to make "egg nog".  On the other side of the ball is an opening where you add ice and rock salt.  I was really suprised how much ice this holds! -probably 5 lbs worth!

Then you shake it, roll it, toss it

for 10 minutes.  Stir. 

Shake, toss, and roll some more.

We actually went too long with ours (20 minutes total) so the ice cream was rock solid.

It is a fun little workout, suprisingly!

We hope to take this camping with us. 

The recipe ideas are ENDLESS

The final flavor wasn't what we had hoped, so we added some mint chocolate and chocolate peanut butter. 

Delish!

Oh technology!

My cute little Grandma Tolman is just beginning to grasp the concept of the internet.  I have tried to show her "texting" with my phone, or "chatting" via facebook, but that is a bit much for her to comprehend. (I was super bummed the day my brother Seth was visiting her and he and I were trying to link up his mac and my iphone so I could FaceTime talk to her.  Too bad we couldn't get it to work, that would have blown her mind -to see me actually talking to her via computer!).  Anyways... 

Apparently, my aunts read to her our blog posts and facebook updates.  To Grandma, everything is "facebook".  It is cute.  It makes me laugh.  She will ask "Did you hear about so and so on facebook?"  She is trying to incorporate the word "blog" into her vocabulary but  I don't think she quite knows how.

It is amazing how fast technology is progressing!  We are in the process of de-junking our basement and came across some cassette tapes.  We dont have anything to play them in.  Sad.

I also came across an old journal.  I don't know why this entry caught my eye but it made me laugh!

Spiffy!
That car was a beast -a gigantic black boat of a car but boy, we thought it was cool because it has electronic locks and windows! hahaha

Curried Butternut Squash Soup

Two posts in a row about food.
Hmmmm
but this soup is so amazing I wanted to share it with anyone looking for something new to try.  Last night was the second time we made it and it turned out just as good so this is a keeper!

Curried Butternut Squash Soup
1 medium onion, chopped (1/2 cup)
3 Tbsp. butter
3 tsp. red curry powder or curry powder (we used hot curry powder)
3 tsp. grated fresh ginger (we used ground ginger powder)
1/2 tsp. salt
1 can (14oz) reduced sodium chicken broth (we also mixed our own with chicken bullion cubes once)
1 1/4 cups water
1 1/2 lbs butternut squash (about 4 cups) peeled and cut into 1" cubes
1 can (14oz) unsweetened coconut milk (Imperial Dragon is a great brand)
1/2 cup of half-and-half or light cream (we used our coffeemate coffee creamer last night)
1/3 cup chopped fresh cilantro (we used frozen cilantro from our garden last year)
Optional:
Skott added some smoked paprika and minced garlic as well.

In a large saucepan, cook onion in butter over medium heat for about 10 minutes, or until tender.  Stir in curry poweder, ginger, and salt.  Cook 30 seconds more.
Stir in chicken broth and water, bring to a boil.
Add squash (we pre-steamed our squash so it cooks faster).  Return to boiling, then reduce heat and let simmer (recipe says for 40 minutes, but that is if your squash isn't pre-steamed).
When squash is tender, let soup cool slightly.  Transfer half of the cooled soup to a blender or food processor.  Blend until smooth.  Combine back into saucepan.  Stir in coconut milk, creamer, and cilantro.  Heat.

Now, here is a question for you:
Does anyone have a good method for recipe keeping?  We get a lot of recipes online and print them off, therefore, we have lots of various sized print-outs of recipes.  We hate recipe boxes.  We like to be able to write our modifications on the recipe, notes, etc.  We currently have a drawer full of recipes.  Some of the really good ones I have put in plastic sleeves but they are still an unorganized mess. 
How do YOU store, organize, etc your recipes?  Any suggestions? 
I don't really have the time or desire to hand-type all of them so they are uniform, plus I like pictures :)
And how do you handle recipes you see and clip from a magazine?  You want to try them, but what if they are crap?  What do you do with them before trying them? 
Help :)

Bread

A friend of ours shared a wonderful bread recipe with us. 
Thanks Molly! -I think?  I don't know, I have a weakness for good bread but I like this recipe because it keeps for a long time in the fridge and you can make whatever sized loaf you need so you don't have a bunch sitting around calling you from the kitchen.

This was my first attempt.  We used them as bread bowls for cheddar broccoli soup on a cold winter day.

heavenly

I have made several more batches since then, each time experimenting with something new.  I did a rosemary and garlic batch that was fabulous.  Right now I am trying a batch with Guiness as the liquid instead of water.  Not sure how that will turn out with the yeast activation, etc but I will keep you posted!

Here's a link to the website with the recipe:
http://www.motherearthnews.com/Real-Food/Artisan-Bread-In-Five-Minutes-A-Day.aspx?page=9

 There is quite a bit of information here but the recipe I have been using is:
1 1/2 Tbsp yeast
1 1/2 Tbsp salt
6 1/2 cups flour
3 cups water

We use a pizza stone and the bottom of our broiler pan for the water in the oven.

My next step:  tackle foccacia

Update:
So the Guiness beer idea -not so much.  It made the bread an interesting color, but NONE of the flavor was there.
Last night I tried a regular recipe with big chunks of sharp cheddar cheese and some jalapenos mixed in.  That was amazing.  Oh, and I put a little of the jalapeno juice in the dough.  Tasty!
Tonight I am making little bun sized loaves to use for tilapia sandwiches....  Anyone hungry?

The Flying Pig

If you're ever in Wisconsin, it is worth taking a drive up to Door County.
This has become our ocean away from home.... the closest thing to the beach we can get here in the Midwest.

A must on the list of stops is the coolest place called "The Flying Pig".  Here is a link to their website:
http://www.theflyingpig.biz/
Technically, I guess they are in Algoma, which is south of Door County, but it's a slight detour on our way home so it is lumped in with Door County.
It is wonderful and inspirational to walk their grounds and see all the neat plants and displays:

We got to meet the artist that designed this.  There were live birds nesting on the left support post.

These are trained apple trees.  I love this technique!

The also carry the most amazing muffins and have delicious espresso!


Last year for our anniversary we bought a really neat clock from The Flying Pig.  I also got a REALLY cool "Plant a Lamp".  You know those touch lamps? -well, this is similar only it is a lamp in a plant and you touch the leaves of the plant to turn it on and off.  No joke.  I saw it working.  I haven't planted mine yet, as I am still searching for that perfect pot to put it in.  Here's the link to "Plant a lamp":
http://www.plantalamp.net/

So if you're ever near Algoma and need some creative inspiration, I highly reccommend The Flying Pig.  The owners are awesome and the staff is always friendly.

stooopid cancer

Izzy had a mast cell tumor removed a couple months ago.  It was first spotted a short time after we started fostering her in Aug. 2007.
Well dang the luck, I just found another one on her other shoulder that looks exactly like the first one did so many years ago. I just hope it is as slow-growing as the first one.  She had malignant cancer already when she was rescued from the puppy mill in Oklahoma so every day with her is a gift.  She has just made such an amazing transition that I want her to have many more years left to enjoy life like it should be!

It's not often that Fucie and Izzy snuggle.  They play quite a bit, but Fucie doesn't seek her out like he did Rori.  Maybe it's because Izzy literally tried to kill him the first 4 months we had her.  Or could it be because of the time she tried to drag him across the top of a baby gate by his jaw?  Or maybe the fact that a couple times a year she had unpredictable bursts of regression wherein she attacks him with intent to kill for no apparent reason?
Hmmmm,
can't blame him for being leary.
But last night they both snuggled on the couch with me after Skott went to work.  Proof that with enough time, patience, and discipline, even the worst cases can be rehabilitated.
Please, think twice before you buy a dog from a pet store or backyard breeder.  Pet stores get their stock from puppy mills -like where Izzy came from.  Lives spent living in cages stacked on top of eachother, dark, cold, no human interaction, cages layered in feces and urine.
To refresh:
When we picked Izzy up she had already been to two other foster homes.  We were her last hope before euthanasia.  She was filthy and her back legs were solid callouses from the concrete pad she was kept on.  She didn't know how to eat food from a dish.  She has no teeth -she wore them off trying to chew her way out.  She is completely blind in one eye due to injury neglect.  She was terrified of other dogs, didn't know how to walk on a leash.... it was heartbreaking.

Please, visit the humane association.  Google "(breed you're interested in) + resuce" and I guarantee you will get hits.  Every breed has a rescue organization.

Skott's latest creations

I absolutely LOVE Skott's latest artistic outlet:

These bracelets are all made from recycled/reclaimed scrap pieces of wood.

This one he made for me out of 100+yr old oak heat registers from the first house we ever owned:

This one is from a piece of oak that was headed to the burn pile at work:

And finally, who can forget the pallets?  Yes, more wonderful creations from the pallet wood:

I am very lucky and very proud to have such a talented husband!