Johnson’s Homemade Vanilla Ice Cream

/ Gail Johnson / 2 Comments

Hi, everyone!

It’s that time of year. Time to enjoy the outdoors with family. Honestly, I like nothing better than spending time with my family. And they like nothing better than food!

Today, I want to share a simple and easy family recipe for ice cream that I have tinkered with until I came up with this recipe. It’s the base for several different flavors. Today’s flavor is vanilla. Feel free to add as many toppings as you like. 

Johnson’s Homemade Ice Cream

ice-cream-700523_1280

 Ice cream ingredients

 2 cans condensed milk (any brand)
1 can evaporated milk
4 ½ cups whole milk
2-3 tbsp. vanilla (I go by taste. I don’t measure. I use lots of vanilla!)
1 box ice cream salt (I use pickling salt. I get better results.)
1 large bag ice
 
Materials
 1 ice cream churn

Instructions

Combine condensed milk, cream, milk, and vanilla in the canister. Stir well Place canister into the ice cream churn. Lock into place. Turn on the machine. If you wait, the ice and the salt can freeze the canister in place and it won’t turn. If this happens, you have to work until you get it to turn or start over. Bummer! So, turn on the machine and begin to layer ice and salt in the freezer bucket—1 part salt to 8 parts ice according to the salt-box.

Layering is an art you learn as you go along. I like to add thin layers of ice with more salt. That way, when the churn stops you can dig in without waiting.

If you like hard ice cream, drain the salt and ice when the churn stops, repack and allow to harden 1 hour, or pour ice cream in a freezer container and freeze.

This recipe makes half a canister because we like it fresh, not frozen. So we make enough for one afternoon and eat it all day long! If I were making a full canister, I would just double everything.

And there you have it. Simple. Easy. Delicious. A great way to spend the afternoon with family.

Blessings

Gail

 

You Are God

/ Gail Johnson

Often when going through certain circumstances, I find myself writing. Dark blue words spill on tear-stained paper as my frustrations leave me on the floor. But, as I continue to write, something begins to happen. My prayers become praises when I am reminded of His Faithfulness.

Psalms 23

As the words flow, they become part of me, never to be forgotten. Then, when life, once again, throws me for a loop, the words and music come out of nowhere and brings peace to my troubled soul.

Do songs come to mind when you’re in the midst of trials?

Prayer of Praise

Oh Lord, how I love You. I will lift my voice in praise to You. You are Faithful. Your mercies are new every morning! In times of trouble, You are there. I am not alone. Though I walk through darkened places, You are my light. I will not fear. When the enemy rages, You are my shield and buckler. I am safe from harm. Great is Thy Faithfulness! Great is Thy love and mercy! Let Thy name be forever praised.

Crossing the River

/ Gail Johnson / 2 Comments

In the book of Joshua, the priests were commanded to stand in the river, and the Bible said the flood waters of the Jordan rose upon a heap and they passed over on dry ground. Afterward, the Lord commanded that stones be taken and set as a memorial, a testimony to coming generation.

window2I have a memorial. It’s a sixty-year-old window hanging on my dining room wall—a—reminder of character building years. During those five years, we were stripped of everything but the absolute necessities.

It was “through” that time, I learned how to “to trust in Him” and “pour out my heart before Him” as Psalms 62:8 tells me to do. And when I became overwhelmed and felt as if the flood waters would overtake me, He comforted me. He whispered hope and encouraged me amid my troubles. He didn’t remove me from the situation, but He gave me the strength to cross to the other side.

It wasn’t an easy journey, by no means. But I came to understand that all seasons are necessary if I’m to grow. Something else I learned was seasons change. I will not stay in the place I’m in at the moment, for He promised I’d cross the river and take new ground.

Maybe you’re in transition. Maybe you’ve been stripped of everything but the necessities. Maybe you’re on a Spaghetti-O budget. Or maybe you’re without a car—pennies have become precious to you. Maybe you’re in a new field, uncertain and feeling vulnerable. Maybe you’re wondering if you’ll ever see the other side of the river.

Trust in the Lord. He never fails. Just as Joshua and the children of Israel crossed to the other side to claim the promised land, you will cross to the other side, too.

And when you do, I encourage you to write it down, or as I did, take part of that which helped mold you and hang it somewhere as a reminder. Then, when hard times come knocking again, and they will, remind yourself of the past victories and stand assured of this one thing: He is with you.

Fear not. Take courage. You’re not alone. Someone is praying!

Blessings

Gail