love

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

I awoke at 3 a.m. Monday morning, the face of a friend before me. I heard, “Fear not. Be strong. Take courage. You’re not alone. Someone is praying.” Wanting to reach out to this one without invading their space, I decided to share an encouraging word in a picture.

A word fitly spoken is like apples of gold in pictures of silver (Proverbs 25:11 KJV).

Someone is Praying

There are hurting people in this world. They need to know someone cares, even if, they’re not sharing their problems with the world.

Sadly, the first thing we do when we’re in need is circle the wagons and wait it out, especially if we’re in a ministry of helping others. We slap a mask on our face, afraid to let others see our fears, depression, and anything else that isn’t associated with an overcomer.

However, we must be truthful with ourselves and each other. Life isn’t easy. Jesus promised we would have troubles in this life. He also said, “Cheer up, He had overcome the world.” He promised we’re not alone. He’s with us and He gave us a wonderful gift called friendship.

Friends allow us to be ourselves. They see our faults and failures and still love us. Friends keep our secrets. Friends do not “share” our secrets as prayer requests. Friends lovingly correct us when we’re wrong. I’m happy to say I have such friends, who stand by me and pray for me.

Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends. John 15:13

We can do no greater thing than to lay aside part of our day to pray for one another. We may not always know what to pray for, but, the Holy Spirit does (Romans 8:26-27). So will you stand with me—join hands with me—and pray for those in need.

I’ve started my list below. Please feel free to add your request to it. I may not hear your requests, but I promise the One Who answers prayers will, and that’s what matters.

My Prayer List

The leaders of this world
Battle weary soldiers
Military families who wait for loved ones
Caregivers
The child who lives in fear
The people held in human trafficking
The missionary
The hungry (For that child who has eaten nothing but cereal for three days)
The lost
Those dealing with job loss
Those suffering from a debilitating disease
The loss of a loved one

After you have prayed, I urge you to put legs to this prayer and find someone in need and “be” the hands and feet of Christ. Let’s love one another enough to make a difference.

Remember, you are not alone. Someone is praying!