No Toil Nor Labor Fear

I spent the majority of my day yesterday sewing.  Pioneer skirts (4) and aprons (2).
I am not a very skilled seamstress, but I do enjoy a good, simple project such as this.  I should have let Shilo sew her own, like Britta did years ago (time goes by way too fast!):

 (These girls loved a serious "pioneer" pic.  It was a challenge to keep a straight face.)

 (But then they would do something super silly... like dance around with their skirt-diapers.)

(Another attempt at the serious picture.)

But, since Lex opted to reuse/recycle Britt's old garb, I didn't think it would be fair to require Shi to sew her own things.  And besides, I kinda wanted to do it.  I know, bad mothering.  Hogging all the fun.  Passing up the chance to teach a valuable lesson and skill to my daughter.

(Note:  Both Shi and Lex have selected to make a baby quilt for one of their YW value projects.  We have purchased the fabric, and they will start laboring on them soon.  Maybe even next week.  I am excited to help them appreciate this fun and creative skill.  Good mothering redeemed.)

My end result:

All thanks to this little machine.  

I am indebted to it's longevity, durability, and fearlessness.  I hope to someday have a high-quality modern machine, then Pfaff 130 can take a rest, existing solely to bring enjoyment and pleasure as an honored and decorative element in a much appreciated sewing room (however, I will need a few more kids to move out before THAT happens).  Unless mi madre takes it back.  A discussion argument story for another day.

There's more toil and labor lined up for today.

I need to make bonnets.  They intimidate me a bit, especially since I don't have a pattern.  I may try to tackle that project... or not.  Although it certainly sounds more appealing than

weeding the garden (no, we did NOT plant a single solitary seed this year - so it's a complete cesspool of noxiousness)

touch-up painting (almost the WORST possible job, other than...)

painting the basement closets

priming the handrail

painting doors and trim

Bill has been at the LDS Career Workshop the past two days, leaving me to labor alone.  The job hunt is progressing (since I know you're wondering), and there are a few really great possibilities on the horizon.  

In an effort not to jinx them, I will refrain from further comment until possibilities become realities.
Prayers are always, always, always appreciated.

You Scream, I Scream

My new favorite appliance:

And it's inexpensive, too (which makes all things better ).

$30 at Costco, and $24 if you purchased during the last coupon offerings.  I talked Britta into one, and my sister into two.  Then my sweet sister kindly purchased our family a second, as an early Christmas 2011 gift (since it would be so useful and enjoyable during the summer months).  

We have been appreciating it ever since.

I had heard about these modern ice-cream makers before.  Both Jill and I could recall Alton Brown talking about them on a long-past episode of Good Eats.  One day, a month or so back, I passed a stack of them while shopping Costco.  I purchased one on a whim (plus they were fairly inexpensive, remember).  It had to be easier than the old-fashioned ice-pickin'-rock-salting-loud-motoring kind of ice cream making.  The only drawback:  this little baby only makes 1-1/2 quarts, not 6 quarts, like my beast at home.  Seriously, I thought, who needs 6 quarts of ice cream at one time?  Besides, isn't 1-1/2 quarts what you get when you buy those ever-decreasing-volume store-bought ice cream containers?  After a successful self-persuasion, I was in the check-out line, ready to purchase. 

That was one awesome decision.

And as the recipient of generous and early gift-giving, I am the lucky owner of dos.

I have made numerous batches of ice cream since.  It is easy, as promised.  It is creamy and delicious.  One batch makes the perfect amount for my family, and a double batch works perfectly when you need a little more (I took a double double batch to the Leaks for the Fourth... we only used a single double batch, so BONUS, we've had leftovers all week). 

I don't think I'll ever go back to ice-picking again, despite the nostalgia of it.

My niece, Hannah, getting a workout back in 2006

(My old-fashioned ice cream maker had the option of motor OR hand-crank, so I'll probably hold on to it, just in case.  Bill has taken it to Scout Camp before... you never know when that hand-crank will come in handy.)

Here's my tried-and-true 1-1/2 quart Cuisinart ice cream maker recipe (tweaked from a recipe given to my by mi madre, years back):

Good Ice Cream 

(mi madre titled it)

1-1/2 cups cream

1-3/4 cups milk (2% to skim is fine)

1 cup sugar

1 dash salt

Vanilla to taste (I've been using my Mexican vanilla... yum-o)

1/3 cup light corn syrup (I use Walmart's Great Value brand... good and cheap)

Stir sugar, salt, and vanilla into cream and milk to dissolve.  Add corn syrup and stir.  Turn on ice cream machine and pour mixture into frozen bowl.  Set a timer for 20 to 25 minutes.  Voila!

Some variations we've tried:

Mint chocolate chip - add a few (up to 4 or 5) teaspoons of pure peppermint extract, then pour in mini semi-sweet chocolate chips the last 5 minutes of freezing.

Chocolate - add Hershey's chocolate syrup.  This turned out a little softer than the regular batches, so I'm not sure if the liquidity of the syrup disrupted the perfect balance of the other ingredients.  I will probably try to adjust the recipe next time we try it.

I plan to add berries to my next non-vanilla (our favorite so far) batch.

This ice cream turns out smooth and creamy (vs. icy and runny), and when you freeze the leftovers, it scoops like store-bought ice cream (even works for ice cream cones) rather than icy chunks that need to be chiseled out of the container.

Yum-O.

My new concern:  my waistline.  Moderation is advised.