Fresh Strawberry Ice Cream (cuisinart)

Best made when strawberries are at their peak of freshness,
this ice cream is light, sweet and fruity.
Makes about 5 cups (ten ½-cup servings)
1½ cups fresh strawberries, hulled*
¾ cup whole milk
²∕³ cup granulated sugar
 pinch salt
1½ cups heavy cream
1½ teaspoons pure vanilla extract
1. Put the strawberries into the bowl of a food processor
fitted with the chopping blade. Pulse strawberries until
rough/finely chopped (depending on preference). Reserve
in bowl.
2. In a medium bowl, use a hand mixer on low speed or
whisk to combine the milk, sugar and salt until the sugar
is dissolved. Stir in the heavy cream and vanilla. Stir in
reserved strawberries with all juices. Cover and
refrigerate 1 to 2 hours, or overnight.
3. Turn on the Cuisinart® ice cream maker; pour the mixture
into the frozen freezer bowl and let mix until thickened,
about 15 to 20 minutes. The ice cream will have a soft,
creamy texture. If a firmer consistency is desired, transfer
the ice cream to an airtight container and place in freezer
for about 2 hours. Remove from freezer about 15 minutes
before serving.
 * Frozen strawberries may be substituted if fresh
strawberries are not available

Simple Vanilla ice-cream

 - 14 Servings Cuisinart Original Recipe -

Ingredients

1-1/2 cups whole milk
1-1/8 cups granulated sugar
3 cups heavy cream
1-1/2 tablespoons pure vanilla extract

Instructions

In a medium mixing bowl, use a hand mixer on low speed to combine the milk and granulated sugar until the sugar is dissolved, about 1 to 2 minutes.
Stir in the heavy cream and vanilla. Turn the machine on; pour the mixture into freezer bowl, and let mix until thickened, about 20 to 25 minutes. The ice cream will have a soft, creamy texture. If a firmer consistency is desired, transfer the ice cream to an airtight container and place in freezer for about 2 hours. Remove from freezer about 15 minutes before serving.

No-cook strawberry ice-cream

• 
• 1 (14-ounce) can sweetened condensed milk
• 1 (5-ounce) can evaporated milk
• 2 tablespoons sugar
• 1 1/2 cups whole milk 
• 1 (16-ounce) container fresh strawberries or 1 (16-ounce) package thawed frozen strawberries
• 2 tablespoons lemon juice 
• 1/4 teaspoon salt

Preparation

1. Whisk first 4 ingredients in a 2-quart pitcher or large bowl until blended. Cover and chill 30 minutes. Process strawberries, lemon juice, and salt in a blender or food processor until smooth. Stir into milk mixture.
2. Pour milk mixture into freezer container of a 1-quart electric ice-cream maker, and freeze according to manufacturer's instructions. (Instructions and times will vary.)
3. Remove container with ice cream from ice-cream maker, and place in freezer 15 minutes. Transfer to an airtight container; freeze until firm, about 1 to 1 1/2 hours.
4. Note: For testing purposes only, we used a Rival 4-quart Durable Plastic Bucket Ice Cream Maker and a Cuisinart Automatic Frozen Yogurt-Ice Cream & Sorbet Maker.

from Southern Living August 2004

Homemade Soft Pretzels

Yield: 8 pretzels

Prep Time: 45 min + rising time

Cook Time: 12 min

ingredients:

DOUGH:
3 teaspoons instant dry yeast
1 1/2 cups warm water (about 105 degrees F)
2 tablespoons granulated white sugar
4 cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon salt

CRUST:
1 cup water
2 teaspoons baking powder
coarse sea salt or kosher salt
1/4 cup (1/2 stick) butter, melted

directions:

1. In a large bowl, combine the yeast, warm water and sugar. Add in the flour and salt and knead until smooth (you can use your hands, or you can use a stand mixer with a dough hook for this part).

2. Grease a second bowl with nonstick cooking spray and place the dough into the bowl. Cover with greased plastic wrap or a clean dish towel and let rise for 30 minutes in a warm place.

3. Preheat the oven to 425 degrees F. Line 2-baking sheets with parchment paper or silpat mats.

4. Divide the dough into 8 equal parts. Roll each part into a rope about 24 to 26 inches long and form into a pretzel shape (see this post for detailed instructions on how to shape a pretzel).

5. In a shallow bowl, combine water and baking powder. Submerge each pretzel in the water and then place on the prepared baking sheets. Sprinkle with salt. Let the pretzels rest for 5 to 10 minutes.

6. Bake 12 to 15 minutes, or until golden brown. Brush each hot baked pretzel with melted butter immediately after taking them out of the oven.

Source: Kids Cooking Made Easy: Favorite Triple-Tested Recipes by Leah Schapira and Victoria Dwek

for photos go to http://www.recipeboy.com/2014/01/how-to-make-homemade-soft-pretzels/

homemade bubbles

looks fun!

heavy duty floor cleaner

1 cup white vinegar
1 tablespoon liquid dish soap
1cup baking soda,
2 gallons tap water, (very warm.) It leaves everything smelling amazing.

homemade tortillas

Ingredients

• 3 c all-purpose flour
• 2 tsp salt
• 2 tsp baking powder
• 3/4 c cold butter
• 3/4 c hot water

To begin, combine the flour, salt and baking powder together in a food processor* and give them a quick pulse to mix them. Cut the cold butter into little pieces and drop them in. Pulse the food processor until the butter is cut in and there no pieces larger than a pea. With the processor going, slowly pour in the hot water until it just comes together as a dough. Turn the dough out onto a clean surface and knead it for just a minute until it is smooth. Use a little flour if you need to. Form the dough into a ball, cover it with plastic wrap and let it rest 30 minutes.

Begin heating a dry, clean skillet over medium heat (preferably cast iron.) Cut the dough into 12 equal portions. Roll a portion in a ball and roll it out with a rolling pin, as thin as you can. Carefully place the tortilla in the skillet and cook for 30-45 seconds or until it is just beginning to get brown areas and is dry on the bottom. Turn it over and cook the other side. Place the warm tortilla in towels to keep it warm, and repeat with the remaining tortilla dough portions.

Enjoy!

Yield: 12 tortillas

Notes

*Note: If you do not have a food processor, combine this in a mixing bowl. Cut the butter in with a pastry blender and stir in the hot water. Then knead the dough and continue as above.

step-by-step photo instructions at http://thefoodiearmywife.com/homemade-tortillas/