Plain Jane Ice Cream

My sweet mother-in-law bought me a lovely ice-cream maker for my birthday maybe seven or eight years ago but I am ashamed to admit that it was not used for years. I wanted to use it but I was letting our food "issues" get in the way. B was allergic to dairy until after her sixth birthday. Plus she was allergic to eggs and when she outgrew her egg allergy we found out that little L was highly allergic to eggs. 

Most chefs will tell you that you need cream and eggs to make a proper ice cream so my poor ice cream maker just sat and sat for years. Then I just went for it! Maybe it is because I am an "allergy mom" or even just a mom that I decided that I could care less about "proper ice cream" and more about home-made ice cream. It might not be fancy ice cream, in fact it is just plain vanilla, but it is good!

Plain Jane Vanilla Ice Cream

1 cup whipping cream

2 cups half & half

3/4 cup sugar

1/8 teaspoon salt

1 tablespoon vanilla extra

Combine the whipping cream, half & half, sugar and salt in a sauce pan. Heat the sauce pan over medium heat. Stir until all of the sugar has dissolved. 

Take the sauce pan off the heat and stir in vanilla.

Place mixture into a seal-able container and place in the refrigerator. It is best if mixture can sit over night to chill.

Pour mixture into your ice cream maker and follow its instructions. (I left my machine running for about 35 minutes but each machine is different.) Then freeze your ice cream until hard, at least two hours.

Enjoy!

Fat Tuesday

I am well aware that for tons of Americans Fat Tuesday means pancakes for dinner. Growing up that's what my mother always served my and my three brothers. And for many years I have served the very same thing. But this year the kiddos asked to try something different.... 

Hamburgers and fries! So we all headed out to one of our favorite burger joints, Market Burger. Market Burger uses local sourcing for all of their burgers which ensures nothing but the freshest of foods. Very farm to table approach to a traditional burger joint. The end result is a super yummy burger!

The best part about Market Burger is that my whole family can enjoy their fries. If your family is anything like mine, then you would know that restaurant fries are a big no-no. At most places we have to worry about cross-contamination. But happily Market Burger only fries fresh cut potatoes and they don't use peanut oil. Perfect if you ask me!

A yummy meal that was not that healthy yet allergy friendly. So happy that kiddos talk me into something different this Fat Tuesday!!!

Allergy Safe Halloween

Happy Halloween!!! My kiddos are so excited about today and the massive sugar coma they hope to be in by later tonight. I on the other hand don't really love Halloween. When you have children with food allergies holidays that revolve around candy can cause some anxiety. 

Luckily the Tootsie Company is looking out for those that cannot have peanuts, tree nuts and/or gluten. For a family that has one child who is allergic to peanuts and tree nuts and other who has Celiac Disease Tootsie's clearly marked packages are a huge help.

Yesterday I got all of our candy ready to hand out and I also put aside some candy for B and L. When they get home later tonight I will let them "trade" unsafe pieces of candy for safe pieces. Then we will let the sugar rush begin....well for one night!

TGIF XII

It is Friday and it's my baby's 5th baby. I am not sure if I should laugh or cry! I thank God everyday that L still enjoys a good cuddle. I really don't think my heart could take it if he did not love all the hugs I feel the need to give him!!!

{1} Kabobs

L simply loves kabobs! Which is a win-win for us since they are peanut-free and as long as the pita never touches B's plate, it is gluten free too! Oh and did I mention I will be getting a night off from cooking since Hubby will pick them up on the way home from work? Yeah all around!!!

{2} Dessert

L has asked that I make him red velvet cupcakes. The only problem is that the last time I made them I used eggs which is a no go for L. But I have a couple of ideas. I will let you know how it goes.

{3} Good vs Bad

Last year for his birthday L was gifted with Imaginext's Eagle Castle which he loves. It is his go-to toy but he feels as if something is missing. He "needs" more knights! So I think that the "Good Knights vs Dark Knights" play set will be perfect.

{4} T-Rex

It also turns out that every 5 year old needs a T-Rex. Who knew!?! (Hubby's note- Let's be honest, who doesn't need a T-Rex? It would make commuting a LOT easier. Especially if it had a laser on its back.)

{5} Epi-Pen Coupon

This might seem totally unrelated to L's 5th birthday but I promise it is not. L is allergic to peanuts and we found out the hard way. Simply put we now carry two Epi-Pens where ever we go. And if you are like us this coupon is awesome!

I hope you have a great weekend friends!!!

You can also find me at A Liz Adventures, Carolina Charm, Hello! Happiness and The Good Life Blog

A Back-To-School Must Have!

Back-to-school lists. Some people love them, others hate them. My daughter is over the moon just thinking about fresh pencils and notecards. My son...not so much! But if you have grammar school children you too are labeling an unreal amount of glue-sticks and notebooks right about now.

There is one all important back-to-school must-have for two out of our three children that is never on the list...Epi-Pens. Since B and L both have severe allergies they need to have Epi-Pens at all times. And it is up to me to make sure that their meds have not expired, which is why I call our pharmacy every August and order new Epi-Pens for the school year.

Since B carries her Epi-Pens at all times I was so happy to figure out that a two pack neatly fits into the "brush and pencil" bag by Vera Bradley. Both B and myself use these bags to keep our need Epi-Pens at the ready. 

Now all I need is for Vera Bradley to make a camo-print for L next year when he starts kindergarten! Because I have feeling that he will not love the colorful prints that B and I do!!!