Homemade Vanilla Bean Ice Cream

I feel like I've been a little pushy with all of my "perfect" or "go-to" recipes recently. Like my Perfect Green Smoothie, and Basic Granola, and Perfect Chocolate Chip Cookies

I'm sorry.  Actually I'm not sorry. Why wouldn't you want a great and trusted recipe? I've been busy recently so cooking has been slim, but what I have been making are classic recipes I'm excited to be mastering. That's where this "go-to" homemade ice cream recipe comes in. Here I go again...

You can buy some pretty good ice cream in the store these days, but nothing compares to homemade ice cream. I remember when I was really little always having homemade ice cream with our dessert at summer family gatherings. We used to have one of those big wooden makers you had to crank and use the ice cream salt, that then turned into an updated pink plastic version from Sam's, which has now turned into a countertop Cuisinart machine that does everything for you in about 25 minutes. The nostalgia may be lost from not have to put some elbow grease into it, but the taste of homemade ice cream really takes you there!

Homemade ice cream has to made at least once over the summer. Now that I have this delicious vanilla bean recipe, I know it is going to be made more than once. This just means I am also going to be making a lot of cobblers, pies, grilled fruit for it to be eaten with. 

Homemade Vanilla Bean Ice Cream
makes 1 quart adapted form Serendipity Sundaes

Ingredients:
2 cups milk
1 vanilla bean, 
3 egg yolks
3/4 cup sugar
1 cup heavy whipping cream
2 tsp. vanilla extract

Directions:
Slice your vanilla bean in half lengthwise. Using the back of your knife remove the caviar. Place the vanilla bean caviar and the pod in a sauce pan with the milk over medium heat. Bring to a soft boil, stirring often. After it has come to a boil, reduce to a simmer. While simmering, beat together the egg yolks and sugar in a heat-safe bowl for 3-5 minutes until pale yellow, light and fluffy.

Now you are going to temper the eggs. This is where you will slowly add the warm milk to the eggs to make sure you don't coddle them. First, remove the vanilla bean pod from the pot. Pour half of the warm milk to the egg sugar mixture, stirring quickly to incorporate. Then add the warm egg mixture back into the sauce pan of warm milk, stirring to combine. Still over low heat, stir for about 5-10 minutes until it coats the back of a wooden spoon. Take off the heat and add the heavy cream. 

Place the cream mixture into a clean bowl and place in the freezer for 25 minutes to chill. After it has chilled take it out of the freezer and stir in the vanilla extract. Pour the cream mixture into your ice cream maker and churn according to your machines directions. I have this machine so my ice cream churns for 25-30 minutes. 

Place in a plastic quart container and freeze for at least 3 hours. Overnight is best. *These containers are perfect for ice cream!

Cobbler and homemade ice cream, there is nothing better!

Annie

Bites of My Life

Yesterday evening after finishing up Sunday dinner at my parents, I had such a feel good moment come over me. I blasted Van Morrison, put the sunroof down, and took the extra long way back to my house as I watched the sun set. It truly feels like summer now. The mornings and evenings are warm and sunny. The days seem longer and summer food/activities/vibes are all streaming in. Gosh summer is good. I wrote a few times about my winter slump. I love me some cold weather, but there is nothing like the arrival of summer to lift your spirits. Summer spirits for the win!

-Has anyone tried Rocksbox? I've been doing it for the past month and I'm loving it! Read more about it here, and use my code annietuckerxoxo to get your first box free (normally a $19 value).
-My week usually always starts green as a way to recuperate from the weekend. Mornings are even more fun with my new nutri ninja I was gifted for my birthday! Kicks my 7 year old magic bullet's butt.
-On a podcast grind. Here are my faves, what are yours?
-Dinner this week looked like this: turkey meatballs with zucchini noodles and ramp pesto that mom and dad made.
-A massive London Fog and a change of scenery helped get through a rainy Wednesday. 
-Spent my Thursday evening getting schooled in hand lettering. I've been doodling ever since.
-#NationalDonutDay.
-My roommate is an engaged lady! 
-So so special having all my best friends in town to celebrate our Mads girl's engagement! We even got our Londoner to jump the pond for the weekend! 
-Successfully finished The Hills all the way through for about the 10th time. 
-Give me all the navy home decor. Dreaming of the day I have a pocket book that can afford this style.
-Looks like/tastes like summer! Peach cobbler and homemade vanilla bean ice cream.

Annie

My Current Obsession: Podcasts

Are you a podcast listener? I used to think it was so grandma to listen to a podcast, it seemed so book-on-tape. My thoughts have changed and I recently jumped on the podcast bandwagon. I was a serious Serial listener when it first came out, but had never really gotten into podcasts besides then. When Molly and I met up a few months ago she mentioned how she would be passing the time of her leg of the trip by listening to podcasts. I had a Spotify playlist loaded up, but podcasts? Hmmm. Being inspired by anything Molly does, I researched top podcasts and got my iPhone ready to go for my road trip.

Podcasts are still a little book-on-tapish, but far more intriguing. Since working again, music hasn't been fueling me. I need something more motivating. I love listening to them during my commute, while at work, and I especially love them while going on walks. It's crazy how they can help pass the time.

Podcasts I'm currently listening to...

Blissful Bites Podcast - In this podcast Nicole Culver of Blissful Eats interviews food entrepreneurs and female bloggers. I'm so inspired by the startup stories from people such as Jessica Merchant of How Sweet Eats and Samantha of Emmy's Organics!

The Edible Happy Hour - This is a local podcast just started by some of my favorite foodies. It is a roundtable discussion about food, drinks and local fare. 

Mystery Show - In this lighthearted podcast, Starlee Kine solves funny but curious mysteries. I won't giveaway much so we can keep it a mystery, but trust me, it's just a fun one!

Bon AppΓ©tit Podcast- Commentated by Andrew Rapoport, the editor-in-chief of Bon AppΓ©tit, this podcast interviews, chefs, foodies, and writers alike. They have guests such as Ina Garten, Bobby Flay and David Chang. 100% obsessed.

Podcasts I'm excited to listen to...

Being Boss - For creatives and entrepreneurs. One of the hosts, Kathleen, is a local okie!

Lady Lovin' - Co-hosted by my Laguna Beach favorite Lo Bosworth, she joins besties Jilly Hendrix and Greta Titleman to talk about the basic realness of life. 

Burnt Toast by Food52 - For those who never stop wondering about food.

Lady Gang - A celebrity driven podcast that is supposed to be a hilarious telling of what it is like to live in Hollywood. 

Any other podcasts favorites I should know about?

Annie

Bites of My Life

So many great moments over the last week. There was the big monumental thing, like turning 23, but my favorite moments from the past few days are all "little things." Small simple pleasures such as the getting to fill my house Monday night to welcome the return of The Bachelorette, having my first s'more of the season, giving my house a good deep clean (it really is the little things), finding my fitbit after it's two month hiatus, and being gifted the most thoughtful cookies decorated to look like some of my favorite things!

I spent my Memorial Day weekend getting in a few birthday celebrations, spending a couple days at the lake with friends and family, stuffing my face with two many chips and crackers and handfuls of snack mix to even count, a swell little dinner with mom and dad, taking a swing at my golf game and some more Monday night Bachelorette (Thunder games need not be mentioned).

-My green tea latte obsession is getting extreme, yet I have no problem with it whatsoever.
-The Bachelorette is back and we are more than ready. Brackets and boy board in tow. 
-Wine down Wednesday.
-Hushpuppies and seafood to celebrate 23.
-Kathleen tried to tell me the cake she made me turned out ugly...I'm still trying to figure that one out too. 
-It was even better on the inside-lavender and blueberry with buttercream!
-A special birthday lunch with my girl Lindz at one of my favorite spots!
-The mix got gobbled up in less than 12 hours at the lake. Catch the recipe from last week's post.
-If only our pregame juju helped the Thunder win Saturday night.
-Doing our best to make it to the lake as many times possible this summer.
-Complete amateurs, but at least we're trying!
-The sweetest and tastiest final birthday surprise! Gingersnaps kills the cookie game! 

Annie

The Mix

I apologize in advance. This snack mix is highly addicting. So addicting that I had to go brush my teeth in the middle of making it so I would stop eating it all. At the same time I kind of want to say you're welcome, because it's so good. 

My sorority chapter advisor used to make us a similar mix when we would have long chapter meetings or during rush week. I had her send me the recipe forever ago and I've been making my version ever since. I would make it as a study snack, party food and it's also great for a road trip treat. I bring you this mix just in time for Memorial Day. Perfect to bring to barbecues or to shovel down while stuck in a cabin at the lake!

No boring chex or weird breadstick things in this mix. The wheat thins and oatmeal squares are my favorite! Feel free to swap out or add any ingredients. Cheez-its are a great addition, I also think popcorn or cheerios would be good. The mix requires no baking either. Once you pour on the seasoning it's ready to eat!

The Mix
yields a lot

Ingredients:
1 box wheat thins
1 box Quaker Oatmeal Squares Cereal
1 bag pretzels
1 bag Bugels
1 bag oyster crackers

Seasoning:
1 pkg. dry Ranch Dressing seasoning packet
1 cup vegetable oil

Directions:
Pour the bags and boxes of mix ingredients into a large paper grocery bag, roll down the top to seal the bag and shake to combine (I use two bags, double-lined so the oil doesn’t seap out of the bags). Whisk the ranch packet and oil ingredients together in a small bowl or shake together in a mason jar. Pour over dry mix. Close up paper bag again and shake shake shake! Store in an airtight tupperware or large plastic bag.

Note: this is easy to half! I typically make a 1/2 batch at a time and keep the remaining ingredients to make a second batch soon after!

I have a huge bowlful packed and ready to head to the lake with me this weekend. That is if I can refrain from eating it all before we leave...

Annie