How to Make Your Own Magic Shell Ice Cream Topping

 

 

It has come to my attention that some of you didn’t know you could make your own hard ice cream topping. But you same people knew all about the current Gold/White vs. Blue/Black dress debate. 

Good for you, for keeping up on the social media relations.  After all, this is 2015 and that kind of stuff comes up in conversation often.  Homemade hard shell though? Not so much. 

Let’s get a little old fashion and give this a try though, okay?

 

Now we don’t really have this often (ice cream, YES.  This topping though, no), I’d say maybe once or twice a year.  It is nice to be able to make it yourself for two reasons:

1.      Less junk goes into it.

2.     We don’t have an extra bottle lying around taking up space in the cupboard. Do you see the label peeling off that thing?  I should probably chuck it!

 

I chose not to use fancy organic ingredients for this, but just to show you the bare bones of this recipe.  Baby steps, right?

If you aren’t making it often, you certainly don’t need specialty items for it.  If you do however make your own peanut butter, buy the better coconut oil, and good dark chocolate, by all means, use those!  It’ll be delicious either way.

This tutorial is ridiculously easy.  Ready….

Mix Peanut Butter, Chocolate Chips (or whatever chocolate you have around), and Coconut Oil in a pan on low-med.  Any higher and you’ll burn it.  Keep stirring until it has reached a nice liquid-like consistency. 

 

Then drizzle it over your ice cream.  DONE!

 I wish I could show you a picture of this step, but folks, after stirring and smelling this peanut buttery goodness, I set my camera down so I could indulge!  We also had friends over.  I didn't want to seem TOO obsessed. 

You other foodie type bloggers know what I'm talking about, don't you?  You set the bowl down, snap a picture, give it a quarter turn, snap again.  Decide to move to the table, same drill, then realize it's melting.  Give up, put the camera down and eat it before it's a total waste.

*If you have a peanut allergy, ran out of peanut butter, or don’t like peanut butter {GASP}, it’s alright to just leave it out of the recipe.*

How it works?  The coconut oil gets hard as it hits the COLD ice cream, causing the mixture to take on a hard consistency. 

If you’re one of those people that need ratios, here it is:

1 C. Chocolate chips

1/2 C. Coconut Oil

1/4 C. Peanut Butter

I don’t ever, ever, ever measure this anymore though.  I just scoop out whatever amounts I feel like, being sure to use plenty of coconut oil and it always turns out perfect! 

This is a fun treat for family nights, birthdays, etc.  It’s also an easy little kitchen project to do with kids.  It’s totally science and foods class in one, right? 

The clean-up is a breeze!  Hot water melts the leftover chocolate right out of the pan.

 

Psalms 119:103 - How sweet are your words to my taste,
    sweeter than honey to my mouth!

 

 

 

 

Printer Troubles

I sent this off to my hubby, then the toddler just whispered this mixed up sentence into the printer (in her adorable little voice)... "me    put    in   there   beads". Crap. Pretty sure we can all decipher that one without any trouble. BUT who can fix this printer? Waaaaahhhh!!

My Friend, Amy.

Amy Elizabeth Hild. September 9th, 1987 - February 25th, 2015

Amy. Elizabeth. Hild. 

I’ve known Amy’s full name for well over 10 years, and I’ve never forgotten it.  She used to doodle it in her math notebook all.the.time.  She’d put fancy designs around her name and play around with different lettering.  She’d occasionally get reprimanded for drawing, rather than looking at the board.  Amy later became a graphic designer.  It was apparent that this was her passion and gift, even as a kid.  How cool is that?

Amy was a year younger than me in high school, but we were in the same math class.  I’ve never been more grateful for my lack of math skills and dependence on a calculator.  It meant I got to spend an entire school year sitting next to Amy in Mr. Perry’s class at Clear Lake High School.  She was fun, she was honest, and she was beautiful.  She explained math to me in a way I could understand.  If I was stuck, she helped me, without judgment.  She did everything without judgment. 

I never had any reason to be upset with her.  I can remember one particular day when she gave me a picture of herself.   Rather than the normal crappy school pictures this was a beautiful portrait that her parents took her to have done.  She talked about singing in church and I remember thinking “Is there anything you DON’T do?”  I may have even said that out loud.  It didn’t make me jealous, but made me admire her even more.  She had so much talent, and she inspired me. 

Last Wednesday was much like any other snowy day in Iowa.  We slacked a little on our traditional schooling and instead made tags to attach to a stack of sleds we bought to give away. 

The kids were making their Random Act of Kindness tags as I supervised, taking pictures to blog about the experience. 

 They made a list of who they wanted to give them to, prayed over the list and for the people, and then went out delivering.  Before I knew it they were having a little sledding party on the hill across the street. 

Afterwards the kids and a neighbor mom ended up here, for treats and hot chocolate.  I silently praised God for our neighborhood, and all the love and community we’ve found here. 

I was distracted doing real life, and not checking my phone.  I love those moments. 

-We were living our day like a perfect tribute to Amy, before we even knew she was gone.  Amy was a good deeds do-er.  Yes, I made that phrase up, but it really does describe her. 

 

After everyone left here I cleaned up and took a seat on the couch to “veg out” with my phone (it happens).  One of the first things I read on Facebook was this:

I yelled out a big “NO, NO, NO, NOT AMY!”

I worried that this was a mistake and felt bad about how it must have worried her family before they found out she was fine.  I sat like this for quite a while, before I realized how NOT FINE I was.  I was in absolute denial.  And I stayed that way, until this morning, when my husband and I attended Amy’s Celebration of Life.

I needed the closure, I needed the community.  I am so thankful for all the people who were there, banned together in support for Amy’s family. 

My heart ached for her fiancé, but by the end of the service, it just rejoiced.  He found Jesus through Amy.  How lucky he was to be so close to her and to spend all the days together that they did.  I think of all the experiences they had, and I just smile.  Amy was an advocate for Jesus.  Her life was lived on purpose, with purpose.  

 Her funeral was so large that, I kid you not, there were parking attendants directing traffic in the parking lot!  There was a room for overflow because the sanctuary was full, despite the staff/volunteers bringing in extra chairs, multiple times.  I mean WOW!  I can only hope to have a funeral where so many people come together to show support to my family, after I’ve passed. 

Today as I sat down to start writing this I looked back at Amy and I’s Facebook messages to each other, dating way back to 2008.  I had forgotten all we’d been through and all we had talked about.  Now that she’s gone I can clearly see why we had some of those conversations when we did, even though at the time they didn’t seem like they would be so life changing.  They were.  For her and I both.  Amy didn’t use social media as a mask, it was a tool to her.  She was just as genuine online as she was in person.  She was a one of a kind. 

I am forever grateful for getting to meet Amy Elizabeth Hild while she was on this Earth.  I’m grateful I was able to call her a friend, and I am grateful I was touched by her passionate spirit.  She taught me so much more than just some silly math facts (sorry, Mr. Perry!). 

 

Amy’s Obituary  

Amy’s Blog 

 

 

 

Memories For My Baby Girl: Daddy Twirls You Around the Kitchen

My memory may fail me at some point.  I know this, because it has before.  This little blog is not only my place to encourage others, but to chronicle my thoughts and store my memories, in case I ever forget these sweet moments.  I have no idea how long my posts will stay on the internet.  It's my hope that someday my children can see these and know they were so very cherished.

 

This Thankful Thursday is dedicated to my amazing husband.  He does so much to help me keep this house running smooth, clothes on our backs, and food in our bellies.  I thank him for those things, although I don't say it nearly enough.

 

The thing I want to thank him for today though, is dancing with our daughters and rocking around the kitchen with our son.

 

 I'm blessed to have a fun husband, even if sometimes that means I feel inadequate for being the party pooper.  

They really would listen to music and dance all night if I weren't here to stop them.  

 

Our youngest loves to shout "let's dance!" in the bathtub with her duckies.  She then giggles and twirls them, or stirs the water to make the little plastic duckies dance.  The ducks are dressed as a bride and groom (a gift from my brother and sister-in-law around the time of their wedding). 

Even more special is when that same little girl runs into the kitchen and asks her daddy to dance.

"Dance?" She says with a smile and her hand held out high to meet his.

 

And even more special than THAT will be the day he twirls her around the dance floor at her wedding reception.  We're in no hurry, and I'll savor each day between now and then.  I am still greatly looking forward to that day though.

 

You see, these moments are special and great, and I love every bit of it.  You know what though? I know there is far greater to come.  What a great promise to believe in.

 

Greater things are yet to come.

Why I'm Pulling Back the Shades and NOT Seeing 50 Shades of Grey

Ladies, we need to talk.  Grab a cup of coffee, this may take a while. 

I know many of you are really looking forward to seeing the 50 shades of Grey movie this weekend.  But can I just ask, WHY?  What about it is appealing to you?

Now before you envision me sitting up high on my soap box writing this to you, I want you to know that I too was tempted to see the movie, read the books, and fall victim to the ridiculous amount of advertising the brand has put out there.  I even bought all 3 books for my own mother!  Clearly I didn’t know what they were about or I wouldn’t have bought them for her.  For a friend maybe, but my mom? ewww. 

From what I know, the story line that goes along with 50 shades has left me with this feeling of being ever so thankful that my husband isn’t a dominant man who pushes me around in the bedroom, or anywhere else. 

50 shades is a fantasy that takes you on an unrealistic journey.  Or at least that’s what we would hope.  But for many couples, that’s their reality.  And it isn’t healthy.

My husband and I have had to work to overcome our intimacy and sexuality issues.  Body issues, experience and lack of experience issues, etc., etc.  

We’ve been together 11 years and are at a great place in our marriage, so I honestly believe I would be okay watching the movie.  BUT why risk all that we’ve worked for?  This stuff is bad folks, really bad. 

My real issue with this movie, and just the view that society has on sex is that it’s just that.  It’s just sex.  Worse than that is how Mr. Grey presents himself as this dominant controlling man. 

I pray to God that my daughters NEVER see this movie, or get the idea that marrying a man in this image is okay. 

I’m honestly worried for the young women watching this film and how they’re going to think this behavior is okay.  It is NOT okay.  It is NEVER okay to be taken advantage of.  I’ve read the 50 shades advocates saying “but he offers to have her sign a contract”, “she knew what was coming”.  Honestly, you think that makes it okay? 

Sex is not meant to be separate from LOVE.   I’m promoting the book called Pulling Back the Shades and doing a book study on it.  The authors do a great job of explaining it like this:

“Your sexuality was never meant to be separate from your deepest spiritual and relational longings but to be an expression of them.”

Think about what that means.  Analyze it and apply it.   

I have so much more to say on this, but I don’t want to get too graphic or too wordy.  The PBTS book does such a great job explaining and teaching about this that I’ll just refer you on to that. 

I’ll be hosting a giveaway for the book PULLING BACK THE SHADES!  Check back HERE or my FACEBOOK page for more details coming soon!

 

Ps.  As I’m editing through this I want to tell you more, give you specifics, open my heart wide and pour it all out.  Honestly I’m too scared though.  Satan has been attacking me hard through this whole Pulling Back the Shades journey.  I’ve missed countless study groups, church services, and dates to meet up with women and talk about the book.  Satan knows how powerful this book is and he will stop at nothing to keep us from sharing God’s truth on intimacy.  I have felt so defeated by this, but I have a great group of women praying for me and encouraging me to just keep pressing forward.  The harder the enemy fights us, the more we know this is exactly what God wants us to be doing.