Monday, July 30, 2012

THOUGHTS ABOUT THE BRICKYARD!!!



Guess who's leading the cup points after the Brickyard race???  For the first time since 2004!!!  Jr.'s also the only driver this year in cup to finish on the lead lap of every race.  Keep up the good work!  This could be his year! 

After Jimmie won the race, I immediately changed the channel.  I'm just over him.  I really wanted someone who hadn't won the Brickyard before to win, but, oh well....

I really like the ESPN NASCAR broadcast team.  They make great use of my favorite summer of 2012 mowing song, "Gold on the Ceiling" by The Black Keys. 

BBB

Wednesday, July 18, 2012

WATER, WATER EVERYWHERE!!

This past Saturday afternoon, my area of town got about 4" of rain in about an hour or so.  We've been needing rain and have been in a bad drought like a lot of the country.  We just didn't need ALL the rain at one time.  It sure did make my grass jump up though and it is no longer brown.  Here's a few pics I snapped after the rain.








There are always those folks who have to drive through flood water!!

The water went down in about 40 minutes.  Now this week, we're dealing with the heat again!  It was pretty hot mowing this morning.

BBB

Saturday, July 14, 2012

HOMEMADE PEACH ICE CREAM

Here are the ingredients you will need for a four-quart ice cream freezer:
4  fresh eggs
2 cups sugar
1 can of evaporated milk (12 oz)
1 pint of half and half
2 teaspoons vanilla
5 fresh, ripe peaches (if you do not have fresh peaches, use 16 oz. frozen peaches--thaw first, then puree)
milk, amount varies

Here's the step-by-step:

 
Pour the can of evaporated milk into a large mixing container and place it in freezer for one hour.






While the evaporated milk is chilling in the freezer, you can prepare your peaches. I like to puree mine in a blender. Any kind of blender will work.  When I use my small one, I usually have to blend half of the peaches at a time to make sure the peaches puree the way I like them.




Here's what the peach puree looks like after blending. I put this in the refrigerator to stay cool until I am ready for them.






Crack your 4 eggs into another mixing bowl.  Mix on high speed for about five minutes until eggs appear light and frothy.






Next, add two cups of sugar to your beaten eggs.  Beat for a couple of minutes, until your sugar is incorporated into the egg mixture.  Add 2 teaspoons of vanilla.





Now, get the bowl with the frosty evaporated milk out of the freezer and beat at high speed until it looks like this. (Make sure to rinse your beaters if using the same ones as before.) This will take 2 or 3 minutes.

The next step is to add your half and half to the egg/sugar mixture. Just blend until mixed well.  Now, add the peach puree to this mixture until blended. If your bowl is getting too full for the mixer, you can stir with a big spoon.

Now, get out your BIG mixing bowl.  Pour the contents of each of the other two mixing bowls into the big bowl. Use a large spoon to mix together well. If you do not have a large mixing bowl, you can just go ahead and pour this into your electric ice cream freezer aluminum container and mix with a long spoon.


Here's what it looks like combined into the big mixing bowl! This is going to be fun pouring into the freezer container!


I've now poured the mixture into the aluminum container.  You will now need to add milk (whatever % milk you like) to the "fill line". Sometimes I don't have to add very much milk, depending on how much fruit is added. So, don't worry about that, but don't overfill. 


Follow the instructions that come with your ice cream maker. In about 30 to 40 minutes, this is what your finished peach ice cream will look like! Spoon into bowls and enjoy!  Any leftovers can be spooned into one-cup freezer bowls for individual servings and placed in freezer for later use and to share with friends.   

OTHER FLAVOR VARIATIONS (on all, omit peaches)
Banana ice cream--Use four large very ripe mashed bananas 
Strawberry ice cream--Use one quart fresh, pureed strawberries. If you do not have fresh strawberries, you can use 16 oz. frozen strawberries. Thaw first, then puree.
Vanilla ice cream--leave out peaches. This flavor will use more milk than fruit versions.


*Note: For those concerned about raw eggs, pasteurized liquid eggs may be substituted.*

BBB

Wednesday, July 4, 2012

RECORDS BROKEN!!

Well, since my last post, there have been more record-breaking temperatures!  On June 29, it was 107, a new record and the new hottest day of my lifetime, so far!  Please don't break that record again this summer!! We need a break! June 30 was a record for that date in our city at 105.  July 1 was also 105, also a record for that date here.  July 2 was 104, another record day.  Finally, on July 3, we are below 100 at 96 degrees!!  IT'S HOT DON!!  I am thankful, however, for electricity and A/C.  Thinking of the many folks in Ohio and other states who still have no power due to storms this past Friday thru Sunday.


HAPPY INDEPENDENCE DAY!!

BBB