Homemade Rocky Road Chocolate Ice Cream - Without an Ice Cream Machine

When people ask if I like ice cream I reply “only good ice cream.” I am lactose intolerant in that my body can only handle a certain amount of lactose (a sugar found in dairy products). What does this have to do with ice cream? Well ice cream most of the time will upset my stomach a little eve if I have been avoiding dairy all day, so if I am going to have a bowl it better be DELICIOUS or it is not worth it.  This recipe (that I found here) is worth it. Technically it is not ice cream but rather a gelato.

INGREDIENTS:

2 1/2 cups Heavy Cream

3 tablespoons Unsweetened Cocoa Powder

5 ounces Bittersweet or Semisweet Chocolate, Chopped

1 cup Whole Milk

¾ cup Sugar or Honey (I use HONEY, yum)

Pinch of salt

5 Egg Yolks

½ teaspoon Vanilla Extract

1 cup Miniature Marshmallows

1 cup Chopped Nuts, Walnuts, Almonds, or Pecans

DIRECTIONS:

Step 1: Warm 1 cup of the cream with the cocoa powder in a medium saucepan, whisking to thoroughly blend the cocoa. Bring to a boil, then reduce the heat and simmer at a very low boil for 30 seconds, whisking constantly.

Step 2: Remove from the heat and add the chopped chocolate, stirring until smooth. Then stir in the remaining 1 1/2 cup cream. Pour the mixture into a large bowl, scraping the saucepan as thoroughly as possible, and set a mesh strainer on top of the bowl.

I love Trader Joe's chocolate bars for all my baking needs. taste great at a decent price

Step 3: Warm the milk, sugar (honey), and salt in the same saucepan. 

Step 4: In a separate medium bowl, whisk together the egg yolks. Slowly pour the warm milk into the egg yolks, whisking constantly, then scrape the warmed egg yolks back into the saucepan.

Step 5: Stir the mixture constantly over medium heat with a heatproof spatula, scraping the bottom as you stir, until the mixture thickens and coats the spatula (and reaches 170 degrees F on an instant-read thermometer).

Step 6: Pour the custard through the strainer and stir it into the chocolate mixture until smooth, then stir in the vanilla. Stir until cool over an ice bath or at room temp till cool.

Step 7: Chill the mixture thoroughly in the refrigerator (overnight). From here you have two options to use an ice cream machine or to not. I do not have a machine yet, so the first option you have is without the machine.

Step 8 (option 1): Remove mixture from the refrigerator and stir with a rubber spatula. Transfer the mixture to a deep freezer-safe bowl or container and place in the freezer for 45 minutes. As it starts to freezer near the edges, remove from the freezer and stir vigorously with a fork or whisk, being sure to break up any frozen sections. Return it to the freezer. Continue to check every 30 minutes, stirring vigorously as it’s freezing. It is estimated that it will take 2-3 hours for the ice cream to sufficiently frozen and ready.

Keep Stirring every 30-60 min.

After a while it will thicken up, this is when you will had your nuts and marshmallows. Great thing about making your one you can add as much as you want!!!!

Toasted Almonds

And store in whatever you have available. I like to save store bought gelato containers (sturdy plastic), but here I was as my parents house. 

 Step 8 (option 2): Then freeze it in your ice cream maker according to the manufacturer's instructions. (If the cold mixture is too thick to pour into your machine, whisk it vigorously to thin it out.) Once the ice cream has finished churning, fold in the marshmallows, walnuts and chocolate chips. 

 

Cranberry Challah Bread Recipe

I love the Great Harvest challah bread. This was often the bread that I would get when visiting at Great Harvest. I enjoy this bread for toast and eggs the best!!!!! One day I was craving this bread and realized, "Yeah (self), I make all my bread why not this kind as well." This was my families Thanksgiving breakfast this year. 

Recipe I use is from this Site.

Makes 2 loaves. 

Ingredients

1 cup warm water
2 envelopes active dry yeast
1/2 cup sugar
4 eggs, 1 divided
1/3 cup vegetable oil
1 1/2 teaspoons salt
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
6 cups all-purpose flour
5-ounces Dried Cranberries
1 teaspoon water

Directions

Step 1: Stir warm water, yeast and sugar, together in a small mixing bowl; let stand 10 minutes. Mixture will foam.

Step 2: Whisk together 3 eggs, 1 egg white (reserve yolk), oil, salt and cinnamon, in a large mixing bowl.

Step 3: Stir in yeast mixture and 5-1/4 cups flour until soft dough forms. Add dried cranberries and with floured hands, knead dough. Gradually add remaining 3/4 cup flour, until the dough is smooth and elastic, about 5 minutes.

Step 4: Lightly flour a large mixing bowl. Place dough in bowl and roll around so that it is lightly covered. Place bowl with dough in a warm place until doubled in size, about 2 hours.

Step 5: Punch down dough; divide in half. Each half will make one braided loaf.

Step 6: To make a single braid: divide half into 3 equal pieces. Roll each into 14-inch rope. Braid dough and pinch ends to seal. Place on parchment paper on baking sheet or lightly greased baking sheet. Repeat steps with remaining dough.

Step 7: Cover shaped loaves and let rise in a warm place until doubled in size, about 1 hour.

Step 8: Preheat oven to 400ºF. Beat reserved yolk with water; brush loaves. Bake for 25 minutes or until golden brown and bottom sounds hollow when tapped. Place foil on tops of loaves if tops brown to quickly. Remove loaves to wire rack and cool completely.

Daily, Weekly and Monthly Cleaning Schedule

"Cleaning with kids in the house is like brushing your teeth while eating oreos."
"Instead of cleaning the house, I just turn off the lights."
"You never know what you have until you clean your house/room"

Being the month of Thanksgiving and making a more earnest effort to have and show Gratitude. Here is a shout out for my parents. THANK YOU for teaching me how to clean and clean well.

If the thought of cleaning causes you to do this. Create a schedule, it will help.

Growing up, of course, I hated it when my mom or dad would double and triple check my work for completeness. It has paid off, literally. After I served an 18 month mission for my Church, work was very hard to come by. Long story short I started cleaning houses. In doing so I discovered three things: 1) I enjoyed it (no boss, flexible hours, and peace and quiet) 2) I was good at it and 3) It pays well (I was making between $15-$22 an hour).

I have met many (including myself) that have a hard time keeping clean and organized. Having a clean home improves my spirits. Take care to not let it consume you (I have and it no fun). This routine helps me balance having a clean home and other activities.

Here is my Cleaning Routine. Later I will post on house size and what is really needed. I have used this routine for 1+ years in a 2 bedroom 2 bath house and currently 1 bedroom 1 bath apartment.

Let's get cleaning!

Daily Tasks

1. Pick Up Clothes 

Put clean clothes away and dirty in laundry basket. Do before bed. 

2. Tidy My Room

Whatever is tidy for you. Put things in their place. I make sure nothing is on the floor so when I get up to get the baby (in the middle of the night) no angry words come out of mouth. Do before bed.

3. Unload Dishwasher

This is my least favorite chore. Nothing is better to waking up to an unloaded dishwasher. Do before bed.

4. Tidy Bathrooms

Wipe counters if needed. And just put things away. Do before bed.

5. Tidy Baby's Room

Put toys away and such. Do before bed. 

6. Weekly Task

Compete task for that day during the day. See below. 

OH what joy comes from finishing cleaning. 

Weekly Tasks

Monday - Laundry Day

Tuesday - Clean Bathroom

1. Once a month scrub shower and/or bathtub (i do it twice a month because my baby uses tub and I want it cleaner for him) 

2. Clean Toilets

3. Clean Mirrors

4. Clean Counters

Wednesday - Clean Surfaces

1. Wipe Cupboards and Appliances

2. Dust Master Bedroom Furniture

3. Dust Family Room

4. Dust baby's room

5. Dust Window Seals

6. Once a month or every other wipe inside of fridge.

Thursday - Clean Floors

1. Sweep or vacuum entire house

2. Mop Kitchen

3. Alternate mopping other rooms with hardwood floors i.e. (Master bedroom and bathroom) and (Baby bedroom, bathroom, and family room)

4. Once a Month Clean Corners and Baseboards

Friday - Organize Something

Whatever you want to do. Pick something small. A kitchen drawer, a cupboards, a closet shelf, sewing supplies, etc. No more than 20 min. 

Saturday - Monthly Task

This is only one Saturday a month

Here is link to my post on DIY Non-Toxic Household Cleaners (All-Purpose, Window, Dusting, Air Freshener). click to redirect.

Monthly Tasks 

Pick one from the list 

Wash walls - and use touch up paint where necessary

Clean out drawers and closets - donate usable clothing and items to charity

Clean and organize the garage and or basement

Wash duvets, blankets, comforters, spreads, pillows

Organize the pantry and kitchen cabinets - throw out expired food or plan meals to use soon to expire items

Wash windows - (inside and out) and screens

Deep-clean Floors/Rugs

Clean all the hard-to-reach places - behind the stove, refrigerator, washer/ dryer, sofas

Clean medicine cabinets - throw away expired medications 

Clean and organize personal files

Defrost and clean freezer, stove, oven

You will find that at first it will take up a bit of time to clean all this, but by the second week it will be a lot easier and the third it will be a breeze. Why is this?

The more dirt and scum build up the more elbow grease will be needed in the beginning. Another is that you will develop your own way of cleaning and just like anything else you will get quicker and better at it. And lastly, as you keep it up you will only be dealing with a week of dirt, so cleaning time will go faster. Also I skip some cleaning tasks some weeks depending my time and/or if its not dirty.

Having a day to clean one thing helps me not get overwhelmed and consumed. Before my baby was born and a bit after I did all the cleaning in one or two days. This made it so I did not have to worry about cleaning the rest of the week. I hope you find this helpful.

Love this article and this one that explains why we should make an effort on keeping a clean house. Note I am not perfect nor is anyone else. I am not trying to shame others but encourage (including myself).