Did Someone Say Icecream Sandwiches?

We tried out this fun recipe idea. Lindsey was extra excited about mixing the different colors for the cookies. (The recipe is supposed to make a Neapolitan looking cookie, but we didn't have any red food color, so we went with blue). Try out the recipe here!




After sampling our first sandwiches, I wished I had put more ice cream in each, but they are delish! (And let's pretend the freezer door is clean.)

Home!

Want to read a REALLY HAPPY post? Go see this entry on my sister-in-law Valorie's blog about her hubby (Randy's big brother Joe) getting home from his 15-month deployment to Iraq. It's so exciting! Welcome home Joe!

A List That Entertains

I love lists, we all know this. I especially love lists with ideas for kids that are easy, fun, and easy. Did I say easy twice? We have actually done a few of these things and will have to try some others very soon!

Ten Surefire Ways to Entertain a Toddler....

Chocolate = Love

Doesn't the smell of chocolate cooking on the stove make you feel loved? No? Then you didn't grow up in my parents' house. Most Sunday evenings found my dad making fudge. Any time I smell chocolate cooking, it makes me hungry and brings back memories.

Dad's Fudge:

Combine in a large pot:
3 cups sugar
1/3 cup cocoa

Add:
1 1/2 cups milk

Bring to a boil, stirring constantly. Lower heat to medium once boiling and stop stirring. Cook until it forms a soft ball in cold water.

Remove from heat and add:
1/4 cup butter
1 teaspoon vanilla

Cool until you can comfortably place your hand on the side of the pan. Still warm, but not hot. Stir until the color dulls and pour into a greased container or plate.

Most important step: Get some spoons and scrape out the fudge left in the pot.

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The chocolate pictured above is actually Randy's mom's hot fudge sauce. And it is GOOD. Real good. Just seeing the picture makes me wish we still had some and that there was a little ice cream in the freezer to go with it. While Marcia was visiting, we decided to make this and realized I had the recipe all wrong! No wonder our attempts at making this failed every time! If I didn't know that she's the nicest lady, I would think she was trying to sabotage my quest to make the best hot fudge ever.

Use this recipe, make it and share it. (It makes a lot, I promise - the lady had 7 growing kids to serve this to) Delish.

Marcia's Hot Fudge Sauce:

2 cups semi-sweet chocolate chips
1 12-oz can evaporated milk
1 lb powdered sugar
1/2 lb butter
2 t. vanilla
pinch of salt

Melt the butter in pan 1/2 way and add the chocolate chips. Gradually add the sugar and the milk. Cook over medium heat. Stir to blend well. Bring to a boil and cook and stir it while boiling for SIX minutes. (Don't question the 6 minutes rule, Marcia is a master) Remove from heat and add vanilla and salt, stir. Pour generously over vanilla ice cream. Store leftovers in a fridge and reheat without boiling (we just scoop out what we think we'll use and heat that portion)