Homemade Ice Cream

My mom recently gave me a stack of "Better Homes and Gardens" cookbooks from the 1960s. I have had many laughs as I read about things that are very characteristic of the time, but have also come across some really good recipes. There is one section in the dessert book that features recipes for ice cream. There are different flavors and variations of how to make them. I had some extra heavy cream and decided to try one out. It was hard to take a picture, but trust me, it's delicious!


Chocolate-fleck Ice Cream
2 egg yolks
2 tablespoons sugar
1/2 teaspoon vanilla
1 cup heavy cream, whipped

2 egg whites
1 tablespoon sugar
3 1-ounce squares semisweet chocolate, coarsely grated (I used chocolate chips)

Beat the egg yolks until thick and lemon-colored. Add 2 tablespoons sugar and continue beating till light and fluffy. Blend in vanilla. Fold into whipped cream.

Beat egg whites until fluffy; add 1 tablespoon sugar and beat until soft peaks form. Fold into cream mixture; fold in chocolate. Pour into a bowl; freeze until firm.
Makes 6 servings.

Cake Bake-Off

Every year there is a Catholic Community Picnic. All of the Catholic churches in the area come together to have a huge picnic full of games, dunk tanks, tug of war, tons of food, and a baking competition. One year it was chili, another pies, and this year cake. Mom and I had decided to enter this year and started planning our cake weeks ago. After much thought, we chose to create a cake based on "The Unicorn Song" by Shel Silverstein (recorded by The Irish Rovers).

A long time ago, when the Earth was green

There was more kinds of animals than you've ever seen
They'd run around free while the Earth was being born
And the loveliest of all was the unicorn

There was green alligators and long-necked geese
Some humpty backed camels and some chimpanzees
Some cats and rats and elephants, but sure as you're born
The loveliest of all was the unicorn

The Lord seen some sinning and it gave Him pain
And He says, "Stand back, I'm going to make it rain"
He says, "Hey Noah, I'll tell you what to do
Build me a floating zoo,
and take some of those...

Green alligators and long-necked geese
Some humpty backed camels and some chimpanzees
Some cats and rats and elephants, but sure as you're born
Don't you forget My unicorns

Old Noah was there to answer the call
He finished up making the ark just as the rain started to fall
He marched the animals two by two
And he called out as they came through
Hey Lord,

I've got green alligators and long-necked geese
Some humpty backed camels and some chimpanzees
Some cats and rats and elephants, but Lord, I'm so forlorn
I just can't find no unicorns"

And Noah looked out through the driving rain
Them unicorns were hiding, playing silly games
Kicking and splashing while the rain was falling
Oh, them silly unicorns

There was green alligators and long-necked geese
Some humpty backed camels and some chimpanzees
Noah cried, "Close the door because the rain is falling
And we just can't wait for no unicorns"

The ark started moving, it drifted with the tide
The unicorns looked up from the rocks and they cried
And the waters came down and sort of floated them away
That's why you never see unicorns to this very day

You'll see green alligators and long-necked geese
Some humpty backed camels and some chimpanzees
Some cats and rats and elephants, but sure as you're born
You're never gonna see no unicorns

Mom made all of the animals out of gumpaste while I baked all 9 of the cakes. On Saturday, we brought everything together and decorated and assembled! We used fondant to cover the ark, buttercream frosting and piping gel for the water. After all of the work we put into it, we ended up winning.