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Homemade Ice Cream

Making homemade ice cream is one of those 'other life' pastimes that speaks of lawn parties and strawberries fresh from the garden, laughing browned young faces and roses pinned to grandma's collar.

I don't know what memories, if any, home made ice cream will bring to you, but if you'd like to make your own, you can use about anything for an ice cream freezer that will fit into about anything else!

The container, into which you will put your ice cream recipe, must be completely sealable. Metal is best, but glass will work, too. Plastic does NOT work, as it doesn't conduct the cold very well. A small coffee can with plastic lid works well for this, but be sure to tape or tie the lid down. Put a layer of ice in the bottom of a larger coffee can, (or something similar) then place the smaller can holding the ice cream mixture inside that and put in enough ice, alternating with layers of rock salt two or three times, to completely fill the cavity between the two cans. Top with ice and a little more salt to speed up the transfer of temperature.

Seal the larger can well, then go play "kick the can" with it, or roll it back and forth between kids, or just hold and jiggle it like you would to hand churn butter for anywhere from 10 to 20 minutes.

To see if it's ready, take off the lid and stir. If its not solid enough, drain the water caused by melting ice, repack and shake or roll again. Remember that homemade ice cream isn't of the same consistency as commercial ice cream and will melt faster, so don't leave the lid off longer than it takes to check it.

Recipes for homemade ice cream vary from the super smooth, egg-and-cream-rich ices of the old south to the plain milk and sugar kind. Here's the plain kind:

Plain Ice Cream
• 2 c whole milk (add cream or powdered milk to 2% or skim milk)
• 1/2 c sugar
• 1 tsp vanilla
• Flavoring, such as chocolate or fruit syrups, cut up fruit or a powdered drink mix.
• 3lb coffee can with plastic lid, or something similar
• 1lb coffee can with plastic lid, or something similar
• 3/4 c rock, pickling or plain salt (larger crystals last longer)
• crushed ice

Mix everything but the salt and ice, and stir well. Follow the instructions above for making ice cream in a home made ice cream maker, or follow instructions for your own ice cream maker. Makes about 3 or 4 servings.