Fun on Four Wheelers

Can I just say it?  I love my life group.  These folks have become more than friends.  We support, love and laugh well together.  Last weekend we spent some time on a ranch.  Our weekend was slow, fun and we ate like pigs.  Homemade cinnamon rolls, homemade ice cream with fresh fruit toppings and delicious fajitas filled our stomachs.  Games, naps and laughter filled our souls.  We spent time riding over rough terrain on four wheelers like teenagers and we sat under the shade trees visiting like old folks.  Picking blackberries, fishing and target practice were delightful interludes.  Yep, we played hard.

Our group has been together for almost 3 years now.  We have seen people come and go.  Our resolve to remain together has been high.  This weekend we termed ourselves "Lifers".   With all this fun, each one of us could tell you that it has not always been easy.  Community and friendship takes work and determination.  Our personal lives are full with careers, family and home.  So how did we come this far?

1.  We have made group a priority in our lives.  Tuesday night is our night.  Nothing comes in the way of our time together
2.  We have fun together.  Playing, eating and travel brings us together.
3.  We pray together.  Something happens when you hear your friends praying over your concerns while they deeply believe in God to give His best to you.
4.  We always spur one another on to follow God through His Word.

I returned home so incredibly thankful for my friends.  Friends are a rich blessing from our Lord.  United by Him, we know that no matter where we may be, we have companions for this amazing adventure called life.

Who are some of your spiritual friends?  What makes them special to you?

Part of my farm family roots was that almost every weekend we made homemade ice cream.  My earliest recollection was the hand crank style of freezer.  As a kid I would have to sit on the freezer while dad cranked the ice cream.  Later Dad and Mom splurged for an electric freezer.  If you came to our house for ice cream, you need to know that your bowl would be heaping.  My dad and brother could put away two bowls.  Their skinny genes never saw any fat as a result of their indulgence.  Me on the other hand...suffice it to say my ice cream had a tendency to hang around for a while. 

Here is the tried and true recipe that is a family favorite. 


Country-style Ice Cream

1 qt. milk
2 c. sugar
1/4 cup flour
1/2 tsp. salt
4 eggs, slightly beaten
1 Tbls. vanilla
11/2 qt. light cream or half and half

Scald milk.  Mix sugar, flour and salt.  Add enough hot milk to sugar-flour mixture to make a thin paste.  Stir paste into hot milk.  Cook over low heat, stirring constantly, until mixture thickens slightly, about 15 minutes.    Add hot mixture gradually to beaten eggs and cook over low heat, stirring constantly, until mixture thickens slightly, about 2 minutes (do not cook longer or eggs may curdle).  Cool quickly in refrigerator.  Do not allow mixture to cool at room temperature. 
Add vanilla and light cream to cooked mixture.  Pour into freezer can; fill only two thirds full to allow for expansion.  Freeze according to directions.  Makes 1 gallon.

Variations:
Chocolate:  Add 4 squares unsweetened chocolate to milk before scalding.  After scalding, beat with rotary beater until chocolate flecks disappear.  Increase sugar by 1/2 cup.

Peanut Butter:  Omit 1 cup light cream.  Stir a small amount of the custard mixture gradually into 1/2 c. peanut butter to blend well.  Add to rest of the mixture in the freezer can. 

Strawberry:  Omit 3 c. light cream  Add 1 qt. washed and hulled strawberries which have been mashed and sweetened with 1/2 c. additional sugar. 

Peach:  Omit 3 c. light cream.  Add 1 qt. crushed fresh peaches mixed with 3/4 c. additional sugar.

FYI - The absolute best ice cream freezer on the market is a White Mountain.  You will spend more, but have it for a life time.  Also I prefer Vanilla flavor and then enjoy fresh fruit toppings. 

What is your favorite Ice Cream?  Who in your family devours ice cream?