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Making Ice Cream

As summer rolls to an end, what could be more fun than making a little ice cream with the kids? No need for a freezer or an ice cream maker, the boys and I made this creamy treat with two Ziploc bags and a whole lot of twisting and shaking.

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This is a great activity for a hot August afternoon when the kids are getting jittery about back-to-school (and the grown-ups too). And speaking of back-to-school, why not throw a little something educational at the kids? This activity has it: measurement, science (for more on that and some fun lesson plans, click here) and active movement. Love!

Here’s what you need making your own ice cream magic:

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  • 1 gallon-sized Ziploc bag
  • 1 quart-sized Ziploc bag
  • 1/2 cup heavy cream*
  • 1 tbsp. sugar
  • 1 tsp. vanilla extract
  • 1/3 cup rock salt
  • Ice – enough to fill the gallon-sized baggie halfway
  • Oven mitts
  • Favorite mix-ins – Reese's Pieces, M&M’  s, chocolate chips, fruit…

(Goldendoodle not included)

* You can use milk or half-and-half cream, but I went for the good stuff!

First, mix the cream, sugar and vanilla in the quart-sized Ziploc.

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Next, seal the baggie extra tight.

Then, pour the ice and rock salt into the gallon-sized baggie.

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Place the smaller bag into the larger bag and seal tightly.

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Now, get ready to shake, shake, shake!!

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It was impossible to get a good picture of the boys while they were twisting and shouting! The baggies get very cold, so protect little hands with a pair of oven mitts. Wearing oven mitts is just plain, old, silly fun for kids anyway.

You’ll need to shake the bags for at least five minutes. Ours were closer to ten minutes before the cream started to harden. And even then, the cream took on a soft dip consistency. Let’s face it, there was only so long that I could encourage (threaten) the boys to shake their bags.

Once the shaking is done, open the bags and add some mix-ins. Ben chose Reese’s Pieces, Nicholas opted for M&M’s.

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Now, those hot little hands crunching candy into not-so-hard-to-begin-with ice cream created a problem: our ice cream melted. Not to worry. The boys poured their sweet solutions into a cup and (voila!) milkshakes all around! Delicious.

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Yum! Here’s the recipe:

Homemade Ice Cream

Ingredients:

  • 1 gallon-sized Ziploc bag
  • 1 quart-sized Ziploc bag
  • 1/2 cup heavy cream
  • 1 tbsp. sugar
  • 1 tsp. vanilla extract
  • 1/3 cup rock salt
  • Ice – enough to fill the gallon-sized baggie halfway
  • Oven mitts
  • Favorite mix-ins – Reese's Pieces, M&M’  s, chocolate chips, fruit…

Directions:

  1. Mix cream, sugar and vanilla in the quart-sized baggie. Seal tightly.
  2. Fill the gallon-sized baggie halfway with ice.
  3. Pour rock salt over ice.
  4. Place quart-sized baggie into gallon-sized baggie. Seal tightly.
  5. Shake bags until cream mixture hardens (at least five minutes, probably closer to ten minutes).
  6. Remove small baggie from large baggie.
  7. Add mix-ins (if using) and enjoy!

xo Naomi

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