(Homemade Vanilla Ice Cream Recipe at the end...)
I live in Branson, Missouri, and our town loves America like none other I have ever visited! I am proud to live in a place that loves our country, continually honors our veterans, and celebrates The Fourth of July like it's being filmed on a movie set.
To celebrate the Fourth, our entire town gathers on our college campus in lawn chairs, on quilts, with potluck dinners and ice chests. Every single year, as I'm arriving carrying lawn chairs and holding little hands to cross the street, I think, "This is small town America at it's FINEST!" Truly, I have never been to a town event like it! It's festive, it's laid back, it's full of all of my friends and acquaintances, and I feel safe letting my kids run around with their friends.
Here--see for yourself:
Of course, there is face painting and crafts for the kids...as well as a station to write a letter to our soldiers...ALL FREE of charge!!!
You know what else just says Fourth of July Picnic??
Now, I have to be honest...I did not get my homemade ice cream made for this year's Honor America. However, I can guarantee you that I WILL be making it this weekend on the actual Fourth!!
I would love to share my EASIEST EVER Homemade Vanilla Ice Cream recipe with you. It's not really my recipe...my husband got it years ago, before we were even married, from our good friend Debbie Jo. This is a wonderful recipe if you are going on a picnic, or even to a friend's house--you don't have to worry about cooking an egg mixture, or transporting eggs of any kind! You can just pour everything right into the ice cream freezer. All you need to do is grab an ice chest, your ingredients, some ice, rock salt, and an ice cream freezer and you are good to go!
Here are the easy-breezy ingredients:
Vanilla Ice Cream
1 1/2 cups sugar
6 cups half and half
2 cups whipping cream
1/4-1/2 teaspoon salt
1 Tablespoon vanilla
That's IT!!! Now, here's a little tricky trick....Most times, I only purchase whipping cream--and NOT half and half...Just seems easier. Did you know that half and half IS what it says--half cream, half milk? So, I just buy extra whipping cream, and make my own half and half!!
I really love this recipe!! It tends to be more on the icy side than the heavy creamy side--which I much prefer! Plus, the fact that it is SO EASY to make, it's hard ever to try anything different!
I hope you all get to gather with dear friends and eat delicious food to celebrate our country's birthday! As you are watching and ooh-ing and aah-ing over the fireworks, I do hope you have a bowl of homemade vanilla ice cream in your lap!
(Click
HERE if you want to enter the 4th of July TRIVIA QUIZ!!!)
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