Allergen's in My Apple Juice?!

We usually buy our apple juice fresh from a local Orchard at the Farmer's Market, but earlier this week I ran out. So, when I came across a cold pressed 100% (1 ingredient) Apple Juice at Fresh & Easy yesterday I decided to give it a try since the Farmer's Market isn't until Sunday.

I glanced at the label to make sure there was indeed only 1 ingredient and put the juice in my  basket. It never even crossed my mind to check for an advisory label on apple juice yet, lo and behold, there it was....



...."Made in a facility that also handles Milk, Tree Nuts, Soy."  Thankfully I just happened to notice the advisory label while opening the bottle.

I really should know better by now to not assume or trust that anything is safe. Check out this box of cornstarch. I even found potatoes before with an advisory label reading, "May Contain Tree Nuts". You can never be too careful!



Our "Attempt" at Homemade Butter

After our homemade Ice Cream in a Baggie success I was feeling pretty domestic and thought I would give homemade butter a go. After all how hard could it be? I think we did this in elementary school.

Looks simple right?

I had some half & half in the fridge that needed to be used so the idea sounded genius. I filled a small mason jar about half way with the half & half, added a marble, put on the lid and shook...... and shook..... and shook some more. I passed the jar around to each of the boys and we all took turns doing laps around the kitchen shaking with anticipation which soon turned to doubt. The kids were over it, all of our arms were burning and we had no butter. I even made one last ditch effort and dumped the jar of half & half into the mixing bowl and put my mixer to work for a good 10 minutes. Still nothing.

Well come to find out, you can't make butter with half & half stupid! Heavy Cream is the magic ingredient. Duh! I did get something out this experience though..... A damn good arm work out!

Ice Cream in a Baggie - A Pinterest Summer Success!

In an attempt to keep my kids busy this summer I have become a Pinterest addict. I have found so many creative activities to keep them entertained and happy. One pin I was excited to try was this homemade ice cream in a baggie.

My kids love ice cream and Ive always wanted to make our own, but don't own an ice cream maker so this was perfect!

Here's what you need:

• 1 cup half & half
• 2 tablespoons sugar
• 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1/2 cup course salt
• 1 gallon-sized Ziploc bag
• 1 pint-sized Ziploc bag (I just used a sandwich bag since that's all I had)
• ice
• fresh fruit (optional)

Mix the half & half, sugar and vanilla together and pour into pint-sized Ziploc. Make sure the Ziploc is completely sealed.

Fill the gallon-sized Ziploc half way with ice and add salt.

Next, put the baggie with the half & half mixture inside the bag of ice and salt; seal.

Now shake like crazy for at least 5 minutes or until cream sets.

We took turns running around the backyard shaking our ice cream.

 Once the cream sets, quickly run the sealed pint-sized bag under cold water to remove the salt.

Open and enjoy quickly! Our ice cream melted pretty fast. I suppose we could have shook it a little longer, but patience were wearing thin and our hands were freezing! The ice cream was really good though. We added strawberries before digging in for a little extra fun.

  (I suggest making a baggie for each kiddo if your making it for more then one)