THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1994, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Thursday, July 5, 1994 TAG: 9407010102
SECTION: DAILY BREAK PAGE: E4 EDITION: FINAL
COLUMN: MOM, I'M BORED
SOURCE: SHERRIE BOYER
LENGTH: Medium: 72 lines
THERE AREN'T MANY play-time ideas that get better than water and dirt. But ice cream, water and dirt. Well, that's as good as it gets.
This time of year, when it's too hot to go out and too dull to stay in, we tumble into the wading pool in the back yard with a box of Neapolitan ice cream and a stack of cones. Somehow, that's all we can muster on the hottest days.
When it cools just a little, and our energies soar, we move onto the real fun of summer: making ice cream.
In truth, we've only ever done this at Grandma's, and with an old-fashioned bucket ice cream maker that was flaky with rust. But you can make your own ice cream in a coffee can.
Into a 1 pound, clean coffee can, let your child stir 1 cup milk, 1 cup whipping cream, 1/2 cup sugar, 1/2 teaspoon vanilla and some fruit (berries, peach chunks, etc.) or nuts. Put the plastic lid on the can and put the can into a larger coffee can, the 2 1/2 pound (or larger) size. Pack ice into the large can (around the small can) and sprinkle 1 cup rock salt on top.
Put on the plastic lid securely and let your children roll the can around on the porch. Roll for about 10 minutes, then stir the ice cream mixture in from the sides of can. Put the little lid back on. Drain any melted ice from the large can, and repack with ice and salt if needed. Put on the larger lid and start rolling. Roll until the ice cream has hardened (check every few minutes) and then enjoy it from the can.
You can alter the recipe by adding a squirt of chocolate syrup, chocolate chips, mint flavoring, food coloring, M&Ms and other treats. And while you roll, sing rounds, read or make up stories.
Another great summer treat is ice cream pots. Have your child wash tiny clay or plastic flower pots and stuff the hole at the bottom with aluminum foil. Pack the pots with ice cream and sprinkle a grated chocolate bar on the top for soil. Refreeze. Just before serving, poke a hole with a warm skewer and stick in a real flower. The result is delicious, and the children can wear the flower pinned to their bathing suits where it can safely drip ice cream long after the pot is empty.
Every child in the world likes chocolate, except Allio, but even she will agree that melting chocolate chips to coat ice cream and bananas is a cool idea.
Have your child peel four bananas and ram a frozen dessert stick into each or pack four to five cones with ice cream. Refreeze the filled cones during the next step. In a microwave-safe bowl, melt 1 cup chocolate bits on high for 2 or 3 minutes. Stir well. Continue to zap until melted. Add 2 tablespoons water. Stir.
Working quickly, dip bananas or ice cream cone tip and, if desired, immediately roll (lightly) into bowl of sprinkles, coconut or nuts. Freeze (bananas on wax paper on plate, cones upright) until the chocolate shell is hard. The recipe will coat either the bananas or the cone tips, but not both. To coat more than four or five items, make a second batch. Doubling the recipe doesn't work because the chocolate sauce will harden before you can successfully coat everything.
Though all of these are delicious, our favorite summer treat is a smoothie, and you can make one just about any way you want. We dump two or three scoops of ice cream, a banana, berries and a slosh of orange or apple juice into a blender and puree until smooth.
This thick, lumpy drink is a terrific blend of fruits, juice and bad-for-you stuff. Or take a handful of ice cubes and add refrigerated vanilla or flavored yogurt for a healthier treat.
Allio, Maddie and Sam like this funky drink, making it just about the only food (other than ketchup) that everyone will eat at the same time.
What's your favorite outing or activity with children? Call Mom, I'm Bored's INFOLINE number. Dial 640-5555 and enter category 5544. by CNB