Sunday, June 19, 2011

Father's Day Ice Cream - In honor of my Daddy.

Today is Father's Day. Most people will be spending it with the man that gave them life.  I am one of those who will not be spending it with my daddy.  He passed away in a car accident 7 years ago this August.
** Side note:  People please wear your seat belts. If my dad had, he would still be with us.**
We were very close so every Father's Day I try to do something that we would have done together.  This could be go fishing, watch the Brewer game on TV or the like. This year I decided to make Ice Cream.

Growing up we would always make ice cream from scratch. Sometimes it would be fresh strawberry using the strawberries we got my mom for Mother's day. Other times it would plain jane vanilla or chocolate. Today I decided on combining his favorite cake with ice cream and came up with a modified Black Forrest Cake Ice Cream.

The base is a coconut vanilla ice cream using coconut milk, skim milk and evaporated milk. Add ins are coconut fakes, chocolate shavings and tart cherries. It's churning away now and should be ready any minute.

I miss my dad on a daily basis, but this little tradition makes Father's Day a little better.  Someday, if I ever have kids, I would hope that it can continue with them.  Love ya Dad!

Monday, June 6, 2011

Mosquitoes Suck, Shooting Doesn't

Well it finally happened. The boy was able to put together a very, very impromptu range trip. I would have been more exited about it if I had time for the excitement to grow.

All the kitchen training with the Walther P22 paid off. The target went ping on the third shot.  That was a satisfying "ping".  Or I should say a POP PING. Yes POP, not BANG... for all who don't know, .22 is small caliber so it doesn't make much noise.  The Smith & Wesson M&P15-22 also made cute POP PING. I was a little apprehensive about shooting a rifle but think it won out a little bit over the pistol.  Having a patient, supportive coach didn't hurt either. The good job kisses raised the confidence a bit.

You know that empowering feeling of "holy crap, I just fired a real gun"?  Yeah, it's still sinking in. Even more, the whole "It actually hit the target... more than 20 times" is still sinking in as well.  The pain from the 27 mosquito bites is slowly fading away and will most likely be replaced by the realization that the "mythical" range is no longer a myth but a very real, very addictive place. Oh, and the smell of burnt gunpowder is good.

More about this later.... now it's time to cool off with a tall glass of the delicious RobinAde to celebrate a Brewers sweep of some Florida team.


Walter P22

Smith & Wesson M&P15-22