Fruit "Cake"

The hubby and I made this whimsical Birthday "Cake" for a friend. Her daughter contacted me and told me that her Mom really didn't care all that much for cake, so could I make her a cake out of fruit. She sent me a picture as a reference, to let me know what she was looking for in a fruit cake. It also had to be sturdy enough to make the trip to the beach where they are vacationing! The hubby and I went through image after image trying to find just the right designs to make the cake special... after all this lady shares the same name as my Mama... Judy! So, she's pretty special to me anyway! Love you, Judy! I hope your birthday was as special as you are! Have a great time at the beach with your family!!! Have fun and Safe travels!

Happy Birthday Judy !!!

Judy's Ice Cream Base and 4 Flavor Options

Mama was famous for her Ice Cream Socials! She would invite everyone over to the pool for a swim, while 5 different churns were whirling away inside the pool house! (For course, there was also a pitcher of her poolside lemonade on hand in the freezer!) Mama's Ice Creams were simple, but tasted better than any ice cream shop in the world. Her favorite was Strawberry! She started with a standard base.

Ice Cream Base

6 Eggs
2 cups Sugar
2 quarts Milk

Bring to boil, cool and put in a churn or your freezer device.

Strawberry Cheesecake Ice Cream

4 cups Ice Cream Base
8oz Cream Cheese, softened
1/4 cup Sugar
1 pint Strawberries, stemmed and diced
1/4 cup Sugar
1/2 Graham Cracker Crumbs
1 T sugar
1 tsp butter, melted

Combine the strawberries and 1/4 sugar and set aside. Pour the base in a 13x9 casserole dish and freeze. Meanwhile, in a mixer, blend the cream cheese and 1/4 to 1/2 of sugar, to taste, until cream and combined. Spread the cream cheese mixture over the frozen ice cream base and top with strawberry mixture, juice and all. Return to the freezer to set. Combine the remaining crackers, sugar and butter, and sprinkle over the top. Freeze until firm.

Whopper Ice Cream

2 cups Ice Cream Base
1/2 Chocolate Malted Milk Powder
Whopper Malted Milk Balls, crushed

Mix and freeze. Once frozen, cover the top with crushed Whopper candies.

Almond Joy 

2 cups Ice Cream Base

1 1/2 teaspoons coconut extract
1 teaspoon almond extract
2 tablespoons chocolate syrup

Mix and freeze. Once frozen, cover the top with slivered almonds.

Samoa (like the Girl Scout Cookies) 

2 cups Ice Cream Base

2 teaspoons coconut extract

2 tablespoons chocolate syrup 

2 tablespoons caramel ice cream topping

Mix and freeze. Once frozen, cover the top with toasted coconut.

NOTE:
Orange Pineapple was a HUGE favorite of all my Mama's Ice Cream Flavors!

Add to full base recipe: 1 bottle of Orange Crush (At that time, that would have been a one liter bottle.)
1 can of crushed Pineapple.

Mexican Pizza

1 pound Ground Beef

1 package Taco Seasoning
4 Flour Tortillas
1 can Refried Beans
Taco Sauce
Shredded Colby~Jack Cheese

Possible Toppings... Lettuce, tomatoes, sour cream, guacamole and/or scallions

Brown hamburger, drain and season with your favorite taco seasoning. (Follow the package direction.)
Spread all 4 of the tortillas with refried beans.

On two tortillas spread half of the meat mixture.
Drizzle with 2 T of taco sauce.
Top with cheese.
Add a second layer with the other tortillas and repeat layering meat, sauce and cheese.
Bake for 15-20 minutes at 350 degrees or until cheese is melted and starting to get golden brown.
Top with your favorite toppings and enjoy!