Saturday, September 28, 2013

Enjoying Coffee Can Ice Cream with the Quilters' Book Club

Snow Churn Quilt Block

If you enjoyed the idea of Ice Cream in a Bag described in The Goodbye Quilt by Susan Wiggs, I think you'll enjoy this similar recipe for Coffee Can Ice Cream.  Especially fun for children and grandchildren!

Coffee Can Ice Cream
1-1/2 cups heavy whipping cream
2 teaspoons vanilla
¼ cup sugar
1-pound coffee can with lid
Plastic wrap
Sturdy rubber band
3-pound coffee can with lid
Crushed ice
Box of salt

1.  Mix together the whipping cream, vanilla, and sugar.  Pour this into the 1-pound coffee can.  The can should be about ¾ full.  If it isn’t, you can stir in more whipping cream.
2.  Put the top on tightly.  Cover it with a piece of plastic wrap held by a rubber band.
3.  Set the 1-pound can in the center of the 3-pound can.  Put a layer of crushed ice about 2 inches thick in the  bottom of the large can around the small can.  Then sprinkle ¼ cup of salt on top of the ice.  Continue layering the ice and salt until the can is almost full.  Put the top on the can. 
4.  Sit on the floor and roll the can back and forth with a partner.  In 15 minutes, check the ice cream by carefully opening the inside can.  Be careful not to get any of the salt water in the ice cream.
5.  When the ice cream is frozen, enjoy it!

While you're enjoying your ice cream, let's discuss the quilt that Linda is making for her daughter Molly in The Goodbye Quilt by Susan Wiggs.  What did you think of how the quilt itself ended up in this story?  As a quilter, does it seem like a realistic ending to you?  Inquiring minds want to know!  Answer in the comment section below.  If you are reading via email, you must first click on the blog title to be able to comment and read the comments of others.  

By commenting, you are entering your name in a give-away for a copy of The Double Wedding Ring by Clare O'Donohue, courtesy of Plume Books.  There will be two lucky winners this month!   


You might also enjoy reading my previous blog post here.

6 comments:

  1. I'm not sure what I think. I wouldn't want to refuse a quilt someone was giving me, but it really was about the Mom's memories.

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  2. We already had clues throughout the book that the daughter had no interest in the quilt as far as a deep meaning to her. All those clues were telling us how deep the feelings the mother had for all the items she was putting in the quilt from the fabrics to the doodads. Like the fabric from her own mothers square dancing costume even. This quilt was definitely made by Linda for Linda without doubt in my mind. I was so happy to read that the daughter knew that too in the book. The daughter was even wise enough to know that a quilt with all the intricate work in it did not belong in a dorm room where wild things were bound to happen and ruin it. I was happy the quilt went back home with Linda where it belonged. When the daughter gets older, then she will be happy to inherit the quilt with the memories of her mother making it and what it meant to her mother.

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  3. I can add nothing to the above comments. If one of my kids wanted a memory quilt, it would be up to them to pick the memories. My son has a patch blanket with old badges and patches from his Scouting days and the one memory quilt I made, the kids can play "I Spy" saying, there is a piece of my Halloween costume or my first party dress. Of course since we tend to re-cycle clothing, the memories go a bit farther.

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  4. My mom has made a quilt for each of her grandchildren when they graduate from high school. They are made of 5" squares of fabric that either reflects the grandchild's interests or are scraps from their clothes. They are made to stand up to college dorm washing machines! I can't really imagine a quilter making the quilt that Linda made for her daughter Molly to take to college. It felt more like a quilt that was meant to be looked at but not really used. On the other hand, I can't imagine a daughter who has grown up with a mother for a quilter and knows how much work is involved in making a quilt would refuse the quilt. She might tell her mom to keep it at home so it doesn't get ruined, but I can't imagine her refusing the quilt. The whole quilt part of the book didn't seem very realistic to me. The author is not a quilter, and this felt apparent to me in the book.

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  5. I think that Linda didn't realize it but she was actually making the quilt for herself as a memory of her life with Molly. Molly, on the other hand, even though the pieces had meaning, knew that she would now be creating her own memories. Adults want to retain their grip on the past; maybe correct what they perceive as mistakes or revel in their success. Young people intuit that there are experiences, people, and places that will provide meaning for their lives as well.
    Molly demonstrated a great deal of maturity in giving the quilt to her mother. Realizing that each piece of fabric held a special place in her mothers heart she created a plausible reason for not taking the quilt with her and thereby leaving an important piece of herself for Linda to treasure.
    A quilter once told me that when you give a quilt away it is not yours any more and you cannot complain about what the recipient does or doesn't do with it. In the case of Linda and Molly, wouldn't it have been difficult for her mother if Molly had taken the quilt and something had happened to it?

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  6. I agree with the comments about the idea of Linda keeping the quilt safe and enjoying the memories with the probability that Molly would one day inherit the quilt. The description of the making of the quilt had me wondering how it could ever be safe in a dorm. I was glad in the end it stayed with Linda.
    I love coffee icecream & your idea for making it. The block is precious & another block I will enjoy making.

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