Gray Gables Goodies

Most people know I'm not a drinker. I don't like the taste of it (unless it's a bit of wine in a sauce) so seeing me buying booze in a liquor store is pretty funny. Especially when it's first thing in the morning and I'm going for the biggest, cheapest jug o' VODKA.  The clerk always gives me a winky look and I roll my eyes. No, I'm not in crisis, no, I'm not having a party. I'm making CLEANING SUPPLIES and Vanilla Extract, buster. Legit. Homemade Vanilla Extract: Go to Amazon and buy 8 (or so) nice vanilla beans. Or to your personal vanilla bean supplier, whatever's cheapest.  I used Madagascar. Pour 8oz of cheap vodka in a mason jar. Split open the beans with a sharp knife and dump them in the jar (told you it was easy) Slap on the lid and stick it in a dark cupboard for a month or so, giving it a little shake every so often. It will be nicely flavored in a month, but will only get better with time. Go ahead, get a couple of jars going ...

Summer is nearly upon us. Well, let's be honest, in Florida, Summer is ALWAYS upon us. There is a season for ice cream, however, and it has arrived. I will preface this by saying that I do own an ice cream maker. It's the Cuisinart in Turquoise. It's very pretty and as Alton Brown calls it, a unitasker, but I just don't care. When I need it, I need it. Being in mid-life, I stumble across the periodic craving and I had a bad one for a Dairy Queen Peanut Buster Parfait. But, ugh. It's so far. And no drive through, so I have to go in the store and look at the sketchy floors and counters. I discovered the joy of ice cream making in my jammies with very few (and fresh, whole, no weird name) ingredients. I understand you don't need an ice cream maker for this one, but I like the lighter texture the churning gives it. Here's the deal: 1 14oz can of sweetened condensed milk (not evaporated, sweetened condensed!) 4 cups of half and half (and the real stuff...