Homemade Moose Tracks Ice Cream

Fudge Ripple:
1 cup chocolate chips
1 Tbsp butter
1/4 cup evaporated milk or heavy cream

Ice Cream:
2 1/4 cups whole milk
1 cup granulated sugar
2 1/4 cups heavy cream
2 teaspoons vanilla

1 cup mini peanut butter cups

For Fudge Ripple:
Add chocolate chips and butter to a small microwave-safe bowl.  Microwave for 30 seconds.  Stir and microwave 30 seconds more.  Add evaporated milk and stir gently with a wire whisk until smooth.  Microwave 1 minute more.  Refrigerate until cool.

For Ice Cream:
Mix milk and sugar in a medium bowl with a whisk until sugar is dissolved, about 2 minutes.  Add heavy cream and vanilla; stir.  Turn on ice cream maker and add ice cream mixture.  Process about 20 to 25 minutes.

Add mini peanut butter cups and turn ice cream maker off.  Layer ice cream and fudge ripple in a 2-quart container with a lid.  Make 3 or 4 layers of each.  Freeze for 2 to 4 hours or until firm.

Classic Onion Soup

Total Prep Time: 45 minutes

Serves: 6 to 8

I got this recipe off of a bag of onions from Groupe Vegco, Inc.  The recipe is courtesy of the National Onion Association.  I adjusted it slightly.  All of us loved it!

4 large yellow onions, sliced

6 Tbsp butter

1 Tbsp sugar

8 cups chicken stock

Salt and pepper to taste

1 1/2 baguette French bread, sliced and toasted

Grated Parmesan cheese

Melt butter in a large saucepan that holds at least 4 quarts.  Add onions; cook over medium heat 12 minutes, or until tender and golden, stirring often.  Add sugar and cook, stirring, for 1 minute.  Add stock; cover and bring to a boil.  Reduce heat; simmer 12 minutes.  Season with salt and pepper.  To serve, ladle soup into bowl; float toast on soup.  Sprinkle with cheese.

Meatballs

This is also a recipe from my wonderful mother-in-law, Louise.  They are so delicious!

1 pound ground beef*
1 pound ground pork*
1 pound ground veal*
2 1/4 cups bread crumbs**
1 1/2 cups Parmesan cheese
1 1/2 cups water
3/4 cup fresh chopped parsley or 1/2 cup dry parsley
3 eggs
4 1/2 tsp granulated garlic
4 1/2 tsp granulated onion
1 Tbsp salt
1 Tbsp pepper

Mix all ingredients together and shape into uniform balls.  Place on cookie sheet with sides (like a jelly roll pan or 9"x13" pan) and bake at 350F for 30 to 45 minutes, until cooked through (length of bake time will depend on size of meatballs).

*Optional:  Use 3 pounds meatloaf mixture or 3 pounds ground beef (the meatballs are more flavorful using all of the different meats or a meatloaf mixture).

**I make my own Italian-flavored bread crumbs, but you can use store-bought.

Italian Bread Crumbs

This is a recipe that my mother-in-law came up with.  It goes great in homemade meatballs!

2 cups plain bread slices and/or crumbs
2 Tbsp parsley flakes
1 tsp granulated garlic
1 tsp granulated onion
1 tsp dried basil
1/2 tsp dried oregano
1/2 tsp salt
1/2 tsp black pepper
3/4 cup grated Parmesan

Dry bread in 200°F oven for about 20 minutes or till dry.  Allow to cool.  Place dried bread in food processor; pulse to fine crumbs.  Add remaining ingredients; pulse to blend.  Store in air-tight container in refrigerator.