Must Have Monday’s 51

Welcome to Must Have Monday’s. Every Monday our reviewers will let you have a sneak peak into what we use in our homes and our lives. Here we will tell you about the things we can’t live without. If you have a “must have” item to pass along please e-mail us. We welcome contributions from our readers and are always looking for new reviewers.

I was recovering from surgery in June when it was apparently ice cream week on the Food Network. I sat and drooled, unable to eat anything fatty, as they showed you how to make every kind of ice cream, sorbet and gelato under the sun. Show after show taunted me until my sweet husband surprised me one evening – returning from the store with a compact little ice cream maker from Hamilton Beach.

Super sleek and amazingly easy to use, we’ve become ice cream making addicts. No rock salt or ice required, this machine has an inner core that remains frozen and you simply insert it, dump in your ingredients and turn it on. In approximately 20 minutes you’ve got fresh delicious homemade ice cream. It makes exactly enough for us to share and we’ve all enjoyed the adventure of trying out ingredients and different flavors. We’ve tried fruits as well as shaved chocolate and flavors in addition to making old fashioned custard style which was exquisite and velvety.

If you want to try home made ice cream without the crazy amount of work involved – this machine is a must have.

by Gidge

I should apply to be a paid spokesman for Terro Ant Killer. The last three springs I have the same thing happen and I’m sure next year will be no exception. The ants will return just as they do every spring in Indiana. I will lay out the Terro buffet just as I do every spring in Indiana. This year, I laid down my little square and within 2 minutes it looked like this picture. Gross, huh? I agree. But not as gross as having ants crawl all over your cabinets and floor.

My husband says I’m just feeding the ants and I agree. In fact, I’m quite OK with that. It’s obvious they are going to be eating at my house every spring, so I’d rather them eat poison in a 2 square inch section of the house as opposed to every cabinet with food in it. If you have had ants in the past and expect them back in the spring, be ready. Grab a bottle of the Terro liquid and invite them on over to the buffet. You’ll be glad you did.

by Perri