June is National Dairy Month

 

June is National Dairy Month. When I think of dairy, ice cream is always the first thing that pops into my head.

It's a summery treat that's been enjoyed by many generations. 

In my new release, Sarah, I picture the characters sitting on a porch, indulging in a bowl of the cool, creamy confection after a long day in the hot sun. 

My aunt used to make the best chocolate ice cream. Here's her recipe:

Chocolate Ice Cream

3 cups sugar
1/2 cup cocoa powder
3 eggs, beaten
2 cups half-and-half
2 tablespoons vanilla
1 quart heavy whipping cream
Approximately 2 quarts of whole milk

Blend sugar and cocoa powder together then add 1 quart of milk in large saucepan. Bring to a simmer, add a small amount of the hot mixture to the eggs to temper. Beat well and add back to the pan. Bring this to a boil and then remove from heat. 

After it cools a few minutes, add vanilla, half-and-half and the heavy cream. 

 Refrigerate until cold, stir occasionally. Overnight is good if you don't need to make it right away. Add the cold mixture to your ice cream freezer can and fill up to the one gallon mark with whole milk. Freeze as your ice cream freezer directs. 

Makes one gallon.

And if you haven't yet read Sarah, the book is available on Amazon, in Kindle Unlimited, and in paperback!

She desires his heart.
He longs for her love.
Can they find common ground when he returns forever altered by the war.

In a world turned upside down by World War I, all Sarah Richards desires is to love Brett Rawlings and build a future together. After graduating high school a year early, she’s ready to dive into her dreams of college and a home filled with laughter and love. But one impulsive decision threatens all her aspirations—as well as her relationship with Brett.

As the war rages on and men head off to fight, sixteen-year-old Brett reluctantly follows his twin brother, Ben, sneaking off to France to join the American Expeditionary Forces. As the months pass, Ben thrives amidst the chaos of battle, while Brett finds himself haunted by the girl he left behind and the uncertainty of his own heart. When Ben reveals a life-altering secret, the bond between the brothers is shattered, forcing Brett to grapple with betrayal as he faces the brutal realities of war.

Brett returns home a changed man, burdened with memories too heavy to bear, yet yearning to mend the fractures of the past. Will Sarah still be waiting for him, or have time and truth forged an unbridgeable chasm between them?

Find out in this heartfelt historical romance that weaves a tale of hope, grace, forgiveness, and sweet, enduring love.

USA Today bestselling author Shanna Hatfield grew up on a farm where her childhood brimmed with sunshine, hay fever, and an ongoing supply of learning experiences.

Today, Shanna draws on her rural roots to create sweet and wholesome romances filled with hope, humor, quirky small-town characters, realistic heroes, and women of strength. Her historical westerns have been described as historically accurate, blending facts with engaging fiction, while her contemporary works have been called laugh-out-loud funny, swoony, and heartwarming.

When this award-winning author isn’t writing or testing out new recipes (she loves to bake!), Shanna hangs out at home in the Pacific Northwest with her beloved husband, better known as Captain Cavedweller.