Penny's Passion

Wednesday, June 11, 2025

Let’s Make Homemade Ice Cream

Hello and welcome to Thinking Out Loud Thursday!  Today I'm sharing something on my mind and then inviting you to link up and do the same!  Last weekend I welcomed summer by making some homemade ice cream.  I realized it had been 10 years ago when I first shared the recipe on the blog, so I decided to reshare it today for all the people didn't see it the first time around!

Now that we've turned the calendar page and it says June, I'm thinking it's summer.  Summer makes me think of ice cream and my favorite flavor is my great grandmother's vanilla.  So you can enjoy it too, I'm sharing her recipe today.


Here's What You Need

6 eggs, beaten
3 cups sugar
2 cans evaporated milk
3 tablespoons vanilla
4 cups whole milk


Here's What You Do

1.  Crack the eggs in a large bowl and beat.  Add in the sugar and beat again.  I just use a whisk and a little wrist action.


2.  Add in the evaporated milk, vanilla and milk.  Whisk again.


3.  If using the Cuisinart Ice Cream and Sorbet Maker (pictured below), pour half the mixture into the frozen bowl.  Turn on and wait patiently for about 20 minutes until your liquid turns into the amazing frozen delight.



Click HERE to purchase
I actually purchased an extra bowl, so when my first batch is frozen I just repeat the pouring and waiting 20 minutes for my second batch to become ice cream.

This is a great ice cream base.  You can really add anything like fruit or chocolate chips to enhance this already wonderful recipe.

Now it's your turn - what are you thinking out loud about today?  Link up and share!


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Tuesday, June 10, 2025

Wonderful Wednesday Blog Hop - June 11, 2025

 

Welcome to the Wonderful Wednesday Blog Hop!  We are so glad that you stopped by.

Here you will find inspiration from dozens of bloggers, including recipes, home DIY, gardening, decor, family fun, traveling, fitness, and so much more.

A friendly reminder to our guests that, as a courtesy to the hosts, we ask that you follow every host on at least one social media channel.

If you are a blogger, then be sure to link up below. You may be our next feature! 

Before we get this party started, let’s meet the hosts and check out this week’s featured favorites.
MEET THE HOSTS


  1. Bev – ECLECTIC RED BARN | FB | IG | PINTEREST
  2. Penny – PENNY’S PASSION | FB | IG | PINTEREST
  3. Sinea – DUCKS ‘N A ROW | FB | IG | PINTEREST | X
  4. Tammy – MY LIFE ABUNDANT | FB | IG | PINTEREST | X | YOUTUBE
  5. Denise – THIS IS MY EVERYBODY | FB | IG | PINTEREST | X | YOUTUBE

HIGHLIGHT LINKS FROM LAST WEEK
LET’S GET THIS PARTY STARTED!
Please follow all hosts on AT LEAST 1 of their social channels.

Add as many family-friendly posts as you would like to. NO Etsy shops, adult sites, or blog parties please.  Visit others. Caring is sharing. Like, comment, and pin posts.

Party entries appear in REVERSE. This way your entries 
will be seen no matter when you arrive. Please TWEET our party and invite others to join.

Let’s Party! 

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Thursday, June 5, 2025

Five on Friday - June 6, 2025

Happy Friday!  I'm just back from a few days of vacation and am here to share my five for today.  Let's get to it ~
 
Taylor Jenkins Reid is back with a new novel!  This one marks a bold departure from her previous works, transporting readers from the glitz of Hollywood and the rhythms of rock 'n' roll to the high-stakes world of 1980s NASA.  This historical fiction delves into themes of ambition, identity, and forbidden love against the backdrop of the Space Shuttle program.  Here's the summary ~
Joan Goodwin has been obsessed with the stars for as long as she can remember. Thoughtful and reserved, Joan is content with her life as a professor of physics and astronomy at Rice University and as aunt to her precocious niece, Frances. That is, until she comes across an advertisement seeking the first women scientists to join NASA’s space shuttle program. Suddenly, Joan burns to be one of the few people to go to space.

Selected from a pool of thousands of applicants in the summer of 1980, Joan begins training at Houston’s Johnson Space Center, alongside an exceptional group of fellow candidates: Top Gun pilot Hank Redmond and scientist John Griffin, who are kind and easygoing even when the stakes are highest; mission specialist Lydia Danes, who has worked too hard to play nice; warmhearted Donna Fitzgerald, who is navigating her own secrets; and Vanessa Ford, the magnetic and mysterious aeronautical engineer, who can fix any engine and fly any plane.

As the new astronauts become unlikely friends and prepare for their first flights, Joan finds a passion and a love she never imagined. In this new light, Joan begins to question everything she thinks she knows about her place in the observable universe.

Then, in December of 1984, on mission STS-LR9, it all changes in an instant.

Fast-paced, thrilling, and emotional, Atmosphere is Taylor Jenkins Reid at her best: transporting readers to iconic times and places, creating complex protagonists, and telling a passionate and soaring story about the transformative power of love—this time among the stars.

We played a new game on vacation that was so fun!  Elimino was developed by two sisters who donate a portion of all proceeds to charity.  The game is quick to learn, easy to play, and fast-paced.  Everyone can play.  It would make a great game to throw in your travel bag or play on family game night.  I'm definitely adding this one to our game collection!

Summer is almost here, and that means more chances to enjoy meals outdoors! Keep pesky flies at bay by keeping a couple of these handy fly swatters on the table. They're perfect for camping trips, backyard BBQs, picnics—anywhere those annoying bugs like to show up!


Are the flowers on your hummingbird feeder looking a little worn or faded? Freshen it up with these high-quality replacement flowers! Just pop out the old ones and snap in the new — your feeder will look like new in no time!

5.  Ever feel like this...


Wishing you a great weekend! I’ll be spending some time unpacking and getting caught up so next week starts off smoothly. We’re seeing friends on Sunday, and I’m really looking forward to it. See you next week!

Tuesday, June 3, 2025

What I Read in May 2025

Hi there! I'm checking in from vacation in beautiful Gatlinburg and soaking up every moment of it. Thanks for joining me for Thinking Out Loud Thursday—a time to share what's on my mind and invite you to link up and do the same.


At a recent work event, we had the chance to hear author Colleen Murphy speak, along with her daughter Lauren. Inspired by their talk, our workplace book club chose to read Colleen’s book and hold a discussion about it. Here’s a quick summary ~
Colleen Murphys’ daughter, Lauren, suffered severe brain damage after a tragic accident. Lauren remained in the hospital unidentified for several hours, she was not expected to survive. This story is a raw, honest account of the pitfalls and challenges a family faces while navigating life through brain injury.

Murphys Don’t Quit shows how one family combined a never-give-up attitude with faith, hope, and love. Throughout the chapters, readers see not just the highs, but the heartbreaking lows. Due to the family’s Irish wit, humor often diffuses the devastating subject matter. Through the many grueling hours of therapy and by visiting specialists all over the country, Lauren was able to find her way back to a life filled with purpose and is now a highly sought after inspirational public speaker.

This is the fourth book in the Max Rupert and Joe Talbert series.  I've loved this mystery series and this book was no exception!  Here's the summary ~
A homicide detective hunts down his wife's killers while struggling between his thirst for revenge and a twinge of conscience forbidding him to take the law into his own hands. Homicide Detective Max Rupert never fully accepted his wife’s death, even when he believed that a reckless hit-and-run driver was to blame. Haunted by memories both beautiful and painful, he is plagued by feelings of unfinished business. When Max learns that, in fact, Jenni was murdered, he must come to terms with this new information—and determine what to do with it. Struggling to balance his impulses as a vengeful husband with his obligations as a law enforcement officer, Max devotes himself to relentlessly hunting down those responsible. For most of his life, he has thought of himself as a decent man. But now he’s so consumed with anguish and thoughts of retribution that he finds himself on the edge, questioning who he is and what he stands for. On a frozen lake at the US–Canadian border, he wrestles with decisions that could change his life forever, as his rage threatens to turn him into the kind of person he has spent his entire career bringing to justice.
This book had been on my TBR list for quite some time, so when one of my book clubs selected it, I was happy to bump it to the top. I’d heard a mix of opinions beforehand, but I ended up really enjoying it. There were several twists and turns that genuinely caught me by surprise.
William Waters grew up in a house silenced by tragedy, where his parents could hardly bear to look at him, much less love him—so when he meets the spirited and ambitious Julia Padavano in his freshman year of college, it’s as if the world has lit up around him. With Julia comes her family, as she and her three sisters are inseparable: Sylvie, the family’s dreamer, is happiest with her nose in a book; Cecelia is a free-spirited artist; and Emeline patiently takes care of them all. With the Padavanos, William experiences a newfound contentment; every moment in their house is filled with loving chaos.

But then darkness from William’s past surfaces, jeopardizing not only Julia’s carefully orchestrated plans for their future, but the sisters’ unshakeable devotion to one another. The result is a catastrophic family rift that changes their lives for generations. Will the loyalty that once rooted them be strong enough to draw them back together when it matters most?

An exquisite homage to Louisa May Alcott’s timeless classic, Little Women, Hello Beautiful is a profoundly moving portrait of what is possible when we choose to love someone not in spite of who they are, but because of it.

This was a bonus pick for Amazon First Read in April.  I'm so glad I picked it up!  It's still a free selection if you have Kindle Unlimited.  It's a fun little read that doesn't necessarily end the way you think it would.  It's 100 pages, so the perfect length to read in one sitting.
Reuben thought he’d spend the rest of his life with Beth, until she broke his heart six months ago. He’s not even remotely over her, so he’s devastated to hear she’s getting married—this weekend.

Now he’s faced with the ultimate question: what should he do on the day of the wedding? Grieve? Disrupt the ceremony? Or do everything in his power to pretend it’s not happening?

Enlisting the help of his friends, Reuben is all set to mark the occasion with distraction on a grand scale: Ferraris, champagne, and a VIP box at the races.

But on the morning of the Big Day, Reuben gets a phone call that not only derails his elaborate itinerary: it may well change his life completely…

If you’ve been a fan of Emily Henry’s signature blend of romance and wit, Great Big Beautiful Life offers something a little different—and truly special. In this thought-provoking novel, Henry steps into deeper emotional territory while still delivering the sharp dialogue and chemistry her readers love.

The story follows Alice, a charming celebrity journalist, and Hayden, a serious biographer, as they compete to write the life story of the mysterious Margaret Ives—a former socialite who has been hiding from the spotlight for decades. Both are invited to a remote island where Margaret begins to unravel her past—but gives each writer a different version of her story. What follows is a twisty, layered exploration of truth, memory, and the power of storytelling.

With dual timelines, unexpected revelations, and a slow-burn romance, Great Big Beautiful Life is more than a love story—it’s a reflection on how we choose to remember, and how those memories shape who we become. This book will stay with you long after the final page.

Alice Scott is an eternal optimist still dreaming of her big writing break. Hayden Anderson is a Pulitzer-prize winning human thundercloud. And they’re both on balmy Little Crescent Island for the same reason: to write the biography of a woman no one has seen in years—or at least to meet with the octogenarian who claims to be the Margaret Ives. Tragic heiress, former tabloid princess, and daughter of one of the most storied (and scandalous) families of the twentieth century.

When Margaret invites them both for a one-month trial period, after which she’ll choose the person who’ll tell her story, there are three things keeping Alice’s head in the game.

One: Alice genuinely likes people, which means people usually like Alice—and she has a whole month to win the legendary woman over.

Two: She’s ready for this job and the chance to impress her perennially unimpressed family with a Serious Publication.

Three: Hayden Anderson, who should have no reason to be concerned about losing this book, is glowering at her in a shaken-to-the core way that suggests he sees her as competition.

But the problem is, Margaret is only giving each of them pieces of her story. Pieces they can’t swap to put together because of an ironclad NDA and an inconvenient yearning pulsing between them every time they’re in the same room.

And it’s becoming abundantly clear that their story—just like the tale Margaret’s spinning—could be a mystery, tragedy, or love ballad . . . depending on who’s telling it.

The Shadows We Hide
Book 5 of the Max Rupert and Joe Talbert series was as intriguing as the others!  In this mystery, Joe discovers that a man with his same name - who may be the father he never knew - has been murdered.  Like in the other four books, there a story within the story too.  I'm going to miss the characters in these books!  Here's the summary ~
Joe Talbert, Jr. has never once met his namesake. Now out of college, a cub reporter for the Associated Press in Minneapolis, he stumbles across a story describing the murder of a man named Joseph Talbert in a small town in southern Minnesota.

Full of curiosity about whether this man might be his father, Joe is shocked to find that none of the town's residents have much to say about the dead man-other than that his death was long overdue. Joe discovers that the dead man was a loathsome lowlife who cheated his neighbors, threatened his daughter, and squandered his wife's inheritance after she, too, passed away -- an inheritance that may now be Joe's.

Mired in uncertainty and plagued by his own devastated relationship with his mother, who is seeking to get back into her son's life, Joe must put together the missing pieces of his family history -- before his quest for discovery threatens to put him in a grave of his own.

Overall, May was a great reading month!  Just a reminder - don't forget to make your Amazon First Read selection.   

Now it's your turn - what are you thinking about today?  Link up and share!



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Wonderful Wednesday Blog Hop - June 4, 2025

 

Welcome to the Wonderful Wednesday Blog Hop!  We are so glad that you stopped by.

Here you will find inspiration from dozens of bloggers, including recipes, home DIY, gardening, decor, family fun, traveling, fitness, and so much more.

A friendly reminder to our guests that, as a courtesy to the hosts, we ask that you follow every host on at least one social media channel.

If you are a blogger, then be sure to link up below. You may be our next feature! 

Before we get this party started, let’s meet the hosts and check out this week’s featured favorites.
MEET THE HOSTS


  1. Bev – ECLECTIC RED BARN | FB | IG | PINTEREST
  2. Penny – PENNY’S PASSION | FB | IG | PINTEREST
  3. Sinea – DUCKS ‘N A ROW | FB | IG | PINTEREST | X
  4. Tammy – MY LIFE ABUNDANT | FB | IG | PINTEREST | X | YOUTUBE
  5. Denise – THIS IS MY EVERYBODY | FB | IG | PINTEREST | X | YOUTUBE

HIGHLIGHT LINKS FROM LAST WEEK

LET’S GET THIS PARTY STARTED!
Please follow all hosts on AT LEAST 1 of their social channels.

Add as many family-friendly posts as you would like to. NO Etsy shops, adult sites, or blog parties please.  Visit others. Caring is sharing. Like, comment, and pin posts.

Party entries appear in REVERSE. This way your entries 
will be seen no matter when you arrive. Please TWEET our party and invite others to join.

Let’s Party! 

You are invited to the Inlinkz link party!

Click here to enter

Thursday, May 29, 2025

Five on Friday - May 30, 2025

Happy Friday! We’re in full wedding mode this week, getting ready for our biggest celebration yet this Saturday. I can’t wait to share some special moments from the big day with you! But first, let’s jump into this week’s Five on Friday ~

Look at what came out this week - The Martha's Vineyard Beach and Book Club book by Martha Hall Kelly!  I can't wait to add it to my summer reading list.  This author wrote another book I loved, titled The Lilac Girls, so I'm excited to read this one.  Here's the summary ~
2016: Thirty-four-year-old Mari Starwood is still grieving after her mother’s death as she travels to the storied island of Martha’s Vineyard, off the coast of Massachusetts. She’s come all the way from California with nothing but a name on a piece of paper: Elizabeth Devereaux, the famous but reclusive Vineyard painter. When Mari makes it to Mrs. Devereaux’s stunning waterfront farm under the guise of taking a painting class with her, Mrs. Devereaux begins to tell her the story of the Smith sisters, who once lived there. As the tale unfolds, Mari is shocked to learn that her relationship to this island runs deeper than she ever thought possible.
1942: The Smith girls—nineteen-year-old aspiring writer Cadence and sixteen-year-old war-obsessed Briar—are faced with the impossible task of holding their failing family farm together during World War II as the U.S. Army arrives on Martha’s Vineyard. When Briar spots German U-boats lurking off the island’s shores, and Cadence falls into an unlikely romance with a sworn enemy, their quiet lives are officially upended. In an attempt at normalcy, Cadence and her best friend, Bess, start a book club, which grows both in members and influence as they connect with a fabulous New York publisher who could make all of Cadence’s dreams come true. But all that is put at risk by a mysterious man who washes ashore—and whispers of a spy in their midst. Who in their tight-knit island community can they trust? Could this little book club change the course of the war . . . before it’s too late?
2.  And Just Like That - Season 3
The first episode of Season 3 of And Just Like That... dropped yesterday on Max, and I couldn’t wait to dive back into the world of Carrie, Charlotte, Miranda, and all the new faces we've come to know. That said, I have to admit I was a little disappointed that the full season wasn’t released all at once. I was hoping for a good binge session, but instead, we’ll be getting one new episode every Thursday. The 12-episode season will unfold week by week, leading up to the finale on August 14. So, if you're watching along, get ready to pace yourself—plenty of drama, fashion, and surprises still to come!

I’m heading out on vacation Sunday morning, and with how packed this week has been, I decided to make things easy and grab a couple of new tops to toss in my suitcase. I was honestly surprised by how much I ended up loving them! The fit is just right, the fabric is lightweight, and it's incredibly soft. We’ll be spending a couple of days at Dollywood, and this top is perfect—it's made with UPF 50+ fabric to help protect against harmful UVA and UVB rays.  I'm so happy with this Amazon purchase! 

I had to restock my whitening strips this week, so I figured it was the perfect time to share just how much I love the Lumineux ones. I’ve tried several different brands over the years, and most of them left my teeth and gums feeling super sensitive—sometimes even after just one use. But these are completely different. They’re gentle, yet still really effective, and I’ve had zero issues with sensitivity. I love that they use a more natural approach to whitening without compromising on results. If you’ve struggled with sensitivity like I have, these might be a total game-changer for you too!


5.  I can relate...


Okay guys, I'm back to working on wedding stuff.  My friend TW is here helping and I honestly don't know what I'd do without him!  See you next week.

Wednesday, May 28, 2025

Let's Make Sunset Sangria

Hello and welcome to Thinking Out Loud Thursday.  I'm going to share something on my mind and invite you to link up and do the same.  Today I'm thinking about the wonderful sangria my daughter-in-law, Kayla, makes!

Kayla knows just how much I adore her sangria recipe—it’s one of my absolute favorites. While we were visiting for Mother’s Day, she kindly whipped up a fresh batch, and of course, it didn’t disappoint. As she was putting it all together, I couldn’t resist snapping a few photos of the process. I wanted to make sure I could replicate it perfectly back at home, step by step. The recipe itself is wonderfully simple—no fuss at all—but the flavor is out of this world. It’s refreshing, perfectly balanced, and always a crowd-pleaser. I can’t wait to make it myself and relive a bit of that special day with every sip.


Here's What You Need
1 750 ml bottle Moscato D'Asti
1/2 cup Malibu Rum
3 cups Simply Lemonade with Raspberry
Desired amount of Triple Berry Blend Fruit


Here's What You Do
Measure and pour your liquids into a pitcher.




Give it a stir.

Add your fruit.

Enjoy!

Now it's your turn - what are you thinking about today?  Link up and share!


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