Monday, September 3, 2012

Caregivers are not invisible

It is very often that people focus too much on the sickly and forget about the caregivers. A girlfriend once told me that during the time when she was caring for her husband who had terminal cancer, they often had friends and relatives visit to see how her husband was doing. They all showed concern to him and never once did they ask her how she was doing. Everyone of us hopes that we do not need to be a caregiver. In fact, we probably never even think about it, but the truth is we never know. If we should be called to this sad duty, I am sure we would hate to be treated by friends and family as if we were invisible. Please click on the photo below to read an article which may be worth reading about how caregivers suffered themselves for those they loved.


Please click on the photo to read the article

Perhaps this article will make us think that we need to be more sensitive to the caregivers if the need arises. How about asking the caregivers how they are doing and if they need an ear or some help when you visit the sick friend and relative of yours. I was thinking of making a tub of homemade ice cream and bring with me to visit my friends who are caregivers and tell them that I am thinking of them. They have my sympathy for what they are going through.  I am sure a small gesture of support will give them much comfort.


I would like to dedicate this post to all caregivers in the world. Please know that what you give is not your possessions but yourselves and this is life's greatest value.

I have attempted several times to make ice cream with the little ice cream machine I bought last year but the ice cream turned out too icy in all of those attempts and I had given up trying to make my own. Then last week, we ran out of ice cream and my Quay Lo found this recipe which is a super, easy to make, homemade vanilla ice cream recipe without the need to use an ice cream machine. How cool is that? I was ecstatic at the result because it was such a success. It is a delectable, creamy, rich, scrumptiously tasty, irresistable, and rewarding dessert.  I thought I had died and gone to heaven already. (Am I gushing? LOL!)

Homemade Vanilla Ice Cream without using a machine
Adapted  from http://www.davidlebovitz.com with slight modification



Make 1 quart tub of ice cream.
Ingredients:
1 cup (250ml) whole milk
a pinch of salt
3/4 cup (130g) sugar (the original recipe is 150g)
2 vanilla bean, split lengthwise (the original recipe is 1 vanilla bean)
2 cups (500ml) heavy cream
7 large egg yolks

Method:
1. Heat the heavy cream, milk, salt, and sugar in a saucepan. Scrape the seeds from the vanilla bean and set aside. Add the bean pod to the milk. Cover, remove from heat, and infuse for one hour.

2. In a separate bowl, stir together the egg yolks. Slowly pour the yolks, whisking beaten egg yolks into the warm milk. Whisk constantly as you pour.

3. Add vanilla beans into the egg yolk and milk mixture. Cook over low heat, stiring constantly and scraping the bottom with a heat-resistant spatula, until the custard thickens enough to coat the spatula. Transfer custard in a cold metal container.

4. Remove the vanilla pod from the custard and freeze the custard in your freeze. Remove the custard once every 20 – 30 minutes and re-stir with a spatula around the edges and blending well without allowing much melting. Repeat for at least 10 times. Do not skimp on this as it is the reason you do not need the machine.  

Note: If you refer a less rich ice cream, you may reduce or one or two eggs for a lighter custard. You could also substitute half-and-half (half whole milk and half heavy cream) for using just heavy cream, but the final texture won’t be as rich or as smooth. This all comes down to personal taste. The recipe, as it stands, makes a very rich, unctious and velvety ice cream, much like a rich gelato. You can experiment if you think you want an ice cream that is lighter. You should have no problem not wasting any of it. Just invite some friends to come and try if there are not enough kids and husbands in your house to finish each delicious attempt. Just remember that if you invite others over, they may not want to leave. You know what they say: "You scream, I scream, we all scream for ice cream". LOL!




46 comments:

  1. Yes, it is definitely not easy taking care of the sick and the elderly. All the giving and nothing for the taking - it would be nice to show some appreciation in any small way sometimes.

    Hmmm...ice cream - I don't think I am capable of making that, me half-past-six cook wannabe. LOL!!!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Appreciation received makes it easier for those who sacrificed.

      Delete
  2. This ice cream must be full of vanilla taste and flavour!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Yes, always better to use vanilla beans instead of extract.

      Delete
  3. Quay Po, it is so true. This article is an eye opener for many people and will bring some sort of comfort to caregivers to let them know that they are not alone. I am emailing this to my Mum who is sharing care taking duties with my uncle to look after my grandma who has Alzheimers. On a brighter note, I am very excited about making the ice-cream. I tried your Hokkaido Chiffon cupcakes recipe last weekend and they turned out perfect!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Glad to hear that your HCC turned out perfect. YAY! I am sure when you try this ice cream, it will too.

      Delete
  4. To be the sole caregiver is a heavy task. If some support comes from others , it provides a little relief but circumstances dictate. A heartening article for caregivers.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. You are right. If friends and family chip in to help, it will be easier.

      Delete
  5. Carers as we call 'em down here are definitely under appreciated and poorly paid for the sacrifices they make for their family and the community at large, you could call 'em the quiet achievers.

    ReplyDelete
  6. ya it's true we somehow neglected the caregivers. like the maid who's taking care of popo. she sometimes would show colours or throw tantrum, my uncle and aunty (who's popo staying with) would scold her for that. but they never thought of, she has to do so many household chores plus taking care of popo, which is certainly not an easy job to do.

    when popo is staying with us, we make sure we do the chores ourselves, she just have to take good care of popo enough jor :)

    this ice-cream seems easy to do eh. no electric appliances needed :D

    ReplyDelete
  7. My kids have a cold now, but once they have recovered I will try making this for them. ;)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I think it is okay to take ice cream when you have a cold.

      Delete
  8. Thank you for highlighting a very real world-wide problem. Even quite young children become caregivers and lose the freedom of childhood in the process, which is very sad. On a lighter note, I think I would like the ice cream exactly as you have given the recipe, rich and unctuous sounds perfect - for a special indulgence.

    ReplyDelete
  9. Yes the carer really suffers as well - sometimes their life totally consumed when having to look after someone else. This homemade would surely be a lovely gift when visiting the patient and the carer.

    ReplyDelete
  10. It was my pleasure to care for my parents at the end of their lives. They were so wonderful to me all of my life that it was my turn. My daughter also was involved in caring for her grandparents. Wonderful post you have here to recognize care givers. I was fortunate that others supported me while I helped my parents.

    Just LOVE your recipes, as ALWAYS!

    Hugs,
    Lois

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Yes, it is much easier to have some support from others when we become caregivers. You have wonderful memory to hold on to. Hugs back XOXO

      Delete
  11. It's never easy to be a carer. Needs a lot of love and patience. Lovely post. Love your ice cream. It's cold here but I don't mind a big scoop and then quickly jump into bed and hide under my thick duvet.....hehe. Thanks very much for sharing. MaryMoh at http://www.keeplearningkeepsmiling.com

    ReplyDelete
  12. Never easy to be a caregiver and yes they are often the most misunderstood people and the least thought of people. Love this brilliant reminder post.

    Ice cream...I am screaming ice cream. This looks simple and wholesome though I need to look for the vanilla pods first. No baking shops at my place. Grrrrrr

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks, you want some vanilla pod? You can get them in Jaya Grocers.

      Delete
  13. Never know we can make ice-cream without using a machine!

    ReplyDelete
  14. Hi, I am from S'pore, may I know what brand should I buy for Heavy cream? is not thickened cream or whipping cream?
    Thank you

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hi Soh, sorry for this late reply. You can use whipping cream if you can't find heavy cream. The brand of heavy cream I used was Gippsland.

      Delete
  15. Great post. Caregivers are in a higher risk of depression too. They never chose to do the job but there is no break in caregiving. I shall also extend that to family members of mental health patients (since mental illnesses are usually long and debilitating too) and their needs to be counselled, and pampered.

    Heavy comment aside, homemade ice cream is always the best! But I don't have an ice cream machine... Maybe I should mention it to the other half. Hmm.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I am sure you know better Kelly:D You don't need an ice cream machine to make these ice cream my dear.

      Delete
  16. I own an ice cream machine now, so far it perform quite good..I have yet to try ice cream with egg yolk recipe because i hesitae to make with egg yolk since not good for my hubby who has cholestrol problem..

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Maybe can just keep this ice cream recipe as a treat. I guess indulging once in a while will not hurt.

      Delete
  17. This is an awesome ice cream recipe. I have made it several times as well! Your scoops looks perfect. Way to go without the machine!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. It is so good to see you again Mary. So you have used this recipe too:D

      Delete
  18. being a caretaker is never easy at all, i even think she or he suffers just as much as the person needed to care for. I had that experience few years ago, that was really stressful, tiring and not able to get good sleep and lost weight!! hey, lost weight, not bad huh? haha! no, i prefer not losing weight thru this. It's a meaningful post, qp. This is the 3rd ice cream recipe i'm seeing this week, wait ar, kiv first!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Lena, I know you have gone through that and I am sure your love and patience was greatly appreciated. Ya, don't want to lose weight that way. haha, eat more ice cream, put on weight, don't blame me ok? hehe

      Delete
  19. I'll start by saying that the ice cream looks irresistibly delicious! I love a good vanilla bean ice cream and this tops the charts! Thank you for creating a post for caregivers! Having been on both sides, I know that in so many cases they are invisible. It takes a lot of heart and soul to be a caregiver and I admire everyone of them! Thanks for this post!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. It does isn't it? Me too, admire everyone of them.

      Delete
  20. Quay Po, I can't thank you enough for the caregiver article. I just returned from taking care of my Dad for a month and came home exhausted. (He's doing well now though!) For the last week, I've had trouble getting motivated, have been feeling "out of it" etc. and that article explained a lot. I'll just give myself a little more time to bounce back -- and maybe a bowl of this ice cream. :) Thanks again!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I am so happy to hear that your Dad is doing well now. I am sure it is a big relief for you. It is time to get a good rest yourself and you will bounce back soon my dear. Take care. Hugs.

      Delete
  21. Hi, I found the "Gippsland" heavy cream, and also have few mango on hand, do you think I can use this receipe?
    Thank you for sharing.

    ReplyDelete
  22. It is so thoughtful of you. I remembered when I spent almost a month in the hospital taking care of daddy, most people hardly remember anyone else other than the patient. So I can relate. And thank you for the link to the article. I almost tear a little when reading Faye Joyce's statement.

    ReplyDelete
  23. Oh i'm a huge fan of ice cream! I have unlimited spaces for vanilla ice cream :D :D :D

    ReplyDelete

I love to hear from you. Your comments mean a lot to me. Thanks!