Tuesday, March 26, 2013

making ice


"Do you need me to bring ice?" asked a young friend when we were planning a meal at my house.

"No, that's OK, I'll make some,"I replied.

She stopped in the middle of what she was doing, looked slyly at me and said slowly, "You'll . . . make ice? How do you do that?" She thought I was nuts I'm sure.

Here comes the full disclosure of how backwards I guess we've lived. I've never owned a refrigerator with an ice maker––well up til now, and we just haven't hooked it up in our current frig since we're not used to using one.

Yes, if guests are coming, I will make ice ahead of time. And I've been teased about this before. I'll put water in my three ice cube trays, carefully put them in my lower freezer. When frozen, I'll pop them out into plastic bags which I'll put in the freezer and then repeat the process. It just takes thinking about it ahead, and a little time. When it's time to put ice in the glasses, I have easy-to-use bags of ice. The cubes are larger and in my opinion, taste better. I'm sure I sound archaic to most of you. But after all, it is "how we used to do it."

The Gardener and I don't like our water, which we mainly drink, too cold anyway, so we rarely use ice just for us.

23 comments:

  1. Podso,
    Since arriving on this side of the Prairie...we purchase bagged ice @ the grocers. Before...we always made ice, too!!!
    I loved using those metal ice trays as a child! Now, with arthritis in my hands...bagged ice is much easier!
    Fondly,
    Pat

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  2. We use our ice maker often, I'm glad we have a fridge with this feature.
    Judith

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  3. We make ice too!! Exactly the way you make ice. My sister had an ice maker and the shape of the ice (half roundish?) caused one to get an occasional slosh of liquid in the face -- picture it? With that in mind, we never hooked up the ice maker in our new(er) refrigerator. Plus, I feel that the water coming from the tap is better as ice. It's a matter of preference I suppose. This reminds me that I need to make some ice.

    Best,
    Bonnie

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  4. Bravo ~ I think there is something to be said about keeping life as simple as possible.

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  5. I don't think you're archaic, that's the way I did it until three years ago when i got a fridge with ice machine.
    I like the old fashioned way, except for the fact that I always ran out of ice, so now that doesn't happen.
    Hugs, Cindy

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  6. The only time we use ice is if there's company - then we buy bagged ice. I've never had a refrig with an ice maker either and don't miss it. I like my water room temp. :-)

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  7. I love this! I think you're great, Ms. Podso! And boy, do I remember those metal trays Pat mentioned. If my fingers were a little wet, they'd stick to the tray, too. I wish I had an ice maker when the boys were teenagers. I don't know how many times I'd open the freezer just to find 4 or 5 completely empty trays! Or...almost worse.....1 or 2 cubes in them! LOL

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  8. I love this. She had probably never seen an ice tray. ;) There are many things we know all about that haven't been "seen" by the younger ones. =) blessings ~ tanna

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  9. Errrrr - we're right there with you and your ice trays. We make ice too - no ice maker or water dispenser on our fridge. If we're having a really big crowd we buy bags of ice.

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  10. It's exactly how we do it. I agree, it tastes better. And we don't use our ice maker either...never have bothered to hook it up. I like the Tupperware trays with a lid.

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  11. laugh laugh laugh! but when I have a big party...I just go buy it, I must admit! But I do plan to freeze some kool-aide this summer!

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  12. Anonymous11:13 AM

    I've always made ice too, and agree that it tastes much better. I love all the ideas on Pinterest for adding pansies or rose buds or lemons to the water before freezing - the ice cubes are so pretty. :)
    I think if I were a Super Hero, I'd fly backwards. I LOVE the way things were done long ago, and am introducing more of these ways as the years roll by instead of modernizing. I just learned how to sew French seams and want to make a couple of summer blouses - wish me luck!
    Enjoy your dinner party!
    Hugs,
    Zuzu

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  13. I'm right with you, popping ice cubes from the trays into bags. No ice maker in our fridge. But we don't usually have ice in our drinks - only in the summer when it's particularly warm. I think ice is used more south of our border, in the USA. We do keep a jug of water in the fridge.

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  14. About Feedly, in response to your comment (your email isn't enabled so I couldn't go that route). ANYway, I've found that (because I also like to comment) I can do this in 4 clicks with Feedly and be back to the next blog. It is more convenient than the blogger dashboard, IMO. :-)

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  15. I thought that this was leading to a dumb blonde joke. We don't have an icemaker either - we use trays:) I used to have have my Nan's metal ones with the handle - wish that I still did!

    xo

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  16. Oh, I don't have an ice maker either and do it the old fashioned way still. We have great well water and the cubes are nice and clear and bigger, as you said. We seldom use ice, just when we have company or on a hot summer day.

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  17. LOL! Good for you, Dotsie! It just goes to show you how our age is an advantage, as we know how to do things like make ice when the younger generation is baffled because of the ease of technology of ice makers!

    I'm sure you have stories about the old ways we learned in nursing compared to the disposable ways now. I even learned how to melt medicine from tablets over a bunsen burner and draw it up in a sterilized glass hypodermic syringe! Old fashioned, yes, but it gave me an appreciation of the ways of the past!

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  18. We do not have an ice maker either...I don't care for them as the ice seems to get dirty and taste stale. Fun post. HAPPY Easter~
    S

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  19. It's only been in the last 15 years or so that we've had an ice maker and I did exactly as you do. In fact, the ice maker we have now is always goofing up and makes an incredible amount of noise.

    Do you remember the old metal trays with the lift up handle that popped the cubes out? I will never forget trying to lick the frost off one when I was a kid and froze my bottom lip to it! Ouch!!

    XO,
    Jane

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  20. My parents have been married for 54 years and just a month ago got a refrigerator with an ice maker. We've had the luxury now for about 15 years or so. I think it is true that you don't miss what you've never had... but I'd miss my ice maker if I didn't have it now!

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  21. Gosh, I never thought that making ice would sound so odd to people, because, just like you, when I need it I make it in my four ice cube trays! We had to look hard to find a fridge without an ice maker when we replaced our old one (also non-ice-maker) a few years ago. I prefer my water room temperature anyway. And our cold drinks are already plenty cold from being in the fridge so . ..

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  22. I grew up on ice cubes. We used them with everything. Especially sweet iced tea. I have trays in my fridge here (definitely do not have a fancy refrigerator). But we never use ice for anything. We keep our water in the fridge because I do like it cold as do the kids. We only ever used to buy ice if we were taking a cooler to the beach :) Hope all is well and that you are having a great week. Tammy

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  23. I make my ice too!!!!

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