Hmm. Seems a bit noncooking to ask here but...

Just got a blender, sugar free coffee syrup. I make a block of ice in an
old salad/bbq chicken nugget container. Crush the ice in a blender, add
fruit a bit of coffee syrup maybe some more splenda, blend. Got something
cool to drink that is free of sugar except what is in the fruit.

Problem: Just chucking in the block of ice doesn't work. Breaking it into
four or five big pieces doesn't work. Ok so I pulverize the ice before
putting it in the blender, no biggie. just put said block of ice in a bag
put a thick hardcover on top and wail on the hardcover with a meat
tenderizer. ( Makes more uniform chunks. )


Problem is that the usual suspects: zip lock bags don't work. Been there
done it, they tear. Saw something online for the job a thick vinyl bag
but expensive as hell. Also something called a lewis bag. That too is
expensive.

Can someone suggest cheap bags?

Thanks and sorry for being so mundane.

On Mon, 24 May 2010 08:32:03 +0000 (UTC), Handy Gandy wrote:

> Hmm. Seems a bit noncooking to ask here but...
>
> Just got a blender, sugar free coffee syrup. I make a block of ice in an
> old salad/bbq chicken nugget container. Crush the ice in a blender, add
> fruit a bit of coffee syrup maybe some more splenda, blend. Got something
> cool to drink that is free of sugar except what is in the fruit.
>
> Problem: Just chucking in the block of ice doesn't work. Breaking it into
> four or five big pieces doesn't work. Ok so I pulverize the ice before
> putting it in the blender, no biggie. just put said block of ice in a bag
> put a thick hardcover on top and wail on the hardcover with a meat
> tenderizer. ( Makes more uniform chunks. )
>
> Problem is that the usual suspects: zip lock bags don't work. Been there
> done it, they tear. Saw something online for the job a thick vinyl bag
> but expensive as hell. Also something called a lewis bag. That too is
> expensive.
>
> Can someone suggest cheap bags?
>
> Thanks and sorry for being so mundane.

A small vinyl bag - like the kind your travel iron come in. Or a
small vinyl laundry bag (kinda big, I guess). I don't know what
else comes with it;'s own small vinyl bag.

Why not make ice in... check this out... Ice Cube Trays. They even
come in little itty bitty cube sizes.

-sw

On Mon, 24 May 2010 08:32:03 +0000, Handy Gandy wrote:

> Hmm. Seems a bit noncooking to ask here but...
snip
>
> Can someone suggest cheap bags?
>
snip
no but i can suggest you buy an ice crusher.





--
regards, piedmont ~ the practical bbq'r!

http://sites.google.com/site/thepracticalbbqr/

On May 24, 4:32*am, Handy Gandy > wrote:
> Hmm. Seems a bit noncooking to ask here but...
>
> Just got a blender, sugar free coffee syrup. I make a block of ice in an
> old salad/bbq chicken nugget container. Crush the ice in a blender, add
> fruit a bit of coffee syrup maybe some more splenda, blend. Got something
> cool to drink that is free of sugar except what is in the fruit.
>
> Problem: Just chucking in the block of ice doesn't work. Breaking it into
> four or five big pieces doesn't work. Ok so I pulverize the ice before
> putting it in the blender, no biggie. just put said block of ice in a bag
> put a thick hardcover on top and wail on the *hardcover with a meat
> tenderizer. ( Makes more uniform chunks. )
>
> Problem is that the usual suspects: zip lock bags don't work. Been there
> done it, they tear. Saw something online for the job a thick vinyl bag
> but expensive as hell. Also something called a lewis bag. That too is
> expensive.
>
> Can someone suggest cheap bags?
>
> Thanks and sorry for being so mundane.

Try a kitchen towel or pillowcase. Sure, some of the crushed ice
will stick to the fabric, but you should still get a good yield.

Cindy Hamilton

Sqwertz wrote:
> On Mon, 24 May 2010 08:32:03 +0000 (UTC), Handy Gandy wrote:

>> Problem is that the usual suspects: zip lock bags don't work. Been
>> there done it, they tear. Saw something online for the job a thick
>> vinyl bag but expensive as hell. Also something called a lewis bag.
>> That too is expensive.
>>
>> Can someone suggest cheap bags?
>>
>> Thanks and sorry for being so mundane.
>
> A small vinyl bag - like the kind your travel iron come in. Or a
> small vinyl laundry bag (kinda big, I guess). I don't know what
> else comes with it;'s own small vinyl bag.

You can buy some vinyl type of fabric at the fabric store and
make your own bags or just bunch it up around the ice. I also
don't get why you are making a block of ice instead of cubes,
but I guess you have your reasons.

nancy

On Mon, 24 May 2010 15:10:49 GMT, "l, not -l" > wrote:

>
>On 24-May-2010, Handy Gandy > wrote:
>
>> Can someone suggest cheap bags?
>
>If you live in an area prone to flooding, search out a couple of the (new,
>not used) polypropolene sandbags. They can take a heck of a beating.
>
>If you can't get your hands on a sandbag or two, there's an old-timey tool
>called an ice-pick that works great for rendering large ice chunks into
>smaller ice chunks.


The Boston Shaker has a variety of bags made specifically for the
purpose of ice crushing.

http://store.thebostonshaker.com/ind...arch=ice%20bag

Ice crushers (mechanical-electric) can often be found at garage sales
or on eBay.

On Mon, 24 May 2010 11:12:35 -0400, Boron Elgar
> wrote:

>On Mon, 24 May 2010 15:10:49 GMT, "l, not -l" > wrote:
>
>>
>>On 24-May-2010, Handy Gandy > wrote:
>>
>>> Can someone suggest cheap bags?
>>
>>If you live in an area prone to flooding, search out a couple of the (new,
>>not used) polypropolene sandbags. They can take a heck of a beating.
>>
>>If you can't get your hands on a sandbag or two, there's an old-timey tool
>>called an ice-pick that works great for rendering large ice chunks into
>>smaller ice chunks.
>
>
>The Boston Shaker has a variety of bags made specifically for the
>purpose of ice crushing.
>
>http://store.thebostonshaker.com/ind...arch=ice%20bag
>
>Ice crushers (mechanical-electric) can often be found at garage sales
>or on eBay.

Those take cubes, not block ice. For enough crushed ice to fill a
blender smack cubes or small ice-picked chunks with the back of a
spoon.

In article >,
Handy Gandy > wrote:
> Problem: Just chucking in the block of ice doesn't work. Breaking it into
> four or five big pieces doesn't work. Ok so I pulverize the ice before
> putting it in the blender, no biggie. just put said block of ice in a bag
> put a thick hardcover on top and wail on the hardcover with a meat
> tenderizer. ( Makes more uniform chunks. )
>
>
> Problem is that the usual suspects: zip lock bags don't work. Been there
> done it, they tear. Saw something online for the job a thick vinyl bag
> but expensive as hell. Also something called a lewis bag. That too is
> expensive.
>
> Can someone suggest cheap bags?

No. Wrap it in a dishtowel and thwack it smartly on the curb before
pummeling it with a rolling pin to make smaller pieces. Forget the meat
tenderizer. That has poky things on it.

> Thanks and sorry for being so mundane.

Go to the dollar store and buy a couple plastic ice cube trays. Only
fill them half full when you freeze the water.


--
Barb, Mother Superior, HOSSSPoJ
http://web.me.com/barbschaller
Updated 4-24-2010 with food story and pictures

Handy Gandy wrote:
> Hmm. Seems a bit noncooking to ask here but...
>
> Just got a blender, sugar free coffee syrup. I make a block of ice in an
> old salad/bbq chicken nugget container. Crush the ice in a blender, add
> fruit a bit of coffee syrup maybe some more splenda, blend. Got something
> cool to drink that is free of sugar except what is in the fruit.
>
> Problem: Just chucking in the block of ice doesn't work. Breaking it into
> four or five big pieces doesn't work. Ok so I pulverize the ice before
> putting it in the blender, no biggie. just put said block of ice in a bag
> put a thick hardcover on top and wail on the hardcover with a meat
> tenderizer. ( Makes more uniform chunks. )

>
> Can someone suggest cheap bags?
>
> Thanks and sorry for being so mundane.
>
>
>

Not a bag. Put the ice on a clean dishtowel, fold over the edges, wrap
the two ends tightly, then hit it with your mallet or tenderizer.

Or find an old hand-cranked ice crusher.

I love iced coffee and coffee-milk but can't imagine it with fruit.

gloria p

Gloria wrote:

> I love iced coffee and coffee-milk but can't imagine it with fruit.

I guess it would depend on the fruit and whether other flavors were also
added (and personal tastes, of course). I can see combining coffee with
cherries or apricots. But to a coffee-caramel mixture I can see adding
pineapple or bananas. To a coffee-chocolate mixture I can see adding
raspberries, tangerines, or oranges (as well as the aforementioned cherries
or apricots). A little further "out there" would be coffee with pears and
ginger.

Not every flavor combination would work, but I think there are definitely
some which would.

Bob

On Mon, 24 May 2010 12:33:04 +0000 (UTC), piedmont wrote:

> On Mon, 24 May 2010 08:32:03 +0000, Handy Gandy wrote:
>
>> Hmm. Seems a bit noncooking to ask here but...
> snip
>>
>> Can someone suggest cheap bags?
>>
> snip
> no but i can suggest you buy an ice crusher.

That's what he's using the blender for, dumba...

-sw

On Mon, 24 May 2010 22:41:05 -0500, Sqwertz
> wrote:

>On Mon, 24 May 2010 12:33:04 +0000 (UTC), piedmont wrote:
>
>> On Mon, 24 May 2010 08:32:03 +0000, Handy Gandy wrote:
>>
>>> Hmm. Seems a bit noncooking to ask here but...
>> snip
>>>
>>> Can someone suggest cheap bags?
>>>
>> snip
>> no but i can suggest you buy an ice crusher.
>
>That's what he's using the blender for, dumba...
>
>-sw

Well, actually the ice crusher makes ice chunks the size of marbles.
The blender makes ice chunks the size of sand. Dumba... ;-)

Ron

On Mon, 24 May 2010 15:10:49 GMT, l, not -l wrote:

> On 24-May-2010, Handy Gandy > wrote:
>
>> Can someone suggest cheap bags?
>
> If you live in an area prone to flooding, search out a couple of the (new,
> not used) polypropolene sandbags. They can take a heck of a beating.
>
> If you can't get your hands on a sandbag or two, there's an old-timey tool
> called an ice-pick that works great for rendering large ice chunks into
> smaller ice chunks.

i had a couple of those, but they ended up in People Who ****ed Me Off.

your pal,
blake

On Tue, 25 May 2010 13:56:23 -0400, blake murphy
> wrote:

> On Mon, 24 May 2010 15:10:49 GMT, l, not -l wrote:
>
> >
> > If you can't get your hands on a sandbag or two, there's an old-timey tool
> > called an ice-pick that works great for rendering large ice chunks into
> > smaller ice chunks.
>
> i had a couple of those, but they ended up in People Who ****ed Me Off.
>
So that's the way your kill file works?

--
Forget the health food. I need all the preservatives I can get.

On Tue, 25 May 2010 13:18:01 -0700, sf wrote:

> On Tue, 25 May 2010 13:56:23 -0400, blake murphy
> > wrote:
>
>> On Mon, 24 May 2010 15:10:49 GMT, l, not -l wrote:
>>
>>>
>>> If you can't get your hands on a sandbag or two, there's an old-timey tool
>>> called an ice-pick that works great for rendering large ice chunks into
>>> smaller ice chunks.
>>
>> i had a couple of those, but they ended up in People Who ****ed Me Off.
>>
> So that's the way your kill file works?

i'm tough but fair.

your pal,
blake

On Wed, 26 May 2010 17:24:03 -0400, blake murphy
> wrote:

> On Tue, 25 May 2010 13:18:01 -0700, sf wrote:
>
> > On Tue, 25 May 2010 13:56:23 -0400, blake murphy
> > > wrote:
> >
> >> On Mon, 24 May 2010 15:10:49 GMT, l, not -l wrote:
> >>
> >>>
> >>> If you can't get your hands on a sandbag or two, there's an old-timey tool
> >>> called an ice-pick that works great for rendering large ice chunks into
> >>> smaller ice chunks.
> >>
> >> i had a couple of those, but they ended up in People Who ****ed Me Off.
> >>
> > So that's the way your kill file works?
>
> i'm tough but fair.
>
Remind me not to **** you off after you replenish your ice pick
supply.

--
Forget the health food. I need all the preservatives I can get.

On Wed, 26 May 2010 14:48:49 -0700, sf wrote:

> On Wed, 26 May 2010 17:24:03 -0400, blake murphy
> > wrote:
>
>> On Tue, 25 May 2010 13:18:01 -0700, sf wrote:
>>
>>> On Tue, 25 May 2010 13:56:23 -0400, blake murphy
>>> > wrote:
>>>
>>>> On Mon, 24 May 2010 15:10:49 GMT, l, not -l wrote:
>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>> If you can't get your hands on a sandbag or two, there's an old-timey tool
>>>>> called an ice-pick that works great for rendering large ice chunks into
>>>>> smaller ice chunks.
>>>>
>>>> i had a couple of those, but they ended up in People Who ****ed Me Off.
>>>>
>>> So that's the way your kill file works?
>>
>> i'm tough but fair.
>>
> Remind me not to **** you off after you replenish your ice pick
> supply.

i never stab women. i'm courtly that way.

your pal,
blake