| The whole thing started when my sister-in-law called | | | | that my grandmother used to make. She was originally |
| to say that she needed a special dessert for her | | | | from Cape Town, South Africa where her father was |
| Mother's 75th birthday party. "Don't you have a family | | | | the owner of a bookstore. She was the oldest of six |
| recipe that would be meaningful as well as | | | | children who went to England every summer and |
| delicious.""No, not really," I said as my mind went blank | | | | played cards all the way up and back on the ship. |
| because my Mother and my Grandmothers weren't | | | | When she was 15 her father died.Her mother |
| great cooks. Then I remembered the Ice Cream for | | | | emigrated to Canada with the children where they |
| Special Occasions, as Gran used to call it. It had been | | | | settled in Vancouver. In her early 20's my grandmother |
| handed down to her from her mother and we all loved | | | | eloped to marry a tall handsome Irishman who joined |
| it.As I began to think about family recipes, I realized that | | | | the Western Irish and who was later was wounded at |
| I actually had a story to go with the recipe. Then I | | | | Vimy (WW1). Not believing that anyone could take |
| remembered the box of old photos. I had a recipe and | | | | proper care of her husband she got herself across |
| a story and a photo of my great grandmother.Over | | | | Canada and on to a troop ship (which was practically |
| the next few days I began to count up the family | | | | unheard of) and arrived in England where he was in |
| recipes - it seemed we had a whole book full of | | | | hospital. She brought him home where he died of his |
| memories because each recipe had a person and their | | | | wound two years later.This tiny determined woman |
| story attached to it.Here is the recipe that started it all. | | | | brought up her son (my dad) trying to keep him "in line" |
| You can savor a big bowl of it while you are searching | | | | all the while adoring him and watching him proudly |
| out your own family's memories.BROWN BREAD ICE | | | | move ahead in life. When he went to Toronto and |
| CREAM1 1/4 cups of bread crumbs, | | | | married she reluctantly "came East" to be with her |
| 1 tbsp of very good vanilla, | | | | grandchildren, leaving behind the mountains of |
| 1/2 cup of whipping cream, | | | | Vancouver for |
| 4 egg yolks, | | | | the flat landscape of Ontario.When I was in grade |
| 1/8 cup of brandy, | | | | school she and I had lunch together twice a week and |
| 2 tbsp of sugar, | | | | as I remember those lunches - she loved to play cards |
| 1 1/2 cups of whole milk.Beat together the egg yolks | | | | and didn't much like to cook, but she did have a few |
| and sugar and cook gently in a double boiler, stirring all | | | | special recipes: curry from The Cape, Jell-o in |
| the time until it thickens slightly. | | | | contrasting colours and this ice cream recipe.Susan |
| Then add the brandy. Let it cool. | | | | Love, a former teacher and fundraiser, wanted to |
| Whip the cream and fold it into the cooled mixture. | | | | create something that would help people reconnect. |
| Chill.Crisp the bread crumbs, sprinkled with sugar, in the | | | | Her new website, provides a tool for making a family |
| oven for 15 minutes. Mix together with the custard and | | | | cookbook with pictures and stories and recipes.The |
| put into an ice cream maker or freeze in the | | | | site is recommended by Oprah Magazine.Love feels |
| freezer,taking out every 1/2 hour to stir to break up the | | | | that 21st century life connects us in all sorts of quick |
| cristals until totally frozen.Put the mixture into a pretty | | | | and easy ways, but nothing is left once you put down |
| dish and serve. | | | | the cell phone or turn off the computer. |
| Servings: 4THE STORYThis is an Victorian recipe | | | | |