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