My Grandmothers Heritage Recipe

The whole thing started when my sister-in-law called to say that she needed a special dessert for her Mother's 75th birthday party. "Don't you have a family recipe that would be meaningful as well as delicious."

"No, not really," I said as my mind went blank because my Mother and my Grandmothers weren't great cooks. Then I remembered the Ice Cream for Special Occasions, as Gran used to call it. It had been handed down to her from her mother and we all loved it.

As I began to think about family recipes, I realized that I actually had a story to go with the recipe. Then I remembered the box of old photos. I had a recipe and a story and a photo of my great grandmother.

Over the next few days I began to count up the family recipes - it seemed we had a whole book full of memories because each recipe had a person and their story attached to it.

Here is the recipe that started it all. You can savor a big bowl of it while you are searching out your own family's memories.

BROWN BREAD ICE CREAM

1 1/4 cups of bread crumbs,
1 tbsp of very good vanilla,
1/2 cup of whipping cream,
4 egg yolks,
1/8 cup of brandy,
2 tbsp of sugar,
1 1/2 cups of whole milk.

Beat together the egg yolks and sugar and cook gently in a double boiler, stirring all the time until it thickens slightly. Then add the brandy. Let it cool. Whip the cream and fold it into the cooled mixture. Chill.

Crisp the bread crumbs, sprinkled with sugar, in the oven for 15 minutes. Mix together with the custard and put into an ice cream maker or freeze in the freezer,taking out every 1/2 hour to stir to break up the cristals until totally frozen.

Put the mixture into a pretty dish and serve.
Servings: 4

THE STORY

This is an Victorian recipe that my grandmother used to make. She was originally from Cape Town, South Africa where her father was the owner of a bookstore. She was the oldest of six children who went to England every summer and played cards all the way up and back on the ship. When she was 15 her father died.

Her mother emigrated to Canada with the children where they settled in Vancouver. In her early 20's my grandmother eloped to marry a tall handsome Irishman who joined the Western Irish and who was later was wounded at Vimy (WW1). Not believing that anyone could take proper care of her husband she got herself across Canada and on to a troop ship (which was practically unheard of) and arrived in England where he was in hospital. She brought him home where he died of his wound two years later.

This tiny determined woman brought up her son (my dad) trying to keep him "in line" all the while adoring him and watching him proudly move ahead in life. When he went to Toronto and married she reluctantly "came East" to be with her grandchildren, leaving behind the mountains of Vancouver for the flat landscape of Ontario.

When I was in grade school she and I had lunch together twice a week and as I remember those lunches - she loved to play cards and didn't much like to cook, but she did have a few special recipes: curry from The Cape, Jell-o in contrasting colours and this ice cream recipe.

Susan Love, a former teacher and fundraiser, wanted to create something that would help people reconnect. Her new website, http://www.HeritageCookbook.com provides a tool for making a family cookbook with pictures and stories and recipes.

The site is recommended by Oprah Magazine.

Love feels that 21st century life connects us in all sorts of quick and easy ways, but nothing is left once you put down the cell phone or turn off the computer. Generations from now, there won't be stacks of letters in old boxes. There won't be anything to remind us how we cared about each other.

By creating a family cookbook with stories and recipes and especially with pictures to tie the memories all together, we actually have something meaningful to pass on to future generations.

---

Tantalizing Turkey

You too can make a spectacular turkey dinner!TT has what... Read More

Wild Watercress Soupt (Nasturtium officinale)

Wild Watercress soup is a delicious and nutritious recipe with... Read More

Crockpot Cooking - Advantages and Disadvantages

In my 'un-biased' opinion, the crockpot / slow cooker is... Read More

Apples of Love

If the Spanish conquistadors had known what they were onto... Read More

A Victory Garden

In the early nineteen forties,women shopped with ration stamps that... Read More

10 Tips for Fixing Heart Healthy Recipes

Do you remember Grandma's apple cobbler? Is spaghetti one of... Read More

Looking for a Great Italian Meatball Recipe?

Looking for a great Italian meatball recipe? Wrap your lips... Read More

Frugal Microwave Cooking

Microwave cooking can save you time and energy all year... Read More

Easy Summer Salads, Lighter Foods For A Brighter Summer

Easy summer salads are the way to go, now that... Read More

Mays Featured Holidays and Recipes

There are three great days in the month of May... Read More

Bourbon BBQ Sauce

If you are seeking a very unique flavored bbq sauce... Read More

Texas Pecan Treats

Come August, there is nowhere I'd rather NOT be than... Read More

Straight Talk from a Comfort Foodie: Strudel Makes the Woman

Strudel Makes the WomanGrandpa Max loved butter cookies. He liked... Read More

A Healthy Summertime Snack For Your Kids

Oh, for the lazy days of Summer.... As If!Nowadays we... Read More

How to Make a Delicious German Crumble Cake in 4 Simple Steps

In high school, learning a new recipe (especially dessert recipes)... Read More

School Lunches the Frugal Way!

It seems that school starts earlier every year. So it's... Read More

Chili Recipe - A Red Chili Nightmare!

This chili recipe is, indeed, a really nightmare! Taste it... Read More

Cookbook Publishing - The Basic Ingredients and the Secrets to Success

You are about to embark on the most exciting enterprise... Read More

The Perfect First Date Meal For The Culinary Illiterate

The Microwave Generation of the 1990's has now finished school... Read More

How to Make Beer

Making beer is easy, inexpensive, and most of all, fun.... Read More

Low Fat French Toast

French toast was one of my favorite breakfast foods when... Read More

Zucchini Carrot Salad

Summer is nearing and it is time to start thinking... Read More

A Simple Technique to Remember Grocery Items

Whoops! I Forgot the ... at the Grocery Store!Have you... Read More

5-Minute Strawberry Jam

Nothing tastes better than fresh picked strawberries. For many people,... Read More

Fun & Fruity Recipes

Sometimes the easiest way to get children to eat healthy... Read More

Do I Really Need to Follow a Recipe?

These days, its seems like everyone is looking for different... Read More

Converting Recipes for Your Crockpot

Crockpots vary but the low setting is typically around 100... Read More

Straight Talk from a Comfort Foodie - The Gravy Train

In all fairness to my mother and the great homemaker... Read More

English Cucumber Sandwiches

Have you tried English cucumbers yet? They're a little different... Read More

Summer Basil Pasta Salad

With the long hot days of summer, you will find... Read More

The World According To Penne

Penne pasta is a product of Naples, Italy. The pasta... Read More

Banana Pudding and Vanilla Wafers... the Perfect Crowd Pleaser!

Next time someone signs you up for "dessert duty" at... Read More

Chicken with White Wine & Pasta

Here is a great recipe that is so simple to... Read More