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.

---

Cool Summer Gazpacho

This refreshing tomato soup is a great cool meal for... Read More

Easy Insalata Caprese

It's tomato time! If you're a gardener, you might be... Read More

Spanish Food - How To Prepare Boquerones

Whilst on your travels in Spain and pausing to take... Read More

Strawberry Rhubarb Coffee Cake

Bottom Layer:1/2 cup butter or margarine1 cup sugar2 cups flour1/2... Read More

Oatmeal-Apple-Raisin Muffins

These muffins are not only tasty, but they're also a... Read More

How to Make a Seductive Chili

Dedicated Chili cooks always seem to be looking for an... Read More

My Grandmothers Heritage Recipe

The whole thing started when my sister-in-law called to say... Read More

Save Time with No-Bake Cookies

Whether you don't want to heat up the kitchen or... Read More

Limes

Limes were originally grown in Asia,introduced by the Arab traders... Read More

How to Make Kaiser Rolls

Want to impress your family and friends at the next... Read More

Do You Know How Many Ways There Are To Eat A Cat Head Biscuit?

A time honored Southern tradition, the infamous "Cat Head" biscuit... Read More

A Scone Recipe for Dinner or Lunch

There are two ways to pronounce scone. "Skon" in England... Read More

Straight Talk from a Comfort Foodie - Moms Remedy for the Blues

As puberty crept up and I became a passive passenger... Read More

Chocolate Zucchini Cake Creates National Zucchini Shortage

There are few garden vegetable that are prolific as zucchini... Read More

How to Prepare the Perfect Garlic Lemon Chicken

If you want to prepare the perfect garlic lemon chicken... Read More

Sweet & Sour Pork (Gu Lao Rou)

Sweet & Sour Pork is the most well known Chinese... Read More

Frugal and Easy Thanksgiving Recipes

Here it is - that time of year when everyone's... Read More

The Taffy Pull (A Story and a Recipe)

One year when I was growing up on our Wisconsin... Read More

Fun & Fruity Recipes

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

Frugal Outdoor Cooking

Firing up the grill is a great way to cook... Read More

Summer Salads

Green vegetables are the food most missing in modern diets.... Read More

Easy to Make Guacamole Dip

You can make guacamole that people will rave about! It's... Read More

Low Fat Flaming Bananas Treat

Nutritional Information: Serves 3, Fat: 8 g, Cal: 299, KJ:... Read More

Planning Help: Meal One

It's nice when I find a meal where the foods... Read More

Best Recipes: Chicken with Apples

Ingredients1½ cups quick-cooking rice 2 large onions, thinly sliced 250g... Read More

Low Fat, Low Carb Baked Tortilla Chip with a Mango Salsa Dressing

Many low fat low cholesterol recipes are usually bland and... Read More

How to Easily Make Sourdough French Toast Like Cracker Barrel

I got an idea one day when I was in... Read More

Fish Recipes

These recipes are wonderful and they are old family recpies.... Read More

Broccoli Rabe with Caramelized Onions and Garlic

Broccoli is a major EnergyRich ?, food and strength builder.... Read More

Low Fat Banana Toasts

I love bananas for breakfast.I think bananas a convenient food... Read More

Famous Secret Recipes Exposed!: Rosemary Chicken with Orange-Maple Glaze

Prep Time: 5 Minutes Cook Time: 30 Minutes Ready In:... Read More

All-Wheat Superb Rolls

Note: The stone ground whole-wheat flour adds only 1.3 Teasps... Read More

Thai BBQ or Barbeque Chicken Recipes

What makes Thai BBQ chicken recipes so delicious? It is... Read More