Nat King Cole sang, “Roll out those hazy, crazy, lazy days of summer. Those days of soda and pretzels and beer.” The adjectives for June to August will fit just fine. Yet what is summer without ice cream? For that matter, as far as I am concerned, any time is ice cream time. Summer especially requires its cold as an antidote to heat. Early memories are of a gallon of Lady Borden in the freezer with vanilla the flavor of choice. After the necessary naps, the three of our family would gather on the back porch. Mother would scoop ice cream in heavy tulip shaped fountain glasses and pour Coke over the top of each serving. She had to watch the bubbles carefully to be sure to have enough liquid to reach the bottom without foaming over the top. We ate bites with long handled ice-tea spoons and tipped the glasses for the last sip of flavorful liquid.
The singles I was close to in Shreveport were especially good at feeding each other. I bought a White Mountain hand cranked freezer. I assembled oaken bucket, container, dash, and crank and called muscles into play. When I couldn’t turn anymore, I emptied salty water on a dead spot at the back of my landlady’s house. My specialty was fresh peach. I couldn’t find my recipe. I can remember six raw eggs which no one would do nowadays and a can of evaporated milk. The trick was being sure no salty water got into the container and spoiled the batch. When the crank was removed and the dasher duly licked, a cork plug fitted in the top hole helped protect the contents. Pack the sides with more ice and salt and wait for eating time.
As the saying goes, the rest of the story is history. The maker lasted into marriage, three children, four years of living in the country, and back to Houston. The designated crankers varied as children grew, and rebellion began to rise. The daddy liked the ice cream, yet seemed to vanish for the making. He felt true home made should be hand cranked, not electric. However, wiser heads prevailed. One day, four/fifths of the family surreptiously (the only word that fits) exchanged manual for plug in, being sure that the finished product was only seen as it was served.
Store bought ice cream has its place for variety of flavors and easy availability. Name brands are cherished like Baskin Robbins, Ben & Jerry’s, even a Dairy Queen Frosty That doesn’t begin to touch gallons of Blue Bell; please rise and put your hand over your heart. The ship near the Arctic Circle served double dips for dessert, and the picture is from a hotel in Switzerland. I only know when the doctor stands at the foot of the bed and pronounces, “She’ll not m
ake it to morning,” I will faintly and firmly say, “Go get me some ice cream.”
“..a land flowing with milk and honey..” Exodus 3:8
(not a stretch, these ingredients can make ice cream)
Let Me Tell Ya 