OLD FASHIONED PEACH ICE CREAM
What is more delicious on a hot summer day, than a bowl of ice cold, old fashioned ice cream? You are right. Nothing! At least that is the way I remember it from my childhood. Everyone leads such busy lives today, that they have lost the value, of not only making food themselves, but also the taste of homemade using nothing but the freshest ingredients. We all run to the store to get our cartons of ice cream, (not that there is anything wrong with store bought carton ice cream), but no way does it compare to homemade, not to mention all of the fillers and preservatives. There are some good brands out there, that I have purchased too, but if you make your own, I highly doubt you will ever go back to store bought. Some ice cream stands make their own ice cream, and those are certainly worth trying. New Jersey has so many ice cream stands, lucky us! Speaking of ice cream stands, that takes me back to another great memory from my childhood, when my dad would load us all into the station wagon, and take us on a trip to Serene's ice cream stand in North Vineland. We considered there ice cream to be the best. And while my family was choosing the usual vanilla, chocolate, or twist custards, I always chose the hand dipped ice creams, and all were fruit flavored. My favorite was always peach, and the second runner ups were pineapple and banana, or a scoop of each one.
This is the sign that Serene's had when I was a girl, and the stand is still open. However, they do have new owners, and their ice cream is still good, and they do quite a business, but not sure if it is still homemade.
Has anyone thought about the history of ice cream and how it came about? Where did ice cream come from, who invented it? Well, I wondered that too, so I did some investigating. My information is gathered from actual food historians, and they say that the beginnings of ice cream started with ancient flavored ices. Now this is going way, way back, to the times of Alexander the Great, and Biblical times. There are reports that state that snow and ice was flavored with honey and enjoyed by Alexander the Great. Also, there are Biblical references that tell us that during the times of harvests, King Solomon actually enjoyed iced drinks. Even Nero Claudius Caesar, during the era of the Roman Empire, was known to send people up to the mountains to gather snow, which he then topped with juices and fruits. Isn't that some great history? So who is actually credited for the creation of iced cream? It seems the Chinese people get the credit, and they invented it as early as 3,000 BC! So how did ice cream make its way to the new world? Well, it seems it arrived in the 18th century with the first official recognition coming from the New York Gazette that advertised it for the first time in this country on May 12th, 1777! And our very first President, George Washington, had spent approximately $200.00 for ice cream, according to a New York merchant on Chatham Street, in the summer of 1790. What was the very first flavor of ice cream invented? Orange Blossom. hmmm.
And now present day, most everyone probably knows that July is national ice cream month. Who made that designation? None other than former President Ronald Reagan. He obviously loved ice cream as much as I do, and he actually said that everyone in America should celebrate ice cream with "appropriate ceremonies and activities." I guess hence the ice cream social. Ice cream is enjoyed by over 90% of Americans.
Now I will bet that all of that talk about ice cream, has left you craving a bowl. This recipe for old fashioned peach ice cream is so easy and so delicious! I promise you, you will want to make this ice cream every year when those first peaches begin to ripen. Enjoy.
OLD FASHIONED PEACH ICE CREAM
What you will need: One (12 oz. can) of evaporated milk - One (14 oz. can) sweetened condensed milk - One pint of half and half - 1/2 cup of white sugar - 1 tsp. of vanilla extract - about 2 and 1/2 pounds of fresh peaches, peeled, pitted and chopped - about 2 cups of whole milk
To Make: Puree your peaches with the sugar and the half and half in batches in a food processor or a blender. In your ice cream maker's freezer container, mix together the peach mixture, the sweetened condensed milk, the evaporated milk, and the vanilla. Then add your 2 cups of whole milk, or however much your ice cream maker will allow you to add to bring it to the fill line. Follow your maker's instructions, freeze, and thoroughly enjoy.
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