This is my mother, circa 1976, as she was photographed by one of the great loves in her life, Ivan White. He was a Navy pilot, artist and photographer and they were crazy about each other. After they married, we moved to Saudi Arabia for three years while he worked for Saudia Airlines.Today would have been her 68th birthday. She passed away from a rare blood disease about 5 years ago. Since her death, for some crazy reason, I've felt closer to her than ever. Perhaps this is because I've been slowly going through her recipe box, attempting to remake some of the things she made for me and my brother and sister as we were growing up. I have some very happy memories that took place over a plate or bowl of my mother's wonderful cooking.
One of her best recipes is her Homemade Ice Cream recipe. She made this for us when we lived in Saudi Arabia (as noted on the back of the recipe card). We three kids had to hand crank that dang ice cream maker for what seemed like HOURS. We HAD hours to crank that thing because there wasn't any television on the compounds back then.
I love making this for my kiddo. He goes bananas for it, too! I can feel his grandmother around us when we dig into a big bowl of creamy yumminess. And today, I make it with an electric ice cream maker (yay). It isn't as tiring, but the wait just about kills my son!
In honor of my mother's birthday and what a fabulous cook she was, I'm sharing her recipe with you. Its really easy to make: if I can do it, anyone can do it. 
If you want a little something in your vanilla ice cream, add it to the maker about half way through the mixing time. This time we added M&M's.Enjoy!
Mom's Homemade Ice Cream (1 gallon)
1 quart milk
4 eggs
3-4 cups sugar
1 T. cornstarch
dash of salt
1 pint whipping cream
1 pint half & half
2 T. vanilla
In a large pan scald 1 qt. milk. Place in bowl 4 eggs, whip slightly. In another bowl combine 3 - 4 cups sugar, 1 T. cornstarch and salt. Add to egg mixture, slowly, stirring.
Pour scalded milk over egg mixture, slowly, stirring.
Put all back in pan and cook and stir until sticks to spoon. Let cool.
Add to cooled mixture 1 pint whipping cream, 1 pint half & half and 2 T. vanilla.
Follow the instructions for your ice cream maker and enjoy! :D
she is beautiful! this is a lovely tribute and takes me back, too. our childhood ice cream maker was electric but in the wooden barrel - the one where you keep adding ice and rock salt. your story and mama's recipe makes me want to make it again :)
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