The Rock Salt Ice Cream Maker

Definitively an exciting time here in sunny California. El Niño is striking in full force and while most other states are covered in a blanket of snow, we are having nothing but sunshine and no one knows what to do about. Pump the A/C? Skip work for a day and head to the beach? One thing that is for sure on my mind is some freezing cold ice cream.

Growing up and still to this day, my family summers were/are spent at our lake house, complete with the whole family, brothers, sisters, cousins, aunts and uncles. You name it, they were there. It was always a thing for us to invite friends up for the weekend, making the three story house packed with people so full that every inch of the main living room was covered in blankets and sleeping bags and no one even cared. The sun would rise, everyone would get up for the morning water ski ride, enjoy a sausage and egg breakfast and before we knew it, the clock had struck noon, the sun was hot & lunch was beginning to be prepared. 

My Grandparents purchased the house back in the 1950's, still having much of its vintage flair to this day. For years, even after both my Grandparent's passings, their belongings remained as a part of the house, untouched & undisturbed. Besides gathering dust, they really had no role, except for supplying the family with sentimental reminders here and there. The family eventually pitched in time together & rid the house of the things that weren't necessary and kept very few pieces that were irreplaceable one of which was the rock salt ice cream machine. Vanilla, Chocolate, you name it, we had at some point made every flavor ice cream on that machine.  

As the weather has been shifting, I can't help but be reminded of the day's my mom & I would churn the ice cream on our back patio, watching it thicken slower than molasses & our mouths simply watering at just the eager thought of the first bite. The machine had to be churned by hand, a tedious task, but the outcome was rewarding being that the ice cream was always 100% homemade. With strawberries being part of my favorite addition to the spring season, I experimented in making this tremendously creamy,fresh & rich ice cream that I sure hope you will enjoy as much as I do, and may it continue to become a potential staple as it has in mine, reminding me of some amazing childhood memories.

*Strawberry Buttermilk Ice Cream is listed in the Recipe section of the blog on the home page.*

*P.S.- Using a rock salt ice cream machine is very different than the modern day ice cream machines. If you want to make the most homemade flavor, be sure to use rock salt. You will not be sorry. 

Enjoy! 

Jessie Leigh