Making Ice cream like it's 1899

 I recently purchased an ice cream maker and in looking for what I wanted it was amazing to see how many options are out there. I went with the old traditional bucket style ice cream maker but one with a motor to do the hard job of cranking for me. 

Ice cream makers like this have been around since the mid 1800s and have changed little over the ages. The original ice cream maker was invented by American Nancy Johnson, in 1846. Johnson developed the very first ice cream maker. It works with a crank and coarse salt. 

Summer has traditionally been a time for making and eating ice cream but it is also common in the north to use snow to make ice cream in an old fashioned churn. Oddly, these old fashioned, muscle driven machines are now quite expensive and fashionable. 

Throughout the history of homemade ice cream making people have tried to make that hard churn easier by using a variety of machines to turn the handle for them. These attempts have included using the tractor engine, or pullies to make the crank turn. More often than not, however, the ice cream was made by turning the handle until it couldn't be turned any more. 

"I shall never forget my amazement at seeing a brisk Yankee housewife lay hold of the handle of the ponderous tin cylinder, and whirl it with such will and celerity, back and forth, back and forth, that the desired end came to pass in three-quarters of an hour."

Portrait of Marion Harland from "Marion Harland's Complete Cook Book," 1906 (https://americanhistory.si.edu/blog/ice-cream-1927)

Ice cream was a huge hit on those hot summer days and as refrigeration improved it became more common, though still a spectacular treat to the majority of people. 

In my recent book, Catherine's Conundrum, two suitors for Catherine's hand, square off at the crank handle to see who can go the longest without taking a break. If you've ever made hand churned ice cream you know how hard it is and just how much you hand and arm hurt by the time it is all done. 

To be honest, as much as I love my new electric ice cream maker, I miss the old bucket and crank my parents kept in the basement so long ago. There is something ageless and endearing about the hand cranked machines. 

I wonder if the competition at the ice cream churn will help Catherine know her heart. 

Blurb:

Catherine Harvey has been given an ultimatum but is it one she can live with? Her family has determined that she must wed and have presented her with two choices, but how does she choose between her best friend and a dashing man of means?                                       

       Jaden Ackerman has been friends with Catherine his whole life. She’s a sweet, intelligent, and kindhearted girl but there has never been any spark between them. Will friendship sacrifice everything to protect her from a devious pretender?                                       

 When Catherine runs away from the conflict will one man find the courage to win her heart?