A Recipe for the 4th

There have been threads discussing the 4th of July, and threads
discussing Thomas Jefferson, and threads discussing recipes. Just
thought it might be a nice time to combine them. From the collection of
the Library of Congress, here is Thomas Jefferson’s Vanilla Ice Cream
recipe:

In case it’s hard to read at that resolution,

  1. bottles of good cream.
  2. yolks of eggs.
    1/2 lb. sugar

Mix the yolks & sugar put the cream on a fire in a casserole, first putting in a stick of Vanilla.when near boiling take it off & pour it gently into the mixture of eggs & sugar.stir it well. put it on the fire again stirring it thoroughly with a spoon to prevent it’s sticking to the casserole. when near boiling take it off and strain it thro’ a towel. put it in the Sabottiere then set it in ice an hour before it is to be served. put into the ice a handful of salt. put salt on the coverlid of the Sabotiere & cover the whole with ice. leave it still half a quarter of an hour. then turn the Sabottiere in the ice 10 minutes open it to loosen with a spatula the ice from the inner sides of the Sabotiere. shut it & replace it in the ice open it from time to time to detach the ice from the sides when well taken (prise) stir it well with the Spatula. put it in moulds, justling it well down on the knee. then put the mould into the same bucket of ice. leave it there to the moment of serving it. to withdraw it, immerse the mould in warm water, turning it well till it will come out & turn it into a plate.

Fascinating! We (in the U.S.) learn about the founders of our country in history books that are usually dry, impersonal, inacurate and almost always overly glorifying, but to read Jefferson’s ice cream recipe, written (I assume) in his own hand, is a wonderful look into the character of the man. It makes him a little more human, and not a dusty old schoolroom picture in a battered frame.

Ice cream…hmmmm, that’s a good idea. I think I will fix myself a great big bowl of it to go with my cappuccino!! :smiley: