![ice cream spoon before Home-made ice cream, Custard ice cream, cooked custard for ice cream,](http://grabauheritage.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/01/ice-cream-spoon-before-e1390407155430-300x192.jpg)
In the early days of our marriage, we got a new ice cream freezer. The plastic tub did not insulate the cold as well as the old-fashioned wooden ones did. So much cold escaped that the freezing took a tremendous amount of time. The ice cream tasted fine, but the amount of work required with the new plastic product hindered us.
![ice cream spoon after cooking cooked custard for making Ice cream, homemade ice cream,](http://grabauheritage.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/01/ice-cream-spoon-after-cooking-e1390407562706-300x177.jpg)
When we moved to the farm, we inherited the old ice cream freezer. We still churn with the old hand-crank method. It takes time and effort. Yet, it makes the experience a family or group event.
![ice cream freezer, dasher and mixture homemade ice cream custard, Ice cream freezer and dasher, Ice cream dasher,](http://grabauheritage.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/01/ice-cream-freezer-dasher-and-mixture-e1390407870920-225x300.jpg)
Ice cream companies consider winter a slow time for marketing their product, at least in the frigid parts of the world. Folks enjoy their hot cocoa instead. But for us, it is a prime time for making it. The reason: snow is the magic ingredient for ice cream-making, not ice. It packs easily during the freezing process.
In fact, this past week we had a birthday to celebrate. The birthday boy requested home-made ice cream. We did just that.
The day before the event, I cooked up the custard recipe for my ice cream recipe. After it thickened I refrigerated it over night. The next day, I poured the thoroughly chilled mixture into the freezer can for freezing.
![ice cream, equipment, wire basket and snow wire basket, bucket or snow, pail of snow, camp stool, folding stool,](http://grabauheritage.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/01/ice-cream-equipment-wire-basket-and-snow-300x225.jpg)
We collected the equipment in the basement.
![ice cream freezing, family affair 4 ice cream freezer, wooden ice cream freezer bucket, wooden bucket, broom handle, home made ice cream, churning ice cream,](http://grabauheritage.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/01/ice-cream-freezing-family-affair-4-e1390408490561-300x247.jpg)
The family gathered around for the work and entertainment.
![ice cream freezer, adding salt and snow ice cream making, ice cream freezing, ice cream freezer, churning ice cream, snow, salt, brrom handle, wire basket,](http://grabauheritage.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/01/ice-cream-freezer-adding-salt-and-snow-300x225.jpg)
Snow and salt are packed down with the old broom handle. The salt melts the snow at a colder temperature than 32° F. Hence, the low temperature of the melted snow works to freeze the contents of the ice cream can.
![ice cream frozen 5 homemade ice cream, ice cream sundae, homemade custard ice cream,](http://grabauheritage.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/01/ice-cream-frozen-5-e1390410488672-300x224.jpg)
Look, the snow did its job. The churning took time, but the wait was worth it.
photo credit:Bretta Grabau
photo credit:Bretta Grabau
photo credit:Bretta Grabau
photo credit:Bretta Grabau
photo credit:Bretta Grabau
photo credit:Bretta Grabau
photo credit:Wenda Grabau
Oh it looks so yummy! Good winter for a lot of ice cream making!
Yes, it sure is. Too bad that we have to do so much snow removal that we don’t have time for the finer things.