We, of course, at that time didn't own a refrigerator but only an 'ice chest' with the iceman delivering huge blocks of ice every week, so therefore no icecream kept in the house.
As far as desserts (or sweets as we called them then) it was mainly rice puddings or bread and butter puddings and of course Mum's notoriously delicious pastry which became apple pie, jam turnover or simple jam tarts. She also made wonderful custard using custard powder and Sunshine full cream milk powder. I always loved the skin that formed on the top of the that custard.
As for icecream, I can remember when I was about 10 or 11 (1942-43), as a special treat on a Sunday I would take a dessert plate to the corner shop about 4 doors away and buy one scoop of icecream for each person. Occasionally, my brother (if he was home on leave) and his wife would be with us to share a meal so it would be 5 scoops or just 3 scoops if only Mum, Dad and me. This was then added to tinned fruit which was very special as it was rationed during the war years.
When I was about 13 (1945) Mum and Dad bought a corner shop which of course had a huge 'fridge but icecream too was rationed by then so Mum acquired an icecream maker. As far as I can remember it was quite large, the outer part made of wood, and you mixed the ingredients and put them in the inner part and then placed crushed ice in the outer compartment, put on the lid and turned the handle quite vigorously and with the churning and the effect of the ice...voila!! delicious icecream. It was then placed in the shop 'fridge and sold to grateful customers a little at a time. We too sometimes had some as a special treat. I borrowed this picture as I am quite sure that this is the type of 'machine' that we used....it was certainly non-electric as I can remember turning that handle:
I wonder if anyone else remembers icecream being made in that way? Nowadays people use electric machines which would be much easier but I wonder if it's as much fun as it was back then?
P.S. I still enjoy icecream and as a matter of fact I have a 'drumstick' each night as my treat. When I dislocated my shoulder over 2 years ago I remember wanting something but wasn't sure what. My other half went to the local deli and came back with a Peter's drumstick. I then vowed I would have one every evening until my shoulder was back to full use. It almost is but there is one thing I can't do (do up my bra) so I still have my nightly vanilla drumstick and yes, I do still try very hard to overcome this final obstacle in my recovery but no success as yet. : )
