The History of Ice-Cream in Russia

We all love ice-cream, (unless one happens to be lactose-intolerent, in which case I feel deeply for your inability to enjoy such a delectable treat!) but when was this delicious dessert first created? The first forms of ice-cream were eaten and enjoyed in the Ancient Greek, Roman, and Chinese Empires about 5,000 years ago. However, this ancient ice-cream more closely resembled a "slushie" than today's dairy dessert. The ancient ice-cream was a mixture of snow and pieces of fruit like oranges, lemons, and pomegranates. The first ice-cream factory was built in the USSR in 1937, and it was ordered that the ice-cream must be mass produced and sold at a reasonable price. The first Soviet ice-cream was made on the 4th of November, 1937. Here is a must-have recipe for White Russian ice-cream (of course there is vodka in it):

INGREDIENTSNutrition

YIELD1 quartUNITSUS

• 1cup whole milk
• 1⁄2cup sugar
• 1pinch salt
• 5large egg yolks, beaten
• 2cups heavy cream, chilled
• 2tablespoons coffee liqueur, chilled
• 2tablespoons vodka, chilled
• DIRECTIONS

1. In a small saucepan, cook the milk, sugar and salt over medium-high heat, stirring occasionally, until the sugar dissolves, about 4 minutes (do not let the milk boil).
2. Slowly pour one-half of the hot milk mixture into the eggs, whisking. Pour the mixture back into the saucepan and cook over low heat, stirring and scraping with a heatproof spatula, until thick enough to coat the spatula, 8 to 10 minutes.
3. Strain the mixture into a metal bowl. Stir in the heavy cream. Refrigerate until cool, about 2 hours.
4. Stir the coffee liqueur and vodka into the ice cream base. Pour into an ice cream maker and process according to the manufacturer's instructions.