Hi y’all! My name is Emily Alice and you may not know my name very well, but I’m the intern at Southern Weddings for the summer! I do lots of things behind the scenes, like sending mailings and creating wedding galleries, but I’m so excited to be writing for the blog, especially since it’s about something that’s so close to my heart! Get your spoons and bowls ready…
It’s hard to describe the anticipation that rises up inside me as I hear the whirring of an at-home ice cream machine. Not just any ice cream machine, though — I’m talking about the one at my grandparents’ beach house in Edisto Beach, SC. Mama Duck and Papa Jake’s machine is old, stained, and maybe a little beaten up, but the ice cream it makes is the best I’ve ever tasted! That’s what reminds me of summer in the south: my Mama Duck’s homemade ice cream.
Image credits: Row 1: Both images by Horace & Gertrude Photography via Southern Weddings, Row 2: Both images from Martha Stewart, Row 3: Gina Zeidler via Southern Weddings
I’m sure plenty of y’all are thinking right now, “No, my mama makes the best homemade ice cream” or even, heaven forbid, “I’ve had homemade ice cream and it’s not near as good as ice cream from Piggly Wiggly.” But you, bless your hearts, would be incorrect. For as long as I can remember, I would beg Mama Duck to make some ice cream when our families came together at Edisto in the hot sun of summer. She makes all different flavors. There’s the classic vanilla, which is perfect after a humid afternoon out on the water. Then there’s chocolate, my grandpa’s favorite. Mine, though, is her peach ice cream with big chunks of fresh peaches from George and Pinks, the local fruit and vegetable stand. It’s the perfect treat to enjoy while rocking on the screened in front porch. Sometimes we just skip dinner all together and have two bowls of ice cream instead!
Maybe I’m a little biased when it comes to my favorite dessert. It’s not just the sweetness that I love about Mama Duck’s ice cream. It’s the time spent with family and the hot, salty breeze coming from the beach that my mind wanders to. My grandma’s ice cream doesn’t just fill me up. It reminds me of the summers I’ve spent with her, too.
Image credits: Row 1: Leo Patrone via Snippet and Ink, Julie Lim via Southern Weddings, Row 2: Jose Villa via Southern Weddings
Now I admit, there have been times recently when I wasn’t at Edisto and craved some homemade ice cream. I’ve even strayed a couple of times from Mama Duck’s recipe (blasphemy, I know!), but I haven’t found any as good. And her recipe is so simple! If y’all want it, I’ve included her recipe below so you can see what you think. If you suddenly find yourselves in a “full-and-happy” coma after you finish your bowl (or bowls!) just remember that I warned you: this ice cream is good, y’all! Feel free to add any fruit you want, though my favorites are strawberry and peach. Make sure to keep some big chunks in there, too!
Want more Summer in the South? Check out our past posts!
A Day at the Lake
A Weekend Barbecue
Summer Essentials from A Southern Lady
Beach Getaway Essentials
Summer Escapes
Watermelon Wonder
I love that top red bowtie for my man squeeze! It’s perfect with the most wonderful time of the year approaching and all.
The Southern Proper Mint Julep ! It would look great on my husband for the derby!
The very top red one would look great on my husband!
I love the yellow gingham bow tie! Perfect for my brother to have for his May wedding!
I love the first red one with what looks like polka dots!
What Southern gentleman wouldn’t look as handsome as ever in the classic navy and white seersucker bow-tie? My groom-to-be would be pleased as punch! FAN-TAS-TIC!
I’d love to win a grey-green-blue neck tie (from the middle). I adore my husband when he’s wearing a suit with a neck tie:)
I LOVE the navy and white seersucker bow tie…Navy is the classiest the neutral. :)
My favorite is the red gingham bowtie! Hope I win!
The blue polka dot one on the bottom.
I love the green cotton one so much. I will be using cotton in my floral arrangements and using the color of green that is in the bow tie. I am getting married in Charleston,South Carolina on March 15,2013. I will be having my wedding at Legare Waring House. I love all the southern charm of Charleston plus I graduated from College of Charleston. Thank you so much. Christina Setser
My favorite is definitely the green and white gingham, but I know my Chris would like the teal neck tie the best. He’s been so sweet to me through the whole planning process, he deserves to get a few things he likes! Plus, he would look awfully handsome in it!
Considering my beau is a major Alabama fan, I just know that he’d LOVE to have the houndstooth bowtie on the top left!!
LOVE the green seersucker!!
I love the 4th one from the top on the right side!! The color really pops and would look great on my fiancé!!
i just love the green one with the cotton design, would love to see my hubs in that one!
I’m slightly obsessed with the red gingham bow tie!! Not to mention, it is almost identical to the bow tie collar that my fiance and I got our puppy for his 1 year birthday coming up!
All of these are fabulous! I ythink my man would look amazing in the blue Blair neck tie
I like the green neck tie
I really love them all since I don’t think one can have to many bow ties but knowing my honey is not as keen on all styles I would have to say he would probably love the navy and white striped one or the yellow gingham one. I hope the V5 list out where we can get all these lovey ties talk about gift ideas!
Love the mint julep bow tie! Perfect for our wedding on May 4, the day of the 2013 Kentucky Derby! Any of them are great though!
My favorite is that teal madras type one! So preppy!!
Still lovin that blue/green seersucker for my guy! :)
I’m still trying to convert my mid-western guy into a bow-tie-wearin’ Southerner! I think I could break him in with the bottom gray tie on the right.
I love the green seersucker! My fiance would definitely look dapper in that bowtie!
I love the last plaid necktie – would look great on my hubby at work!
I’m still loving the blue madras!
I’d love to give my wonderful Southern gentleman any one of those adorable yellow bowties, to wear on game days here at Wake Forest University! Black and gold, Go Deacs!!
I love the second one from the top left and the bottom left ties. So cute!!
Love the yellow seersucker!
LOVE LOVE LOVE the navy and white seersucker!!!
8th from the bottom on the left!! love!!
My favorite one is the is the light green with the navy stripe (3 down from the left)
Love the selection of yellows! but the plain yellow is just a classic!
I would have such a hard time choosing, but I think I would go for the orange plaid.
I love the orange gingham bow tie! I think it just might be the one to convince my beau to give bow ties a chance, since it’s his alma mater’s (Campbell) colors!
I love the blue and white stripped bow tie (13 down)! It is just lovely.
I love the mint julep bow tie! It would look great on my Kentucky guy.
I see my favorite is still available! Fingers crossed! :)
I LOVE the large dark Navy Blue pinstripe bow tie! It’s easily casual and formal! I can’t wait for V8 to come out!
My future MR would be so cute in the coral/orange colored bowtie smack in the center.
My favorite the orange crisscross one – 14th from the bottom on the right!
I like second one from top on right side!! Love them all
Alex would LOVE to wear his denim button up with a white polka dot bowtie such as the bottom left! Help him reach his most handsome capability?
nothing says southern like red gingham! my fiance would look fabulous in it!
the red and white polka dot for SURE!
The 4th tie from the bottom – right side is my fave! I love the funky floral pattern and bright colors. It would be fitting for my Georgia plantation wedding.
I love the Blue one 3rd from the bottom. I hope I win it.
The fiance would look so good in the cornflower blue bowtie!
My favorite is the 24th down in the right column. The seersucker yellow bow tie. I’ve been looking for one like this for a long time now!
My outdoorsy husband to be would love the blue bow tie with the fish on it that’s 3rd from the bottom on the left side. That would look great at our rehearsal dinner (he of course already has the wedding bow tie picked out!).
Pink, anything in pink is always the sweetest