Wednesday, June 09, 2010

RESEARCH


I think one of the best things about starting a new book is the research. The excuse to browse for books -- my latest acquisition is OF SUGAR & SNOW, the history of ice cream making by Jeri Quinzio. Okay, so Nero poured honey onto snow, but actually, no, that's not ice cream!

I've also been having chats with the charming Ian at Mr Whippy, who has been giving me the lowdown on the how the music jingle works. I'd assumed something boring like a button. Apparently not.  Back in 1962 (which is when my heroine's ice cream van was on the road) the driver wound it up each time - he even sent me a photograph of the mechanism. Such tidbits of information are gems that the author can take full advantage of.

And then, of course, I had to buy a book about making ice cream. And I've been looking at eBay to check on ice cream makers - although I'm manfully resisting actually buying one.

I will, very soon, actually have to get down to writing, but for now I'm just having fun.

6 comments:

Michelle Styles said...

OH, oh, you should read the Ben & Jerry's ice cream book. Several years ago, we were in Vermont and were able to take a tour of their factory...I was so impressed. I loved the bit they became friends because both were bad at sport... They later sold the company to Unilever but on the condition that it retain some of its activism.

Liz Fielding said...

My daughter did the tour when she was in the States as a student with Camp America. V. impressed!

I did read a article about them a long time ago. Particularly remember the fact that they had to buy some cows to graze around the factory because that's what people expected to see.

Kate Hardy said...

Davic Levobitz's "The Perfect Scoop" is also good.

And I recommend the Philips ice cream maker in Lakeland. Has a little disk that you store in the freezer (2 ins deep and the size of a side plate). Takes 30 mins to make LOVELY ice cream...

(Yes, I know I am a bad influence!)

Lacey Devlin said...

I don't know how you're resisting! I've never given much thought to making ice cream but I don't think I'm going to be long without an ice cream maker after that post! :)

Liz Fielding said...

Honestly, I would go with the ice-cream maker but the dh is diabetic and he cannot resist ice cream so not wise. I'm just reading and drooling!

Jan Jones said...

But, Liz, surely researching ice cream means you should be EATING IT!