We hope you’re enjoying your summer. We all know ice cream goes hand in hand with summertime; it’s probably why July is known as the official ice cream month!
Because we all know ice cream is worth celebrating, here’s a little fun trivia and a recipe to try out:
The History of Ice Cream
We will get to the family-friendly recipe. But first, did you know ice cream is ancient? Although debated, it’s believed an ice cream-like food was enjoyed as far back as 618 AD in China.
Marco Polo, the famous explorer in 1254-1324 is believed to have introduced ice cream to Italy after exploring China.
By the 1700s, it was here in the United States.
A Few Fun Facts About Ice Cream
- In the late 19th Century, an American town named Evanston banned the selling of Ice Cream Sodas on a Sunday. This was why Sundaes were invented; it was a bit of a loophole!
- The United States is second only to New Zealand as the highest ice cream consuming country.
- We might not know how many licks it takes to get to the center of a lollipop, but we do know how many for a single scoop of ice cream: about 50!
A fun science experiment: Make your own ice cream!
Parents and students: You don’t need a fancy ice cream maker; it’s pretty simple to make it yourself. Give it a try!
Simple 3-Step DIY Ice Cream Recipe:
Step 1: In a small resealable plastic bag, combine 1 cup half-and-half, 2 tbsp of sugar, and ½ tsp of pure vanilla extract. Push out excess air and seal.
Step 2: Into a separate large resealable plastic bag, combine 3 cups of ice with 1/3 cup of Kosher salt. Place small bag inside the bigger bag and shake vigorously, 7 to 10 minutes, until ice cream has hardened.
Step 3: Remove from bag and enjoy with your favorite ice cream toppings.
- Optional: place in freezer for about an hour first to enjoy a more frozen treat.
