In the Kitchen
There's nothing better than ice cream on a warm summer's day. Who would have thought this delicacy, only for the rich back in the 16th Century, would still be around today now, delighting one and all?
Personally, I didn't realize ice cream as we know it had been around so long. I figured that people used snow to make iced treats, and that is true as far back as the second century B.C. according to the International Dairy Association, but the yummy milk-based treat that we desire came about a bit later.
Europe, specifically Italy, can be credited with inventing what we call ice cream for everyone back in 1660. It was fun on a recent trip to Northern Germany to visit a local museum detailing the history of the city, which featured a whole exhibit on the evolution of ice cream in the area.
In one of the first ways ice cream was distributed, you can see the Italian influence. đ đŚ
When I was a kid, we had an old-fashioned crank ice cream maker that would be pulled out from time to time just for fun. Dad would fill it with ice and salt. Mom would add the ice cream ingredients, and we would crank. Of course, you can imagine, the fun wore off quickly, but we kept going because we knew there was a treat at the end.
Today you can get inexpensive ice cream makers for as low as $20. There's something still fun about making your own ice cream, watching milk turn into something sweet and delicious.
I've even taken it further, but using frozen berries and blending them with Greek yogurt for a simple Greek yogurt ice cream, ready in 5 minutes. I've also made the ice cream and frozen it for those really hot days so it doesn't melt as much. You could pour this wonderful mixture into popsicle molds for a portable ice cream treat.
Speaking of portable ice cream, I hear the iconic ice cream truck coming down the street. A sure sign summer is here. I remember how my sister and I would rush to my Mom for quarters as soon as we heard the ice cream truck jingle.
As I watch the truck slowly make its way down the street, I can't help but smile as I see little kids running down their front yards in their bathing suits, money in hand, ready for that summer treat.
