What could be better for an afternoon treat than a big bowl of ice cream? A big bowl of ice cream and lots of friends - that's what! Read on for frosty facts and tasty treats.
Did you know:
- Ice cream has come along way since people first mixed snow with sugar. Learn about its history and how it's made today in Gail Gibbons' Ice Cream: The Full Scoop.
- To make 750 gallons of rich, chocolaty ice cream, it takes 400 pounds of dried cocoa?
- The Ben & Jerry book gives the definitive scoop on how two guys started their famous ice cream factory.
- The first ice cream cone was made at the St. Louis World's Fair in 1904—or was it?
- Everybody wants credit for ice cream's crunchy companion. Check out its mysterious history in Elaine Greenstein's Ice-Cream Cones For Sale!
- According to tradition, desserts made with ice and fruit juices were enjoyed long ago in Baghdad, China, India, Rome, and Arabia.-
- Ice cream made with milk (once called "milky sorbet") is believed to have first been made in Italy in the 17th century.
- Ice cream may have been on the world's menu for a long time, but a carton sure does disappear fast around the house.
Have fun doing it yourself by giving these recipes a try on any hot, summer day.
Quick Chocolate Ice Cream Recipe
This is ideal for the kids or anyone wanting something quick and delicious! This one does require an ice cream maker.
Ingredients:
5 tablespoons of cocoa
1 can (large) condensed milk
1/2 pint (250ml) milk
Mix together the milk and condensed milk. Dissolve the cocoa in a little hot water. When fully dissolved stir it into the milk/condensed milk mixture. Transfer the whole mixture into an ice cream maker, and freeze according to the manufacturer's instructions.
From ice-cream-recipes.com
Berry Orange Sorbet
Ask for a grown-up's help with the simmering and blending.
Ingredients:
1 1/4 cups water
1/2 cup sugar
1 1/2 cups fresh or thawed raspberries or blackberries
1 cup orange juice
2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
In a small saucepan, combine 1 cup of the water and all of the sugar. Bring the liquid to a simmer, and continue simmering it for about 3 minutes, stirring often, until the sugar dissolves. Remove the pan from the heat and let the syrup cool.
Put the berries and the remaining 1/4 cup of water into the bowl of a food processor, and puree them for 30 seconds. Strain the puree to remove the seeds.
In a pitcher, stir together the cooked syrup, the orange and lemon juices, and the seedless berry puree. Pour the mixture into two ice-cube trays, and freeze until firm (generally 6 or more hours). A pitcher or a mixing bowl with a spout will make filling the ice-cube trays easier and neater.
When you're ready to serve the sorbet, chill serving dishes in the freezer, and briefly chill your food processor bowl and blade as well. Then transfer the fruit cubes to the food processor and pulse them, in short bursts, to make a smooth sorbet. Spoon the sorbet into the chilled dishes and serve immediately. Makes about 6 servings. From CookPad.com.
Can't get off the couch after all that ice cream? Turn to one of these terrific books or videos - featuring flavors for all ages.
For Young Ones
Chuggington: Wilson and the Ice Cream Fair (DVD)
Chuggington the train helps make the ice cream fair a success. Dizzy Izzy by Jon Scieszka
Izzy the ice cream truck tries to get himself dizzy.
How Did That Get to My Table? Ice Cream by Pam Rosenberg
Take a trip to the ice cream factory with this non-fiction book.
Ice Cream Summer by Peter Sis
Joe writes his grandpa all about his summer, and his summer is filled with ice cream dreams.
Splat the Cat: I Scream for Ice Cream by Laura Driscoll
A level one beginning reader that is truly delicious. Can Splat the Cat and his friends save the day at the ice cream factory?
Stick Dog Dreams of Ice Cream
A funny story about a dog and his friends who want ice cream on a hot day.
Treats for More Advanced Tastes
The Ice Cream Mystery by Gertrude Chandler Warner
The Alden children help out at the Greenfield Ice Cream Barn. While learning to make ice cream and create new flavors, can they help solve a mystery before the Barn gets shut down?
No-churn Ice Cream: Over 100 Simply Delicious No-machine Frozen Treats by Leslie Bilderback
No ice cream maker? No problem. You will just need a whisk or an electric mixer and a pan you can freeze for these. You can find more ice cream cookbooks from our adult collection here.
Tingleberries, Tuckertubs and Telephones: A Tale of Love and Ice-cream by Margaret Mahy.
A madcap adventure story portrays a terribly shy orphan who is given a chance to transform himself, fall in love, and defeat a gang of ruffian pirates with the help of tingleberry ice cream and other unusual objects.
All photos are from the free domain Pixabay.
