National Ice Cream Day

 Today is National Ice Cream Day. We have President Reagan to thank for this yummy celebration. He decreed the day in 1984 describing ice cream as ‘‘a nutritious and wholesome food enjoyed by over ninety percent of the people in the United States.’’ In fact, Americans lead the world when it comes to eating this frozen delight.

Here's some history for you...

Thousands of years ago, people in the Persian Empire put snow in a bowl, poured concentrated grape juice over it, and ate it as a treat even when the weather was hot. Their trick? They placed snow in underground chambers known as yakchal where the temperatures kept the snow from melting. The Persians also hiked to the mountain tops by their summer capital to gather snowfall.

The Chinese, under the Tang Dynasty around 697 AD, took to freezing dairy with salt and ice. 

But culinary folks point to Naples, Italy as the birthplace of the first actual ice cream. They give credit to Antonio Latini. He was born in 1642 and created a milk-based sorbet.

In the United States, the Quaker colonists earn the nod for bringing their ice recipes over with them. They opened the first ice cream shops, including shops in New York and other cities during the colonial era.

 So, in a dish or on a cone, I scream, you scream, we all scream for ice cream. 

Lucky for me I have a bit in my freezer, cause even though there are deals to be had, I'm just to darn hot to go out and brave the weather to get some. 

I will though share this ice cream card that I made last month. I think it turned out pretty cute!