by Shanna Hatfield
Happy National Ice Cream Month!
I recall chanting that line a few times in my youth, but I didn't realize it was a song published in the 1920s, written by Howard Johnson, Billy Moll, and Robert King. It also has ties to Eskimo Pies. Originally called "Temptation I-Scream Bar," the frozen chocolate-covered confection was created by Christian Kent Nelson in 1919.
Although I had no idea about the song or Eskimo Pies when I was a little girl, I did have quite a thing for ice cream.
Way back when I was growing up on the
family farm, the
Schwan’s
delivery man used to come by our house every two weeks. I thought he
was a superhero! There was no mistaking his truck as it drove down our
road, dust clouds swirling, letting us know he was on the way. My little
head would fill with visions of all the wonderful frozen treats tucked
inside his magic truck. He’d come to the door, take Mom’s order and then
quickly return, arms laden with frozen canisters of pure delight.
As wrong as this is going to sound, Mom used to buy two or three of
their big cans every time he came. They weren’t gallon size. They were
even bigger. To my little 6-year-old head, they could have been 40-gallon drums. All I knew is that more ice cream had arrived!
In the evenings, when the work was
done and dusk settled around us while streaks of
pink, orange and gold brushed the sky as the sun dipped behind the hills, we’d indulge in a bowl of ice cream - black cherry, marshmallow ripple, strawberry. If we hadn’t worked (and played) so hard, we
probably would have all weighed 500 pounds. As it was, I enjoyed it
while it lasted. It gave us something fantastic to look forward to every
day.
Vanilla was always my favorite flavor. Boring? Yes. But with plain vanilla ice cream you get so many
possibilities. You can add fruit or chocolate, nuts or candy pieces,
tasty syrups and yummy toppings. You can smoosh it between two cookies,
top brownies, and dollop it on pie.
Now, my absolute favorite flavor of vanilla ice cream comes from the
Tillamook County Creamery Association. If you like vanilla, you will go
loopy over their
old-fashioned vanilla ice cream. It is a spoonful of amazing summer memories in every bite.
A few months ago I discovered Caramel Cone from Häagen-Daz. It's
got pieces of crushed waffle cone, caramel and chocolate - and it is
sooo good.
I'm also not opposed to making ice cream. My sister-in-law used to make banana ice cream for random, special occasions. I would beg and beg for her to make it because it was incredibly yummy and so different from any other ice cream we had.
A few years ago, she kindly shared her recipe with me, which I promptly included in my book
The Cowboy's Summer Love and I'll share it with you today. WARNING - it does contain raw eggs.
Banana Ice Cream
5 eggs
2 1/2 cups sugar
4 cups whipping cream
1 tsp. salt
2 tsp. vanilla
2 tsp. banana flavoring
4 cups milk
4 ripe bananas, mashed
* Warning! Consuming raw eggs may increase your risk of food borne
illness. If you do decide to make this and use the raw eggs, please
choose eggs that are fresh with no cracks in the shell.
Start by beating the eggs until they are foamy and light. I let
mine go about six minutes. Add in sugar and continue mixing. Slow the
speed on the mixer and add in the cream followed by the salt, vanilla
and banana flavoring. Continue mixing and add in the milk, blending in
the bananas last. Pour into your ice cream freezer and freeze according
to machine directions. (Makes about five quarts.)
What is your favorite flavor?
Do you have any fun or funny ice cream memories from your childhood?
~*~
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forget to save the date for our Summer Reads Celebration this Thursday,
July 14, from 2-8 p.m. (EST). You can join in the fun at the
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~*~
Convinced everyone deserves a
happy ending, USA Today best-selling
author Shanna Hatfield is out to make it happen, one story at a time. Her sweet
historical and contemporary romances combine humor and heart-pumping moments with
relatable characters.
When this hopeless romantic isn’t
writing or indulging in rich, decadent chocolate, Shanna hangs out with her
husband, lovingly known as Captain Cavedweller.
Find Shanna’s books at:
Shanna loves to hear from readers. Follow her online at:
Ah... summertime. When it's hot and you're lethargic and the last thing you want to do is hang out in the kitchen. 
