On August 6, National Root Beer Float Day tells us to float a scoop of vanilla ice cream in an ice-cold mug of frothy root beer. The classic beverage creates a creamy treat loved by generations!
Also known as the “Black Cow,” the root beer float got its start in Colorado in a mining camp. Frank J. Wisner of Cripple Creek, Colorado, gets the credit for inventing the “Black Cow” way back in August of 1893.
One night Wisner, owner of the Cripple Creek Cow Mountain Gold Mining Company, was staring out the window and thinking about the line of soda waters he was producing for the citizens of Cripple Creek when he came upon an idea. The full moon that night shined on the snow-capped Cow Mountain and reminded him of a scoop of vanilla ice cream. He hurried back to his bar and scooped a spoonful of ice cream into the children’s favorite flavor of soda, Myers Avenue Red Root Beer. After trying, he liked it and served it the very next day. It was an immediate hit.
Wisner named the new creation, “Black Cow Mountain” but the local children shortened the name to “Black Cow”.
Since its inception, thousands of root beer floats have been enjoyed around the country each day.
HOW TO OBSERVE #NationalRootBeerFloatDay
Gather up some root beer and ice cream and mix up the perfect root beer float. Enjoy a root beer float over lunch or dinner at your favorite restaurant. Use #RootBeerFloatDay to post on social media and spread the word.
National Vanilla Ice Cream Day on July 23rd tips its hat at the second most popular flavor in America. Take a bow, vanilla. I scream, you scream, we all scream for…VANILLA ICE CREAM!! Of course, the day is part of National Ice Cream Month and not too far behind National Ice Cream Day.
Since Americans love vanilla ice cream so much, it shouldn’t come as a surprise that vanilla is the most common flavoring in North America for ice cream. In fact, many people consider vanilla ice cream to be the default flavor.
Many may be familiar with Thomas Jefferson’s vanilla ice cream recipe. The third president of the United States may have discovered vanilla flavor while visiting France. While he wouldn’t have been the first to savor the delicious taste of vanilla ice cream, Jefferson enjoyed jotting down recipes. The same applied to ice cream. He also produced a handwritten copy of a vanilla ice cream recipe in the 1780s. Only ten copies remain. In fact, the Library of Congress houses one copy that has a cookie recipe on the flip side. Today, the ice cream parlor at Mt. Rushmore in South Dakota serves the same recipe so that anyone can have a taste.
Make your own old fashioned homemade vanilla ice cream to enjoy! While you’re at it, invite some friends to enjoy it with you. Maybe, go out for some vanilla ice cream. Scoop up a dish full from the ice cream in your freezer. Will you add chocolate syrup or caramel? Oh, and don’t forget the sprinkles!
Post a photo on social media using #VanillaIceCreamDay to encourage others to do the same.
Dish or cone? That’s all we need to know. National Ice Cream Day on the 3rd Sunday in July offers up every flavor on the menu to honor the day! The holiday also lands in the middle of National Ice Cream Month.
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, they would savor this sweet treat. 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. However, the results aren’t exactly the ice cream we enjoy today. Frozen treats and beverages later, culinary folks point to Naples, Italy as the birthplace of the first 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.
U.S. Ice Cream Facts
Ben Franklin, George Washington, and Thomas Jefferson enjoyed ice cream.
1813 -First Lady Dolley Madison served ice cream at the Inaugural Ball.
1832 – African American confectioner, Augustus Jackson, created multiple ice cream recipes as well as a superior technique to manufacture ice cream.
1843 – Philadelphian, Nancy Johnson, received the first U.S. patent for a small-scale hand-cranked ice cream freezer.
1920 – Harry Burt puts the first ice cream trucks on the streets.
An astonishing fact regarding Thomas Jefferson – his recipe for Old Fashioned Vanilla Ice Cream is believed to be the oldest recipe for ice cream in the USA. The recipe below is provided by the Library of Congress. The transcript is word for word for ease of following along.
Thomas Jefferson’s Old Fashioned Vanilla Ice Cream Recipe
The Original Thomas Jefferson Ice Cream Recipe
Ice cream.
2 bottles of good cream. 6 yolks of eggs. 1/2 lb. sugar mix the yolks & sugar put the cream on a fire in a casse -role, first putting in a stick of Vanilla. when near boiling take it off & pour it gently into the mixture of eggs & sugar. stir it well. put it on the fire again stirring it thoroughly with a spoon to prevent it’s sticking to the casse–role. when near boiling take it off and strain it thro’ a towel.
put it in the Sabottiere then set it in ice an hour before it is to be served. put into the ice a handful of salt. put ice all around the Sabottiere i.e. a layer of ice a layer of salt for three layers.
put salt on the coverlid of the Sabotiere & cover the whole with ice. leave it still half a quarter of an hour. then turn the Sabottiere in the ice 10 minutes open it to loosen with a spatula the ice from the inner sides of the Sabotiere. shut it & replace it in the ice. open it from time to time to de- -tach the ice from the sides.
when well taken (prise) stir it well with the Spatula. put it in moulds, justling it well down on the knee. then put the mould into the same bucket of ice. leave it there to the moment of serving it. to withdraw it, immerse the mould in warm water, turning it well till it will come out & turn it into a plate.
Enjoy National Ice Cream Day by sharing some with your family and friends! Experiment with different flavors or go to your favorite ice cream shop. Give them a shout out, too! Post on social media using #NationalIceCreamDay.
The first Saturday in February is a big treat because it’s Ice Cream for Breakfast Day!
Whether the sun rises over a frosty morning or a warm one, having a scoop or two of ice cream for breakfast once a year places a bright spot right in the middle of winter. The creamy goodness of chocolate or vanilla will start the Saturday off right. Add some fresh fruit or sprinkle some of your favorite cereal for some crunch.
This is a breakfast kids and adults will love. Waffles with fresh fruits and a scoop of vanilla. Of course you can also add a layer of Nuetella under the ice cream. Start your Day with smiles that will last all day. Looking for a lower calorie option try frozen yogurt instead.
Those who like to get creative with their ice cream might like bacon or avocado flavored ice cream at breakfast time. How about cinnamon toast and coffee ice cream? There are so many ways to participate in this deliciously good day. All you really have to do, though, is have ice cream for breakfast.
ICE CREAM FOR BREAKFAST DAY HISTORY
In the 1960s, Florence Rappaport of New York created Ice Cream for Breakfast Day as a way to chase away cabin fever for her six children due to a winter storm that had blown through the area. The annual celebration caught on as her children grew and shared it on their travels. Today, the day has been observed in Canada, New Zeland, England, South Africa, Israel, and more.
Break out of the winter doldrums and have ice cream for breakfast. Enjoy your favorite kind or get creative and try something new. Have an ice cream breakfast party, and invite friends over to indulge with you! Use #iceCreamForBreakfastDay to share on social media.
National Frozen Yogurt Day on February 6th recognizes a sweet frozen dessert that has gone from fad status to staple freezer item in a few decades.
Frozen yogurt sales are increasing every year as people want a healthier alternative to ice cream, especially for breakfast. The explosion of flavors and topping choices add to the popularity of frozen yogurt.
H.P Hood developed the first frozen yogurt in 1970 in the United States. It was created as a soft-serve treat called Frogurt. Not long afterward, Humphreys and Dannon released their own versions of frozen yogurt. Its popularity grew in the 80s, mostly due to frozen yogurts “health food” status. Ice cream manufacturers soon caught on, offering low-fat options.
Frozen yogurt is again making a comeback as consumers have begun to prefer the tart taste of yogurt. Not only does it find its way into home freezers, but it also is a sweet stop after work or play.
While the origins of this frozen food holiday remain a mystery, don’t let it stop your enjoyment. We’re going to top our frozen yogurt with some sprinkles, whipped cream, and gummy bears. Try it on top of Nuetella covered waffles, topped with fresh berries too.
HOW TO OBSERVE #NationalFrozenYogurtDay
Enjoy your favorite flavor of frozen yogurt. It’s possible to even make your own. Check out the recipes below or even make another dessert using frozen yogurt. Invite someone to join you in your celebration, too. Add toppings or blend in some fruit. Tell us about your favorites or share a recipe.
