Interesting Ice Cream "Tidbites"

When you get the urge for a snack on a hot, humid summer night, what's the first thing that comes to your mind? That's right... Ice Cream! Therefore, it's only fitting that ice cream be given it's own special day. On this day, we hope you enjoy an ice cream cone, a sundae, or a milk shake. Set the diet aside and splurge a little...have one of each!

National Ice Cream Day is on the 3rd Sunday in July of each year.

In 1984, President Ronald Reagan proclaimed July as National Ice Cream Month. He also established National Ice Cream Day as the third Sunday in the month.  Ice cream is nutritious. A little heavy on the sugar and calories, ice cream is otherwise good for you. Its base ingredient is milk, which is loaded with healthy vitamins and minerals.

Ice Cream Day - December 13

There is also a celebration of Ice Cream Day on Decmeber 13th. No factual information was found about this day. It is suspected that it evolved from some local event. Perhaps a school ice cream social somehow took on an undocumented, national recognition as a special day.

Did you know?

Charles E. Minches of St. Louis, Missouri is credited with inventing the ice cream cone. On July 23, 1904 at the World's Fair in St. Louis, he filled a pastry cone with two scoops of ice cream to make the first ice cream cone. There is some controversy over this claim. Italo Marchiony of New York City filed a patent for the ice cream cone months before the fair opened. And, he was selling lemon ice in cones as early as 1896.

Vanilla is the #1 selling flavor.

Chocolate syrup is the favorite topping to put on ice cream.

The major ingredient in ice cream is air.

It takes approximately 50 licks to finish off a scoop of ice cream.

The United States is the top ice cream consuming country in the world.

According to Guinness World Records, the largest ice cream pyramid was made in August of 2002. The pyramid had 3,894 scoops, totaled 22 layers and weighed 1,005 pounds. The pyramid was 53 inches high.

The largest ice cream cake weighed in at 12,096 pounds.

The history of ice cream dates back to the second century B.C.! Many believe that it was invented in China.

Nero used to send slaves to the mountains around 62 A.D. to bring fresh snow to the royal kitchens. This snow was then flavored with fruits and juices to make flavored ice.

In 1812 the first lady, Dolley Madison, served ice cream at the second inaugural ball.

In 1845 the hand-cranked ice cream freezer was invented. It takes 12 lbs. of milk to make a gallon of ice cream.

It takes 12 lbs. of milk to make a gallon of ice cream.