Ice cream is one of the best loved trends on planet earth
July 2025
story and artwork by Anne M. Dellinger, Contributing Columnist
It appeals to all age groups from grandpas to toddlers for a lot of reasons — it comes in many flavors, it tastes great during any season, it can be eaten anywhere and it can turn a frown upside down!
Studies have shown that eating ice cream can chase away the blues by reducing anxiety and stress. With your first bite, this cure-all comfort food triggers the brain to recall a pleasing experience, like a birthday party with cake and ice cream, and transports you to your happy place.
Of course, you cannot rely on ice cream alone to make your life fulfilling and cheery. But it doesn’t hurt to have some on hand for those bummer days when your spirits need a lift.
In fact, statistics show that 87% of Americans have ice cream in their freezers, at any given time, ready to serve up a smile when needed.
Ice cream’s popularity has generated many sayings and quotes that express a love for this treat. How many of these expressions have you heard?
“Life is short, eat ice cream first.” “One scoop is never enough.”
“I scream, you scream, we all scream for ice cream.”
“Ice cream makes everything better.”
On a hot, humid summer day, when all of these words about ice cream hold true, you might begin to wonder when ice cream was invented.
It is impossible to pinpoint a specific date but its origins can be traced back to ancient times.
Here are a few scoops of ice cream’s long history.
(500 BC) — The Persians were making iced treats using snow, ice and grape juice.
(1700s) — Ice cream began appearing in the American colonies but it was a delicacy that was enjoyed mostly by the rich, upper class of society.
The first documented instance of ice cream being served in America happened in May 1744. At a formal dinner, Maryland’s colonial governor, Thomas Bladen, amazed his guests with a frozen dessert that could be eaten during the warm months!
George Washington and Thomas Jefferson loved ice cream so much that they had custom ice cream machinery and refrigeration units installed at their country estates. (Jefferson is even credited with writing down the first known ice cream recipe in American history!)
(1774-1776) — First ice cream parlor opens. Ice cream was still a foreign curiosity to the common people, until a candymaker in New York City started serving the frozen treat in his sweet shop, making it available to all. (Quite coincidentally, this first ice cream shop emerged at the same time as the country itself!)
(1800s-1900s) — Ice cream’s popularity grew as it became more available to the general public. Thanks to the creative efforts of ice cream lovers, these were a few of the great things that happened:
- a hand-cranked ice cream maker was invented;
- ice cream factories were established;
- new flavors were introduced; and
- the ice cream cone was created.
(2000s) — Today, in the 21st century, there are so many ways to savor this adored treat that choosing a favorite is a difficult decision.
So much ice cream … so little time
Another way to enjoy ice cream is IN A BAG. It can be easily made in your home, ready to eat in a few minutes. Ask mom or dad to help gather the ingredients and invite some friends, with permission, to join you in the kitchen.
INGREDIENTS:
- One cup light cream or half-and-half
- One cup heavy cream
- 1⁄4 cup sugar
- 1 teaspoon vanilla
- Ice cubes
- 1⁄2 cup kosher or rock salt
- 1 quart-size sealable plastic bag
- 1 gallon-size sealable plastic bag
DIRECTIONS:
Measure the creams, sugar and vanilla and pour into the quart-size bag, sealing tightly.
Fill the gallon-size bag 3/4 full of ice and add salt. Put the sealed smaller bag inside and zip up the larger bag.
Shake … shake … shake! It will take about five to eight minutes of steady, rigorous shaking for the ice cream to harden.
Then, rinse off the small bag with cold water, grab a spoon and eat your ice cream right out of the bag! Sprinkles, fruit or nuts can be added for extra pizzazz.
As you chill out, quiz your family or friends with some ice cream trivia.
- What are the three most popular ice cream flavors in America, according to surveys?
- Approximately, how many licks does it take to finish a standard scoop of ice cream on a cone?
- Which U.S. state produces the most ice cream?
- What is the most popular ice cream topping?
Ice cream is much more than a cool dessert. Whether you eat it in a cone, on a stick or even in a bag, its magic lies in the memories it creates and the happiness it brings.
May Super Sleuths
The May Super Sleuths was about nature’s heroes — pollinators. For a chance to win a $25 Amazon email gift card, kids were asked to find and name the insect hidden in the issue and give the page number. They were also asked to describe how large the insect is in real life, as well as name the parts of the world where the cacao tree and its pollinators are located. Lastly, they were asked to name their favorite chocolate candy.
The winning answers are:
- Chocolate midge fly, page 34
- 1 to 3 millimeters
- Tropical rainforests in Central America, South America, Africa and Asia
- Reese’s
OUR WINNER IS MEMPHIS.
Congratulations, Memphis!
TRIVIA ANSWERS:
- VANILLA, CHOCOLATE AND STRAWBERRY
- 50 LICKS FOR AN ICE CREAM CONE
- CALIFORNIA
- CHOCOLATE SYRUP IS THE MOST POPULAR TOPPING