Every third Sunday in July is National Ice Cream day in the US, also known as Sundae Sunday (Get it?) The creamy confectionary does not, as the song says, come from a “land of ice and snows”, but, rather, evolved from other frozen desserts found worldwide. In the first century AD, Roman Emperor Nero would regularly send slaves to the Appenines to procure ice, which would be mixed with wine, honey and fruits. Stateside, we’ve been enjoying the frozen treat about as long as we’ve been a nation. George Washington, Thomas Jefferson and Ben Franklin were all big fans, and Dolly Madison served ice cream at the Inaugural Ball in 1813.
Want to try making ice cream with a centuries-old recipe? Get your tin pots and straw ready.