SUMMER SCREAMS FOR ICE CREAM

Summer Camp! Isn't that for city kids? As you might have guessed, Summer Camp wasn't on our to-do list during school summer break. We never went to Summer Camp.

Please! Don't go into shock! Honestly, we didn't miss out on anything.

As a matter of fact, we never talked about going off to Summer Camp. Really, can't determine precisely the first time the subject of Summer Camp came up. My best guess is after becoming an adult. Besides, living in the country on the side of a mountain, we had plenty of outdoor activities and sunshine opportunities.

Back then, Summer days didn't reach record-breaking and scorching hot temperatures which was a good thing. While watermelon is a favorite of many, my favorite Summer time food is ice cream. Yes! Cold delicious yummy ICE CREAM. Any flavor of ice cream in bowls, cones, ice cream popsicles, Eskimo pies, and an ice cream banana splits are synonymous with Summer.

Would you walk over two miles for an ice cream cone? We did! My aunts and I walked over two miles for an ice cream cone. The cold Summer treats were a long walk away. I always purchased the teaberry ice cream cone which was a favorite of mine. If they didn't have teaberry, a vanilla or chocolate cone was ordered.

Walking from Pap's (my grandfather on my dad's side) house to purchase ice cream at the Tasty Freeze, the cold treat made those lazy days of summer SPECIAL Astonishingly, we purchased our ice cream cones for a single dime.

On weekends during the Summer, we would go to the movies and to Hecla Park. Better yet, staying home on a summer day, there are wonderful memories of mom and dad making homemade ice cream in the old fashion crank ice cream maker similar to the Cabelas Uncle Buck's 6 Quart Ice Cream Maker that's pictured above.

Recalling, Mom would cook the mixture of egg yolks, sugar, whole milk, heavy cream, and vanilla extract, making a custard. Mom would pour the custard into the freezer cylinder. With lots of ice around the freezer cylinder sometimes referred to as the tub of the ice cream maker, dad would crank and turn our old fashion ice cream maker. Sometimes, dad would give me a turn to crank the machine.

Oh! Goodness! When done, there's nothing like homemade ice cream on a warm Summer day in Pennsylvania.

When my children were younger, the music from the ICE CREAM truck wafted through the neighborhood. When they heard the music, during those lazy days of Summer, it was definitely ice cream time.

Naturally, my kids heard the music long before I did. Quickly, they retrieved their money or asked me for money. They ran out the door faster than lightning to purchase the ice cream treat of their dreams.

Wondering. would they have walked over two miles to purchase their summer ice cream.

If asked, what's your favorite summer food? Because ice cream and summer go together like a horse and carriage, my answer would always be ice cream.

Right now, it's Summer and our freezer contains Keto ice cream treats and pints of Keto ice cream. When temperatures reach 105 degrees Fahrenheit, it's time for ice cream. There isn't anything that makes me feel better than an ice cream treat. Before my no-sugar diet, eating a bowl of ice cream and making banana splits and ice cream sundaes were my go-to summer foods.

Years ago, during the Summer, we purchased a Cuisinart yogurt and ice cream maker from Sam's. Of course, it was electric. No crank and turning necessary. While we have made vanilla, peach, and chocolate ice cream, that was before my diet changed.

Nevertheless, we still use the Cuisinart to make keto vanilla ice cream. One of my favorites to make is keto simply raspberry ice cream. In the blender, I quickly mix coconut milk, whipping cream, stevia monk fruit, and raspberries. Then pour the mixture into the Cuisinart freezer container and let it turn and turn for approximately twenty to thirty minutes until it's soft ice cream.

Using unsweetened chocolate chips and butter cooked on the stove, you can make homemade chocolate syrup. Drizzling the homemade chocolate syrup over the raspberry ice cream, you have an ice cream sundae.

It's Summer and we all know the sing-song saying. "I scream, you scream, we all scream for ice cream."

Yep! Summer screams for ice cream! Always did, and it always will.