Welcome to our series sharing Unique Holidays: August 19th, 2022. Would you take a look at the holidays being celebrated today and let me know which holiday you most want to celebrate and why. As for my family we wouldn’t mind celebrating National Soft Serve Ice Cream with a Twisted Cone from Sonic. Would you like to join me?
National Soft-Serve Ice Cream Day
Besides being a great excuse to consume soft-serve like there’s no tomorrow, National Soft Ice Cream Day on August 19 reminds us of all our best memories involving the dessert — from the county fair we visited as children to the amusement park we went to with friends last year. Soft ice cream seems to pop up only in the happiest of places, and it has a fascinating history as well!
History of National Soft Ice Cream Day
Though there’s evidence that the first real ice cream possibility originated as early as 200 B.C., there aren’t any anecdotes or notable stories from the time. Early tales of ice cream include Alexander the Great and Emperor Nero of Rome, both of whom enjoyed flavored snow and ice. After Marco Polo came back to Italy from the East with an ice-cream-like recipe, it took off in Europe by the end of the 16th century. ‘Cream Ice’ was featured on the table of Charles I and, in 1553, Catherine de’ Medici brought it to France after marrying Henry II of France.
America, which was later the birthplace of soft-serve ice cream, wasn’t introduced to the dessert until the 1740s. While it may have been at dinner tables earlier, ice cream first appeared in advertisements in the U.S. in 1777. George Washington’s estate at Mount Vernon featured two ice cream pots, and he reportedly spent over $200 on ice cream over one summer!
It wasn’t until the 1800s that ice cream became accessible for the general public, thanks to newly constructed ice houses and ice cream manufacturing. By the middle of the century, ice cream manufacture and sale was a booming industry. Ice cream became part of American culture, which led to the emergence of soda fountains and sundaes. By World War II, ice cream was brought to troops to boost morale, and floating ice cream parlors were built for sailors in the Pacific.
Around the time of World War II, soft ice cream was born — though, there’s a battle over who started it. Carvel claims that the father of their brand, Tom Carvel, accidentally created soft ice cream when his ice cream truck caught a flat tire and he was forced to quickly sell off his melting wares. He soon returned and set up a permanent shop selling his softened ice cream with great success. Dairy Queen also claims to have invented soft-serve in Illinois, when J.F. McCullough and his son perfected their formula and held a massively successful all-you-can-eat trial at their friend’s store. There are also reports that Margaret Thatcher, former U.K. prime minister, helped develop American soft-serve recipes while working as a chemist at a food manufacturer!
We can’t know for sure how soft-serve came to be, or what involvement Margaret Thatcher had in it. Since those intrepid scientists innovated upon the centuries-old classic, soft-serve has been a staple at some of the most exciting venues — sporting events, amusement parks, and fairs! Today, most people can conjure up a great memory of soft-serve from childhood.
National Soft Ice Cream Day Activities
- Make ice creamWhile soft ice cream isn’t simple to make at home, today is still a great day to try your hand at making regular hard ice cream. All you need is cream, sugar, and some ice — there are many recipes online to test out today!
- Have an ice cream taste testNo two soft-serves are equal. Round up some friends and take a soft ice cream tour of the city — taste test as much as your stomach lets you! We guarantee it will be an afternoon well-spent.
- Post #NationalSoftIceCreamDay on social mediaThat beautiful soft-serve swirl is basically art and deserves a spot on your Instagram feed. Share your treat on social media to promote this sweet holiday!
5 Facts About Soft Ice Cream
- Between the prepared liquid mix, precise machinery, and the art of dispensing, making Soft-serve Ice Cream quickly proves more complicated than Hard Ice Cream!
- An average serving of Soft-Serve Ice Cream contains 35% air which keeps Soft Serve Ice Cream fluffier than hard Ice Cream!
- According to one statistic, 70% of people will choose Soft-Serve Ice Cream over hard Ice Cream.
- Another reason to love Ice Cream’s younger sibling, Soft-serve Ice Cream is because soft-serve has 3–6% Milkfat, while Ice Cream has 10–18%.
- In parts of Europe, Soft Serve Ice Cream isn’t called ‘Soft-serve,’ but rather ‘American Ice Cream’, If you want a Soft Ice Cream Cone in Greece or Romania, you might order ‘machine Ice Cream,’ while, in Ireland, you’d ask for ‘Soft Whip.’
Why People Love National Soft Ice Cream Day
- National Soft Ice Cream Day is one of the most delicious holidays of the year everyone loves the excuse to indulge in Ice Cream one of the best desserts around. No low-fat or frozen Yogurt for us. Only Soft Ice Cream.
- Ice Cream has been around in some form for thousands of years. Soft-serve style Ice Cream had its start in the 1940s!A delicious innovation of an already-fantastic dessert.
- Over the years, Soft-Serve Ice Cream has come to be associated with Fairs, Carnivals, Amusement Parks, and fun venues. The first lick of a Soft-serve Ice Cream Cone brings back happy childhood memories for everyone which is why it’s been a bestselling dessert for decades.
5 amazing Ice Cream facts:
- An average dairy Cow can produce enough Milk in her lifetime to make a little over 9,000 gallons of Ice Cream.
- The first Ice Cream recipe was handwritten in the recipe book of Lady Anne Fanshawe in 1665
- Chocolate Ice Cream was invented long before Vanilla, and the first documented recipe for Chocolate Ice Cream appeared in the book The Modern Steward, published in Italy in 1692.
- In the U.S., all Ice Cream needs to have a minimum of 10% Milkfat if it is to be labeled “Ice Cream”. This includes Custard based French Style Ice Creams.
- The Häagen-Dazs brand was established by two Americans. Reuben and Rose Mattus. The name was made up to sound Danish and sophisticated. The Danish language does not actually use umlauts.
*National Hot & Spicy Food Day
January 16th is International Hot and Spicy Food Day, a day where you get to celebrate and devour the Spiciest dishes in the World. Every Country on the globe has its cooking style and recipes. While some Nations eat mild food, others enjoy hot food items that will make you gulp down a jug of water. There are some super Spicy dishes available and, guess what, people aren’t afraid to consume them. Here’s a tip before you head out on a Spice-eating spree, make sure your stomach can handle the Chili.
History of International Hot and Spicy Food Day
Spices have been consumed for over 6,000 years to add flavor to a dish and for their many health benefits. Spices can combat inflammation and have healing properties. It’s due to these reasons that Spices grew popular in ancient times.
Ancient Greeks imported Eastern Spices including Pepper, Cassia, Cinnamon, and Ginger to the Mediterranean since Spices and Herbs played a role in medical Science. According to sources, Around 460 to 377 B.C. Hippocrates wrote of Herbs and Spices that included Saffron, Cinnamon, Thyme, Coriander, Mint, and Marjoram. The “Father of Botany,” as Theophrastus was known, in his two books, wrote about 600 Spices and Herbs in the period between 372 B.C. and 287 B.C. Romans created another use for Spices, Which they often utilized in Spice-flavored Wines and Spice-scented Balms and Oils. Spices also were used in poultices and healing plasters due to their healing properties. Curcumin too was used in Ayurvedic medicine to treat conditions like arthritis, autoimmune disorders, headaches, and nausea.
Capsaicin, an active component of Chili Peppers, is known to destroy Cancer cells. A 2015 U.S. and China study found that eating Spicy food six or seven days a week lowered mortality rates by 14%. If you never liked Spicy food, it is about time you change your diet.
How to Celebrate International Hot and Spicy Food Day
- To celebrate this holiday experience different types of Spicy food, by heading out to a restaurant that serves Mexican or Indian food dishes.
- If you don’t want to eat something too Spicy then cook a dish of your choice and adjust the Spice level. How about Chilies stuffed with Chicken and Cheese?
- Do you want to spice things up? Host a Chili eating contest and see who can eat the most Chilies in 10 minutes.
5 Facts About Spicy Food
- Mexico has over 60 species of Chili Peppers.
- Did you know you can eat hot or Spicy food to reduce weight and boost metabolism?
- Carolina Reaper is the world’s hottest Chili which is stated in, the “Guinness World Records.”
- Japan’s Pepper is known as ‘Shishito.’
- A cup of Chili Peppers has about 107 mg of Vitamin C.
Why International Hot and Spicy Food Day is Important
- This holiday highlights Spicy food and brings business to Mexican and Indian restaurants which means more tips for the waiters too!
- Spicy food has some advantages for the Immune system and digestive health. This holiday plays an essential role in highlighting them.
- On International Hot and Spicy Food Day, several interesting dishes come to the forefront creating a cultural experience.
Five facts about spicy foods:
- Did you know people who love Spicy food are called Pyro-gourmaniacs.
- Christopher Columbus discovered Chili Peppers when he first visited the Americas in 1493.
- Garlic, Chilies, Onions, Allspice, and Oregano have all been proven to kill bacteria making food safer to consume.
- The best way to ease the burn of flaming hot Peppers is with a glass of cold Milk or Yogurt.
Thank you,
Glenda, Charlie and David Cates
