When I was a kid I was crazy about Creamsicles, though perhaps not quite as crazy as Flickr user Broken Piggy Bank who looks like a Creamsicle maniac. Oranges were my favorite fruit and I used to suck down so much OJ that my Dad took to rationing it out. Perhaps I turned to this classic frozen treat as a form of OJ replacement, though probably not. After all, what's not to like about cool orange sherbet enrobing a creamy vanilla ice cream core.
I haven't had a Creamsicle in more than 20 years, but lately I've become addicted to an old-school soda fountain treat that I'm certain is its great grandaddy. The orange freeze is a thick shake that 's infinitely more refreshing than a Creamsicle, if only because of the sheer volume. That ice-frosted shake cup is filled with another glass of creamy orange refreshment.
Like its more modern counterpart, the orange freeze marries orange and vanilla, but in an old-timey fountain fashion. It consists of two scoops of orange sherbet, one scoop of vanilla ice cream, a dash of vanilla syrup and a goodly amount of seltzer. The whole thing is then whipped into a dense shake.
I get my orange freeze fix at Eddie's Sweet Shop, an ice cream parlor in Forest Hills, Queens, that's been around forever. Since the temps in New York City have been in the 80s I decided to have one today. I scooped some out with the long handled spoon and it was wonderfully refreshing. Then I tried to slurp some through the straw and my head almost imploded because of the thickness. When I did get some I started to get an ice cream headache. None of this really bothered me because it was still quite a treat and also because I am one of the world's fastest eaters of ice cream. My motto is why lick when you can chew.
As I finished the glass I reached for the shaker to pour in the remainder. It was then that I learned of another pitfall of the orange freeze. Instead of pouring smoothly into my glass, a huge orange blob plopped out and landed all over my newspaper. I'm lucky it didn't hit my camera. The girl at the counter cleaned up the mess and told me that often the freeze conforms to the shape of the container and comes out in a mass. Thankfully there was still plenty left in the cup to enjoy.
6-15-2008 @3:15PM Dot Powell said... To combat the sultry steamy Texas summers, my famnily and I enjoy homemade Orange Shakes...very much like the 1970's and '80's Orange Julius drinks that were on every street corner. I mix 1/2 cup whole milk, 1/2 cup orange juice, 1 or 2 teaspoons of vanilla flavoring, a mere touch of Sweet-n-Lo if needed, and pour over crushed ice or ice cubes. You can try differnt ratios of milk and juice or even just juice and water with some lemon juice, too. Mighty good, mighty refreshing, and really satisfies your thirst. Just a Texas Country Girl.
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6-16-2008 @11:41AM Kevin said... Mayfield had an ice cream in gallons that was just like this but due to poor sales they stopped making it a few years back!
Wahhhhhha!
KG
Nashville,TN
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8-24-2008 @1:12PM rich wojcik said... Sorry for a late comment, but it pertains to "smalec" - kind of lard.
Many European delis have "Danish (or Hunter, or more kinds)smoked bacon". It is so good AND LOW IN FAT - and some have more than 50% meat. Cube it fine, then heat slowly until fat melts - then you HAVE A MIRACLE: - HEAVEN CAME INTO YOUR MOUTH! :)
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