"national ice cream day" news and stories

Photo: Root Beer Float/Very Culinary

Ronald Reagan was on to something when, in 1984, he designated the third Sunday in July as National Ice Cream Day (as part of National Ice Cream Month), even if that something was merely giving us an excuse to eat more of the frozen goodness than we probably should. And Amy of Very Culinary was on to something when she decided that an old-fashioned root beer float was the perfect way to celebrate.

Like the soda floats of yesteryear, Amy's float is a simple but satisfying mix of chilled root beer, vanilla ice cream and the optional-but-always-pleasing whipped cream. While one could easily and quite happily down the entire thing -- especially on a hot summer day -- the four spoons seem to serve as a subtle reminder that such fine fare is best when shared with good friends. If your friends happen to not like root beer, try a cherry-flavored soda or -- for the over 21 crowd -- a dark stout. And don't blame us when your popularity skyrockets.

[Via Very Culinary]

OK, now this is getting rather specific, eh?

It's not National Ice Cream Day (though it is National Ice Cream Month), it's National Peach Ice Cream Day. So, if you don't like peaches than you're out of luck and you have to eat broccoli all day long.

This is timing that actually makes sense. Sometimes you don't know why a certain holiday falls on a certain day or in a certain season, but it's summer so having a day set aside for an ice cream flavor seems right, and peaches are a summer fruit and sound awfully refreshing.

Here's a Peach Ice Cream recipe from TexasCooking .com, and here's one from AllRecipes.

P.S. This past Sunday was National Ice Cream Day??? How the heck did that go by unnoticed?