January 15 National Strawberry Ice Cream Day #StrawberryIceCreamDay

Did you know on January 15th we celebrate National Strawberry Ice Cream Day #StrawberryIceCreamDay? I wish my dad’s dad Rene and my daughter Suzzane was here today because the both loved Strawberry Ice Cream.

David does as well and even I will eat Strawberry Ice Cream as long as its in the container or Neapolitan Ice Cream. Before you ask what about Charlie he doesn’t care for Strawberry Ice Cream. How about you. Do you like Strawberry Ice Cream?

National Strawberry Ice Cream Day is celebrated on January 15th and as the name suggests, it is time to add Strawberries to your Ice Cream! Did you know it was more traditional to eat your Ice Cream with Strawberries as a topping?

Strawberries are also a popular complement to Chocolate and Cream and \many other desserts. National Strawberry Ice Cream Day, however, celebrates Strawberries in their delectable Ice Cream form. Let’s get to celebrating.

Did you know the history of Strawberry Ice Cream Day is unknown but the origins of Ice Cream, however, are better recorded. Some say it was the Romans that invented the practice of mixing Ice with Fruits and other flavors.

Emperor Nero was said to have sent runners up the Mountains to fetch Snow and Ice for this purpose. Others say it was the Persians who first indulged in the practice. There are also varied reports about who is credited with spreading the concoction across Europe.

Whomever the credit goes to, it was the discovery of the Endothermic effect that allowed for the invention of Ice Cream as we know it. The first record of this comes from Panchatantra, where Salt was added to Cream to lower its melting point, allowing it to freeze at a higher temperature.

One of the earliest references to Ice Cream in North America is recorded in the “Pennsylvania Magazine of History & Biography:” “Among the rarities was some fine Ice Cream, which, with the Strawberries and Milk, eat most deliciously.” Strawberry Ice Cream itself may have been invented between the 18th and 19th Centuries.

Ice Cream, however, remained a treat for the upper classes until a Swiss entrepreneur by the name of Carlo Gatti set up an Ice Cream stand in London in 1851. It was very difficult to store Ice at that time but Gatti built an “Ice well” in which he stored the Ice that he procured from the Regent’s Canal. He sold Ice Cream Scoops in “Shells” for a penny each, and he eventually became successful enough to start importing Ice from Norway for his business.

How to Celebrate National Strawberry Ice Cream Day

1. The obvious thing to do on National Strawberry Ice Cream Day is to purchase Strawberry Ice Cream from your favorite brand and take the time to enjoy the Ice Cream.
2. On National Strawberry ice Cream Day Strawberry Sorbet or any other form of frozen Strawberry treat also qualifies if you’re lactose-intolerant or vegan. For a little more adventure, try a mixed flavor combination that you haven’t tried before.
3. If you have an Ice Cream maker at home, now is the time to look up your favorite Strawberry Ice Cream recipe online or use the recipe I’ve included below and whip up Strawberry ice Cream.
4. Did you know there are also homemade Ice Cream recipes that don’t require an Ice Cream Maker, so you can always try that out.
5. If you have a friend or family member who only sticks to one or two flavors of Ice Cream, and that doesn’t involve Strawberry, use National Strawberry ice Cream Day to purchase them your favorite ice Cream and see if they like it better. If you’re making your own Ice Cream, you have an upper hand already.

Fun Facts About Ice Cream And Strawberries

1. Did you know the average Strawberry is covered in 200 seeds.
2. Nancy Johnson from Philadelphia was the first American to patent a hand-cranked Ice Cream Maker, while Agnes Marshall also patented a similar machine in England.
3. The average American leads the world with an annual consumption of around 23 pounds or 46 pints of Ice Cream per year. Do you think you eat that much Ice Cream because I don’t think I do.
4. According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Americans consume around 3.4 pounds of fresh Strawberries every year.
5. California produces the most Strawberries which accounts for 75% of the crop in the Country, which is around 1 billion pounds.

Why People Love National Strawberry Ice Cream Day

1. If you’ve been craving Ice Cream and feel guilty about it, National Strawberry Ice Cream Day perfectly validates our cravings. If you have the time today make Strawberry Ice Cream and enjoy the Ice Cream with your friends and family.
2. #StrawberryIceCreamDay is a “cool” hashtag and makes for some great posts. You can even look up one-liners online that have been created for National Strawberry Ice Cream Day. Take a photo of you making the Ice Cream, or enjoying Ice Cream at your favorite hangout, with loved ones, or just by yourself.
3. Long gone are the days when only the rich elite could afford Ice Cream which is one of the most popular things to eat now and whether you’re eating Ice Cream alone, or with someone, enjoy it.

Recipe for Strawberry Icecream

Ingredients

Original recipe yields 8 servings

• 2 cups mashed fresh strawberries
• 2 cups whole milk
• 2 cups heavy cream
• 1 cup white sugar
• 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
• ¼ teaspoon salt
• 2 drops red food coloring (Optional)

Directions

1. Gather all ingredients.
2. Combine strawberries, milk, cream, sugar, vanilla, salt, and food coloring in a large bowl.
3. Pour strawberry mixture into the freezer bowl of an ice cream maker; freeze according to the manufacturer’s directions.
4. Transfer to an airtight container and freeze until firm.

Thank you,

Glenda, Charlie and David Cates