National Soft Ice Cream Day

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By Diane Forrest

While school is starting back and it may be getting closer to fall, it’s still HOT outside.  Especially here in Mississippi, where there never seems to be a change in seasons - it’s always Hot or Very Hot!  One of the better ways I have found to cool off is to run down to my local McDonald's and get an ice cream cone.  They are only a dollar, which is a bargain these days, and it hits the spot when you want to cool off.

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I remember when our town opened a Ryan's Steak House.  The most amazing part of the whole place was the soft serve ice cream machine.  You could have either vanilla or chocolate, or mix the two together.  It was also self-serve, so you could practice making your own curly q's on top.

I can also remember getting my first dipped cone from Dairy Queen, and it always amazed me that the ice cream didn't fall off the cone once you turned it upside down to dip it in chocolate.

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Today is National Soft Ice Cream Day.  J.F. 'Granpda' McCullough and his son Alex, future founders of the Dairy Queen, created soft ice cream back in 1938. Because it's served at a warmer temperature, it's easier to taste soft ice cream's full flavor.  Its lighter texture comes from the way it is made. Ice cream vendors use a special technique to double the amount of air in soft ice cream. It is also lower in milk fat than hard ice cream.

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So today, I can't think of any reason why you wouldn't want to stop for a deliciously cold ice cream cone and celebrate National Soft Ice Cream Day.

National Soft Ice Cream Day - Yummy

By Diane Forrest,

What a great treat for such a hot day!  Did you know that Soft Ice Cream, or Soft Serve, was invented in 1938 by J.F. "Grandpa" McCullough and his son Alex McCullough, future co-founders of the Dairy Queen?   Of course it makes sense to me because Dairy Queen is the first place I think of when I think about soft Ice Cream.  I wasn't aware it had been around so long though.  I wasn't introduced to it until the late 70's.  I was amazed at how they made the little curl at the top of the cone.  Then on top of that they would dip it in chocolate syrup that would harden and make a shell!  It didn't take a whole lot to impress me back then.

The difference between soft serve and dipped ice cream, besides the obvious, is that soft serve is dispensed from a machine.  It is infused with more air, and this allows it to have the soft texture, and whiter color.  It also allows for a better taste.

When my son was in school, when I would pick him up I would take him by Dairy Queen for an ice cream cone, or if he had to go to the doctors and get a shot, or anytime he needed a special treat.Now not only can you get soft serve ice cream, but also frozen yogurt.  I’m not gonna say too much about that, just in case there is a frozen yogurt day in our future. 

But today, on National Soft Ice Cream Day why not have a treat for yourself, its even better when shared, so if you have a child or grandchild nearby, take them out for a cone too.  It will be a nice day to make some great memories!