It's National Ice Cream Day - So Have A Scoop (Or Two)!

If you are one of those rare people who need an excuse to eat ice cream, here's one - It's National Ice Cream day - So go ahead and have a scoop or two, or if you can get away with it, just grab a tub!

This national holiday, which is celebrated on the third Sunday of July each year, was the brilliant idea of late US President Ronald Regan, whose proclamation number 5219 instructs Americans to 'observe the event with appropriate ceremonies and activities.

As you go about performing your civic duty, here are some fun facts about this sweet treat that you may not be aware of:-

The first ice cream-like concoction was served in the 4th century by Roman Emperor Nero, who sent his servants scurrying up the mountains to get some fresh snow, which was then mixed in with fruits, honey, or wine and served as a one-of-a-kind treat to his guests.

Immigrants at Ellis Island were served Vanilla Ice Cream as part of their first welcome meal.

The term 'Ice Cream' was coined by American colonists in 1776, from the phase 'Iced Cream.'

Americans are the biggest consumer of ice cream in the world, chowing down an average of 48 pints per person every year!

Though we may pride ourselves on creating unusual (translate yucky) flavors like artichoke and garlic, people were as imaginative in the 1700s. A cookbook penned in 1790 had recipes for parmesan, ginger, and even brown bread flavored ice cream!

While milk is the biggest ingredient, with each gallon of ice cream requiring 12lbs of the liquid, the most important ingredient is . . . . Air! Without it, the treat would be as hard as a rock.

The World's biggest ice cream sundae put together in 1988 in Edmonton, Canada, weighed a whopping 55,000 lbs, while the world's biggest Ice Cream Scoop comprising 28,000 scoops of strawberry ice cream, tipped the scales at 7,800 lbs.

The first ice cream cone was invented accidentally in 1904 at the World Fair in St. Louis by an ice cream vendor who ran out of bowls and came up with the brilliant idea of teaming up with a waffle maker to keep up with the demand.

And finally, it apparently takes fifty licks to eat a single scoop of ice cream - something I need to verify right away!

If you missed your chance to have ice cream today, don't fret. President Reagan also declared the entire month of July - Ice Cream month - So go ahead and treat yourself again and again - At least until the month comes to an end!

Happy National Ice Cream Day!

Resources: icecream.com, holidayinsights.com