{"id":79339,"date":"2021-07-16T09:54:22","date_gmt":"2021-07-16T13:54:22","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blog.genealogybank.com\/?p=79339"},"modified":"2023-12-26T10:53:30","modified_gmt":"2023-12-26T15:53:30","slug":"ice-cream-like-us-our-ancestors-loved-it","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.genealogybank.com\/blog\/ice-cream-like-us-our-ancestors-loved-it.html","title":{"rendered":"Ice Cream: Like Us, Our Ancestors Loved It"},"content":{"rendered":"

Introduction:<\/em><\/strong> In this article \u2013 in honor of this Sunday being National Ice Cream Day \u2013 Gena Philibert-Ortega searches old newspapers to find stories and recipes about ice cream that our ancestors enjoyed. Gena is a genealogist and author of the book \u201cFrom the Family Kitchen.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n

Ice cream has a history in the United States dating back to the 18th century! Who was eating ice cream back then? Early American ice cream eaters include our first president, George Washington. I don\u2019t know what flavor Washington preferred, but you can find our third president, Thomas Jefferson\u2019s, vanilla ice cream recipe online. (1)<\/p>\n

\"Photo:<\/a>
Photo: chocolate ice cream served at Leopold\u2019s Ice Cream Shop, Savannah, Georgia. Credit: Carol M. Highsmith; Library of Congress, Prints and Photographs Division.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Most likely, if you are purchasing ice cream this summer you are grabbing your favorite flavor. What is your favorite ice cream flavor? Obviously, flavor preference changes over time (anyone still love bubble gum ice cream?) but certain ice cream flavors seem to be favorites over multiple generations.<\/p>\n

Neapolitan Ice Cream<\/strong><\/p>\n

It\u2019s the best of three worlds: vanilla, strawberry, and chocolate. Neapolitan ice cream takes those three flavors and stacks them together to make one delicious treat. According to one online article, it\u2019s also the trend setting ice cream of the first decade in the 1900s. (2) Judging from the mentions in menus printed in historical newspapers from the early 20th century, I\u2019m not surprised that Neapolitan was a favorite.<\/p>\n

\"A<\/a>
Riverside Daily Press (Riverside, California), 24 October 1902, page 7<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

While not specifically about Neapolitan, this 1905 article explains how to make strawberry, vanilla, and chocolate ice cream. A recipe for cherry ice cream is also included and can be substituted for the strawberry if you\u2019re making Neapolitan.<\/p>\n

\"An<\/a>
Trenton Evening Times (Trenton, New Jersey), 28 November 1905, page 10<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

What sets Neapolitan ice cream apart from others is that you scoop most ice creams \u2013 but Neapolitan was originally sold in \u201cbricks\u201d so it could be sliced, showcasing the three flavors.<\/p>\n

\"An<\/a>
Houston Chronicle (Houston, Texas), 25 January 1940, page 8<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Rocky Road<\/strong><\/p>\n

What are the origins of that ice cream that blends chocolate with marshmallows and nuts? That\u2019s up for debate, but it\u2019s safe to say that it is an early 20th century invention. (3)<\/p>\n

It appears from newspaper advertising that various types of Rocky Road existed decades ago, including black raspberry and strawberry. While I\u2019m not clear if these flavors included marshmallows and nuts, they do appear to be a combination of two ice cream flavors.<\/p>\n

\"An<\/a>
Daily Times (Chicago, Illinois), 23 September 1942, page 87<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Want to try your hand at making some Rocky Road? Grab 24 marshmallows and follow this recipe.<\/p>\n

\"An<\/a>
San Francisco Chronicle (San Francisco, California), 1 May 1952, page 32<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

19th Century Favorite Ice Creams<\/strong><\/p>\n

What type of ice cream recipes might have been an ancestral favorite? I found mentions of ice cream in 19th century newspapers, with recipes. What were some of those early recipes? Well, it\u2019s no surprise that vanilla was one of the earliest ice cream recipes I found. Vanilla ice cream continues to be a favorite of many Americans.<\/p>\n

\"An<\/a>
Muskegon Chronicle (Muskegon, Michigan), 6 August 1889, page 9<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

You could add some orange to the vanilla to make an orange ice cream. This recipe includes a presentation with coconuts and dried rose leaves.<\/p>\n

\"An<\/a>
Philadelphia Inquirer (Philadelphia, Pennsylvania), 15 November 1893, page 7<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

I found a recipe for caramel ice cream in an advertisement. The recipe calls for \u201cnew milk,\u201d brown sugar and vanilla.<\/p>\n

\"An<\/a>
Alexandria Gazette (Alexandria, Virginia), 25 March 1895, page 4<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

What\u2019s Your Favorite?<\/strong><\/p>\n

My favorite ice cream flavor has changed over time. I was a huge fan of Neapolitan growing up. I then enjoyed Rocky Road or anything chocolate in my teens. I think today I favor Pistachio or Salted Caramel. Whatever your favorite, treat yourself with some this Sunday for National Ice Cream Day.<\/p>\n

_________________<\/p>\n

(1) \u201cThe History of Ice Cream,\u201d IDFA (https:\/\/www.idfa.org\/the-history-of-ice-cream<\/a>: accessed 21 June 2021).
\n(2) \u201cThe Most Popular Ice Cream Flavor in Every Decade,\u201d Taste of Home (https:\/\/www.tasteofhome.com\/collection\/most-popular-ice-cream-flavor-in-every-decade\/<\/a>: accessed 3 June 2021).
\n(3) \u201cThe Conflicting Stories Behind the Invention of Rocky Road Ice Cream,\u201d Mental Floss (https:\/\/www.mentalfloss.com\/article\/82388\/conflicting-stories-behind-invention-rocky-road-ice-cream<\/a>: accessed 3 June 2021).<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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