As we celebrate National Ice Cream Month (pretty cool that it gets its own month!) this July, it brings me back to my own childhood…

There are certain memories in life that never fade, no matter how many years pass. For many of us, ice cream is one of them. It's more than just a treat—it's a time machine that takes us back to carefree summer afternoons, laughter throughout our neighborhoods, and sticky hands that no one seemed to mind.

Growing up, ice cream wasn't just a treat, it was a celebration! Whether it was after a little league game win (or even a loss), a birthday party, or simply because the ice cream truck happened to drive down the street, every scoop carried a little bit of magic. Hearing the familiar “Turkey in the Straw” jingle from blocks away would send us straight to our parents for money and then racing outside with excitement, hoping to catch the truck before it disappeared around the corner.  Those moments weren't about choosing the fanciest flavor. Sometimes chocolate with rainbow sprinkles was enough, other days it was a colorful popsicle.  But somehow, every bite tasted like heaven.

Some of my own personal favorite memories involve going to Farrell’s Ice Cream Parlour (sadly now permanently closed) in California, for my birthday!  That was the best time to go because they let the birthday girl (or boy) stand on their chair and they brought out your ice cream sundae with a sparkler on it, singing and playing music and blowing sirens!  It was so much fun!   When I was older and living in Pennsylvania, there was a small “dairy isle” as we called them, named Gilberto’s.  My parents would sometimes let us get a double scoop!  Those were the good times.  I always chose a scoop of mint chocolate chip and a scoop of chocolate peanut butter.  I would hurry up and lick them so they wouldn’t melt and get all mixed together!  Looking back, it wasn’t just dessert—they were moments of pure happiness shared with the people who made childhood unforgettable… family and friends.

Photo credit to:  https://columbusrestauranthistory.com/farrells-ice-cream-parlour/

As adults, life becomes busier. Our schedules fill with responsibilities, deadlines, and endless to-do lists. Yet all it takes is one scoop of our favorite childhood flavor to remind us of simpler times. Suddenly we're transported back to evenings without smartphones, when our biggest concern was whether we'd have enough time to play outside before dinner.

There's something comforting about that connection. Ice cream reminds us that joy doesn't have to be complicated. It can be found in small moments: sharing a cone with someone you love, introducing a child to their first taste of it, or revisiting the neighborhood shop that still serves the same recipes from decades ago.  Now it’s our turn with our granddaughter, that little girl LOVES ice cream!  And it must involve rainbow sprinkles (see below), lots of them! 

Perhaps that's why ice cream has remained such a beloved tradition across generations. It isn't just about the sweetness—it's about the memories attached to every scoop. It's about family, friendship, laughter, sunshine, and the beautiful simplicity of being a kid.

The next time you find yourself enjoying a bowl or cone, let it remind you of those long summer days that you hoped would never end.  Go share a scoop with your friends or family, maybe even just at home, and add a spoonful of Blue Ridge Strawberry or Red Raspberry Preserves to your next bowl of chocolate ice cream or perhaps melt some Amish Peanut Butter Spread to a bowl of vanilla (YUM!) and make some new memories!

Let us know what your favorite all time flavor is!  Thanks for reading :) JK