National Ice Cream Day is coming up!

The history of ice cream is filled with legends. One of the ones not mentioned here is the legend of the Emperor Nero sending runners to the Appenines to get snow for frozen refreshments -- in that case, fruit and honey flavored ices. No cream.

Both National Ice Cream Day (the 3rd Sunday in July) and July as National Ice Cream Month were established in the US by proclamation of President Ronald Reagan in 1984. In a burst of nonpartisan enthusiasm, I suggest that we can all agree that this is a far yummier and more unifying holiday than anything having to do with jelly beans! Even the unfortunate lactose-intolerant folk can celebrate with the judicious use of medication.

Please note that the centennial of the ice cream cone will be coming up in 2007. We must all be prepared to put on 5 lbs. two years from now.

I'm a plain chocolate girl myself, though I also love watermelon sherbet and a local variety called Death By Chocolate, which is so chocolate it makes you thirsty.

Anybody else have any favorites?