Close your eyes and come with me, a trip down memory lane to the place where red and white checked dreams come true. Many of us from the older generation can remember going to the local soda fountain for a burger and a shake or to have an egg cream or homemade French fries. Many were decorated with black and white floors and big old juke boxes where you could dance.
Just about every summer, we go to Oklahoma City to visit with my son and we travel on Old Route 66. When we get hungry, we stop for food at the revived Mom and Pop diners. I don't hesitate to ask for an ice cream confection recipe if they have something I have never seen before. With the advent of frozen yogurt, many of these can be made better for you by using it. Being a purist, I love using old fashioned ice cream.
To complete your trip here are some terms you have not heard in ages, the language of your favorite soda jerk. Yes, they had their own language, calling out our orders as they made them. It was part of the fun, part of the atmosphere.
Brings back great memories, doesn't it?In most soda fountains, ice cream was divided into 4 categories, sodas and floats, sundaes, shakes and malts and the ever popular banana split. Here are some recipes you can make at home to bring those memories back and to relive with your kids.
Despite the name, egg cremes are not made with either egg or cream. Some of the recipes do call for raw egg, which we now know can be dangerous. If you clean the eggs with bleach, you can minimize your risk. Make these at your own risk.
Next week: Shakes and Malts. Future weeks will cover sundaes and homemade toppings.
Editor's Note: What is your favorite soda fountain memory?
Here are the other parts of this series
Vanilla Milk Shake (White Cow): 4 scoops vanilla ice cream, 1 Tbsp. vanilla extract, 1 1/2 cups milk. Put into a blender container and blend until smooth.
There is nothing better in the world than homemade toppings for ice cream. You can make so many more flavors than you can buy at the grocery store.
Well, here we are with part three of our "walk down Memory Lane". I sure hope you enjoy these recipes as much as I did. The basic construction of a sundae is ice cream in the bottom with a topping and garnishes on top.
Cherry phosphates are as American as apple pie - and this diner staple can be made at home, too. Try making a phosphate to spice up a burger and fries dinner.
This page contains a healthy egg cream soda recipe. Enjoy the rich flavor you might find at an old fashioned soda fountain.
This page contains ice cream soda recipes. Although no longer as popular, since the advent of fast food shakes, smoothies, Frappuccinos, and other cold beverages, the ice cream soda is still a stand out dessert.
