Vanilla Ice Cream Day

Today is a national holiday, it's Vanilla Ice Cream Day. Now go get a big ol bowl of ice cream and enjoy the day.

Recent restaurant samplings in Nashville

Tokyo (Sushi)
spider roll
volcano roll
plum wine

Noshville (New York-style deli)
salami and eggs
hash browns
everything bagel
coffee

B & C Bar-B-Q (BBQ)
pulled pork
smoked salmon
sweet tea

Caney Fork Fish Camp (Seafood, American)
shrimp & grits (shrimp and bacon in a cajun cream sauce on two chipotle cheddar grit cakes)
sweet tea

Dinner Bell Meat (Meat & Three)
mashed potatoes w/ gravy
corn nuggets
green beans
squash casserole
biscuits
sweet tea

Provence (Cafe)
1/2 roast beef sandwich
tomato basil soup
pecan sandy cookie
Tuscan bread (a loaf to take home)

Wendell Smith's (Meat & Three)
turnip greens
mashed potatoes w/ gravy
macaroni and cheese
white beans
cornbread
sweet tea

Bobbie's Dairy Dip (Ice Cream, Soda Shop)
dipped ice cream cone (butterscotch)

Doggie Bag by Smokey: Sonic ice cream

She gave it a big slurp of the tongue and a wag of the tail. Perfect on a hot summer day.

Blackberry cheesecake ice cream

2 cups sugar
1/2 cup fresh lemon juice
2 teaspoons lemon zest
1/8 teaspoon salt
1 quart Purity buttermilk
Fresh blackberries

Combine sugar, juice, zest, salt and buttermilk in a large bowl and stir until sugar dissolves. Chill thoroughly, then freeze in ice cream freezer according to manufacturer's directions. When ready to serve, scoop into parfait glasses and top with fresh blackberries.

Yield: 6-8 servings.

Find more good Tennessee recipes for summer at Pick Tn Products recipes.

Baskin-Robbins has 31 Cent Scoop Night tonight

Ice cream marketer Baskin-Robbins will hold its second annual 31 Cent Scoop Night to raise money for the National Fallen Firefighters Foundation, the company said on Wednesday.

Canton, Mass.-based Baskin-Robbins will hold 31 Cent Scoop Night on April 30 from 5 p.m. to 10 p.m. at all of its 2,700 stores, according to the company. During the event, the company, known for its long running branding platform touting its 31 flavors, will reduce the price of its 2.5 oz. ice cream scoops to 31 cents.

For the event, Banskin-Robbins will partner with the National Fallen Firefighters Foundation and donate $100,000 to the organization. The two organizations will also honor 31 firefighters from across the country who have demonstrated an exemplary commitment to community service through the newly created America's 31 Firefighting Heroes program.

Bill Marriott Talks About Tipping

This is from an old story, back in the '30s, in the days when an ice cream sundae cost much less.

A 10 year-old boy entered a hotel coffee shop and sat at a table. A waitress put a glass of water in front of him.

"How much is an ice cream sundae?" the little boy asked.

"Fifty cents," replied the waitress.

The little boy pulled his hand out of his pocket and studied the coins he had. "Well, how much is a plain dish of ice cream?" he inquired.

By now, more people were waiting for a table and the waitress was growing very impatient.

"Thirty-five cents," she brusquely replied.

The little boy again counted his coins. "I'll have the plain ice cream," he said.

The waitress brought the ice cream, put the bill on the table and walked away. The boy finished the ice cream, paid the cashier and left. When the waitress came back, she began to cry. As she wiped down the table, there placed neatly beside the empty dish were two nickels and five pennies. You see, he couldn't have the sundae because he had to have enough money to leave her a tip.

Read the entire story and visit Bill Marriott's blog.

Fresh Strawberry Ice Cream

You will need:

2-1/2 cups half-and-half

4 egg yolks

1/2 cup plus 2 tablespoons sugar

1/4 teaspoon pure vanilla extract

1 pint fresh strawberries, hulled and quartered

Pour half-and-half into a heavy saucepan and bring to a boil. Remove from heat. In a bowl, beat egg yolks and half cup of sugar until pale and smooth. Stir one-quarter of hot half-and-half into egg mixture, stirring well. Then pour yolk mixture into warm saucepan. Cook over low heat, stirring constantly, until thick enough to coat a spoon, about 3 minutes. Stir in vanilla. Cool to room temperature and cover with plastic. Refrigerate at least 4 hours.

An hour before making the ice cream, in a bowl, combine berries with 2 tablespoons of sugar and let sit for one hour. Then mash berries with a fork until they are bite-sized. Stir into chilled custard mixture and pour into ice cream maker. Follow manufacturer’s directions. Freeze at least 2 hours before serving.

Yield: 6 servings.

Fresh Strawberry Storage Tips
Strawberries do not continue to ripen after harvest. Therefore, make sure you pick berries that are completely red.

Store the berries unwashed in a single layer on a baking sheet and refrigerate.
Just prior to using, rinse berries under a gentle spray of cool water. Do not cap until after washing.

Get more recipes from the Pick Tennessee Products website.

Ice Cream in Nashville

Where I have found good ice cream in Nashville...

Bobbie's Dairy Dip (just like the good ol days when I was a kid in a small town. I love Bobbie's)
Las Paletas (unique and standard flavors but they are all excellent and fun)
Elliston Place Soda Shop (Another one that seems to have been around forever and yet forever young)
Marble Slab

Places I have heard about but haven't been to yet...

Pied Piper
Maggie Moo's

Do you all know of any other places in and around Nashville that are good?