The sound of the ice cream truck still brings me smiles by the miles every time I hear it slowly coming down the street playing a happy little tune from my childhood!
I remember having to chase the truck for blocks, running as fast as my little bare feet could carry me to get that man to stop, quarter in hand waving over my head, screaming, “Wait up! Wait up!”
I was the most athletic and the fastest runner of the neighborhood kids, so I was the one who always had to chase him down! (I still swear I saw him laughing more than once in that big ol’ side mirror, watching me get close, then speed up! He’d definitely make me earn that popsicle. Evil, evil man.)
A quarter was always only what we could beg out of the adults, and it went a lot farther than it does now, that’s for sure! Most items were just 25 cents.
I used to always get the orange creamsicles! It was an orange popsicle with vanilla ice cream on the inside. That tangy orange and creamy vanilla was just the thing to make a hot summer day bearable!
And boy, you had to eat it fast, too, because if you didn’t, you’d have it running down your hand, and sticky hands are never fun when you’re a kid.
We’d all finally get our ice creams and sit lined up in a row on the curb. Sure enough, someone would drop theirs. But that never mattered. It was picked up and eaten anyways. (What? Like you never did that? 😉 )
Then we’d sit for hours watching the ants come and carry away every last drop spilled. Ah, to be a kid again, even for just one single day!
Well, we sort of can, actually! Not for a day, or even an afternoon, but this float will definitely take you back to those days of limitless imagination and wonder, and fond memories of climbing trees, riding your bike like the wind, playing dress-up and jump-roping until your little legs would about fall off!
You can make this with any lemon-lime soda and a couple of scoops of orange sherbet-vanilla ice cream swirl! And you don’t even have to rush! Savor the taste and cherish the memories!
(The above photo won me a contest, too! It was a recipe/photo/essay contest that was sponsored by Honda! I came in 2nd place and won $1,000.00!!!)
RETRO ORANGE CREAMSICLE FLOAT
Makes 1-2 servings
2-3 large scoops orange sherbet-vanilla swirl ice cream (*or one scoop orange sherbet and one scoop vanilla ice cream if you can’t find the “swirled”)
1 (12 oz. can) lemon-lime soda such as Sprite, 7up, or even Fresca* ( grapefruit flavored*)
whipped cream topping, optional
orange slices for rim of glass, optional
1 piece of white chalk and one perfectly flat rock, optional, but a must have!
Directions:
Put 1-2 scoops sherbet-ice cream into mug or tall glass. Fill with soda slowly until full and lots of bubbles on top. Hang a scoop on the rim, top with whipped cream for extra creaminess if desired and rim with a slice of orange to make it “fancy”, pop in a straw, and head out to the sidewalk! Take piece of chalk and draw a hopscotch design on the sidewalk. Find “the perfect flat rock”, and play a game! Fun and great exercise! Don’t worry about the neighbors. Watch how many come to play!! 😉 🙂
