Summer is here with a vengeance. We took the family out to Baskin-Robbins to celebrate. I have a special affection for B-R because it was my first job during high school. We received two free kid scoops at the end of each shift. People told me I'd get sick of ice cream working there. Puh-leeze. (Remember that Simpsons where Homer goes to Hell: Ironic Punishment Division where they feed him nothing but donuts, and he keeps asking for more? That's me with the sweet cold stuff.)

Without further ado:

1. Ice cream: for warm weather only or a year-round food?
Where I come from, warm weather IS year-round. In cold weather I'll rarely go to an ice-cream place, but I'll buy it from to store to enjoy at home.

2. Favorite flavor(s)
Coffee and all its variants (Coffee Toffee, Jamoca Almond Fudge)
Baskin-Robbins World Class Chocolate (white choc and milk choc swirl)
B&J Phish Food
After disliking nuts most of my life, I now adore Butter Pecan and Black Walnut ice creams. What can I say, I contain multitudes.

3. Cake cone, sugar cone, waffle cone, cup?
We used to make waffle cones in the store and they were the BEST. I can still remember the steamy aroma of them cooking and how you had to roll them around this conical piece of wood while they were still warm enough to burn your fingers.

Now they're pre-made, but as a consolation, they come dipped in chocolate.

4. Childhood ice-cream memory
I remember one time Mamala let me splurge on a double-scoop of french vanilla and chocolate fudge, both of which cost more than a regular scoop. Honestly? It was too rich.

Added:
Oh my goodness! How could I have forgotten? This entry reminded me of the time my entire first-grade class took the train to Brenham to tour the Blue Bell Creamery. We ate little cartons of homemade vanilla with flat wooden spoons.

5. Banana splits: discuss.
Three-scoop treats are just too much for me. And people used to ask for very strange flavors on their splits.

However, I do know how to slice a banana (lengthwise or cross-wise) without touching the inside of the banana, just the peel.

Bonus: Baskin-Robbins used to make ice-cream sodas. During the 18 months I worked there, I think I made about 3 tops. They're no longer on the menu, but you can still order them. Question: What are the ingredients/steps for making an ice cream soda?
Put a couple of teaspoons of ice cream in the bottom of a cup. Add a squirt or two of syrup (chocolate for a chocolate ice-cream soda, strawberry for strawberry, plain for everything else). Mix the ice cream and syrup. Add plain soda water and stir gently. Top it with a couple scoops of ice cream. Enjoy.