I grew up in Chicago in the 50’s. Ice cream sodas were a standard and every five and dime had a long fountain area where you sat on mushroom shaped seats and drank your ice cream soda. There were certain flavored I always liked and looked forward to every summer day. But that’s all changed.
I was in an ice cream store not too long ago. I asked for an ice cream soda. The person working behind the counter didn’t know what I was talking about. Neither did my kids. I was stunned. I ordered a banana split and was relieved when the folks at the ice cream parlor seemed to know what that was. They couldn’t make it because they didn’t have any bananas, but they knew what it looked like. This raised some level of concern in me.
When we got home I pulled out the blender and a 1/2 gallon of vanilla ice cream. I also grabbed a big bottle of root beer. My family was perplexed but my wife figured it out. I was going to make a smoothie Black Cow. In case you’re unaware, a Black Cow was another classic soda from the 50’s. It was simple vanilla ice cream in a tall glass with root beer. You drank it with a straw, and the melted ice cream and left over root beer was heaven.
Everyone was quite surprised when they tasted it, and my wife loved it. She said it had always been her favorite when she was growing up. But I didn’t stop there. As the days went on I blended cherries and cherry ice cream with cola; creme soda and vanilla ice cream and orange sherbet; and even bananas, vanilla ice cream, caramel and chocolate syrup in lemon-lime soda. In case you haven’t guessed the names they’re listed below along with the recipes.
Black Cow Smoothie
(makes two 8-ounce ice cream sodas)
Ingredients:
8 oz root beer
1 cup vanilla ice cream
Directions:
Blend in blender until smooth
Dreamsicle Smoothie
(makes two 8-ounce ice cream sodas)
Ingredients:
8 oz creme soda
1/2 cup vanilla ice cream
1/2 cup orange sherbet
Directions:
Blend in blender until smooth
Cherry Cola Smoothie
(makes two 8-ounce ice cream sodas)
Ingredients:
1.2 cup pitted sweet cherries
8 oz cherry cola
1 cup cherry ice cream
Directions:
Blend in blender until smooth
Banana Split Smoothie
(makes two 8-ounce ice cream sodas)
Ingredients:
1 banana chopped
1 cup ice cream
1 tbsp caramel sauce
8 oz lemon-lime soda
Directions:
Blend in blender until smooth
