by Angela Lasch
July 20, 2026
Does sherbet count as ice cream? I've always loved a scoop of rainbow sherbet with hot fudge. If sherbet doesn't count, then my runners-up are chocolate mint and cookie dough, or a classic banana split without the nuts. But I also love a simple hot fudge sundae with vanilla ice cream, hot fudge, whipped cream, and a cherry on top. Hmm, maybe there isn't an ice cream I don't like! Foods of Summer Back in June, we began our Foods of Summer series talking about donuts! Donuts are my absolute favorite dessert (especially a glazed jelly-filled donut), so that was an easy topic to start with. Now that we are officially in summer and it is hot outside, we want to give a shout-out to ice cream! There is nothing better than an ice cream cone on a hot summer's day! National Ice Cream Day (Month) This past Sunday, July 19, was National Ice Cream Day. President Ronald Reagan designated July as National Ice Cream Month in 1984. The official National Ice Cream Day is the third Sunday of July. And even though we missed July 19 by a couple of days, it's okay, since the entire month of July gives us something sweet to celebrate! President Ronald Reagan didn’t just designate July as National Ice Cream Month; he made a proclamation! In the proclamation, President Reagan called for all people of the United States to observe these events with "appropriate ceremonies and activities." (https://www.idfa.org/july-is-national-ice-cream-month) Can Learning About Ice Cream Be Educational? Yes! (We are homeschoolers; we can make anything educational!) Are you searching for an ice cream recipe to make at home with your kids? The National Day Calendar has a recipe on its website from Thomas Jefferson. How COOL is that (pun intended)? You and your kids can make Thomas Jefferson's Old-Fashioned Vanilla Ice Cream Recipe together! How amazing is it that we have the actual recipe Thomas Jefferson used to make ice cream over 200 years ago? Looking for some more ideas? Kitchen science: Explore the science behind ice cream, including freezing-point depression, churning, and emulsification. History: Research the history of ice cream and make a timeline of fun facts. After making Thomas Jefferson's Old-Fashioned Vanilla Ice Cream Recipe, look into why it's housed in the Library of Congress! Service: Invite the neighbors over for a night of fellowship and serve ice cream; ask everyone to bring their favorite toppings. Geography and culture: Research global variations of ice cream, such as gelato, kulfi, dondurma, and more. Team CHEA's Favorite Flavors Who doesn't love ice cream? Here are Team CHEA's favorites! Monica: Rocky Road Natalie: Rocky Road Portia: Chocolate Chip Cathie: French Vanilla Melisa: Vanilla Dena: Chocolate Peanut Butter Angela: Rainbow Sherbet (Does that count?) Now It's Your Turn! Please let us know your favorite ice cream flavors in the comments below! And stay tuned for next month as we conclude our Foods of Summer series with everyone's favorite: S'mores! Go ahead and treat yourself to some ice cream and remember to do it with the “appropriate ceremonies and activities.” But more importantly, enjoy the summer with your children. Take time to slow down and enjoy an ice cream cone together. You've heard the saying: you only have 18 summers with your children, and they go so quickly. Enjoy every moment together. "God richly supplies us with all things to enjoy." 1 Timothy 6:17b ________________________________ Angela Lasch is the Executive Director of CHEA. She and her husband homeschooled their three sons. She now enjoys being "Nana" to two granddaughters. Grateful for her own homeschool journey and the sacrificial giving of countless families who made it possible, Angela now dedicates herself to encouraging, supporting, and protecting homeschool families throughout California. She also enjoys an occasional hot fudge sundae.
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