KEN GRAHAM: FROM THE PUBLISHER

Somewhere in China, many centuries ago, people discovered that frozen cream was pretty tasty. Over time, the treat known as cream ice, or “ice cream,” made its way to Europe – most likely to Italy first. Americans were eating ice cream in the Colonies in the early 1700s.

With triple-digit temperatures prevailing in the Touchet Valley this week, I figured this would be a great time to learn more about the perfect hot-weather treat. So to Google I went.

I found a website called icecream.com (how could there not be one), which provided some interesting facts:

The ice cream churn was invented in Philadelphia around 1840. The ice cream cone became popular at the turn of the 20th century.

Per capita, the United States is the second-highest ice cream consuming nation in the world. On average, each American eats about six gallons of the cold stuff per year. Who’s number one? New Zealand, whose citizens down 7.5 gallons per year.

According to a survey, 87% of Americans have ice cream in their home at any given time.

It takes three gallons of milk to make one gallon of ice cream. About nine percent of the milk produced in the U.S. goes to making ice cream.

The basic ingredients of ice cream are cream, milk, sugar and egg yolks. But of course, ice cream wouldn’t be ice cream without flavors. So a multitude of different ingredients can be added.

Here are the 10 most popular ice cream flavors, according the National Ice Cream Retailers Association (how could there not be one):

Vanilla

Chocolate

Cookies ‘n’ Cream

Mint Chocolate Chip

Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough

Buttered Pecan

Cookie Dough

Strawberry

Moose Tracks

Neapolitan

But what about those of us who want to walk on the wild side – at least ice cream-wise. Here are some much less popular flavors – yes, they’re all for real:

Horseradish

Bacon and Maple Syrup (sometimes called “Breakfast in Bed”)

Lobster

Bleu Cheese

Sweet Potato

Avocado and Sour Cream

Sweet Corn

Caramel Corn

Goat Cheese and Beet

Purple Yam

Cardamom Black Pepper

Olive Oil

Guinness Irish Stout

Coconut Curry

Sriracha

Balsamic Fig

Black Sesame Ginger

Kimchi and Rice

Basil

Jack Daniel’s and Coke

(Probably want to save that last one until you’re done driving for the day.)

So go out and enjoy the heat this weekend. Grab a pint of vanilla and go crazy with it.