Friday, July 29, 2011

Where did the ice cream man go?


This morning on my walk, I noticed something odd. Here we are, smack in the middle of summer break, and not a single child was outside playing. We live in an area where there are children galore, yet block after block, in the middle of suburbia, the only evidence of outdoor activity was the occasional bike ditched on a lawn or a stray ball forgotten in the gutter. And since I clearly don’t have a lot of important stuff to think about on these walks, it got me wondering how in the world the ice cream man makes a living anymore.


Now I know times have changed a bit, and these days we live in a more dangerous world, but when I was a kid, which wasn’t that long ago, all of us in the neighborhood would congregate as soon as the sun came up, and continue wreaking whatever havoc we were wreaking that day until well after sundown. Being inside was cruel and unusual punishment, and we would just use that time to plot our next outdoor escapade. Activities ranged from standard to ridiculous. We rode bikes, played tag, climbed trees, built forts…all the usual games.

One of the more ridiculous (and by ridiculous I mean stupid) games we played was called Cars. Cars involved hiding behind something, another car, a fence, or a hedge, whenever we saw a car coming down the street.  We must not have been feeling very creative when we invented this one…but at any rate, we would faithfully dive behind nearby obstructions upon first sight of a car. On one occasion injury ensued, as it often did, when we all dove behind a bush and my friend’s Airwalk-clad foot came down on my eye. Shockingly, I didn’t end up with a black eye, and I’m pretty sure Cars was tabled for the day.

But no matter what we were up to, hearing the ice cream man’s telltale music always made us stop in our tracks. We’d all dash inside, beg our parents for some money, raid our piggybanks if we had to, and hope we could make it back out in time to catch him. My standard purchase was one of two things: a Choco Taco or a Missile Pop.


Two side notes regarding ice cream:

1. If you’ve never had a Choco Taco, stop reading right now, get in your car, and find your nearest convenience store with an ice cream case. Track down the ice cream man if you have to (wherever he may be these days). We recently introduced this culinary delight to Andy’s 90-year old aunt. She was very skeptical upon hearing the description of a chocolate covered ice cream taco, but finally agreed to try a bite of Andy’s, after which she promptly instructed him to go buy her one of her own.

2. When my sister was little, my mom didn’t want to have to buy her ice cream all the time, so she told her that the colorful, singing truck driving up and down the street was just the “music truck,” and that it’s sole purpose was to entertain the masses with Pop Goes the Weasel on repeat. Apparently, my mom got away with this lie story until my sister hit the wise old age of four, when she was tipped off by a neighbor who unknowingly broke the news when he offered to buy her a treat. My mom curses him to this day. (In an unrelated “my-mom-lied-to-her-kids-a-lot-just-for-the-fun-of-it” story, she told me that dragonflies could sew your mouth shut. To this day I am terrified of dragonflies. Thanks Mom.)


Anyway…all this long-winded reminiscing is just to say that the ice cream man used to drive by several times a day, every day of the week. Now I can’t remember when I last heard one, but I can only imagine that it’s because there are no kids outside.  If I were the ice cream man, I wouldn’t waste my time either. I’d just sit in the shade eating my weight in Choco Tacos. (Based on that, I’d better scratch “Ice Cream Man” off my list of professions to try.)

If you made it this far in my ramblings, thank you…your reward is a boozy popsicle.


Mango Mojito Pops

Makes 6

1 1/2 cups chopped mango (2 mangoes)
1 ounce rum (I used Bacardi Superior White)
1 lime, juiced
2 tablespoons sugar
2 teaspoons chopped mint
1/2 cup water

Put mangoes, rum, lime juice and sugar into a blender. Run until mixture is completely smooth. (Taste to check sweetness. Add more sugar if desired.) Add mint and water. Pulse until water is just blended into mixture and you can still see flecks of mint.

Pour into popsicle molds and place popsicle sticks into the middle of each. Freeze. Once frozen through, run molds under warm water to release.


Try these for a minty, fresh happy hour on a stick. Or just eat a Choco Taco. Both are fantastic.


You won’t care where the ice cream man is when you have these in your freezer. And when your kids complain that they can’t eat them, just tell them it could be worse…at least they aren’t scared of dragonflies.

73 comments:

  1. In the midst of packing, I found my popsicle molds! I'm going to make some boozy palettas as soon as we get settled in!

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  2. Yummy...love boozy treats! Gah...I must sound like a lush :)! These are so pretty, and they must taste so fresh...

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  3. Oooh these sound good- I have some mint in my fridge... I might have to run out and get some mangoes!! And love the shout out to Choco Tacos!

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  4. I love these! They sound amazing and look so pretty. And yes, Chocotacos are pretty delicious.

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  5. Those are just so pretty!!! Tasty, too I'm sure. Funny stories! Marie from (Everybody Loves Raymond) told her sons when they were little that when the ice cream truck plays music, it means they've ran out of ice cream!

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  6. I keep meaning to make a boozy sort of popsicle, and these look so great, I want to do something like it! The ice cream man is alive and kicking around here...I have to reign in my kids every time we hear it.

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  7. I need to find a popsicle maker asap. These sounds amazing! We have an ice cream man that makes his way around the neighborhood but more importantly there's an ice cream man that travels in a boat on Lake Austin! How cool is that!?

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  8. Yes! I like this idea, no, I love this idea! Must find popsicle molds ASAP....great photos!

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  9. Yummy. Such a refreshing flavor for these summery days. Gorgeous mouth watering pictures. Thanks for sharing.

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  10. These look so refreshing! Oh, and my husband checks the freezer section every time we go to the grocery store to see if they have the mickey mouse pops. The look on his face each time just kills me because we can never find them. Ah, the good ole days.

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  11. I've never heard of Choco Tacos, the ice cream man would only come around about twice a summer when I was a kid, so we usually had scooped ice cream from the Pumpkin Patch. Yum!
    These look great! I tried making popsicles for the first time last weekend, i think this one might have to be my next recipe!

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  12. beautiful clicks popsicles look wonderful

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  13. Love the ice cream man! This is such a great flavor, they look perfect!

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  14. This. looks. amazing! I wonder if it would work in my zoku popsicle maker...

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  15. Beautiful photos! It looks so yummy. I love mango!

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  16. Mango & rum what a combo. And your mother sounds very wise!
    Love you,
    Mom

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  17. Too funny about the dragonflies :) Love these "cocktails on a stick" as you called them!

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  18. My favorite part of summer as a kid was the ice cream truck! Sure could use one right about now in this crazy hot weather! Those adult popsicles look amazing! I am going to have to try these! Thanks for sharing!

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  19. I'm glad you make mention of the Choco Taco... my favorite dessert ever!!

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  20. It was a great story and I laughed out loud when you rewarded us with a "boozy" popsicle! BRAVO! What a great, fun post! I am SO happy to buzz this one!

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  21. Love the story, and the pictures! These look delish :)

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  22. Heh, the ice cream truck man has a booming business in Cayman. He rolls by my house everyday playing that 'do your ear hang low, do they wobble two and fro' song! I'm not to proud to admit that even at 29, I rush inside and de-change my piggy back for an orange pop. However...he's got some stiff competition with this lovely mango mojito pops now!

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  23. Oh that dragonfly story is priceless.. My uncle almost traumatized all of us when he told us Santa had been killed in a accident on his way to Ireland. He thought it was hilarious.
    I actually have everything except the mint and that's easy. I might just make these.

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  24. Yum, boozecicles! I am saving this recipe for my book-club.
    We have been busy making a Popsicle with mango, kiwi, nectarines...any fresh fruit we can get our hands on.
    There is an ice cream guys that hang out by the kids school as they are getting out, but it is just not the same as hearing the sound of the ice cream truck heading down the street.

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  25. Just picked up a couple mangos, so I am making these! Can't wait!

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  26. I remember the "music truck." And these pops look so refreshing and delish!

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  27. I could go for one of these right now...

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  28. I'm with you...what's up with this world today? :( I feel so bad for my daughter because she won't have the childhood that I had... so sad.
    But on a happier note... Drunk popsicles?!? Heck yeah!! These are great!

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  29. I love this post and would love to try a popsicle. HA HA HA, the music truck. :)

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  30. I miss the ice cream man, so do my kids. He came around when they were younger but haven't heard that familiar bell in years. Love your cocktails on a stick! Cheers!

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  31. Mmmmmmm thes popsicle's look so good my mouth is wide open drulling :) Have Andy bring me some on one of our lunch meets! Oh and the Choco Taco is one of my faves. I love the color not to mention its one of my faves! I miss the ice the ice cream too.

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  32. Congratulations on making Food Buzz's Top 9! I just loved this one!!

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  33. they look so pretty! congrats on top 9!

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  34. Looks delicious and refreshing!!

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  35. Karen, I LOVE THESE BEAUTIFUL PICTURES! They make me happy!!!! We were the same when we were young...the entire neighborhood would be outside playing till the sun went down! I can report that while on vacation last week - we did see the ice cream truck!!!! :)

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  36. your pics are amazing!! i love the color !! we spent all day and late into the evening as kids!! the ice cream is really slacking here in myneighborhood, lol

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  37. Choco tacos are the best! Now that you mentioned them I will have to go find one ASAP. Love how these mango mojito popsicles sound--a great "grown-up" popsicle perfect for a hot day.

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  38. I love this post,especially the boozy reward :) I share the same sentiments with my son spending more time playing video games or texting.

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  39. My popsicle molds are in storage, since I recently moved. I think I'm going to head out tomorrow to purchase some new ones just so I can make these!
    BTW, I LOVED being at the community swimming pool when I was a kid waiting for the ice cream man to appear. I took money from my secret stash of savings every time I went to the pool. Choco tacos were the best!! I also loved chocolate eclairs, toasted almond and candy center crunch bar!
    Thanks for bringing back so many great memories!!

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  40. So I tried making these! But ended up enjoying it as a smoothy instead! Delicious!

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  41. love it that you added rum in these pops ! they look gorgeous. thanks for stopping by my blog :) you have some awesome recipes on your blog !

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  42. i like mango and ice cream too here is both gorgeous post

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  43. I LOVE YOUR ARTICLE AND ALL YOUR RESPONSES FROM YOUR LOVELY SUBSCRIBERS.. IM "THE ICE CREAM GIRL" NOW FOR 28 YEARS. MY DAD "CHUBBY THE ICE CREAM MAN" SINCE THE 1940'S-- MY DAD -- MY BEST FREIND--- LAST OF HIS KIND ;,(
    I STILL SELL THE CHOCO TACOS, MISSILES, TOASTED ALMONDS, ECLAIRS, CANDY CRUNCH..ETC.. BUT DEF NOT THE ADULT BARS-- BUT THE PIC BTW ME & YOU DOES LOOK YUMMY MINUS THE HMMMM... LOL. GOD BLESS ALL THANKS FOR SHARING MEMORIES LIKE THESE- BRINGS A TEAR TO MY EYE.
    GOOGLE SEARCH: THE ICE CREAM GIRL MARIA

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