Notes: From a Proud Mama. I grew up writing compositions on every topic under the sun – no thanks to an English teacher of a mother. It is therefore of little surprise that I write now, and that I – like my mother before me- encourage my children to write, even when they are weighed down by reluctance.
I promised all three of them that if they wrote pieces, I would guest post, so here – the first of a few I hope on Italian ice, which we tried many moons ago in Philly.
This was written by J, my now 12-year old first child.
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Yesterday, on the 2nd of April, 2015, I went to Rita’s Ice, a snow cone stand in Independence Hall, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
Rita’s Ice is supposed to be Italian ice which is like a slushy, but with less liquid in it.
Italian ice, also known as water ice (particularly in Philadelphia and the Delaware Valley), is a sweetened frozen dessert made with fruit (often from concentrates, juices or purées) or other natural or artificial food flavorings, similar to sorbet.[1][2] Italian ice is not shaved ice that is flavored; rather, it is made by the same process by which ice cream is made: freezing the ingredients while mixing them. Italian ice is similar to sorbet but differs from American-style sherbet in that it does not contain dairy or egg ingredients, though it may contain egg white.[1] Common flavors include blue raspberry, cherry, lemon, mango, orange, strawberry, and watermelon, with numerous other flavors available; Source
I thought it was a snow cone stand but it’s Italian Ice. A snow cone is shaved ice topped with liquid, syrup flavoring. This is not the same as Italian ice. (KB: We had snow cones in Barbados many years ago and loved them)
Rita’s ice has nice flavors but there is only one that I really like, which is Alex’s lemonade. When I came, the flavors were cherry, blueberry raspberry, mango, chocolate and Alex’s lemonade. I tried everything except cherry because I don’t generally like cherries.
The mango was ok, kitchenbutterfly and my sister took had mango. Although I love mangoes, I didn’t have this.
I didn’t like the chocolate at all. To me it didn’t make sense although my brother liked it and took had it.
I thought the same thing about Blue raspberry (and mango) – none of us took had it. Alex’s lemonade was my favorite so I took had it. Kitchenbutterfly and my sister had half and half of Lemonade Mango.The quantities were a lot and none of us were able to finish ours. While we ate it, we used spoons till Kitchenbutterfly said we should could try straws, which we did and I think we got all the flavors that way.
Rita’s Ice was good in general but I prefer snow cones.
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I totally give J 100 points for effort, for some of the photos and for listening to her Mama :). I made some edits, where text is struck out the next word is my replacement. Saying that, I wanted to preserve her voice as much as possible.
Peace & Love and have you tried Italian Ice? Snow cones? Any preference?
[wpurp-searchable-recipe]Remembering Philly & Rita’s Italian Ice – – – [/wpurp-searchable-recipe]
This is just wonderful Ozoz – well done for encouraging them:) and I agree with ye daughter I would also choose the lemonade favour. Rita’s ice cre looks do amazing. Xx
Thanks dear. I’ll tell her. She really liked the lemonade
This made me smile. Love it. More, more!
Thank you dear, she’ll hear 🙂