Any way you slice it!

 

Yep! Another day to enjoy a special ice cream treat. Of course, with this being the month of August amid sweltering temperatures, ice cream is a delight on any day...in fact, how about every day! You may think you have tried them all— gelato, sorbet, low-fat, super-premium, soft-serve, frozen yogurt, sherbet, scoops, cones, sundaes—the list goes on and on. This time, however, you don't scoop it!

August 21 is...

National Spumoni Day
*****

Spumoni Ice Cream Princess Cake

Spumoni is a cross between ice cream and Italian Ice. It is typically made with three layers of flavor: chocolate, pistachio, and cherry. Each layer of ice cream is mixed with candied fruits and nuts with its own smattering of whipped cream folded into the ice cream. On Spumoni Day, indeed in general, this Italian delight differs from ice cream in that it should always be shaken, not stirred...OOPS! sliced, never scooped, that is!

Spumoni has made quite a cultural and geographical journey in recent years, from its birth in Naples, Italy to be more commonly eaten and enjoyed in America and Argentina, especially among areas with large Italian immigrant populations. It is hard to believe that today Spumoni has all but vanished from its native Italy. 

The Italians do have a way with food! Most surprising is people seem wildly divided when it comes to the merits of spumoni. Some love it while others loathe it, citing the fact that it is even sweeter than ice cream and can be much too sugary. Others claim that the versions of spumoni they have tried taste largely artificial, especially the fruit layers.

If you have never given Spumoni a chance, today is the day to try it. Experiment making your own ice cream, cupcakes, sundae, biscotti, get creative! Celebrate the delicious history and heritage of this treat on National Spumoni Day any way you slice it! For some of the recipes below, scroll through the page for it may not be first up.

Spumoni Cupcakes

Click HERE for recipe!

Raw Spumoni Ice Cream 
Click HERE for recipe!

Spumoni Ice Cream Terrine
Click HERE for recipe!

Spumoni Sundaes with Espresso Hot Fudge Sauce
Click HERE for recipe!

Spumoni Biscotti
Click HERE for recipe!

  yum, yum, yum . . . yummy!

What is your take on spumoni? Is it great or gross? Where are the best kinds found? And in this era of fancy frozen yogurt, are old-fashioned ice cream treats on the way to extinction?