Did Someone Say Ice Cream?

Originally Fred's News was all about ice cream, ice cream and more ice cream. Years ago the village of Baltic was much more self contained. People would walk to the local market or perhaps shop at Bibiane's Dry Goods Store or Drescher's meat market. However if you wanted ice cream, Fred's News was the place to go. With over twenty flavors of the richest, creamest ice cream available, patrons lined up for extra thick shakes, old-fashioned ice cream sodas, hot fudge, butterscotch, pineapple and maple nut sundaes. If that wasn't your cup of tea, perhaps a steamboat was. This "bad boy" with it's three flavors of ice cream, three toppings, real whipped cream, sprinkles, nuts and cherries was absolutely the most decadent sundae around. Saturday and Sunday evenings during the summer months were non stop ice cream treats. As tubs of ice cream were emptied and replaced by new ones, kids always wanted a taste of what was left in the empty tubs. One of my favorite drinks was an orange sherbet shake with a touch of vanilla syrup. Remindered me so much of the creamsicles we always purchased from the Good Humor ice cream truck as kids. Oh those awesome summer evenings when you were allowed out after dark!!

Ocassionally during the summer months, a few of the nuns from the Sisters of Charity would stop by on a warm evening. If they arrived carrying a couple of big boxes, that meant ice cream cones for the good sisters. We had it down to a science, twenty cones, each wrapped individually in deli tissue paper, placed in the box, then Sister would head back to the convent as fast as possible. The usual order was between fifty and sixty cones, with as many different flavors as possible. This also meant more than one trip back and forth so meltdown was not issue. I asked Sr. Veronica how she knew who ordered what. "They take what ever they reach for. No special orders except for Mother Superior." She also added, "By the way make sure one is a double, you choose the flavor, it's for me!" I'm quite sure Sr. Veronica ALWAYS volunteered for this mission.

Warm apple or bluberry pie with ice cream was another favorite, On top of all that was whipped cream with a dusting of cinammon sugar.Mmmmm...mouth watering. Many early morning breakfasts consisted of ice cream topped pancakes, waffles or french toast. Then of course there was "Delaval, better known as Touch" who preferred his ice right after breakfast, straight up, no fuss, muss or toppings, just plain good old-fashioned ice cream and plenty of it!