A Great Book and Ice Cream Sodas

In our little book club, we take turns suggesting books to read.  At our
last meeting, I suggested we read "A Tree Grows in Brooklyn" and
offered to be the hostess for the next meeting.  I read this book years
ago and remembered liking it.  I wanted to reread it and thought it
would make an interesting book for discussing.  Everyone was in
agreement, so last week we gathered to have our meeting.

After reading through this for the second time, I've decided that it makes 

the list of one of my all time favorite books.  You can see how I marked 

the sections I loved - and there were a lot of them.   I like to read books that

inspire me and Francie Nolan does the job. The Nolans lived in Brooklyn 

from 1902 until 1919.  As immigrants, they lived in the tenement district

and were extremely poor.  Francie's dad was an alcoholic who died an

early death.  So far, it's sounding pretty depressing, huh?  Oh, but you have

to stick with it.  Out of adversity and hardship this family of strong

women overcome the odds.   Francie's mom, Katie (who is also amazing)

works hard to see that her children do the things that will help them

rise above their circumstances.   I love the focus on education. The Nolan

children were the first in the family to graduate from grammar school, they

grew up reading the Bible and Shakespeare (two pages each day), they 

learned to play the piano.  Using her brothers textbooks, Francie taught

herself high school classes at night, because she had to work during the

day to help support the family.  Eventually, she was admitted to college 

without a high school diploma.  So many things happen in this book that

had me shaking my head in amazement.  I can't tell you too much about it, 

because I want you to read it!   It really is a great book!

After a thought provoking discussion, we were ready for some refreshment.

We try to have our refreshments relate to the book we are reading.  There

are many references to food in the book and at first I thought we would have

the "funeral meal" of german bologna and rye bread and a cake.   But then I

had a better idea.  When Francie and Neely (her brother) graduate from 

grammar school, they go to the ice cream parlor and have ice cream sodas

to celebrate.  That was it.  We were going to have ice cream sodas.

I've had milkshakes, floats, and sundaes before, but never an ice cream

soda. We all gathered in the kitchen and made our own.

Some used vanilla ice cream and others used chocolate, but either way, they

were delicious.

I liked how the soda cut the richness of the ice cream.  It was so refreshing.  

Our next book selection is "Tamar" by Francine Rivers.  If you live close,

come and join us.  We would love to have you!  You can see we have a 

great time.

If you haven't read, "A Tree Grows in Brooklyn", you really should.

And if you haven't made ice cream sodas, then you should do that too.

 

Starting with a pretty glass is optional, but fun.  

I found these at Bloomfields for $1.20 each!

Pour 1/4 cup of half in half in bottom of glass.

 Add 2 T. chocolate syrup.  Making your own is 

really easy.  Try it and you'll never buy Hershey's again.

Stir the chocolate and half and half.  Then add a little

club soda.

A couple of scoops of ice cream come next.  Depending on

how much you love chocolate, you can use vanilla or

chocolate.  You can see that I love chocolate.  The more the better!

More club soda.  This is when it starts to look really cool.

Whipped cream on top and

there you have it!   A long spoon and straw are 

helpful so you can eat ice cream and drink the 

soda at the same time.  

 You may need to take a sip before picking up your glass, if

yours is running over like mine was.   Aaahh!  

An ice cream soda is really a wonderful treat.

Chocolate Sauce 

 3/4 cup cocoa powder

1 1/2 cup sugar

pinch salt

1 t. vanilla

Combine cocoa, salt, sugar and 1 cup water in 

saucepan and bring to boil.  Pour syrup into

a bowl, add vanilla.  Cover and refrigerate.

It will thicken as it cools.

*MYOF Goals - #9 - Read 50 books.

#23 - Try 50 new recipes.