My childhood was punctuated by banana splits. I can remember the exact café, with its white painted walls and sandy floors at the Warren Beach in North Wales. It was always sunny, we were always hot, and we always ordered a banana split. Fast-forward a number of years (ahem) and when challenged to re-create a favourite childhood ice cream flavour or experience, the memories instantly came flooding back. We still go to the same part of Wales now, though the café is no longer there and I can’t remember the last time I ordered a banana split, or even one for the kids. These days its all about the milkshakes or the Twisters or the Mr Whippy drizzled with bright red raspberry syrup. Although I also remember Slushpuppies and the Screwballs and Funny Feet and the sound of the ice cream van as it came down my grandmother’s street…
One spoonful of this one reminded me why there are so good. The glacé cherries in Maraschino syrup on top, the soft ice-cream, the lightly whipped, or even better, squirty cream and plenty of chocolate sauce. There’s no recipe as such here, this one is pure nostalgia and a bit of an assembly job. Although the malted milk ice-cream I made for Kavey’s first challenge was delicious here, drizzled with that quick-to-make, sweet and caramelly Mars Bar sauce.
What was your favourite childhood ice-cream or flavour? Maybe you have time to join in with Kavey’s challenge too!
Ren Behan
Ren Behan is a British-born food writer of Polish descent. She is a mum to two young children (6 and 3) and spends lots of time with them in the kitchen. Ren writes about seasonal, family-friendly food on her blog www.renbehan.com and about Polish food on her site www.mypolishkitchen.co.uk. She also contributes recipes and articles to online and print food publications. Ren holds a Diploma in Food Journalism with Distinction and has completed a Food Styling course at Leiths School of Food and Wine. Full Profile on Google+
My favourite was brown bread ice cream that my grandmother and Aunt used to make. Haven’t made it myself for donkey’s years so perhaps I need to give it a go-thanks Ren for the prompt to go down ice cream memory lane!
Brown bread ice cream sounds amazing! Yes, you must recreate!
1967?
Time for one now then!
This looks great, completely forgotten about Banana Splits!! I have been going through my memories of ice cream when I was younger, and just getting ready to make and post mine.
That and Knickerbocker Glories!
Me too, loved my banana splits along with knickerbocker glories! Yours brings back lots of fond memories. Remember having quite a few in the Wimpy Bars as a treat
xx
Lots of people mentioning Wimpy Bars! I don’t think I ever went to one. Looking forward to all the other entries
Ahh The Warren – we went there often but only stayed a few times. My Mother was born in nearby Criccieth and that’s where we holidayed… and of course we had to visit the famous Cadwalader’s Ice Cream shop as many times as we could. Sadly the ice cream is not made on the premises nowadays. The Criccieth shop has turned into a chain of ice cream parlours in North West Wales and I fear the ice cream is factory made
(
I know what you mean! There is a shop in Pwllheli but it’s not quite the same, the do make a good milkshake though! We also love Criccieth, such a beautiful part of the world. The Warren is all private now, but we sneakily access the beach sometimes for old times’ sake as they can’t privatize the beach!
I can’t remember the last time I had a banana split – maybe I need one! My favourite ice cream was a choc ice or a little tub of Walls cornish ice cream with the little wooden spoon that we would only get when we were on holidays.
Aah yes I love the little tubs! Banana splits need to make a comeback! You have the perfect weather for ice cream, I’m sure
OMG blast from the past. I think I last had it when I was…13?
Ha ha, glad it brought back some memories!
Oh god, I haven’t even thought about a banana split for years! I used to love them but really can’t remember when I last ate one. Your photos look rather tempting so I may have to recreate one. For my daughter. Obviously!