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!