About Italian Ice
History:
Italian ices and ice cream may have been developed in Italy and
France in the late 1600s, in such flavors as watermelon, cinnamon, lemon and
sour cherries. Some claim Italian ice was invented in experiments to chill
drinks in Italy, and called water ices or sorbet.
Other experts argue they got their start 4,000 years ago when wealthy Greek
and Roman families had snow from the mountains hauled in to chill their
wine. The Food Timeline presents history and lore about Italian ice and
other frozen sweets.
Calories:
Italian ices may be your best bet for a low-calorie treat,
according to "the Diet Detective."
A half cup of ice may have only 50 to 120 calories - and that's much less
than the 180 to 320 calories in some ice creams.
Good Housekeeping magazine suggests Italian fruit ice is a great low-calorie
option, and may have fewer calories than low-fat frozen yogurt.
Choices:
Wondering what the difference is between all the frozen
desserts? Read up on them in this SparkPeople weight loss article - and make
a wise choice for your next affordable treat.
Mity Nice Ice:
We buy our Italian ice from Alinosi's Ice Cream, which
has made ices and ice cream in Detroit since around 1921. The company is
still family owned, and it still produces its own line of chocolates and its
spumoni ice cream, which for decades was shipped to customers around the
country.
Alinosi's created two Italian ice flavors for Mity Nice: strawberry and Go
Blue!, which debuted in fall 2009. This year we hope they will add a couple
more new ones.
The company does not have a website, but it still sells its ice creams to a
variety of businesses and through the Chocolate Bar Cafe in Grosse Pointe.
If Mity Nice can find a way to carry Alinosi's chocolates (so they don't
melt in the sunshine), you will be in for another luscious Michigan-made
treat.
Content:
Italian ice has no milk, cream or dairy, nor does it contain
eggs or any meat products. It has a simple recipe: Fruit, fruit juice,
sugar, corn syrup and water, plus a little food coloring. It is all natural,
vegan, gluten free product that is healthier than ice cream.
