Word of the Week
Confectioner (kuhn-fek-shuh-nr): Someone who makes or sells sweets for a living. . .and that includes ice cream! We’ll give you one guess where this word comes from. It originates from Latin, of course! So many English words seem to come from that language.
Hola!
No, that wasn’t a mistake. Even though our word of the week comes from Latin, I’m saying ‘hello’ to you in Spanish because our project this week has Mexican roots. Are you ready?
You’re in for a treat this week! July 23rd is National Vanilla Ice Cream Day! Vanilla has always been my favorite flavor, but I do like to add some fun, colorful toppings.
So, where does vanilla come from? It’s hard to believe, but vanilla actually comes from a special kind of orchid! An orchid is a beautiful, beautiful flower. Here’s a picture of one.
Today, vanilla is grown all around the world, but the plant was originally found in parts of Mexico and Guatemala.
I don’t know about you, but when I think of a flower I usually think of a small plant. This orchid is actually a long vine that grows up trees. It can grow as long as 30 feet! The part of the plant that contains our yummy flavor is the pod (also known as the ‘bean’). The pod is picked before it’s ripe, put into hot water, then laid out to dry for two to six months. I had no idea this much time went into making my favorite ice cream!
This week’s activity is sure to be a hit. Take a peek, and send us pictures of your completed project to be featured on our website! E-mail them to ljmadwish@gmail.com .
I’m all for healthy snacks, but sometimes you just need to splurge! Happy National Vanilla Ice Cream Day! Cool off and enjoy!
Adios!
