What's The Scoop?

What's your favorite? According to the National Ice Cream Retailer's Association, vanilla is the No. 1 selling flavor, followed by chocolate, butter pecan and strawberry.

It's Very Presidential

In 1812, first lady Dolley Madison served ice cream at the second inaugural ball. Today, ice cream is often on the menu for White House state dinners. This dessert, three ice creams presented on a white chocolate lily pad with a lotus flower, was created for the Official Visit of the Prime Minister of India on July 18, 2005.

The president with a penchant for jellybeans gave ice cream it's own holiday. In 1984, Congress passed and President Ronald Reagan seconded a resolution designating July as National Ice Cream Month, and the third Sunday of the month as National Ice Cream Day. "Ice cream is a nutritious and wholesome food," says the Proclamation in part. "It enjoys a reputation as the perfect dessert and snack food."

With ice cream in hand, President George W. Bush departs Manning's Ice Cream and Milk in Clarks Summit, Pa., Thursday, Oct. 19, 2006. Presumptive presidential candidates Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., and Sen. Barack Obama, D-Ill., have both been spotted at ice cream shops on the campaign trail.

Famous Fans

Padraig Harrington of Ireland, right, and his caddie eat ice cream during practice for the British Open Golf championship, at the Royal Birkdale golf course, Southport, England, Wednesday, July 16, 2008. On Sunday, July 20, Harrington won the tournament, becoming the first European golfer with back to back wins in more than 100 years.

Actor Mario Lopez helps introduce M&M Ice Cream Treats, the newest summer treat from America's favorite candy brand, as he helps hand out free samples on Hollywood Blvd. outside the Kodak Theatre Monday, June 23, 2008, in Los Angeles.

Chris Daughtry, center, lead singer of the band Daughtry takes a bite from an ice cream cone as Ben Cohen, left, Jerry Greenfield, co-founders of Ben & Jerry's, at Ben & Jerry's Scoop Shop in Burbank, Calif., Monday, April, 7, 2008. The band and ice cream company launched a partnership with the ONE Campaign helping to fight against global poverty.

Actress Nicolette Sheridan, left, serves ice cream to Teresa Bolton during the "The World's Largest Ice Cream Social," benefiting the Make-A-Wish Foundation, Monday, April 25, 2005, in Burbank, Calif.

With young fans looking on, New York Yankees catcher Yogi Berra samples some of his own ice cream at the opening of one of his snack bars in New York on April 11, 1955, in the Bronx.

A Cool Treat

Different kinds of ice-cream are seen in an ice cream parlour in Goeppingen, southern Germany, June 20, 2008. The Chinese are generally credited for creating the first ice creams, possibly as early as 3000 BC. In 1845, the invention of the hand-cranked ice cream freezer dramatically cranked up production.

The 1904 World's Fair in Saint Louis is where many Americans met the newfangled ice cream cone for the first time.

Today, the average American eats about 20 quarts of ice cream a year -- the world's highest per capita consumption, according to the International Dairy Foods Association.

A Mister Softee ice cream truck makes its way through the streets of Brooklyn, New York, June 18, 2007.

The "Good Humor Man" was a fixture in American popular culture for many decades.

Did you know it takes approximately 50 licks to finish off a scoop of ice cream?

Going To Extremes

In celebration of Baskin-Robbins' 60th birthday in 2005, the ice cream icon unveiled the World's Largest Ice Cream Scoop -- 7,000 pounds of vanilla ice cream -- in an attempt to break a Guinness World record at their world headquarters in Canton, Mass.

In honor of turning 70, Carvel unveiled the world's largest ice cream cake in New York City's Union Square Park in 2004. At 12,096 pounds the cake broke all previous Guinness World records.