I was raised in Massachusetts, if you're not from New England I doubt if Hoodsie Cups were a part of your childhood. I'm fairly certain that these were, and are, a local product. These little polka-dotted cardboard cups of chocolate and vanilla ice cream (together, in each cup!) are still manufactured today by the H.P. Hood & Sons dairy company in Lynnfield, MA. Last week my MIL told me that my husband's sister and her husband had been to a celebration where Hoodsie Cups and bourbon were combined in blenders and served as New Year's Day cocktails. I'd never heard of that before, but just the mention of a Hoodsie Cup took me back, way back...It was the Fourth of July and I was standing in a long line, in the summer heat, on the playground of my elementary school. Ahead, under a row of pine trees, long tables had been set with paper cloths bearing row upon row of ice-filled cups and bags of potato chips. There were big, metal chest coolers stowed beneath the tables. I could smell hot dogs grilling; I clutched a ticket that had been ripped from a giant roll and handed to me by a man at the gate to the playground. For one ticket I could get lunch, but I wasn't interested in a hot dog, chips or lemonade. I gladly surrendered my ticket for the prize that was in the cooler beneath the table, a Hoodsie Cup! It was presented by a smiling lady with a napkin and a small, flat, wooden spoon in a paper wrapper. I can't think of that ice cream now without thinking of the taste delivered, in combination, from that small wooden spoon. That memory is as sweet as the frozen treat itself; I heard that the spoons are plastic now, that's too bad.
Life is Good!
14 comments:
I still get shivers from thinking about running my tongue over a wooden spoon...but not in a good way. I for one like the plastic better. But we didn't have Hoodsie cups in Wyoming or Texas, I will have to look for them if we ever get up north!
Near Philadelphia, we had what seems to be an identical product, called Dixie Cups. Wooden spoon and all. Oh, the nostalgia!
I dont know what they were but I had these growing up. And the spoon was wooden. I'm from California so I wouldn't know what was available out there when I was a kid...so many many many many years ago. (hee)
I remember them I also was raised in mass. but now live in texas and I also miss wise chips
Mmmm..... Brings back memories of Carmens Ice Cream made in York County, Pa. The company belongs to my Uncle Thomas Carmens family. The chocolate ice cream is to die for. When I go to visit family one of my must haves is Carmens Ice Cream! (They still use the wooden spoons.)
We have cups like that, but the chocolate and strawberry come separate, but each is combined with vanilla. If I remember correctly, I think we still get wooden spoons. So have you tried it with the bourbon yet?
Our general store on Cape Cod still has the wooden spoons... I always got Italian Ice though, yum! But more times than not it was the fudgy popsycle for 25 cents. We also call milkshakes "frappes" and sprinkles "jimmies". I wonder if you did too?
Cheers!
Evelyn
We didn't have that particular brand out west . . . but those little wooden spades really make any ice cream treat special *s*
Ah yes, I remember those wooden spoons. Do they still sell the Hoodsie cups with them?
I wonder what the person was thinking when they decided mixing chocolate and vanilla ice cream with bourbon would be a tasty drink.
Childhood memories, how wonderful they seem, your Hoodsie cups sound very yummy, did you try them as the cocktail??
I had something similar in Michigan -- I think they were Dixie Cups. And here in Illinios we get the Blue Bunny variety. Whatever the name -- oh yeah, they were sweet! Love how your "new" space is shaping up and you lucky, lucky lady -- a long arm?!!?? Life certainly IS good!
When I was little, Hoodsies seemed like such a lot of ice cream, but now...my goodness, it hardly whets the appetite! I still see them in the grocer's freezer case, sold in long plastic sleeves of 6 Hoodsies each. I'm going to check and see if the spoons are still wooden! I never liked licking the wooden spoon...it felt too much like fingers on a chalk board to me. I think you need a follow-up post about "jimmies". ;-)
I loved those flat wooden spoons! Yes, those are definitely good memories for me too!
I will never forget visiting my grandparents' home in Worcester, MA. After dinner we would have a Hoodsie Cup for dessert. I can taste the strawberry and vanilla combo just thinking about it. :)
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