Next on the alphabetical list: snowballs.
I'm not talking about the confection mass produced by those sugar mongers at Hostess. Those are Snoballs, anyway.
I'm not talking snow cones, though that's close. They don't crush the ice finely enough. Wikipedia tries to front that they're the same thing, and that we call them snowballs instead of snow cones in Maryland...but that's bunk. I've had both, they're different, beyond the fact that
snow cones come in those crappy paper cones. The picture is labeled snow cone, and it's somewhat in between both. In a cup, but the ice isn't quite crushed enough.The closest thing outside of the the Delmarvan area that I've heard of is New Orleans. They use shaved ice, though.
Anyway, for those of the uninitiated...cheap and good stuff here. Get yourself a cup of varying size. Fill it with finely crushed ice. Add flavored syrup. Optionally add some toppings (usually marshmallow creme in my neck of the woods), take spoon, shovel in to mouth, repeat.
They're all over the place around here. I can easily name 5 stands within spitting distance. And I bet you that at least a few of them have "custom flavors" named after whatever kids like right now (like Spider-Man and SpongeBob. Like purple popsicles...they taste like their color...).
The best one by far is sold at a place that also sells bushels of crabs when they're running heavy. I've never known it to have a name, though Ben assured me years ago that they're called "Mom's." I'll take his word for it.
If you ever get by this way, spend the pennies on the dollar (larges are usually 2-3 dollars, tops, and that's with marshmallow) and enjoy one. In fact, I've got the space today, as soon as I post this, I'm goin' round to Mom's or whatever it's called. Sugar free egg custard with marshmallow is calling my name.
