In The United States, Hotdogs, Hamburgers, French Fries, And Ice Cream Have Long Been Considered National Favorites. What Cultural Patterns Help Explain The Love Of These Kinds Of Foods?

Ice cream has been around as long as people had cows and access to ice.  I think the combination of cream and flavorings frozen together was an experiment.  I collect antiques, and I've never found an ice cream maker older than about 75 years old.  Hamburgers seem to be a natural evolution of the grinding of meat, and when people could hook a meat grinder on the end of a table, and grind meat, then shape the meat into patties to cook, hamburgers were invented.  Again I've never seen a meat grinder older than an ice cream maker.  French fries, I believe, evolved just by frying cut-up potatoes in lard, and were refined from there.  You really got me on hot dogs; I don't have a clue.  So really, these delicacies aren't that old....but they are loved.   Yay for the 4th of July!
Ladywitch