Who doesn’t love a delectable ice cream cone on a hot day?

Americans have been enjoying the tasty treat since it gained popularity at the Louisiana Purchase Exposition world’s fair in St. Louis, Mo., where it was first served in 1904.

Many people claim that the edible cone was invented during the fair when an ice cream vendor ran out of bowls and substituted a waffle made by the vendor in the next stall.

For the first time, ice cream became portable, allowing people to eat their favorite iced treat and its container as they strolled through the exhibits.

It’s a great story, but many folks dispute that claim as no more than a fable. The real origin of the ice cream cone is murky and remains a mystery.

One thing is clear, edible ice cream cones became so successful because of the fair that everyone wanted to claim credit for them.

Some sources give Italian immigrant Italo Machiony credit for inventing the cone when he submitted a patent Sept. 22, 1903.

Regardless of its origins, the cone gained popularity so quickly in the United States, that by 1924, Americans were eating almost 245 million ice cream cones a year.

For one of the most complete and comprehensive studies done on the subject, visit www.whatscookinginamerica.net, where Linda Stradley, author of the cookbook “I’ll Have What They’re Having — Legendary Local Cuisine,” has posted extensive research on the topic.

Since I am a huge fan of the subject, and since I missed celebrating National Ice Cream Month in July, I chose to acknowledge Machiony’s contribution to my taste buds and waistline by celebrating his day with a noncaloric ice cream cone ornament made in his honor. The directions, which I found at www.familycrafts.about.com, use a satin-ball ornament as the scoop of ice cream. Since I was unable to locate that kind, I substituted a regular glass-ball ornament in its place and used dimensional snow from a craft store as a topping.

Supplies you will need:

4 1 red glass ball ornament.

4 Snow, such as Snow-Tex by Deco Art.

4 Candy sprinkles.

4 Cone-shaped ice cream cone.

4 Water.

4 Custard cup.

4 Spoon.

4 Glue.

Glue the ball to the cone. Keep the loop at the top of the ball so you can hang the ornament when you are finished. Let dry.

Place a small amount of dimensional snow in a custard cup and mix a teaspoon or two of water. Stir well.

Gently hold the cone in one hand as you pour just enough snow over the cone to hide all but the hole in the loop at the top of the ball. Allow the snow to drizzle down the cone so it looks like marshmallow topping.

Shake candy sprinkles over the top while the snow is still wet.

Stand upright in a cup until dry.