With a cherry on top

Eat Dessert First - ice cream edition

Oh. I am in so much trouble now.  I have been resisting the urge to get ice cream from Jeni's for weeks. Even though I walk past the store everyday and the weather has warmed up - I held out until today.

 

Big problem. Big. Huge. (Thank you pretty woman). I loved it. Loved it.  It was a great way to end a long work day.

I got the Wildberry Lavender and the Riesling Poached Pear.  Unusual flavor but very light and refreshing.  Reminded me of some of the melon gelato scoops I had in Italy in the past. The girl at the counter said Jeni had been experimenting with essential oil to get these flavors. And apparently there will be more seasonal treats to come.  Another customer mentioned the he already missed the fall/winter flavors that have been switched out for more springtime berries and fruits.

Some of the flavors I tried today were richer, heavier - but also delicious.   

Next up: Goat Cheese with Cherry 

Berries, Berries, Berries!

The berry picking trip this past weekend was a huge success!   We got the past of the strawberries and some of the early blackberries and blueberries.   It really was too soon for the blueberries so that became tedious very quickly but eventually we got an almost full bucket.  It is addictive - the constant discovery of more ripe ones.   Like a treasure or Easter egg hunt.

I have heard good things about the blueberry farm in Social Circle but this time we went to Washington Farms in Watkinsville, GA because they have all three kinds that everyone in my group wanted to pick.   I don't think that they are organic but they are local and definitely very tasty. 

Sometimes I think research is more fun than the actual writing.  Maybe this is because searching for new information can go on endlessly Whereas organizing all the tidbits you have found into a cohesive product is more difficult and requires more final decisions - about what to include, where and how it relates to what you want to say.

For brain food when I am writing, I have found that pie with a scoop of vanilla ice cream works better than any other snack or junk food out there.   The balance of sugars and carbs is both a treat and an energy boost.  Plus, it counteracts the gallons of coffee you have consumed if you are as caffeine depended as I am!

This may also be true since most of my research regards food, food related media and the Slow Food movement....  however, I still have not decided what kind of pie goes with which particular topic yet, except that it does vary with the seasons and what fruit is available.