Let’s talk of things summer now. Let’s skip right past the waylaid spring and move right into the hot muggy days of summer, when the frogs sing at night and the lightening bugs glow, when the grass is damp beneath bare feet and the windows stay open all day. Yes, let’s talk of summer. Of yellow gold finches and monarch butterflies and roses blooming and summer evenings that stretch into forever.
One of my favorite things about summer is ice cream. What? You thought I was going to continue on about warm dark nights and low hanging stars? Heck no. This is about ice cream!
I’ve always said there is no bad ice cream. There is cheap ice cream and expensive ice cream, low fat, low sugar and the really good stuff made out on the farm where the cows live just yards away. But there’s no such thing as bad ice cream.
Last May I met an older gentleman in Washington DC who thought along the same lines as me when it came to ice cream. We were seated across from each other during the first meal of the conference, getting to know each other, sharing our stories. The meal came to an end and the waiter asked if anyone was having dessert. Normally I decline, but the gentleman across the table asked if they had any ice cream. As the waiter listed the meager options the elderly man said “There’s no such thing as bad ice cream, I’ll have the chocolate.” My head snapped up and I responded, “That’s what I always say!” We high-fived each other across the table and I ordered ice cream too.
I thought I’d always feel that way about ice cream. Until this week. This week I happened upon this at the grocery store, sitting innocently in the freezer next to other icy treats.
150 calories for the whole pint. “Huh” I thought. “There’s no such thing as bad ice cream, and 150 calories for the whole thing?” Into the cart it went. At home I doled out a measly couple of tablespoons because I was too excited to read the directions that said let it stand out for ten minutes before serving and it was rock hard. Chocolate peanut butter. No such thing as bad ice cream, yep, this was going to be good.
It tasted faintly of something. Perhaps chocolate, certainly not peanut butter. There was a memory of chocolate if you concentrated real hard, but in reality it tasted more like weak, cold dishwater. Distinctly soapy. I tried again the next night, another couple of table spoons, but I ended up tossing it and this post is my public service announcement. Hard as it is to believe, there can be bad ice cream. This is it.
Don’t waste your money.
Summer was meant to be enjoyed. Head out to the dairy farm for your ice cream. You won’t regret it.
March 24, 2014 at 7:58 pm
What a bummer!
I’m avoiding dairy at the moment.
My new thing is coconut ice cream. . made with coconut milk, by so delicious. It’s so delicious! They even sell a highly edible no sugar added version. Yum. Wish I had some right now!
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March 24, 2014 at 8:17 pm
I don’t think there was any dairy in this. Nor much else either for that matter.
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March 25, 2014 at 6:24 am
I will splurge on real ice cream this summer!
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March 24, 2014 at 8:32 pm
Ice Cream is one of my favorite indulgences. I stick with the real thing…creamy & luscious!! The coconut so delicious is very good too though!! 🙂
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March 25, 2014 at 6:27 am
Sticking with the real thing is probably good advice on my levels.
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March 24, 2014 at 9:07 pm
I’ll avoid it like the plague, thanks!
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March 25, 2014 at 6:28 am
You are welcome!
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March 24, 2014 at 10:14 pm
I love the ice cream those cows make at the dairy near you! Every delicious calorie!
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March 25, 2014 at 6:28 am
Me too! For sure!
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March 24, 2014 at 10:38 pm
A few years ago, I was at an ice cream parlor and they had a variety called Trash Can. It intrigued me so much that I had to try it. Turned out it was nothing new age or with gogi berries, it was the leftover ice cream from the bottom of each tub mixed in together.
All this to let you know that good ice cream can be bad if tutti frutti, butter rum, chocolate mint and birthday cake are all swirled together.
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March 25, 2014 at 6:28 am
Good to know, will put this into my ice cream mental encyclopedia. Avoid the trash can ice cream.
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March 25, 2014 at 12:33 am
The problem is they removed too many calories. That has to be the problem. I’ve become partial to gelato in the summer. Cold weather is not for icy desserts.
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March 25, 2014 at 6:29 am
Exactly the problem!
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March 25, 2014 at 3:40 am
How is Katie of the shaved tummy? Faith has some new medicine and is feeling a bit better so hopes Katie is too. We got a sprinkle-on-dog-food liver function supplement and so far, so good. Fingers crossed!
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March 25, 2014 at 6:29 am
Katie seems to be fine…her tummy fur is growing in as is the fur on her legs that were both shaved for IV lines. 😦 She’s as feisty as ever and we hope whatever was wrong was a one time event! Thanks for asking!
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March 25, 2014 at 9:34 am
I gave you the heads up on the BEST gelato you will find here in the USA in the stores – there are some pretty good REAL gelato places around – one in St Augustines in Florida was brilliant. I digress….can’t help it Dave worked for a gelato company in Italy and we got free gelato every time we went in any of their stores 🙂
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March 26, 2014 at 6:54 am
That would be so lovely, to get free gelato! LOVED it in Italy, haven’t tried any in the US figuring it wouldn’t hold up to the Italian variety eaten right in Italy. Will try.
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March 25, 2014 at 9:58 am
I imagine even letting this one sit for awhile wouldn’t improve its flavor. Sadly, cheap is cheap! Thanks for the heads up. I won’t be buying any of this any time soon!
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March 26, 2014 at 6:54 am
You are welcome.
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March 26, 2014 at 3:08 pm
Nothing wrong with your rule. There is no bad ice cream. For some bizarre reason there are a number of inedible substances masquerading as ice cream. It’s enough to put a person off buying frozen food at the grocery store. (Next time you are up here look for Moomers and/or Shetler’s. Enough to make you weep for joy.)
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March 27, 2014 at 12:33 pm
Ummmm…sounds good!
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March 26, 2014 at 7:51 pm
How nice of you to go forth and test this ice cream on everyones behalf. Perhaps there are other ice creams and flavors you could also taste in the interest of public service. Just sayin’
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March 27, 2014 at 12:34 pm
Excellent idea Katibeth! Sounds like a career change too…another advantage.
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March 30, 2014 at 9:30 am
Thanks for the warning, lol! If it seems too good to be true, it usually is, right?
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April 25, 2014 at 11:07 pm
I used to say that it was impossible to have bad spaghetti sauce, too, but I’ve been relieved of my delusions about that. Bummer that the ice cream was bad. My quote is “there’s always room for ice cream!” but perhaps not the kind that you bought.
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