Oh, grilled romaine…
where have you been all my life?
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My first ice cream experiment was mint chocolate chip…not the easiest of ice cream recipes. Naturally, it was an utter failure.

Not having the muscle memory for heavy cream warming, mint seeping, custard skimming and water bath stirring, I completely ruined about an hour’s worth of hard work by dipping the bowl of ice cream into a bowl of ice water.
Doh!
Pouting and frustrated sighs ensued.

It’s been a year or so since I started attempting homemade ice creams. Since Andrew’s birthday was last week and mint chocolate chip is his favorite flavor, it seemed like a great time to give it another go.

I tried a different recipe this time – from my new favorite cookbook – and the end result was ah. may. zing. When your husband says it’s the hands-down best ice cream he’s ever had and he’s not drunk, trying to sweet talk you or get himself out of trouble, you know you’ve done well.

Since I messed things up so badly the first time, let me walk you through the steps…

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I met a witch when I was 15.
At least I think she was a witch.

The spring of my sophomore year, my debate team took a field trip to Boston to debate at Harvard.
It sounds more sophisticated than it really was. In actuality, it was just an excuse to go on a really cool trip. And, since my debate coach’s dad and step-mom lived there, I’m pretty sure it was an excuse for her to have the school pay for her family visit.
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I started crying at IKEA today.

Though I did spend 45 minutes in the curtain section, analyzing the many merits and disadvantages of velvet vs. tweed vs. linen, panels vs. tabs vs. grommets, translucent vs. opaque, navy vs. brown vs. ivory vs. orange vs. white, my tears were not due to exhaustion or sensory overload. At least I don’t think they were – by the end of it all, I may have been ready to cry at anything.

The real culprit was a simple exchange between mother and daughter. You know that silly little food court on the way out of IKEA? The one with the amazing cinnamon rolls and soft-serve ice cream that even the most extreme of the Cross-Fit fanatics can’t resist? Yeah. Well, the mom and the daughter took one sniff look at those ooey, gooey cinnamon rolls, looked at each other, grinned, and made a beeline for the counter.
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My cooking buddy called the other day with the greatest news ever.

“Did you get your mail today?” She asked.
– Yes…. (Where could this be going?)
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