The Ice Cream Theory

A while back, and I do mean a while back, I got an email from a woman named Steff Deschenes asking me if I would like to review her book The Ice Cream Theory. Ice cream? Book? Two of my most favorite things in the world? A no brainer. "Sure," I said, and days later, a bright yellow book with a dripping ice cream cone arrived in the mail.

I was already in the middle of a few books, but that's often the case, so I was excited to add this to my reading list. Then life got in the way. Work. Art shows to enter, open studios to arrange. The book kept getting pushed to the bottom of the pile. No, not the pile of books, but the pile of "stuff," the mess of my life that is there daily (no, I would not consider myself a tidy person in any sense of the word), but gets exponentially worse when I am overwhelmed with work.

Then came a perfect excuse to put it on the front burner. A wedding in Vegas. And it became the first thing I packed in my carry-on, with a promise of this book being read by the end of the vacation.

So, here we are. Day two of vacation. Las Vegas and it's countless ice cream parlors waiting to be tested and one-armed bandits waiting to be pulled. But this bed is too comfy, and you, my dear readers, haven't heard from us in a while.

So here is my promise: Six days remain of this vacation, and with the conclusion of those eight days, there will be a book read cover to cover, and a review will be written.

But, for now I must motivate out of this comfy bed, because afterall, this is Sin City, a city not quite defined by those who sit in bed with a book.

But keep your eyes peeled for a review of Deschenes book, which she describes as her "theory on how personality traits are similar to ice cream flavors, which explains why we get along with some people/enjoy some flavors; and can't stand other people/certain flavors)." (I think my husband is my cookies 'n' cream...)

To read more about it, you can visit The Ice Cream Theory website or buy the book at Amazon.

Help and Win!

A while back we asked for help in compiling a list of readers' recommendations for top ice cream shops. We didn't get too much feedback (thanks to those of you who did help!), but we still want some to know where your favorite place is!

Make a suggestion here by November 16th, and you could win a copy of Ben & Jerry's Homemade Ice Cream & Dessert Book. Help us out and you could be a winner! And suggesting a Ben and Jerry's shop does not get you bonus points...we are actually after more of the local, "hidden gem" scoop shops!

To be entered as a winner, please be sure to include your email address on the form. And not to worry. If you already helped us out, you will still be entered into the drawing for the book!

Enter here!

Spice Dish Saturday {October}: Chocolate Guinness Milkshake

One of our favorites, Guinness- milk chocolate ice cream as a  milkshake. Genius!

This is a take on David Lebovitz' Guinness-Milk Chocolate ice cream. I love that flavor, but was looking for something a little different for a party I was having a few weeks ago. I wanted a dessert-slash-adult beverage so I started with his basics and came up with a Chocolate Guinness Milkshake. It's a two-fer! Boozy and desserty! So tasty and unexpected. It's doesn't really taste like beer, more like the richest brownie you ever drank. 

I made it in the ice cream machine because it really does do 'frozen' cocktails well, but you could easily do this in the blender.

Chocolate Guinness Milkshake
5 oz chopped bittersweet chocolate
1/4 cup cocoa powder
4 egg yolks
1/2 cup sugar
pinch of kosher salt
3 cups half & half
1 cup Guinness
1 tsp amaretto

Warm the cocoa powder, 1 cup half & half, sugar and salt in a saucepan. In a bowl whisk the egg yolks together, then slowly add the warmed mixture to the yolks, whisking quickly. Once incorporated, pour mixture back into the saucepan. Let the mixture warm again over medium heat, stirring constantly until it is thick enough to cover the back of your spoon. Remove from heat and add the chocolate pieces. Whisk until the chocolate melts. Strain the mixture into a large bowl and whisk in the remaining half & half, amaretto and Guinness.

Chill thoroughly in the fridge. It should only take about 15-20 minutes of churning (depending on your maker) to get this to milkshake consistency. Plunk in a straw and enjoy!

Biography on CNBC: Ben and Jerry's

Today Tina and I got an interesting email from someone at CNBC. Unfortunately, I was running out the door to meet Husband in Boston for our weekly date (we went to see Wait, Wait! Don't Tell Me live), so I didn't get a chance to post about this before now. Here's part of the email we got:

See how two friends with a passion for food turned a little Vermont ice cream shop into one of the most famous names in the business tonight on "Biography on CNBC: Taste of Success" at 10P ET. After a crash course in ice cream making, Ben Cohen and Jerry Greenfield opened their first store. Unsure how to retain customers after the hot summer months ended, they used wacky promotional tricks to entice their customers to return. Now, Ben & Jerry’s is a company on a mission to mix social activism and business…and at the same time, turn a profit. Watch Ben & Jerry's biography tonight at 10p ET on CNBC.

Visit Biography on CNBC for web extras.

Ernie (the pup) and I are watching some of it now while I post and he rests his head on the keyboard.

It's late though and I am tired so I won't get to finish watching...but I can't wait! I am also especially intrigued by their desire to promote social responsibility. I'll watch my recording later this week. I am especially interested to see how they show the sale to Unilever.

Don't worry. You didn't miss it! I am told it re-airs Sunday, October 11th at 11PM Eastern Time and Wednesday, October 21st at 12AM Eastern.

Here's a little side note: Ben's daughter Aretha has an extra special birthday: July 31, 1990 -- so when I was celebrating my eleventh birthday, Ben was celebrating the birth of his new baby girl. Oh, and Jerry has a son named Tyrone...I'm sure those kids have a pretty "sweet" life.

Well, be sure to catch it next time it is on! It's quite a treat!

Size matters. Eat more.

So funny and how true in the world of ice frozen yogurt/ice cream. So here lives Frolick ("fro" and "lick"..love it!) and the creator of these awesome pins. Well not really here since if you are visiting Singapore soon then you can actually try it but none the less its a fun spot we've heard about and had to talk about. Who knew a fro-yo place could be edgy, anti-establishment, fun, politically incorrect, and health conscious all at the same time. Move over Pinkberry with your holier than thou attitude. Note...I have never had Pinkberry and do admire the brand but in tough times we all need something to make us smile and Frolick sure seems to do the job. If only it was nearby. Not sure how I even came across this place but its about time someone put the fun in frozen yogurt. Is their a reason one must feel like raising their pinky when they eat frozen yogurt? Well Frolick figured out that ice cream's skinny friend, frozen yogurt, could let its hair down once and for all and be good all at the same time. Check out their web site to see what we're talking about.

As for the yogurt, according to their web site, tasters claim it to be tart and refreshing. In the world of fro-yo that surely is no differentiator but their vision sure is. Unfortunately we can't visit a shop to truly see if this fun brand that lives online is actually carried out in stores and lives up to the raves but I get the feeling it wouldn't disappoint.

And as for these fun pins, get em while they're hot on their site.

What are the odds we can find someone who has actually tried this? If you are that lucky person I am sure we have some prize for you (well maybe if you can prove it!).