Favorite Things Friday (Ice Cream)

I've been pretty bad at posting these the last few weeks.  Really, I've just been busy and when you don't even think about what you'd write until midnight on Friday night, it's a bit of a moot point.  But this week I didn't want to skip it!  Because let's be real, this post is important.

I live in Kentucky where last weekend had a string of days that were all over 90 degrees and I have yet to turn on my air conditioning.  We didn't have central air growing up so I've learned to survive the heat.  Plus last summer, I tried to use my air and it never worked that well - it would run all day and the house would still be 85 degrees - so it basically just made my electric bill go from $50 monthly to $200 monthly.  Not something I really want to deal with or can afford right now.

So last Sunday I used the heat as an excuse to eat ice cream off and on all day, in the end sampling three different flavors.  Ice cream to me is its own separate food group.

So without delay, here are my top five favorite ice cream flavors.


Ben & Jerry's Karamel Sutra -  While not as scandalous as it sounds, it is as seductive.

I have been known to eat an entire pint of this ice cream after a really bad day - especially if that day was really bad because of problems with a man.  This flavor is half chocolate ice cream, half caramel ice cream with bits of chocolate sprinkled throughout and a solid core of creamy caramel in the center.

Basically, it's a pint of PMS-curing goodness.  I highly recommend eating this flavor while up to your neck in a bubble bath.  Not that I speak from experience.




Culver's Single Scoop of Chocolate in a Waffle Cone - I will admit that part of why I was willing to move to Lexington without knowing anyone was because they have two Culvers locations here. When I lived in Nashville, I would drive all the way to Bowling Green, KY just for a butter bacon cheese burger and chocolate custard.  Lately, everyone in Lexington is on a frozen yogurt kick.  I don't care if it's better for me, I don't like fro-yo that much. 

I'm a custard fan because I love how thick and creamy it is.  This flavor is best eaten on a park bench while people watching.  And always in a waffle cone - it makes me think of my grandfather who was quick to point out that when you get it in a waffle cone, they have to give you more than a single scoop in order to fill up the cone.

Haagen Dazs Fat-Free Raspberry Sorbet - My one exception to the ice cream / custard favorites is sorbet.  Really, I love any raspberry sorbet but Haagen Dazs makes a special one.  It's especially wonderful because it's fat free, dairy free, and extra delicious.  Sorbet is so incredibly delicious when it's 90 degrees out because it's refreshing.

Raspberry sorbet is best eaten out of the carton, while sitting on the front porch enjoying a glass of wine.  It's also pretty great to eat in bed while sharing tiny bits with the cats.  Again, not that I know from experience.

Cold Stone Creamery's Cheesecake Fantasy (with a few modifications) - The way this combination is on the menu (and what is pictured to the left) it has blueberries.  I love blueberries but I tried a bit of a modification once and it stuck.

I make my cheesecake goodness with the cheesecake ice cream, strawberries, graham cracker crust, and caramel.  Only in this case, it's in a dish because a waffle cone or bowl is just too much.  I have been looking for cheesecake ice cream that is half this good anywhere else and have yet to find it.  This flavor is best eaten with a big group of friends or family - I save Cold Stone for special occasions usually.


Mint Chocolate Chip - Up until now, I've been rather specific in my favorites.  Last but not least, is any mint chocolate chip.  I prefer the real mint kind - which is white instead of green - but any and all mint chocolate chip will do.  It's especially good when it's ridiculously hot out and it gets all melty and soupy before you have a chance to eat it.  


Can you think of any especially good flavors that I'm missing?